We could all do with some additional storage in our homes, couldn’t we? With more belongings coming into our homes than are leaving, it’s inevitable that we end up with a fuller-than-manageable interior.

This can sometimes lead to feelings of overwhelm and stress, especially if your possessions fill every available surface or have transformed from collections into clutter. And it’s natural to feel anxious in an untidy home – evolution has wired our brains to be stressed by mess.

But don’t despair – even the smallest home has the potential to deliver extra storage space if you know where to look for it.

I’ve personally made the most of every nook in my own home, so I’m here to share some ideas for expanding the storage capacity of your home to accommodate your favourite items, valuables and essentials.

Clothing clutter

This is a category of belongings that tends to get out of hand quite easily. Simply adding a few new pieces to your wardrobe every month can soon make it feel very full.

And if you’re a bargain hunter who loves a rummage in a charity store or a browse on Vinted, your wardrobe may already be filled to bursting.

If you regularly find clothes spilling out onto a chair or maybe you even have a ‘floordrobe’, it’s time to ensure you’ve got enough storage for all your clothing.

I’ve found that a freestanding wardrobe is still a magnet for clutter as you’re likely to push shoes underneath it and pile boxes or baskets on top of it, gathering dust.

So what I’ve done is get a built-in wardrobe from floor to ceiling, which has drawers and rails inside it to offer ample space for everything. You can get a bespoke wardrobe company to supply a built-in closet that fills the available space perfectly, so that every inch is used.

Home office mess

If you’re working from home like me, you’ll know how easily the mess from your work can spill over into your living spaces. This is especially true if you’re working at a dining table or in the kitchen rather than at a dedicated work station.

So, how about fitting a desk, shelves and cabinetry on the landing if you’ve got space, in an alcove or even into the angled eaves of your loft?

Putting cupboard doors on the front of the workspace allows you to shut it away at the end of the working day to keep clutter out of sight – and to prevent you from becoming stressed by your work to-do list outside of office hours.

Entryway excess

I’ve found that a common dumping ground is around any entrance to your home – the hallway, porch, back door and so on. That’s where we throw down bags, pile up papers and kick off our shoes when we get home.

Let’s face it, we just want to relax when we get in and not have to worry about tidying up the things that accumulate around our doorways. So this is a key spot to add some storage.

If you’ve got space in the hallway, a console table with a built-in drawer can house those letters and on-the-way-out essentials. Even the smallest space can hang a key box and shelf on the wall, or you could create a ‘Command Centre’ to keep those items organised, like I did.

Could you create a ‘boot room’ in a porch or utility room, perhaps? Or even under the staircase? Built-in cupboards can keep everything out of sight, from wellie boots and coats to picnic blankets and bags-for-life.

Other secret storage

If you’ve already got those storage options in place, now’s the time to walk around your house and look for every possible space you could use to stow some stuff to keep it out of your eyeliner and lower those clutter-caused stress levels.

An often-overlooked space is above doorways. There’s probably a small strip of wall that you’re not using for anything else, so you could consider adding a bookshelf (with a barrier at the front to keep the books safely stowed) or a small cupboard, like a kitchen wall cabinet.

Do you have bay windows in your home? That’s the ideal spot for a built-in banquette, which could provide seating as well as storage space inside the ottoman.

And that brings us nicely onto adding ottomans at the foot of the bed or some sliding underbed drawers like my DIY ones. In the living room, you could choose a coffee table with a drawer or an upholstered footstool with storage inside it.

It’s possible to get opening side panels for a bath, which has storage inside for cleaning products or toiletries. You can add cabinets and shelves around sinks, or you could cover a whole bathroom wall with a shallow mirrored cupboard that keeps everything tucked out of sight and reflects the light to create a more airy, spacious feel.

I hope these ideas will help you to find some extra storage space in your home so that you can stow your possessions out of sight, thereby creating a tidier and more relaxing interior. Please share your own storage hacks in the comments below, I’d love to hear your DIY storage solutions.

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I’m a real working-from-home enthusiast. I’ve done it for over a decade and I find it so enjoyable. Not only is my commute very short and eco-friendly (yes, I walk the ten yards to my home office!) but I also have a fun space to work in that’s personalised to me.

Even though many people like the office environment, it’s possible to create a space that’s equally as productive as your desk at work even when you’re working from home. In fact, I find that I get more work done at home because it’s nice and quiet, plus there are no distractions from colleagues chatting or needing me to take on extra last-minute tasks.

The main issue with working from home is when you haven’t got a dedicated office space to work in. If you need to pack away your laptop after working at the kitchen table, or if you’ve not got space for your files at your under-stairs alcove desk, I’m sure you’ll find WFH easier and more enjoyable if you create a proper home office.

But if you don’t have a spare room, where can you work? The garden! If you’ve got a patch of space outside, no matter how small, you can make use of it for your own home office. Perhaps you can convert a garage or you could try adding one of these options:

My little vintage caravan

For many years, I’ve had a vintage caravan in my garden that I converted into my home office. I bought it for £100 delivered, repainted the outside and repaired the windows to make sure it’s weather-proof. I then redecorated it to create a space that I love to work in.

Removing most of the interior of my little vintage caravan gave me more space for my paperwork and books, and I kept the bench seating and table to work at, which enables it to be converted into an extra spare bedroom if really needed – although I’ve only stayed in it once!

It was a handy WFH solution for me because I didn’t have to lay a concrete base – it just sits on slabs – and the wheels mean it’s technically not a garden structure so is less likely to need permission from the local council – but do check the regulations in your area if you fancy having a little vintage caravan for a home office.

