10 Tips On How To Design A Home Office That Is Kid Friendly

With the Covid-19 global pandemic and employees being asked to stay home and work from home, and as a mom or dad who has worked from home since forever, the struggle to find a peaceful place to work from within your home is real. While you may want to deliver the best to your clients, you may also want your kids to not suddenly pop in front of the screen, especially when you are in a meeting or between that important video conference that might make or break a deal.

In this post, we thought we would share with you a few pointers on how to make your home office a place that is functional for both you and your kids. However, before we start, we also might as well mention that at Ghardesigner, we have created a complete package on HOME OFFICE DESIGN that can be customized as per your requirements. To have access to a free consultation, you can call us on (+91)88262-80794.

1. Colours – Though we may have said that interior design is all about experimenting, a proper home office should typically be a room with neutral shades and monotones. The bright and fresh tones will not only make you feel energized but will also reduce distraction as you start working.
2. Focal Wall – A focal wall with fun wallpaper or a contrasting colour of your choice will add a special touch to your home office thus creating a happy place for you to work from. Believe it or not, it will also make you bond better with your kids.
3. Bulletin Boards – Bulletin Boards are a great way to flaunt your tasks-at-hand and also a great place to hang your kids’ creative works. Place your bulletin boards on the accent wall so that it is easy to view and encourages you to get work done. Also, when your family and kids can see what tasks you need to achieve, chances are you will finish them off without interruption from them.
4. Comfy Rug – A comfortable area on the floor with a patterned or beautifully designed rug thrown in to make space for your kids to play in the room where you are working will help you keep an eye on your child while you get some work done too. Also, make sure to throw some toys on that rug so that your kids can have fun with their imagination.
5. Storage Space – Having an organized space is an absolute necessity when it comes to working from home. Especially with kids around, organizing to work efficiently could be quite a task sometimes. This is where having a great storage comes into picture. You want storage for your office supplies, paper-works, toy storage or any other items that your business might need. Consider having wall cabinets above your desk that is out of reach of your kids or if that isn’t possible, install drawers with a proper locking mechanism.
6. Accessibility – Similar to storage space, you would want your daily need items to be placed such that they are easily accessible to you and at the same time out of reach of your kids. Kids can get quite messy and having essentials away from them is very important. Who would know that better than a Mom? Thankfully, today there are a lot of options available for systems that have add-ons like pencil holders, sticky note pads, and other office related storage.
7. Plan the Organization – One of the most important tips is to plan the organization of your home office in such a way that it meets your specific needs. Imagine intricate things like where to place your printer, how many and what kind of bookshelves would work best for you, what kind of cabinets would you require and where would you place them, filing systems you would need etc. Planning for these things and designing your office around them will always prove to be effective and fruitful.
8. Craft Station – Letting your kids have fun while they are learning helps them understand and learn better and also makes your work day a lot easier. Creating a craft station in your home office that inspires your kids to be creative is always a perfect idea to keep them occupied while you are getting work done. Consider having crayons, colouring books, paper crafts, and other craft supplies that they may enjoy engaging in but also make sure to not have anything messy in your home office.
9. Roll-Out Bins – Having roll-out bins for storing your kids toys is always a great idea. While you do not want your home office to look like a complete playroom, you also want your kid’s toys to be great, quiet activities that take a while for them to play with giving you the much needed peace. Consider placing puzzle games, dress-up toys etc in your bin. These will serve your purpose best.
10. Snack Station – While some people may not like food in their office, having a designated snack station or desk for your kids to have light snacks while you are working and they are engaged with their activities, is a serious game changer. It will not only reduce the amount of times you need to head to the kitchen but will also help reduce the mess easily. Use lidded snack bowls to avoid spillage and fill them with your kid’s favourite snacks.

We hope you’ve found some inspiration on how to design your home office making it kid friendly. And, like we said, if you need any assistance, we at Ghardesigner are only a call away.

8 Feng Shui Tips to Attract Prosperity

Feng Shui is an ancient practice that approaches space and energy for emotional as well as mental comfort. Though a lot of us may be a little skeptical about the effectiveness of feng shui, but there is obviously logic behind the practice that actually makes a lot of sense. No matter how huge or small your space may be, feng shui is something that works for practically any space. The whole point of this ancient method of interior design is to eliminate any negative and bad energy from your house so that you have a happier and more comfortable life.

