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The times have definitely changed regarding how we work and that doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon. Have you been cooped up in an uninspiring basement or corner with your laptop while constantly fumbling for your office supplies? Maybe you have a small spot set up but can’t quite seem to make it as efficient and ecstatically pleasing as you’d like. For some the transition to a home-based office has been relatively easy, but for many this has brought lots of difficulties and challenges. If you’re working from home and struggling with an office space, this guide will help you find some easy and creative ways to make the workday at home a little less challenging and a little more enjoyable.   Clear the Clutter If you want your home office to run at maximum efficiency and keep your stress to a minimum, a clean, clutter free office is a must have. If you’re overwhelmed with papers and items that have no proper place to call home, take some time and put all your things in one central place like the floor or a bed. First put away anything that has a designated spot. Then move onto things you need to keep but don’t have a home for like stacks of papers. Make a spot for them like a basket, storage bin, or box until you can properly sort them out, file them away or recycle/shred them. Items you don’t use you can donate or gift to a friend/family member. Keeping a bin in your basement, garage or closet for all your household donation items until you can get to a donation center is a good way to keep organized. Have a look at what’s left and ask yourself if you really need it or love it. If it’s a keeper, then find a permanent home for it.     Carve Out a Space     Get creative and turn an unused closet into your home office by attaching some brackets with a board and making a computer desk. If you have a space under the stairs, you can add an office desk, some lighting and home office furniture to make the most out of an otherwise unused area.     Installing some brackets and a shelf under a window ledge would be a great way to have a small home office set up. A corner in your bedroom or living room would also be a great spot to put freestanding office desks.     If you’re fortunate enough to have a spare room the possibilities could be endless with built in bookcases, computer desks and all the amenities.     Inspiration board Create a space to brainstorm and get creative. This can be a simple cork board, wire rack, magnetic board or an upholstered panel. It can also be a great spot to tuck notes and reminders instead of having little snips of paper scattered all over your desk and getting easily lost or forgotten.     Comfortable seating There’s so many great options on the market now for desk chairs that resemble furniture pieces instead of a utilitarian office chair. If you have your home office space joined with a living room or just want to make the office a little more designed, these are great items to invest in while keeping you properly positioned in style at your workstation. If you need time to purchase a sweet new office chair, check your home and see if you can find a chair that has a straight back. If it doesn’t have a soft seat, you can add a cushion for extra comfort.     Good Lighting Make it easier on your eyes and have some good task lighting. If your desk area is short on space opt for clip on lights that fasten to the side of your desk or a hanging pendant to illuminate you from above. If zoom meetings are a part of your day, make sure the light is positioned in front of you instead of from behind. If possible, opt for creating a work from home space that’s close to natural light as this will decrease stress levels, improve productivity and make for an overall happier day. If you don’t have a window in your home office space, choose a white LED daylight bulb.     Ample Space for Storage and Organizing Get creative and repurpose what you already have. Everyday items like mugs, pots, even empty cans can make perfect receptacles for pens, pencils rulers etc. Rolling carts can be utilized for organizing all your home office must haves, as can pretty paper bags, baskets and boxes with lids. Consider adding a peg board with hooks to hang items you need or smaller storage containers.     Don’t Overlook Physical, Mental and Emotional Health Things like essential oils, plants, fresh flowers, candles, deep breathing, soothing music, and stretching or walking breaks increase your focus, energy levels, and productivity as well as decrease stress levels and anxiety so be sure to infuse these into your home office environment as well!  