A dedicated garden office

If that option feels a bit too temporary for you, you can check local planning regulations and see if you’re permitted to build a dedicated garden office instead. This building can be insulated so that it’s usable all year round and will have electrics fitted so that you can add lights and your tech essentials.

A garden office doesn’t have to be expensive – they’re usually made from timber, which makes them more affordable and less likely to require planning permits than a brick-built option. They can be clad in wood, metal or durable composite materials to create different looks from traditional to modern. You can visit this website to get some ideas on the different garden office options available.

The joy of having an office in the garden is landscaping around it so that it fits into the space seamlessly with trees, shrubs and potted plants. I’ve got a cherry tree and rose bushes right outside my garden office and one of the things I personally love about working there is fully opening up the window and hearing the birds singing while I work almost-outside amongst nature.

This type of structure is more permanent and weather-proof so you can decorate it the same as you would with a spare room office – choose your favourite wallpaper, paint colours, soft furnishings and practical desk. It’s your chance to make the space unique to you and create an office that you actually want to work in!

Image by Life of Isatu – I’ve written about her lovely home here.

Beach hut

Finally, a fun idea is to use a beach hut as a garden office. I’ve known a few writers who work from home in beach huts, sheds, shepherd’s huts, summerhouses and everything in between. Basically, it’s about using a cheap timber structure and making it a handy space for work.

You’ll probably need to do a lot of work to an existing shed to turn it into a workspace because it won’t have electrics, the interior walls won’t be insulated or lined with plasterboard, and the roof will definitely need to be more substantial than felt-covered board.

Even so, if you just want to escape to somewhere quiet with your laptop, there’s no reason why a summerhouse wouldn’t be a nice place to work when the weather is nice. Again, you can throw the doors open and let the fresh air in. Just don’t forget to also position a bird table just outside the window to attract some garden birds and provide that lovely soundtrack of birdsong while you work!

image by LucyLovesYa – I’ve written about her beach hut garden room here.

A Calming Garden Companion

One of the main benefits of working from home is that it allows you to have animals. Of course, it’s a massive undertaking to adopt a pet and it should always be thoroughly thought about – especially in terms of holidays, care and costs. But if you’ve always wanted to have a furry or feathered companion, being available at home during the working day allows this to become a possibility.

Although cats are loving but fairly self-sufficient and dogs are loyal companions but need more attention, you might also want to consider a different option in the small pets category. For example, adding Jubilee Orpington chickens near your garden office can create a soothing and inspiring atmosphere. These friendly and beautiful birds bring life to your outdoor space, making work breaks more enjoyable. Their gentle clucking and striking appearance can help reduce stress and boost productivity while working from home.

What do you think of these ideas for a unique garden office? Would you enjoy working from home in one of these options? Please let me know in the comments below if you have an interesting garden office or have hacked an office space in your home, I’d love to get your WFH tips!

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While remote work offers undeniable benefits like reduced commute times and flexible hours, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Chief among these is the common struggle to switch between relaxed home mode and focused work mode.

One way to effectively tackle this challenge is by creating an enjoyable work-from-home vibe that inspires productivity while still maintaining comfort. Here’s how…

The Importance of Dress Code

One of the first things that can affect our productivity when working remotely is staying in our pyjamas all day. It’s tempting to remain in soft, cosy clothes and it means you can roll out of bed and start working straight away. However, this habit is a signal to your brain that it’s still relaxation time and you won’t feel motivated to do your work.

Upgrading from pyjamas to some comfortable yet more structured loungewear can make a big difference to your mindset. Opting for soft fabrics can keep you feeling cosy, but aim for simple pieces that look put-together enough for a Zoom call. High-quality loungewear can strike that essential balance between comfort and a polished look.

Think matching sets in vibrant colours or subtle patterns, which not only help to boost your confidence through dopamine dressing but will also send a clear message to your brain: that it’s time to work, not rest. What is dopamine dressing? It’s more than just choosing bright colours, there’s a psychology to the theory – I’ve written all about it here.

Setting Up Your Workspace

Your physical environment plays a crucial role – after all, you won’t be very productive if you haven’t got somewhere specific to work. Designate an area in your home as a ‘home office’ even if that’s just an alcove or the space under the stairs. If you can make it aesthetically pleasing and functional, it doesn’t need to be a big space.

So, what do you need to create a home office? Start with a comfortable chair that supports good posture. Your desk should be clean and clutter-free. If you have the space, ideally you could position it near a window to take advantage of natural light. 

Consider adding personal touches like framed pictures, plants, or art that inspires you to improve the ambience of your workspace. A desk lamp will be essential for early starts or darker days in winter, and don’t forget a reliable internet connection to keep your virtual meetings streaming smoothly.

Time Management Techniques

Working from home can sometimes blur the boundaries between personal and professional life. Building a solid routine can help establish those boundaries. Designate specific work hours and stick to them as much as possible – and this includes scheduling in breaks, just like you would have if you went into an office. 

One effective method to avoid burnout and keep you focused is the Pomodoro Technique. This involves working for 25 minutes, then taking a 5-minute break. After four such intervals, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes. Use timers or apps to keep track of your intervals, and ensure those short breaks are truly restful. Step outside for some fresh air, have a stretch, or even practice a quick mindfulness meditation away from your desk.

The Role of Technology

Technology isn’t just needed to perform your basic job functions, it can also enhance your productivity if you’re using the right apps. For example, project management software like Trello or Asana can streamline tasks and make collaboration easier for remote teams. Video conferencing tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams give you that face-to-face communication that helps you to maintain a sense of camaraderie among your coworkers.

