How to Make Your Home an All-Purpose Dwelling

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With more and more people working remotely, creating a home environment that’s conducive to family life, work, and rest and relaxation is essential. Whether you’re in a large space or a small space, a bit of creativity in design and arrangement can give you and your spouse open, shared rooms, private work areas, and room for respite.

Here are some tips to help from Top Pick Guy.

Declutter and Reorganize

The first way to start reimagining your home’s use is to declutter and clear out. This may mean donating, selling, or giving away household items you no longer want or need, or that no longer serve a useful purpose. A top-to-bottom cleaning can also be a great way to give yourself a fresh start. It can also mean timing your laundry so you will actually put it away straight out of the drier. Piles of clean clothes scattered around the house can actually increase your anxiety.

Paint a room, add some new artwork, or incorporate “up lighting” and natural light. According to Prevention, adding live plants can help you create a healthier environment and boost your mood. These measures will help create an inviting environment conducive to both stress reduction and everyday living.

“Sleepify” Your Bedrooms

We all need a relaxing retreat at the end of the day. A good night’s sleep can do wonders in terms of your physical, mental, and emotional health. According to the Sleep Foundation, eliminate electronics from the bedroom and make each room a cool, dark sleeping space.

Invest in comfortable high-quality bedding, and if you’re sensitive to light, install some blackout curtains or wear a sleep mask. Having a fan or white noise machine can also help by reducing ambient noise. Strive to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to get into a regular sleep rhythm.

Refresh Your Shower

If you’re looking to refresh your shower, there are plenty of options to consider. One idea is to add more space to your shower by removing any unnecessary clutter or replacing your shower caddy with a corner shelf. Another option is to switch to a curved shower rod, which can give you more elbow room and add a touch of elegance to your bathroom. Consider upgrading your showerhead to a more luxurious model for a spa-like experience, or add a waterproof Bluetooth speaker to listen to your favorite tunes while you wash. Whatever changes you make, refreshing your shower can transform your entire bathroom.

Create a Hobby Room

Having hobbies and personal activities, particularly creative pursuits, can allow your brain to operate in a new way, often in a way that triggers a relaxation response. Set aside a room (or nook!) as a dedicated hobby space, whether it’s a workbench in the garage, a craft room, or even an armoire that folds out and contains craft supplies or other hobby materials. If family members have different hobbies, color-code supplies so everyone has their own “stuff.” Make time to enjoy your hobbies as a way to decrease stress and give yourself time for personal reflection.

Make Time to Address Repairs

Some home repairs are urgent and can’t be put off, but others get pushed to the “maybe tomorrow” side of our to-do lists. Make the time to get some of these smaller projects taken care of. Not only will your house be more functional, but you will be less stressed out when you don’t have to pass the flickering light or the exposed wiring you’ve been meaning to get fixed.

If you plan to tackle these projects yourself, check out Top Pick Guy for reviews and recommendations for common household tools and appliances.

If you plan to outsource, get a jump start on these projects by using this home management app. It will ask you a few questions about your home and then generate a list of recommended professionals in your area who can take care of the repairs for you. All you have to do is contact a few for quotes and schedule a time for them to come out.

Dedicate a Home Office

A home office is ideally designed in such a way that it helps you manage your time, be productive, and create a healthy work-life balance. This is particularly important when you’re working or learning at home. Try to make your home office a dedicated office environment that’s not seen as “extra” space to be used for storage or as a guest room. Add what you need, like built-in bookcases, additional lighting, or a larger window, to make it a truly functional space.

Make it comfortable and invest in the tools and equipment you need to operate efficiently. Have a study door you can keep closed at all times. When you’re working, the door is shut; when you’re done working for the day, the door is also shut, giving you a firm delineation between work and home life.

A home office space can be a necessity if you’re trying to start your own business. There are other considerations you’ll need to make as well, such as how to structure your business. When going into business for yourself, a limited liability company (LLC) can be an ideal option due to its tax advantages and personal liability limits. If you’re unsure how to start an LLC, an online formation company can help. They can quickly and affordably walk you through the major steps required to legally establish your new business.

Designate a Meditation Space

While not every home has a room to devote strictly to relaxation, you can use some creativity to carve out a little peaceful pod somewhere in your home. Look to a large walk-in closet or even quiet nooks that you can privatize with a decorative screen or even a row of large plants. Fill the area with a comfortable yoga mat, a fan, or an oil diffuser, and use earbuds with relaxing music to tune out distractions. Even if you don’t have space, make a “meditation studio to go” that’s portable enough to move from room to room and use as needed.

Whatever upgrades you decide to make to your home, be sure to document them with photographs and receipts. While every upgrade won’t necessarily increase your appraisal value when it’s time to sell your home, it’s still a good idea to have proof of any changes. This especially applies to any added features or upgraded floors.

Make Your Home the Space You Need

Many people are balancing working from home and trying to create a healthy environment in which to live, work, and play without going stir crazy. A bit of pre-planning can help put you on the right path, but take steps that will make your home both functional and relaxing, so that it’s everything you need it to be.