  When you have a collection of art, it can seem daunting to group and arrange them in the best possible way. Of course, there won’t be one correct way to do it, but exploring the options will help you settle on the placement that look best to you and make the most out of your gallery wall.     A good starting point is to look for a common element that can tie them together. It may be similar colours, similar art styles, the frames or mats may share materials or colours as well. There may not be any commonalities but that doesn’t mean you can pull off a great grouping of art.     Once you have determined which pieces you’re comfortable grouping together, you can lay your pieces out on the floor and play with the arrangements until you find a composition you like. To pinpoint the height and location of your grouping on your wall, trace the outline of the art pieces onto a sheet of paper and cut them out. Once that’s done you can apply a small amount of low tack painter tape to the paper cut outs and place them on the wall. Shift them around until you get everything just where you want.     For symmetrical arrangements its best to leave between 2” – 4” of space in between each picture frame. Once you have your cut-outs taped in their relative positions, measure the overall width that the paper frame cut-outs occupy. Once you have the width, divide the number by 2. For example, if the overall width your art will take up it 10 feet, your divided space would be 5 feet. Mark your halfway point with a pencil at the top and bottom of your paper frame cut out area.       Next measure the height of your picture grouping, and just like the previous step for finding the center of the width, also find the center of your height and mark it with the pencil.       Now that you have both halfway points of width and height determined, you can locate the precise center of your grouping. First, match up the top and bottom width marks by holding a tape measure from the mark you made at the top and bottom of your cut-outs and at the middle make a mark. Repeat matching each side of your height center point with a tape measure and make a mark. The point where the width and height center points intersect is the middle point of your arrangement and is the starting point to have your grouping centered.     Now add the total width of your picture frame, divide it by 2 and add the space you want in between the frames. For example, if your frame width is 12” and you want 3” of space between each piece it would be 12 ÷ 2 = 6 +3 = 9. This is the center of where you will hang your next frame. To ensure your height is level, measure from the ceiling to the point of your picture hanging item (nail, command hook, etc.) Then make a mark for the height where it intersects with center point of your next frame. If you have multiple rows of pictures, be sure to tally the amount of space you added between your pictures, to the amount of space at the top and bottoms of your art as well when you line up your next row. Repeat these steps for each piece of art and enjoy your perfectly aligned symmetrical art grouping!   Having non-symmetrical groups is much less tricky for obvious reasons but an important tip to keep in mind prior to hanging is always measure the how far down each mounting point is on the back of the art and mark that on your paper cut-outs as sometimes the location could be quite a ways down from the top of the frame and greatly impact the over-all design of your grouping if your hanging point isn’t positioned properly on the wall.     Now all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your gallery wall art collection!

  We all want our guest to enjoy their stay when they come to visit us. Here’s some ways you can make them feel right at home and ensure they love their stay while they are visiting you.     Create some space where they can lay down their luggage and personal belongings. This helps them have a place for their things and stay organized instead of tripping over their open suitcase and various items laying on the floor. It also keeps their room feeling cozy and tidy and provides a sense of calm and relaxation, instead of clutter and mess. You can create a space for these things with a cleared off dresser or tabletop, or at minimum, a chair or decorative trunk. If your guest room doesn’t have anything you could use for this, shop your house and see if another room has something you could place in the guest room that won’t be missed elsewhere.   Additionally, if the room has a closet, make sure it’s clean and clear out a space for your guests to put their belongings.     A thoughtful addition to the guest room would be adding a welcoming basket full of items they may need or like while they stay. Fill a basket or decorative bin with items like toothbrushes/toothpaste, nice soaps and shower poufs, shampoo/conditioners, extra face cloths, slippers, special snack and beverage items or some books and magazines relative to their interests. Extra items you could add to the room are some basics like pens, pencils, a hair dryer and a bedside clock.     Put your Wi-Fi password in a small frame in their room so they can refer to it whenever they may need it. They will be impressed by you anticipating their needs and thankful they won’t feel like they have to keep bugging you for it.   The bed is the ultimate cozy retreat. Having bed linens that are luxurious, yet relaxed and inviting is the key to creating a dreamy, sumptuous place for your guests to rest their heads. Soft cottons, linen, bamboo and velvet are all great fabric options to consider when composing your guest bed. If your guest bed mattress isn’t the most comfortable to sleep on, consider getting a memory foam bed topper, a feather bed mattress cover or quilted mattress cover. Your house guests will be on cloud nine all night long. If it’s an old or sagging mattress, a budget friendly option for a quick and easy replacement is a good quality air mattress that you can place right on top of a box spring. Additionally, if the pillows have seen better days and are looking less than plump and fluffy, replacing them will go a long way with the quality of comfort and rest your guests will experience. A nice fluffy down duvet comforter and extra throw blankets can all make for the perfect sleeping sanctuary. You want your guests to feel relaxed and have a comforting space they can unwind and get a good nights sleep, so when choosing the colour scheme for your guest room, opt for neutrals that have a calm, soothing feel. You can layer whites, creams, browns, beige, greige or soft blues and greens for example. Soft textures and patterns will also help in creating the feeling of a warm and cozy space. Ambience is another feature not to be overlooked and it can involve many different aspects, one being lighting. A strong overhead light being the only lighting option in the room will leave your guests feeling less than relaxed. Make sure to add bedside lamps with soft light on each side of the bed and additional lighting sources in places beside chairs, dressing/vanity tables and nightlights in pathways. Another key component to create a nice ambience is with scent. You can add some bamboo reed diffusers or an oil diffuser with calming essential oil blends. Your guests will be all the more relaxed and have an even greater experience with some aromatherapy. Stay away from harsh chemical fragrances as a lot of people cannot tolerate them and they aren’t the most healthy choice for your home and those who are in it.