Don’t overlook the benefits of ergonomic accessories like standing desks, feet-risers and wrist supports. Plus, blue-light blocking glasses can help to protect your eyes from the emissions of digital devices and you can get them with prescription lenses if you need them. It’s possible to buy these online so you don’t even have to leave your office to get set up – face shape detector software can show you which frames would suit you best and can even show you how the glasses will look on your face. This is great whenever you’re shopping for glasses, whether you’re buying bifocals, reading glasses or even clip-on sunglasses.

These investments can significantly improve your comfort and efficiency, reducing strain on your body and mind. I have a sit-stand desk which allows me to be flexible with how I work; standing up at regular intervals to get the blood flowing through my legs.

Mindful Practices for Mental Well-being

Taking care of your mental health while working from home is just as important as meeting your deadlines. Incorporate mindful practices in your daily routine to help maintain a positive mental attitude and give you a little down-time away from screens.

Begin your day with a short meditation session or some deep-breathing exercises to set a calm tone for the day and improve focus. Also, make sure you have breaks that involve a change of scenery. Step away from your computer and engage in some light exercise or a hobby. Practising gratitude by listing things you’re thankful for can also keep negative thoughts at bay and nurture a positive mindset.

Social Interaction Matters

Last but not least, remember that social interaction is invaluable, even if you’re working from home. Schedule virtual coffee breaks or happy hours with your coworkers. Use this time to discuss non-work-related topics and strengthen your connections.

Working from home doesn’t mean you have to miss out on professional networking opportunities either. Platforms like LinkedIn allow you to stay in touch with industry professionals and keep up with trends and opportunities. Attend virtual seminars, webinars, and industry events to continue learning and growing in your field.

Creating an enjoyable work-from-home vibe involves more than just upgrading your attire and workspace; it’s about creating a routine and an environment that ensures comfort, well-being AND productivity. By prioritising these, you can vastly improve your WFH experience, transcending from pyjamas to peak productivity.

Let me know in the comments below how you like to set up your WFH environment and what you like to do to stay productive, I’d love to hear your home office hacks and tech solutions.

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Rejuvenating your home doesn’t have to cost a lot and that goes for decorating your home office too. If you’re happy to do some DIY, it’s easy to transform any space to create a functional working area as well as making it a lovely place to work.

These photos show my own home office, which I’ve decorated with loads of personal touches (I love my star wallpaper!) as well as practical details that I need in order to work effectively and comfortably. I had to ask myself ‘what do I need in my home office?’ and then work out a way to get the essentials without draining my bank account.

But how can you create a home office on a budget? Here are some things to consider:

Your must-haves

Before you start shopping for a new computer desk or begin reshuffling your furniture, it’s a good idea to make a plan for the space. What are the must-haves for your home office? From an ergonomic chair to brighter task lighting, there are some things that are essential and it’s these that you’ll need to prioritise. Will you need extra storage? Require an upgrade on your tech?

List the things you need before the things you want to make sure that any money you’re spending will have a positive impact on your comfort and your work efficiency – then you can make those updates knowing that your money is being well spent.

Uplifting colours

Did you know that choosing the right colours for your home office can help you to be more productive? Green and blue hues improve focus and help to create a calm space for concentrated work. If you’re in a creative industry bright yellows can inspire new ideas.

You don’t need to paint the whole room to get the benefits of colour theory, you can just add a feature wall. This is especially true if your home office is within another room or tucked into an alcove; using colour will allow you ‘zone’ the space to make it feel like you’re ‘going into’ your workspace when you use that area.

Update existing furniture

I’m always keen to reuse and recycle the furniture that I already have whenever I need something new. A bit of sanding and painting can transform an old piece into something just for you. A fold-out dining table can be a practical option when positioned against a wall with one leaf folded out or you could build a frame around a drawer to DIY your own custom desk like the one I made below.

Rather than splashing the cash on new storage furniture, you can update cupboards and drawers with new handles for a few pounds. You can even change the legs on a coffee table to make it the right height to use as a desk.

When you need to add new items to the space, try shopping second-hand first before you head to any flat-pack stores. There are plenty of online marketplaces or charity re-use stores where you could find a bargain desk chair, filing cabinet or shelving unit. A little TLC can make that second-hand piece into the ideal item for your office, and you could paint it to match your feature wall for a seamless look.

Task lighting

Getting the lighting right is crucial in any office; you need optimal light so you can see what you’re working on clearly. Plus, you want to avoid bright light affecting your vision – if you position your computer monitor in front of a window you’ll be squinting at the bright natural daylight behind it all day but, if you position it opposite the window, you’ll be plagued with reflections that make it hard to see your screen.

Having a desk away from windows might help this but you’ll still need enough light to work comfortably and to boost your mood and productivity. If your office is poorly lit, adding multiple light sources can make a difference, for example: a desk lamp with a focused beam can help to reduce eye strain during close-up tasks.

Floor lamps offer a soft glow for a cosy ambience in your home office during the winter, while ceiling lights help on dull days. Simply upgrade your existing lighting fixtures with new sleek, modern switches like the clear light sockets offered by Corston and elevate the aesthetics of the room with new lampshades.

Clever decluttering

Having sensible storage to stow away clutter is crucial for maintaining an efficient workspace, especially if your workspace doubles up as a living area at the weekends. It’s handy if you can pack away your laptop and files into a cupboard and forget all about work outside of 9-to-5; you don’t want to be reminded of your to-do list when you’re not at work!

Storage solutions are therefore key to keeping your office orderly, whether that’s shelving, boxes, cabinets, files or cupboards. You could even use multifunctional furniture with built-in storage like ottomans to stash your stuff away when you’re not working. Plus, it’s important that all your office items and paperwork have a designated place to be tidied away, as this will stop your desk from becoming cluttered and therefore keep your mind focused and clear.

