Three Tips on Planning Your Work Space Wisely

I have been reading and thinking a lot lately about the way that I use space. There is much to be said for creating living and working environments that follow function over form. The emphasis in magazines and television is all about form – the right look, the right colors, the right design that will get the house sold, etc. But in reality, we live in spaces. We don’t aesthete in a space. (I totally just made that into a verb! awesome.)

So how to design a room to work for you and with you?

-Stand in each part of the room with your eyes closed and imagine what you feel like doing there. This has been key for me. What would I be doing here naturally? Is the light good, is the layout open? Does that make me want to hang out and talk? Where do I feel like sitting to think? What space makes me want to be quiet and relax (a space that is good for yoga and stretching, for instance)?

-Make a list of the things you do every single day, and design your space to accommodate those tasks. I make espresso every single day. Before I do anything else, I make espresso. Organizing the kitchen to minimize the amount of work it takes to make that espresso was surprisingly satisfying and pleasant.

-Think about the light. I spent some effort and a little money to manage the light in my workspace in a more useful fashion. For instance, I really like it dark at night. And I really like it bright to work. Making those two things a reality made my space feel incredibly comfortable.

What tips have you found for making your work space or design space a productive place? If you got em, share em!