There’s no doubt about it, a home renovation of any size can be stressful and bring huge amounts of considerations and to-do lists that leave you feeling exhausted and exasperated. With some planning and preparation, you can minimize the stress and frustration a home renovation can bring. Read on to find some helpful ways you can ease into your renovation process.       Evaluate and Purge Assess your belongings and see if there is anything you could live without and is simply taking up space. Categorize your items into groups: donation gift sell keep This will help to remove any items you are not going to keep on hand prior to your renovation and help your home stay as organized as possible through your renovation . Decide what items you absolutely can’t live without having on hand. For example, if you are doing a kitchen renovation and there are four people in the home, keep a set of four dish settings for each and no more. Yes, you will have to wash them after each use to be ready for the next time you need the item, but this small inconvenience will provide much needed space during your renovation and help keep the room organized and under control. You can also opt to use disposable dishes and utensils.  For a bathroom renovation, it’s handy to keep the items you absolutely need in a storage caddy if you must use another bathroom or to move items of daily use out while renos are being performed.   Find Ways to Store What You Plan to Keep A spare room or basement is perfect to keep items from the room you’re going to renovate, but if you’re home doesn’t have a suitable room to designate for storing your items, consider renting a portable storage container you can park in your driveway or even an off-site storage unit to keep your belongings safe and out of the way. We recommend a climate-controlled unit to avoid hot or cold weather damage to your belongings. Also, keep items you think you may need at the front of the unit, so you don’t have to rummage through endless boxes and items to find what you’re looking for.       Keep Ample Cleaning Supplies Stocked and On Hand You will need items like cleaning cloths, paper towels, mops and vacuums. Make sure these items are readily available for anyone who may need them.       Prepare a Safe Place for Pets and Children Keep little ones as far away from the workplace as possible and make sure they can’t enter the area. Safety gates and childproof door latches are some good considerations.       Plan for Out of Commission Appliances and Amenities One of the biggest obstacles of a renovation is not having use of everyday appliances and spaces. If you’re doing a kitchen renovation, consider getting a mini fridge and a counter-top convection oven. If you’re doing a laundry room remodel, make sure you have ample coins on hand for the laundromat if you won’t have access to a washer and dryer. If possible, when doing bathroom renovations, do one bathroom at a time so you have access to showers etc. If this isn’t possible, make arrangements with friends or family to use theirs, or consider joining a gym so you have use of their shower.     Prepare Home Items and Furnishings Roll up area rugs to avoid excess dust, debris and dirty work boots trampling them. Have extra bed sheets or plastic to cover furniture to prevent dust and mess.   Cover open shelving with plastic sheets to keep them as dust free as possible. Keep doors to other rooms closed to seal off the space from dust. If your spaces don’t have doors to dived them, you can hang plastic dividers to minimize the impact of your renovation in other areas of the home.       Notify Your Neighbours As your home turns into a construction zone, the level of noise and traffic will inevitably increase. Telling our neighbours to prepare is a thoughtful consideration and helpful measure to reduce everyone’s stress. Additionally, informing your contractor to maintain certain working hours will help respect your community and keep the peace.       Plan for Extra Expenses There’s always a possibility of unforeseen expenses in a renovation. Planning for this by adding an extra 10-20% of the budget will reduce stress and anxiety if an unforeseen situation occurs and ensures your project keeps moving forward as smoothly and uninterrupted as possible.       Notify Your Home Insurance Company   Home renovations may change your homes replacement value so they will want to assess the details of your reno. If you’re going to leave your home unoccupied during a renovation for extended time periods, this may change your policy and your plan may need to be revised. Reduce your risk for liability by repairing any potentially hazardous areas prior to starting renovations in your home. You can reduce premiums on an older home by repairing its structural integrity with renovations. You can also increase your homes defence against potential hazards with replacing things like a roof or plumbing for future leaks and drop your premiums more. If you’re doing major structural renovations, you may need to change your insurance policy to incudes one that covers a building under construction. You may want to include extra coverage for theft or vandalism to construction materials while your renovation is in progress. Additionally, check with your contractor to make sure they also have their own insurance in place for liability, so you are protected from claims from workers on site of your home renovation.