Here are 8 Feng Shui tips we at Ghardesigner recommend to attract prosperity into your life.

1. Good Air Quality Indoors –

Fresh air fights toxicity in the home. Imagine stepping out and breathing in, deeply taking clean natural air. You want to replicate that same feeling inside the house too. It is therefore, the number one rule of feng shui to keep your windows open even if it is just for a couple of hours every day so that fresh air can constantly flow through the home. One other way of achieving this is to add house plants that act as excellent air purifiers. Plants like Bamboo Palm, Barberton Daisy, English Ivy, Snake Plant etc. not only help control temperature in your house, but also make any space look beautiful giving a special touch to your décor. Just be careful not to place them too close to your bed.

• Bed Placement: Location –

According to traditional feng shui, ascertaining the position of your bed is the most important rule. Ideally, the bed should be placed such that your feet are not pointing towards the door directly. Doing so would make your energy flow away instead of keeping it focused and stable. Also, traditional Indian culture suggests that the bodies of the deceased leave the morgue through the feet first. Therefore, sleeping with your feet pointing towards the door not only brings bad luck but bad health as well. Though this logic may sound horrifying, but many feng shui aspects suggest such rules that are based on ancient but a proven approach. Having your head facing towards the east is believed to bring in good energy and health.

• Gold Coins: The Wealth Component –

Feng Shui believes that in order to attract more money and wealth, you need to be able to see more money visually. Feng Shui gold coins when kept near your money storage or in your wallet represents actual cash thus bringing in wealth in abundance. This is one of the most widely accepted feng shui practices in the world today because, well, who doesn’t want money? Another way to use the gold coin is to place a few of them in the southeastern most corner of your home or the main living area to activate the wealth energy. It is also advised to always carry a red wallet with you wherever you go because red is the colour of fortune.

• Placement of Mirrors –

Mirrors are believed to be the smartest attractors of desired energy in your home. They not only make your space look bigger and brighter but also correct any design mistakes that you may have made. Randomly placed mirrors though visually appealing are not always a good idea as they may often create bad energy in the house thus contributing to bad relationship between couples and bad mental health. The best way to bring luck is to have a mirror placed at the main entry but not facing towards the main door because mirrors so placed are bad feng shui. Another bad feng shui is two mirrors facing towards each other as they bounce energy constantly causing chaos in the house. Mirrors facing towards the bed such that the reflection of the bed falls on the mirror is another bad feng shui that should be avoided at all cost because this again causes conflict between couples.

• Flowing Water –

Flowing water in the form of a fountain symbolizes the flow of finances and abundance, according to feng shui. A fountain placed at your home’s exterior in the direction of the Southeast or east proves to be an excellent energy purifier thus giving support towards achievement of prosperity. The key is to place 27 coins in the fountain to activate the water energy with the help of the metal element. The fountain should be set up in such a manner that the water is always flowing without any leaks. Be sure to always keep the fountain clean and the flow of water directed towards the front door of the house to reap maximum benefits.

• An Inviting Front Door or Entry –

They say ‘first impression is the last impression’. And, the entrance of your home is the creator of the first impression of the experience one is going to have in your home. Therefore, it is very important to add inviting elements to the entry like potted plants, beautiful doormats and clean and functional doors that do not jam. This helps welcome positive energy, and eliminates negativity from your home. However, do not overcrowd the entrance with too many elements. The front door is often known as the ‘mouth of chi’ in feng shui lingo which means universal energy and therefore a good front door has tremendous power to attract a lot of goodness into your life.

• De-cluttered House –

Any broken object or dysfunctional stuff that requires plumbing, especially, is the biggest contributor towards a financial clog in the house. Therefore, it is very important that such objects be either disposed off or be replaced or fixed to keep the good and positive energy flowing in the house. If there are any objects in the house that are no longer useful, they should be removed immediately in order to have a clutter free home or office space. It not only promotes the flow of energies but also attracts prosperity, opportunities and money. It may surprise you to learn that clutter is actually linked with depression and increased stress which means it greatly affects the quality of life of the residents of that house. The key is to start by de-cluttering anything that is expired, empty, dirty or wilted and cannot be fixed immediately.