Essential accessories

If you want to inject a little personality into your home office, but don’t fancy painting the space or doing any bigger DIY projects, you can use accessories to revamp your desk with a pop of colour. I’ve previously upcycled some charity shop homewares to use as office decor, including a bread bin and milk jug so there’s no need to splash the cash on items that are specifically designed for offices.

Also, it’s a good idea to bring houseplants into your office space as plants promote wellness, help to purify the air and can add a sense of calm, which is ideal if you’re busy and have multiple meetings to attend on zoom. I’ve personally hung lots of motivational, affordable art prints in my own home office to add a touch of colour and inspiration to my walls.

Again, this helps to make your office space feel like a home-from-home rather than a blank space where you just go to work. This will encourage creativity and make you feel comfortable in your workspace.

Technology tips

You may find that the bulk of your budget for setting up a home office will need to be spent on tech, so it’s great that we’ve been able to save money on the decor and furniture so far. Technology is the thing that allows you to work from home so, with new tech can be expensive, there are budget-friendly options.

For a start, you might want to consider buying second-hand items, such as a monitor and a refurbished laptop or PC. A couple of things that I always buy new (if only for cleanliness reasons!) are an ergonomic keyboard and mouse, but those are relatively inexpensive compared to the larger pieces of tech you’ll need. And don’t forget the ‘cable management’ – keeping your cables organised and tucked out of sight can make your workspace much neater.

I hope this article has shown you that refreshing your home office on a budget is totally do-able, it’s just about prioritising spending what you need to be able to work from home and then getting creative with the rest. Let me know in the comments below your own tips for boosting productivity while working from home and I’d love to hear how you’ve personalised your workspace.

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If you’re considering moving house this year, perhaps there’s another option? If you’re solely planning to move in order to gain more space, perhaps one of home improvement projects will help you to improve your square-footage AND add value to your property…

Sometimes, the home you previously loved and that suited your family’s needs is no longer working for you. When that happens you’ve got two choices – move or improve. And that’s what I want to talk about today; the options you have for improving the home you already own rather than packing up and moving on. 

In the past year or so, I’ve personally made the most of my own property by incorporating my back porch into the home to create a ‘boot room’. I’ve also turned the brick outbuilding into a utility space with a freezer and kitchen units, which has added loads of extra storage space.

It just goes to show that you can take a second look at the spaces you already have (indoors or outside) and see where you can improve the practicality and use.

Here are three projects that’ll add the space you need, with the added bonus of boosting your home’s value:

Extensions

Whether it’s a single-storey or full-height extension, a little utility room to the side of the house or a full-width kitchen-diner, there are so many ways that you can add extra space to your home if you’re willing to carry out an extension. And you can make the extension seem even more spacious by choosing slim framed sliding doors or a lantern roof to allow the natural daylight to come streaming into the new space.

Depending on the project you have in mind, an extension is one of the most involved building projects you can plan, and it’s definitely not a DIY effort. However, it’s also a project that’ll add the most value to your home as brings extra square-footage – or perhaps even turns your three-bed into a four-bed – and adding a bedroom always boosts a property’s value.

There are so many factors to consider when working out how much a timber frame extension costs, from the physical dimensions of the build to the daily labour price of a plasterer, roofer or electrician. Even something as simple as type of wood used in its construction can affect the price that you’ll pay for an extension.

Plus, you’ll probably require planning permission for your build so you’ll have to do your research before you even start to get quotes or drawing up plans. But, if you get the necessary approval and can afford to carry out the build, it’s a great way to give yourself the extra living space needed along with injecting extra value into the property’s resale value.

Use the loft

Again, loft conversions can be quite substantial projects and may need planning permission, especially if you’re adding windows or a dormer to gain more space up there. But it’s also a handy way to gain extra space without needed to give up any of your garden.

You may be able to get an extra bedroom up there, but you will need building regulations approval in order to use it (and include it in your home’s specifications) as a bedroom, hence the need for professional assistance rather than DIY.

However, if you just need an extra storage area, which will free up space in your existing rooms, you can board out your loft to make it usable. This can be a DIY effort, just make sure you use the correct fire-safe type of loft boards and be careful not to compromise your home’s insulation.

Go outside

Another option to gain more space at your property is to use the garden. You could self-erect a basic shed for extra storage or build a larger timber structure to serve as a gym, hobby room or home office.

Again, you’ll need to look into the local regulations for adding sheds and outbuildings to your garden before you start doing any work but, if it’s possible to DIY a building outside, you’ll be able to make more space inside by taking that bulky gym equipment or desk out of your spare room.

Also, having outbuildings can help to increase the value of your home, especially home offices, now that many of us are hybrid-working. Buyers will see the extra storage space as part of the property’s offering and it could increase the saleability of your home in the future.

I hope that these ideas have helped you to realise the options you have available rather than moving house this year – especial if you love your home and don’t really want to move away. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve improved rather than moved – I’d love to hear what projects you’ve done.

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Although the office is a place to work, it doesn’t mean it has to be cold and unwelcoming. Many companies are now seeing the benefits of making the work environment more comfortable for their employees and are thus attempting to make offices feel more like a home away from home. If you are working in your own home office, you can still make subtle changes to ensure it feels comfy and welcoming but just as useful for your business activities.

If you are the type of person that always seems to be in the office working, then you most likely see your office as often as you see your living space. However, although the office might be somewhere you spend a lot of time, it might not feel particularly homely. How can you change up your work environment to make it more inviting?

Let’s take a look at how to turn your office – whether at home or as part of your business – into a home away from home.

