We like in such skewed times, and we have a Virus to crown for it. The rapidly mutating and evolving virus is fast overtaking our immune systems, only time can tell us where this takes us for even the most well-intentioned keel is being brought to their knees. Staying home seems to be the only effective way to socially distance and keep out the Virus. It still is only seeming cause the virus can make its way into your home, through packaging materials, groceries, clothes and items we cannot completely do away with. Washing, sanitising and cleaning are absolutely necessary, as maybe building up the immunity and collaborating in true sense with the body’s defences. While we stay home, life has to go one. There is work to be done and things to accomplish not forgoing a body to take care of. How do our living spaces then singularly satisfy all our space requirements, morphing into a study, living, bedroom, gym, studio and every other thing?
In three words, Less is more.
In more words, here goes.
A home usually comprises on a kitchen, a dining, a couple of bedrooms, bathrooms, verandahs, balconies or terraces. Three months into the lockdown and while everyone seems to be converting their homes into effective workspaces Ive reached a conclusion that this must not be done at the cost of stripping the home of its living quality. For when work is hectic we escape to our homes and in a state of a lockdown when homes are hectic where do we run to? Our homes should still be an oasis no matter how dire the situation is, it is going to Each home is different with some being more spacious and others less spacious, some holding more people than others. As children vie for computers and need space that is well insulated from distracting adults and the adults need insulation from distracting children it is paramount for each person to get their own space to thrive physically in a digital world. Making homes a workplace is fine as a stop-gap arrangement, but to make the space work or rather into a workspace for months or years altogether is a different ball-game. Moving walls or constructing partitions may not be the most feasible option for most people, so the point of questioning comes to that of furniture.
As well-meaning offices are handing out budgets or allowances for buying office furniture to elicit maximum productivity from employees thereby justifying the pay checks doled out during work from home times. It would make major sense to not overflow a work environment all over the house. While it is extremely tempting to double up the dining table as a study table and the living couch to a work desk, its not great for mental health, for it pays to have a living space to unwind in, do yoga, refresh the mind with movies. While the kitchen remains the kitchen and cannot double up into any other zone, the bedrooms make for great convertible spaces. This way we are mostly doubling up the bedroom to a work space in the day and making sure with about half and hour winding up time to convert it to a sleep/work space. That way the living space, dining and kitchen spaces remain an oasis of calm to break out during an otherwise hectic work or study day. Partitioning of spaces will not be necessary, and if rooms are shared then additional sound insulation measures can easily be employed. Here are a few essentials for working from home, specifically the bed room!
A few furniture essentials for the convertible bedroom.
2. An Ergonomic chair – https://www.featherlitefurniture.com/products/office-chairs/optima-office-chairs
4. Storage – https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/sophisticated-murphy-beds/
5. Murphy bed+Desk+Storage – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5lzCzXR_38
While there are many vendors for the same, these are a few that I’d recommend. Besides, if with a few tweaks of hardware and a seasoned carpenter existing furniture can be easily transformed, an existing bed can be made a murphy bed and the like. Here’s a link to one vendor of a Murphy bed- http://www.theironmonger.in/
The huge advantage in transforming furniture or tucking the white elephant in the room, namely the bed into the wall is the floor space that is instantly available. For doing that much wanted stretches or simply to clean up the space well or doubling up the space for other activities, a lot can be done. Lesser the things and lesser the surfaces, easier it is to maintain high levels of sanity and sanity ;D. Terraces or balconies if one has an access to become absolutely pivotal to getting a sense of the sun, fresh air and oxygen if one is kindly bestowed with a green thumb with a flair for plants. Doing minimal and getting the maximum results is the order of the day. Exercise or movement is a great way to improve circulation and walking about from one room to another every once in an hour is prescribed by every health enthusiast of a fitness coach. Following motivated people who inspire healthy habits keeps the exuberance for good health going. Health is wealth after all. Apart from physical health one must ensure enough rest and relaxation for the mind, for that allocating space or time in space for the most part is a useful way to partition time in the mind. With a very terrible sleep hygiene I end up endlessly scrolling on my smart phone reading interesting articles late into the night and hence not having enough sleep. Gadgets with their blue lights affect the sleep cycle and contribute to poor sleep; having them out of your sight and space at prescribed hours is a timely intervention.
Being positive is a life mantra for most, optimists win in life following this motto and while we make our lives veer towards the positive, sometimes and mostly in this case testing negative is a huge positive and minus is the new plus!
p.s this blog features links that you may follow to get a gist of the ideas mentioned. For more pictorial references please follow me on Instagram @vedasri.co
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