I read an article the other day written by Sophie Donelson (SD) for the NY Times Online.
*She made a few valid points I wanted to expand on.
1) SD: “Right now it’s more important that your space is designed for comfort rather than social media.”
KB: Make your Rooms Liveable!
Everyone wants their home to reflect their style and personality, and have it look good for their eyes as well as guests, but how comfortable is your home? Are your dining chairs, counter stools, and most of all is your desk chair comfortable to sit on for hours at a time? I know it isn’t comfortable working from a laptop on a sofa, in a lounge chair, or from bed. The need to find and create an office space is great these days. Where do you currently work in your home? Take the time to look around and carve out an area, or clean out a room to make it multi-purpose to work from.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Working from bed is not comfortable!
2) SD: “If you’re fortunate enough to be unburdened by stressors such as illness, caring for sick relatives or job loss, it’s a good time to ask: Is this place working for me? Are my needs being met? Is my home with me or against me?”
KB: These are great questions she posed and one we should all ask ourselves. I have always asked my client’s the following questions based on the room we were working on.
- Who uses the room and will be using the room?
- What time of day is the room used?
- What activities is the room used for?
- How long is the room used for?
- When do the changes need to happen?
3) SD: “Photogenic rooms — the ones on TV, the ones double-tapped on Instagram — are not always comfortable. And comfortable rooms don’t always present well onscreen. Inspiration is terrific — essential, even — but don’t let a great room get in the way of good living.”
KB: Sophie is so right!
Anyone go to visit a local showhome and sit on the furniture only to find it terribly uncomfortable to sit in? I always think that comfort and style should go hand in hand. I believe in buying quality goods and having them last longer than purchasing less expensive items just to get the “look”. While you are at home take inventory of those things that aren’t comfortable and make a note for the future to change it rather than get rid of it. That is if the piece is worth spending the money on, if it is not then donating it may be the better route. Consider sourcing and buying something that is comfortable for the future, one that will be with you for a long time. Making notes of things to change in the future is a good way to spend your time.
4) SD: “What this time calls for is flexibility and imagination — not keeping up with the Joneses, not stylistic cartwheels. Just small comforts. A home to bend to your will and not the other way around.”
KB: Think outside the box!
I keep hearing this statement these past few weeks as I listen to Interior Designer Discussions. A Guest Room may need to double as a Home Office by adding a murphy bed or a day bed. Room usage may need to change to accommodate double duty; children may need to share a room to create a separate room for a Home Office. I keep thinking back to when I was younger and I had to share a room with my sister Tamy. We didn’t have a designated “playroom” or “playzone”, we learned to put our things away after we played with them.
Maybe it’s time to get back to some basics, and learn from each other and offer help to others.
Take care, stay safe, and make someone smile today!
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/opinion/coronavirus-home.html
Sophie Donelson (@Sophiedow) is an author, editor and public speaker.