Some of the more common design mistakes I see in people’s homes are artwork that is out of proportion, a lack of ambient lighting, and sad little light fixtures that undoubtedly came with the house. (Design tip: You are the person living in the house, so put in lighting that you like, otherwise you are left to the mercy of the person who built the house, and when the builder chooses things “budget” always wins over “style”.)

            All of these issues are easily fixable. The greatest stumbling block I face as a Designer is the client who shows me a severely dated piece of furniture and tells me they don’t want to replace it because “there’s nothing wrong with it.”

            I think what people mean by that is that the item is not damaged.  Let’s consider this sofa, for example:

The upholstery is unstained and without rips, the exposed wood is not scratched or marred, the seat, back, legs and arms are not broken. Does that mean there is nothing wrong with it?

Let’s consider another example. This was once the absolute height of fashion:

Is this the suit you wore to work today?

            Interior Design, like fashion is about trends. If a piece of furniture is more than ten years old, take a good hard look at it. It worked for you once; does it still work? Does it fit with who you are now, your lifestyle, your taste? Imagine the perfect room for you. Does this item belong there?

            Your home is your sanctuary, the place that belongs to you and makes you comfortable. Everything in it should make you feel good. If something doesn’t, there is definitely something wrong with it.

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Location

Where will your office be? If you are fortunate enough to have a home with a designated office space, that question is already answered for you. However if, like many people, your space is limited, you will have to take some time to think about this. Do you have young children that you need to keep an eye on while you are working? Maybe a corner of the living room or kitchen could be arranged to make a workspace. Do you need a quiet area so you can focus? Maybe a bedroom with a door that can be closed is better for you. Be creative; if you have a hall closet that can be cleared out, put a table and some shelves in it and pull up a chair. The added benefit to this idea is that you can close the door when you are not using it to keep your work from mixing in with the rest of the household.

If none of these scenarios work for you, why not try a portable workstation? Get a small rolling file cabinet to keep your work in and roll it to whichever part of the house makes the most sense that day.

Then there is another thing most people don’t think about until something goes wrong; what can you expect your little ones or pets to do while you are working? Do you need to make sure your cords are not in a location where a bored puppy can chew them? Keep the coffee cup somewhere that the cat can’t knock it over onto your keyboard? Or make sure your toddler can’t reach your important documents with a crayon? In these situations the best workspace is one that can be closed, locked or stored away to prevent disasters.

Now that you have your chair, it is time to think about your desk. Some people are fine with a simple tabletop, others may need more in the way of storage. Before you spend a fortune, ask yourself what your needs really are. Could you work with a smaller desk or table without drawers if your work things could be stored nearby, or do you need to keep a lot of supplies or materials in the desk itself? What about your computing needs? Is there an outlet convenient to your desk location where a computer can be plugged in or will you need an extension cord? Do you need to store files? Do you need space for a printer, and if so, does it need to be on or close to the desk or can it be farther away? Or, do you need to spread out papers / materials? If so, an “L” or “U” shaped desk configuration works best.

As a Designer with a limited amount of space at home, I sometimes set up a folding table adjacent to my desk to spread out drawings and samples, kind of making my own temporary “L” desk. The height of your computer screen is important too, especially if you will be working on it for long periods of time. The ideal is for your screen to be at your eye level, not too low or high so you don’t have to bend your head or crane it up to see. A standard desk or dining table is 30” high, which means that a computer screen sitting directly on top will be too low. Try putting a sturdy box or shelf under the screen to lift it to the right height for you. For storage, don’t forget the wall above the desktop. A lovely piece of art there might look nice, but would it be more efficient to hang some wall shelves or file holders instead? Just make sure your shelves are firmly anchored before putting anything heavy on them!

Lighting

The psychological effects of good lighting cannot be overstated. There is a great old Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie called “Joe Versus the Volcano” that addresses this perfectly. At the start of the movie the characters are working in a dingy, drab, unattractive office. The furniture is old and battered and the boss is annoying, but what really sets the tone is the dreadful lighting. The illumination comes from ugly bluish fluorescent fixtures in the ceiling that make an unpleasant buzzing noise. When Joe brings out a funky table lamp shaped like a hula dancer he gets reprimanded for it and we feel for him, because the fluorescents are so awful they are killing him!

Now, most people won’t have buzzing flourescents in their homes, but it is still important to consider your light source. Overhead lighting is not the best because it is uncomfortable, especially at night. Lower light sources such as table or desk lamps are better, but be sure that they don’t cast a shadow over your keyboard or workspace. Try using two adjustable desk lamps so that the light comes from more than one direction and there are no shadows. If there is a window in the room, try to arrange your desk so that the window is to your side; not directly behind you, which will cast a shadow on your computer, or directly in front of you which will put a glare in your eyes when the sun comes in.

Working from home has its advantages, and utilizing these simple tips will help you make the most of it! Thanks for reading!

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1. Under-preparation before listing their home.
   The fact is, a seller won’t get as much money for a property if they sell it in an
   “as-is” condition. It will also take longer to sell. Buyers are looking for move-in
   ready homes. They don’t want to have to repair or replace anything, and in a
   competitive market, it is all too easy for a buyer to rule out any house that does
   not appear to be ready for them.
2. Stale Listings.
   The longer a house stays on the market, the more wary buyers will become. If a
   house sits for three months or longer, buyers will approach it with the assumption
   that there must be something wrong with it, and will look for reasons NOT to buy
   it.
3. Overpricing.
   Of course everyone wants to sell their home for top dollar, but the correct asking
   price depends on a lot of factors such as location, condition, and the current
   market in the area. Asking too much can be a deadly mistake. On the other had,
   houses that are priced appropriately and staged well are often so popular with
   buyers that bidding wars will drive the price up, and the seller will end up making
   more money than they asked for!
   
   Here are some statistics about Home Staging:
   ● 81% of buyers say that home staging makes it easier for them to visualize the
   property as their future home.
   ● Non-staged homes to stay on the market an average of 50%-75% longer than
   staged homes.
   ● Buyers are willing to spend up to 10% more on a staged home.
   ● 46% of buyers say they are more willing to go walk through a home they saw
   online if it is staged.

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