Change Up the Furniture

Most offices are cold environments with lots of metal, white and chrome. If you want your office to feel more homely, consider changing the furniture. Use softer furnishings like fabric-covered seating to make it feel more comfy and don’t be afraid to change the desk to something more tactile as well.

You could choose natural materials for your storage, shelving and desk such as wood or sustainable bamboo. Look for desks with a natural wood finish and interesting table legs to help them stand out. If you’re a small business owner, you can even let your employees have their own style of desk so that they feel part of the office environment.

I DIYed this desk myself using an old drawer and new mid-century-style legs

Suitable flooring

Although you might choose real wood or carpet for a cosy office space within your own home, if you’re working on a business where you’ll be doing messy activities or need to easily roll around on an office chair, you’ll probably need to consider a more practical flooring choice.

For example, resin flooring is durable enough to last for years of daily business use and easily be cleaned down at the end of the working day, no matter how messy it gets during the manufacturing process if you’re using paint, foodstuffs, craft supplies etc. Plus, having a smooth surface in your office will mean it’s extra easy to pull out any storage trolleys or office chairs.

Create a Relaxing Zone

Sometimes you just need to take a few minutes during the working day to relax and unwind. If you have a rest area in your workplace, try to make it feel as comfortable as possible. Cold plastic chairs and plain tables won’t make you feel relaxed and just means you won’t feel rested or ready to go back to work.

Try changing it up a bit by adding comfy sofas and some rugs to add a little bit of comfort to the room. Try adding some real plants so you get a splash of natural colour – and don’t forget to water them or they will just look sad! Plants and flowers have been shown to reduce stress and improve concentration so they’re a great addition around the office.

Although it might be tempting, don’t take any work calls or hold any informal meetings in this space. This needs to be a chill zone where you can feel relaxed.

I created this coffee table from pallet wood and roller wheels

Relax in the Meeting Room

Ok, so you don’t want people to fall asleep in the meetings, but sitting in a sterile room can also make people feel trapped and unnatural. If you have a meeting room in your independent business, you don’t need to have everyone sitting around one big desk – you can split up the seating area and introduce comfier chairs.

BUT try not to use this area for relaxation, you should ideally have a separate room for this. It’s key to get a balance between making people feel relaxed and creative, but still making sure that the meetings feel important.

I revamped these old office chairs with vinyl spray paint

Refurbish the Kitchen

When you’ve got employees, hygiene is of utmost importance in the kitchen area – but it shouldn’t be too clinical and bare. Try to add some comfy elements such as natural wooden tables and soften the colours on the walls. This will go a long way to helping people enjoy their lunch break instead of feeling stressed.

Also, see if you can replace those overhead fluorescent lights with something a bit softer and easier on the eye. Add some lamps or drop lights over the tables so it feels homely and more like a place you want to be. And be sure to provide tea- and coffee-making facilities to keep everyone going!

I hope these suggestions will help you to create a working environment that you (and your colleagues) will want to spend time in. Let’s face it, if you’re feeling relaxed, this will certainly help you to feel that work is enjoyable and it can help you and your co-workers to be more creative too. Let me know how you’ve enhanced your working environment – at home or in your day-job office – to improve the space in the comments below. I’d love to hear your tips for creating an office that feels like a home away from home.

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Here are ten things you can do in your home to boost your mental and physical health in the key areas of work, rest and play…

A restful bedroom

If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to affect your wellbeing, it’s the quality of sleep you experience. When you’re unable to sleep deeply and peacefully, this lack of sleep will have an impact on both your body and your mind.

Being able to sleep well helps to improve your mood, boost your productivity and reduce stress levels. It even allows your body to repair and regenerate, helping you to fight off any infections and to keep your blood pressure level.

Let’s face it, every day is a good day when you’ve had a great sleep the night before, so I think the bedroom is an important place to start. The key wellbeing elements to include in your bedroom are:

1. A comfortable bed and mattress. It’s unlikely that you’ll sleep well if you’re being disturbed by an uncomfortable sleeping environment so the easiest way to ensure a peaceful night is with a mattress that supports your body’s needs and your sleeping style, on a stable and comfortable bed frame.

2. Natural bedding. If you opt for pure linen or cotton sheets, they’ll help to regulate your body temperature while you sleep. These natural fibres are breathable and help to wick moisture away from the body to keep you cool – if you’ve ever tried to sleep in a hot room, tossing and turning all night, you’ll know why this element is important to restful sleep.

3. Blackout blinds or curtains. To avoid being woken too early by the dawn or being disturbed during the night when security lights come on outside, it’s a good idea to keep the windows fully covered.

4. Paint the walls in a dark, cool colour. Although it’ll probably be really dark in your room with the blackout blinds anyway, using muted dark tones of blue, grey and green will help to ease stress and bring about a sense of calm.

As soon as you’re regularly getting a good night’s sleep, your overall wellbeing will be improved and you’ll feel better able to cope with whatever the day throws at you – which might involve some work…

A healthy working environment

Whether you’re working from home, studying, enjoying a practical hobby like crafting, or simply doing some household admin, it’s important that your working environment is healthy. I’m talking about ergonomics here – the key things to consider to keep your body healthy while you work.

It’s about making sure that your posture is good, that you’re not straining your wrists while you type and you’re not having to stoop your neck to see a screen. Plus, it’s about keeping your body active by standing up and moving around during longer sessions of work. In Denmark, it’s the law that bosses must provide employees with a sit-stand workspace to enable them to keep active while at work, as adjusting the amount of time we spend sitting is an important factor in our physical health.

