It’s important to seek out the help of experts as we adjust to a new reality and usher in a new era of post-pandemic design. We were eager to hear from inspirational home designers about how to adjust your space in this period.
Q. How can you stay sane while at home?
Q: I think things haven’t changed much in many ways for me. I’ve always been at home writing, so I’m probably well-placed for a lockdown. However, it is unlikely that I would have two teenage boys and my husband at home every day. I’ve stopped watching the news 24/7, even though I was a trained journalist. I now make sure to get dressed every day and apply makeup. It would mean that I could stay in bed until lunch if I didn’t do this. Although I wish I could claim that regular exercise kept me sane, I have trouble finding the motivation.
Q. How can one arrange their home to allow for extended stays?
A: First, determine what you need out of your space. Keep in mind that it will not be this way forever. If you have to move the coffee table to make space for a YouTube exercise class or allow your kids to build a huge fort out of cardboard boxes, do so. If you have to create a homework area, move the coffee table. You can move the sofa to place a table near the window. This will give you more space if you have a coffee table.
Next, you must be able to distinguish between workday and evening. You can use some of the commute time to get rid of work stuff. This includes the laptop, paperwork and paperwork that you can put under the table or at the sofa’s end. It is a great way to improve your mood. Then, spend the remainder of your commute having a drink or a cocktail to switch from work to home. This ritual has become a regular part of our lives. We start each day with a tray of drinks and then a bowl of olives (usually canned). Then we have a few crisps. There are many crisps. You can have your cocktail hour while the kids watch TV if you have them. This allows everyone to take a break and regroup for dinner.
To make your work environment more professional, take your stuff out of the box each morning and place it on the table.
Research also shows that it is important to surround yourself with happy memories and family photos. So, add some of these items to your new desk.
Avoid working on the couch or bed if you can. They will cause work vibes to build up and make it difficult to relax at night.
Q: What changes do you see in home design after the pandemic? What are your predictions for the future design industry?
A: Employers must recognize that working remotely is possible, practical, and does not harm productivity. You might also see people running back to the office and refusing to work from home. I don’t think so, but I believe we will finally see beautiful, well-designed office furniture that looks equally happy at home and work. Office chairs, for example, are currently too shabby and uncomfortable. You can reupholster them in any fabric you choose. There may be more dining tables with cable management and tables that double as dressing tables. Multifunctional furniture is key. Our homes are multifunctional enough that we need furniture to match.
Multifunctional furniture is key. Our homes are multifunctional already; furniture must catch up.
Q: You stated on your blog that your philosophy was “Your home should tell you your story.” Your home should make you smile every time you walk through the front door.
A: At the time of writing, I think there is chaos and confusion as people adapt to having everyone in the house at the same moment and staying for the entire day instead of just coming and going. Perhaps new home designs will incorporate more natural light via skylights and internal windows in the future. Our lifestyles will need to change to accommodate multifunctional spaces. Perhaps we will start to buy less and spend more. Open-plan living may be out of style. It’s fine if you need to watch your children, but when more people are working and living in the same space, you crave walls that divide and allow you to listen to music while one works.
Q. Can you tell us how we can create that visual story?
Q: We will spend more time in our homes if we want them to look good. This means that we have to decide what we like and what is our style. Ask yourself how colours make you feel, and then decide if it is the right colour for your room. Vintage adds character and gives a room a unique look. You can also paint furniture that isn’t expensive to make something unique. My new book. Mad about the House, 101 Interior Design Solutions (Pavilion PS20). I suggest that you ask six questions before you begin any scheme: who, what? When? Where? Why and how? Who is doing what, where and when? What are you doing to make this room better? How will you pay for it? A couple with a child will have different answers than a couple with twentysomethings or two pensioners. These things should be considered before you even touch a paint chip. This will give you a good idea of your goals.
Q: How can you balance beauty and functionality? Which pieces can combine both?
A: If we think back to William Morris, everything should be beautiful and useful in an ideal world. Another truth is that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Every person’s definition of beauty will differ. You can decide what you need from your sofa to help you choose the best one. A person might want a modular sofa that they can relax on while watching films, but another may prefer something that is more upright and allows them to have a conversation.
Some pieces can be used for both books and mirrors. A console table with drawers is versatile. You can use it as a desk or dressing table, and the laptop can be stored in the drawer at night. Bookshelves can be used for books and displaying photos and other objects. A coffee table can be used for games with the family or to place your drinks. A stool can double as a side table or extra seating. The Saarinen Tulip Table is a stunning dining table and a great workplace. The Wegner wishbone chair can be used for both dinner and spreadsheet wrestling.
Q: What two adjectives would describe your interior style right now? These adjectives had changed from the ones you used when you first started?
A: My style was always described as urban glamour. I don’t think I’ve gone too far from this description, although it may be more vintage elegance now.
