Co-living and co-working is the new way of life
Design tips and advice to live and work harmoniously at home.
The pandemic saw many professionals setting up office at home. Working remotely has become a widely accepted practice that has changed the way people live. In some households, this presents an interesting challenge: Having two or more people who live together working remotely in the shared home. Whether it’s a married couple, friends or housemates, co-living and co-working requires good planning and some good design choices. Let’s look at some guidelines to optimise your co-living and coworking experience.
Designate working space
Whether it’s a shared desk or each person allocated a working space in a separate room, having a designated space will help keep the peace. If someone chooses to work in a space that is also part of a shared living area, good organisation can help keep work clutter at bay. This is where vertical storage can keep work equipment organised without taking up surface space. Space is always at a premium so there are some inventive ways to create a spot to work if a conventional home office isn’t possible:
Create a workstation inside a cupboard that can be closed off at the end of the work day
Use a standing desk that is a flat pack assembly so it can be constructed and deconstructed as required
A wall-mounted arm or shelf could function as a small desk within a kitchen or other living area
Feel good working at home
A workspace should be inspiring and conducive to productivity. Redesigning home offices for better productivity can include changing wall colours, repainting old furniture or investing in new furniture pieces can make the space feel more comfortable and welcoming. Sound management and light are important in home offices. Quality drapery can assist in dampening sound and help control light levels for those all-important video meetings. There’s also no reason why a home office can’t be playful and fun with a statement wallpaper like Décors & Panoramiques.
Tip-top tech
The key driver of remote working is technology. These days, everyone has multiple devices so, it’s important to take this into account when planning a co-living co-working setup. Make sure each person is close enough to a power outlet so there’s no risk of tripping over cables. Using headphones ensures privacy and keeps the noise to a minimum. A laptop stand can help maintain good posture and there are many flexible options for task lighting.
Set boundaries between work and home life
A healthy balance is the key to successful co-living and co-working. It’s important to set individual work hours and keep to them. Take a proper lunch break. Create a workday routine that maximises individual productivity so, if one person is most productive in the morning and the other hits their peak in the afternoon, don’t distract each other in those times. When the workday is done, return to home life. For some people, this means creating truly calming and restful spaces. Investing in beautiful upholstery fabric for family sofas or redecorating the living room to create a peaceful oasis elevates shared living areas. This can assist with the mental shift between work and home spaces to encourage switching off after a long day in front of the computer.
The co-living and co-working lifestyle looks set to stay for quite some time. This makes now the perfect opportunity to invest in beautiful spaces for all the inhabitants of the home who would surely value positive changes to the spaces that have served as a sanctuary during a challenging time. Homes are more than homes now. The atmosphere affects both our mental and physical well-being as we work, play, and rest in these valuable spaces.