Tips for staying healthy while you work, study or create at home include:

5. Stand up. It’s not good for the body (or the mind) for you to be sitting down for prolonged periods of time so you need to get up onto your feet at regular intervals. This helps to improve circulation and breathing, burn calories, regulate blood pressure, reduce stress and boost your energy and concentration. A standing desk, such as the Yo-Yo DESK PRO 2 or a desktop sit-stand unit, will allow you to stand up whenever you need to and keep your PC or desk work at the right height for you to continue working ergonomically.

6. Adjust your posture. It’s so easy to slouch when you’re sitting at a desk (so standing up will help with this too) but you can learn how to sit correctly and keep an eye on your posture by using regular reminders on your phone. Plus, you can try to improve your posture and ease any back pain by getting an ergonomically designed desk chair rather than using a dining chair.

7. Move around. The human body isn’t designed to sit still for hours on end – you’ll probably be familiar with that pins-and-needles feeling in your body when you do. So, it’s important that you move around during long periods of work at home. Get up at least every hour to walk around and do some exercises at your desk to engage your muscles.

A relaxing space

Wellbeing at home isn’t just about making sure you’re in a fit state to take on the day and work well, it’s also about being able to relax in your home. If you’re unable to rest and recover in your own home, you’ll feel just as tired and unsettled as you would if you had a poor night’s sleep – and that leads to unnecessary stress and anxiety.

So, it’s extra important to make sure that your home is a peaceful place where you can relax and unwind. It needs to be safe, secure, comfortable and cosy so why not do everything you can to create that environment in your own home?

Here are some ideas to turn your home into a haven of wellbeing:

8. Lighting is important in many ways. As I’ve discussed, you’ll probably need a dark environment to sleep well, but you’ll also need low lighting in the evening to help you to relax and get ready for bed, as the lighting in our home affects our sleep-wake cycle.

Try using warm white bulbs, table lamps and fairy lights rather than main overhead lights, as this will mimic the warm glow of the sunset and help your body get a head-start in drifting off to sleep.

9. A quiet home is a happy home. When you’re relaxing at home, it can be jarring to hear loud noises and high-pitched sounds and this can jolt you out of your peaceful zone. Those blackout blinds I mentioned before will help to dull any outdoor sounds, and adding a second layer of heavy curtains will be even better.

If you have noisy neighbours (or other family members) you can use decorative acoustic panels on the walls or ceiling or add soundproof room dividers to achieve a quieter, calmer space. After all, there’s a reason why the phrase is ‘peace and quiet’ and not ‘peace and noise’.

10. A natural feel. Bring plants and natural textures into your home to give it a more calming feeling. I’ve mentioned the sleep benefits of natural fibres like linen and cotton but you could also add wool blankets, bamboo kitchenware, wooden furniture, slate tiles and any other natural materials to bring the outside-in and to avoid more toxic options.

The psychological and physiological benefits of indoor plants are widely documented but I definitely want to recommend them for purifying the air indoors and for the therapeutic benefits of easing stress, improving productivity and boosting mental wellbeing.

I hope these suggestions will help you to enjoy living in your home more and to boost your wellbeing at the same time, both physically and psychologically. Let me know what you’ve done to improve wellbeing at home in the comments below, I’d love to hear your advice and hacks for creating a safe haven and positive place to rest.

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You may have spotted in my previous blog posts that I’m in the midst of decluttering and spring cleaning my home. It’s been an epic mission this spring because, during all the lockdowns, I’ve been less worried about keeping my home presentable as I know that no-one’s going to be visiting! Nonetheless, I do enjoy having a tidy home and it causes me stress when there’s too much clutter around, so I’ve been getting super organising. Here’s how…

I started my spring cleaning efforts in all the usual places – steam-cleaning the bathroom, clearing out my wardrobe and tidying my kitchen cabinets (which made me decide to bring my kitchen renovation forward – but that’s another story for another blog post!). But what I’ve found to be the most stressful element of my spring cleaning efforts is my office and I’ll tell you why.

Without sensible storage options in place, I’m always worried that my equipment is going to get damaged. And, as a thrifty girl, I would be so disappointed if I damaged a camera lens or some recording gear and had to pay out to replace it just because it didn’t have somewhere safe to be stored. Or even worse – if my important data on a hard-drive was corrupted after falling out of a drawer or being knocked about. Argh, it doesn’t bear thinking about.

So, I decided that it was time to get my office organised and find a safer way to store my equipment. At the moment, most of our photography gear is stuffed into one padded camera bag. It’s better than nothing BUT it’s a disorganised mess with lenses piled on top of each other and accessories rammed in. Remote controls and cables are loose and tangled at the bottom of the bag so you have to take everything out to find the thing you want. So, faffing around with it wastes time as well as making me feel disorganised and worrying about whether something will break.

I’ve allocated a drawer for the equipment but I don’t want it to just float about in there – the lenses tend to roll around and things could get knocked about, which would be worse than keeping them in the small camera bag. I heard about foam inserts you can buy for tool boxes and I wondered if it would be possible to create a similar thing for my photography gear. This led me to The Case Farm, who make foam inserts for drawers that you can customise yourself. As you can probably guess from all the photos I’ve shared so far, that’s the option I went for!

Here’s how I created a custom drawer insert for my important equipment:

STEP 1 – PLAN

Measure your drawer and order a foam insert to fit the dimensions. Then you can lay out all the equipment you want to store in the drawer on top of the foam, leaving a suitable gap of ‘padding’ between each item of at least 1-2cm.

STEP 2 – DRAW

Draw around the items with a marker to give you an outline to cut around. If you were using the insert for tools, you may be able to cut directly around the tool with a craft knife, but I thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to use a knife that close to my camera gear!

