Maintaining a Cozy Abode When You Work From Home

This post was originally written by Megan Wright, Maeve's Method Coach

October is a time for getting your home in shape before the cold season arrives. You’ll be spending more time indoors once the weather shifts, so why not create a more relaxed yet functional space for yourself?

For those who work from home, it can be particularly challenging maintaining a cozy state in your beloved place of residence. I know my husband and I struggle with this at times. Nate is an artist, illustrator, and muralist who primarily works from home. I do a good chunk of my work from home as well.

Put It Away

The key to easily transforming the feel of your home from a productive zone to a relaxation station is to put away all work-related material once you have finished for the day. Or, if you are like my husband and you prefer to work in the evening as well, keep just one project out and store the rest away. It helps to have a designated room or area for work supplies. Ideally it is one that is not in plain site of your living room.

I believe the living room should only house inviting and attractive entertainment-related belongings such as your favorite books, magazines, records, record player, television, and perhaps a chess board or another game you like.

Make It a Habit

Our home in Chicago is a vintage rehab condo in a building that was built in 1915. The previous owners converted the coat closet into a mini office. This is the room where Nate keeps all of his art supplies. He gathers what he needs for the day to work at the dining room table. By dinnertime he puts away what he doesn’t need until tomorrow.

This system works well in our household. Like anything, it’s just a matter of getting in the habit. If you don’t have a room to designate to your work, fear not. Depending on the type of work you do, a desk or chest in any room should do. Just be sure to tidy the top of your desk before you “clock out” for the day. Better yet, put everything you don’t need until tomorrow in one of the desk drawers. That way, when you are trying to unwind or entertain you won’t be reminded of your work-related to-do list and can therefore more easily relax. Even if you absolutely love your job, put it away.

Create a Relaxation Station

When it comes to work and relaxation, it’s important to clearly divide your time as well as your space. This will help you maximize your productivity as well as your time for replenishment.

In our household each day we transform a green desk and vintage chair that live in our living room from an active work space to a calming evening relaxation station. We achieve this by keeping the top of the desk free of clutter so we can close down the lid each night. Doing so helps us to keep our home warm and welcoming and our work and life spaces in balance.

How do you maintain your work/life space? Let us know in the comments below.