Balancing Work and Life: Designing Spaces That Inspire

Balancing work and life while working at home is no cakewalk. It’s all too simple to glance at that next e-mail while you’re relaxing or working on the sofa to discover that hours have gone by while you’re twisted into a less-than-comfortable slump. Having the right space can turn the entire dynamic on its head. And no, you can do this without a complete overhaul. Subtle tweaks to the way you arrange the environment can have you toggling between work time and chill time with ease.

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Define Your Zones

It’s hard to turn off if the workspace encroaches into the area where you unwind. Having distinct areas of work and play creates the divide. If you can’t spare a separate room, no issue. Furniture setup, rug dividers, or light can separate the areas into separate ones. Having a little desk jammed into a corner with a specific light is a big “This is where I work.” At the end of the workday, exiting that area can feel like exiting the office—but without the commute.

Let In The Light

Natural light is not merely a nicety; it lifts the spirits and increases productivity. If you’re fortunate to have a location by a window, put your workspace there. Warm light that simulates the sun is the next best thing. Installing glass partitioning can separate the workspace without eliminating the sunlight, creating both a sense of privacy and a sense of being open. It is a modern solution that maintains the sense of being open while giving you a subtle divide between work time and personal time.

Bring Nature Indoors

Plants can also turn a room into something unique. An injection of green can also make a room look vibrant, clean, and calming. Furthermore, plant care can also serve as a nice break to the workday. If you’re not necessarily green-thumbed like the snake plant or the pothos plant are, go with plants that are low-maintenance. Having a cut flower arrangement can also enhance your mood and surroundings.

Mindful Tech Placement

It’s easy to fall into work e-mails if you have a laptop within eyesight at all moments of the day. Hide work devices out of the way at the end of the workday. Put a charging dock somewhere other than the location where you relax at night. It’s a little action that helps the brain recognize the workday is complete.

Flexible Spaces to Meet Changing Needs

Sometimes, you have to have a quiet space to do deep work; other times, a less enclosed setup to work collaboratively with others or to think imaginatively. Adaptability is the key to this.

Celebrate the Transitions

Balancing work at work with work at home isn’t about being perfect. It’s about creating places that work for you—inspirational places by day that are relaxing places by night. With intentional choice-making and a couple of intentional tweaks, you can turn your house into a workspace that is also a soothing refuge. The best places are the places you feel like you’re being you anyway.