STEP 3 – CUT

Use a craft knife to cut through the layers of foam to create a ‘pocket’ space for the items. A tip here is to measure the depth that you want the item to sit at and then lengthen the cutting blade on the craft knife to that depth – but please be super-careful if you do this, as there’ll be more of the blade exposed than usual.

STEP 4 – PEEL

Peel away the layers to create the space for your item. I found it useful to use a metal ruler (take care when doing this) to help me lift up the edge and wiggle it into the layers of foam. The I could use my fingers to peel away the rest of the foam. I then trimmed off any less-than-neat internal edges.

STEP 5 – CHECK DEPTH

Check the depth against the item you’re planning to store in the space. If it needs to sit deeper, you can carry on cutting down into the space with the craft knife. I was going for an 8-layers depth for the cameras so I needed to do this in stages. It’s much easier to peel a couple of layers at a time than to try to do 8 at once.

STEP 6 – ORGANISE

Once all the holes are cut out, you can push the foam insert into the drawer and add all your equipment. Ta-da! Everything is safely stored, neatly organised and ready to use.

TOP TIP 1

You can store cables and plugs by cutting holes or loops into the foam and winding the cables into the gaps. I find it so much nicer to store cables in this way rather than having them tangled up in a laptop bag or tucked in that dusty space behind my computer.

TOP TIP 2

Add a deeper hole beneath the shape you’ve cut to store hard-drives, recording gear and disk-drives so that you can store their corresponding cable underneath the item. That way you’ll always have the right cable at hand so that you can use the hardware easily.

TOP TIP 3

Add finger holes beside flat items that might otherwise be hard to get hold of. This will make it easier to lift items out of the foam inserts and means you can keep the pocket spaces ‘tight’ around items to protect them and keep them securely in place.

That’s such a pleasing result, isn’t it? I love how it’s so much easier to find the items I need – there’s no more fumbling at the bottom of camera bags or pulling tangled cables out of drawers to get to my equipment. But most of all, I’m so pleased to know that nothing is rolling around, being crushed or getting damaged when I close the drawer, which is a huge relief.

There’s no limit to what you can store using these foam inserts. Although I initially only planned to make storage for my photography equipment and important tech gear, I’ve made an extra one for our printmaking tools too. They don’t need to be kept particularly safe (although some rollers and lino cutters are not cheap) but it’s so much easier to keep them organised this way. Do you have a hobby that would benefit from this type of storage too? Maybe jewellery making tools, metal embossing gear or a pyrography kit?

Let me know how you like to store your important tech and keep your equipment safe. And if you have any tips for storing cables and accessories etc please let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear your ideas.

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How have you found working from home? Have you actually enjoyed it a little more than going into the office? Have you got more work done in your distraction-free home? Would you like to continue working from home in the future? If you’ve become a fan of the work from home laptop lifestyle over the past year, perhaps now’s the time to really commit to it and create a home office for yourself…

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Go on, you can admit it – there are bonuses to WFH aren’t there? Such as having no commute, working in your comfy clothes, getting a cuppa whenever you fancy and taking a break at 10:30 every morning for Popmaster on Radio 2 – am I right?? But what we haven’t enjoyed quite so much is the lack of space (and sometimes privacy) of not having a dedicated home office. Many of us have been working on dining tables, on desks tucked under the stairs and even on laptrays on our beds. It’s comfy, sure, but it’s not the most productive way to work.

So today I’m exploring some home office options that you can easily add to your garden to give you the space and peace you need while working from home. Perhaps you’ve even had a change of job over the past year and needed to go freelance or to start up your own indie business. Both of these activities will no doubt be improved if you can take your business off the kitchen table and set up a dedicated space for you to work.

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LOG CABINS

A neighbour of ours has recently had a log-cabin installed in their garden and I couldn’t quite believe how quickly it appeared. One morning a truck pulled up and only a few hours later the roof was on and they could start using their new home office straight away. Okay, I’m sure not all log cabins are as easy to install: it’ll probably depend on the size and complexity of the design, but it seemed to just slot together like a big Lego kit and was finished no time at all. Although many showrooms are closed at the moment, you can still find log cabins for sale online and once it’s been delivered and professionally installed all you have to do is move in your desk and start working.

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Log cabins are a great option if you want a more permanent home office; one that’s perhaps insulated or with electrics installed so that you can work outside in all weathers and at any time of day. They can also be made to much larger sizes than a regular shed, which is ideal if you’ve started a business and need to make products or keep stock in your home office as well as working at a desk. I’ve even seen log cabins converted into unique tiny homes on Airbnb (subject to planning regulations, of course) so it would have a potential future use if you ever go back to working at your company’s HQ when it’s safe to do so.

CARAVANS

How many of us have caravans or campervans sitting on the driveway that aren’t being used at the moment? While holidays are off the cards, why not use the space as your home office? Or, if you’re anything like me, buy a really really old caravan that’ll never go anywhere but that will live in your back garden as a cute home office. When I was living in the world’s smallest 1 bedroom bungalow I desperately needed some space for a home office. I was making products that I sold online and I was working as a freelance writer. So when I saw an old Alpine Sprite caravan for sale for £100, I snapped it up.

I was still road-worthy at the time but it has since moved to it’s final parking spot – it’s fenced into the garden of my new home! It’s watertight, has a table that I can work at and space to store everything I needed for my business. Plus, it’s in a lovely sunny spot I the garden, surrounded by plants and I can open the front window up wide to listen to the birds. Since moving to our new home, I have a home office indoors in the box room, but it’s still nice to work outside from time to time. We also use it for craft projects and for modelmaking with Jim Parkyn.

SHEDS

If you’ve not got much of a budget for creating a home office space, maybe you already have the building you need in your garden? Do you have an old shed? It doesn’t really matter what size or style it is, as long as there’s a roof and a window, you can easily give it a makeover to turn it into a usable outdoor office. The thing to prioritise over decorating or flooring is making sure that the building is sturdy and watertight. So check it over carefully and replace any rotting timbers, renew the felt on the roof and give it a fresh coat of protective garden paint.

Then you can begin to tackle the interior. You might want to clad out the walls with plywood to give you a more finished officey-vibe but you could also just paint the inside of the shed walls in a light or bright colour to instantly transform it into somewhere you would be happy to work. Add offcuts of vinyl flooring or carpet and use solar-powered lights to illuminate the interior. Making use of an existing shed or summerhouse is a good low-cost solution for working outside in the spring and summer, but when the weather cools down and the days get darker you’ll probably want to migrate back inside the house!

What do you think of these ideas for creating a home office in your garden? What are you currently using as your work-from-home base? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to hear your tips for creating an office space at home.

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I’ve always thought that the space inside cupboards doors is a wasted opportunity. They could be used for storage, to keep important things to hand, or could even just be painted with a bright tone to add a pop of colour to the room. Sure, I’ve used those over-door hooks (that never really fit and take a chunk out of the door frame!) to hold coats and I’ve even tried pocket organisers inside my wardrobe to hold shoes etc, but it all seems a bit ‘flappy’ and not particularly aesthetically pleasing either!

Which is why I decided to make the most of the inside of the understairs cupboard by transforming to the door into a ‘doorganiser’ (thanks to my husband for the pun)! It’s simply a space to hold anything you need to find easily and to keep your essential notes and shopping lists in one place. You can create this storage zone inside the doors of any built-in alcove cupboards, under the stairs or even on the kitchen door. As long as there’s no chance of anyone getting injured or items getting damaged, you can choose to create a door organiser wherever you like.

Chalkboard paint is really useful for creating a surface you can draw and write on, or you can simply add a physical calendar and a roll of paper if you’d prefer to use a brighter colour paint. I’ve teamed up with home improvement experts ManoMano to show you how to revamp your cupboard doors and make this useful family organiser yourself. 

I love to make use of things you’d usually find in a skip, so I never throw anything away. You can see more of my upcycled storage projects on The Handy Mano blog, including a bathroom cabinet made from pallet wood. I rummaged in the shed to find some items to repurpose for this project, including an old piece of guttering and some leftover copper pipe from our bathroom renovation. You can use anything you have to hand – a piece of pallet wood to create a narrow shelf, empty tubs to hold chalk and pens, an old broom handle, and so on.

Here’s how I transformed my door into a handy space for keeping my family’s activities and items organised:

YOU WILL NEED

• Chalkboard paint
• Paintbrush or roller
• Sandpaper
• Old guttering and leftover guttering clips
• Old copper pipe and pipe clips or wooden doweling
• Hand saw
• Coloured or metallic spray paint
• Screws and screwdriver

STEP 1

If your door is quite lightweight, you can use a screwdriver to remove the door from the frame so that it’s easier to work on it. Alternatively, you could simply paint the door in position if you wish. Just make sure to cover the floor and surrounding areas to avoid drips and mess.

STEP 2

Sand down the surface of the door to provide a ‘key’ before painting with chalkboard paint. Make sure you wipe away the dusty residue from sanding before you start to paint.

STEP 3

Add two or three thin coats of chalkboard paint, allowing each layer to dry completely between coats. Follow the instructions on the chalkboard paint you’re using, as some paints require sanding between coats.

STEP 4

To create a shelf or ‘pocket’ for holding tape and chalkboard sponges etc you can use an old piece of guttering. Measure the width of your door and subtract a few centimetres from each side to ensure that the door can still close once fitted. Cut the guttering to length and then sand down any rough edges on the guttering so that it is completely smooth.

STEP 5

Spray paint the gutter in your choice of colour. I chose metallic copper to match the copper pipe I’m going to use to add a roll of paper. Again, it’s better to do multiple fine coats of spray paint (allowing each layer to dry) rather than one thick coat, which may create drips. Spray paint any other handy holding items like little buckets or pots with the same paint.

STEP 6

Screw the gutter clips into the door where the panel is thickest and then pop the guttering into place inside the supporting clips.

STEP 7

Cut a piece of copper pipe or wooden doweling to the right width for the door. Sand down the surface (which makes copper really shiny!) and then seal with paint or, if you’re using copper, clear spray varnish. Screw pipe fixings into place on the thick part of the door panelling. Add a roll of paper and little buckets or hanging pots to hold chalk and pens.

STEP 8

Use a glue gun to attach a bulldog clip to the door using hot glue. This will hold the end of the paper roll in place, ready for you to write out to-do lists and make a note of your food shopping.

STEP 9

Use a white chalkboard pen to draw a grid on one section of the door. This can be days of the week or a monthly calendar. Then you can use normal chalk to add activities and plans, as this can easily be rubbed off with a dry sponge at the end of the week.

The possible uses of the doorganiser are endless. Children will love scribbling and drawing on a blackboard, so you could always use non-toxic chalkboard paint on the inside of their toy cupboard. Teenagers could create an organising space on their bedroom door to hold their revision timetable and a small enclosed shelf (like the spice rack I used in my office) to hold textbooks. And adults could keep track of office tasks while working from home by adding a planner to the door of their alcove desk.

I hope you enjoy DIYing this family organiser and please share photos with me on Instagram – I’d love to see what you create so please tag me @cassiefairy.

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