• Well Organized Kitchen –

A kitchen is the most important part of a home. It not only provides for food, but also nourishes life. According to feng shui, it is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. One of the most vital rules of feng shui is to not have your kitchen anywhere close to either the front door or the back door because that would cause energy to escape easily. The food we eat gives us energy and therefore, it is very important that the food be prepared in a well organized and harmonious kitchen for it to provide healing qualities. A good feng shui kitchen should be simple and not overloaded with gadgets. It should have proper lighting, be airy and spacious as well as clean and welcoming. A good feng shui kitchen is an excellent investment for your health and wel-being.

Top Trending Interior Design by GharDesigner

Knowingly or unknowingly, over the past one year our designs have been increasingly trending and have been recognized as the top hot cake in the interior design arena. Upon research, we were delightfully surprised to see the GharDesigner aesthetics making a streamline comeback along with new interior design trends crystallize. Read on to discover our take on the notable interior design trends by GharDesigner that are here to stay for a while.

1. Maximalism:

Don’t you think we have all had enough of the limitations that come along with the minimalism style of things? Let’s face it, there’s no challenge in designing if there’s no exuberance involved. We have already started to see a major shift towards vibrancy, rich spaces and unique structures. Maximalism allows freedom to experiment with interesting decorative items that appeal to the eyes and are cohesive, contrasting colour schemes and patterns. ‘The more the merrier’ is the new mantra with increasing number of clients willing to follow suit to this trend.

• Painted Floor Tiles:

The long lost linoleum can now be transformed heavily impacting the entire look of the interiors. One of the easiest home trends to implement today is painting the floor for an instantly upgraded look. Painting floors make sense because not only are they affordable but also unique and quick to implement.

• The Return of Black:

They say that one can never go wrong with black and rightly so. Black is rapidly taking over the interior design world and it is definitely not possible to ignore the impact it instantaneously creates. From black furniture to black accent walls, finishes and fixtures, black is pretty much everywhere today. Interior designers across the world are of the view that while white makes a room appear bigger, black makes it appear smaller. However, we at GharDesigner consider it as the most common misconception. Black when paired with light or contrasting colours creates a powerful statement and helps enhance the size and appearance of any space.

• Bring Nature Indoors:

With the world gravitating towards sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyle, clients are increasingly becoming sensible towards use of warmth and natural elements in their homes and work spaces. Stone materials, granite, marble and pebbles along with handcrafted and recycled furniture and fixtures are making a unique trend in interior designing assignments. People are also happily incorporating DIY crafts to their homes which are made out of recycled waste.

• Statement Ceiling and Floor:

One trend that has made a special entrance in the interior design world is the statement ceiling and floor. This trend can be incorporated in the form of bold colours, geometric patterns or even eccentric patterns for a unique effect and look. It is not only a great way to make a statement but also helps the interior design look instantly amped up. Wallpapered ceilings are also making quite a statement today. This fifth wall décor draws attention up there thereby creating an unexpected yet interesting look.

• Earthy Colours:

There are a wide range of emotions that one can evoke through the choice of colours. Colours play a vital role in the overall design of any space and helps uplift one’s mood instantly.  The current trend allows for a ton of experimentation and earthy hues and tones are making a loud impact. Earthy colours not only enhance the décor of a house but also help bring out the natural beauty of the space. Some on trend earthy hues we at Ghardesigner love experimenting with are burnt orange, soft browns, greens and greys.

• Green Accents:

Modern homes today demand for a green boost to add energy to the décor. With nature taking the centre stage we at Ghardesigner are now trying our best to blur the lines between inside and outside thus making our designs one with nature. Green accents can be incorporated with the wise use of house plants and not only that, we stress on having a complete stunning green oasis or an indoor garden of sorts to create a verdant milieu.

• Colours- The New Neutrals:

Like we already mentioned before, maximalism is the new trend in interior design today. With colours hitting the floor and adding personality to any space, neutrals have become boring and bland. Colours are about being quirky, experimental and bold. We at Ghardesigner love to play around with bright prints, vintage accessories and unique coloured furniture. The key to achieving that perfect colourful interior design is to calm things down a bit and balance the rest of the room with some monochrome elements like rugs and blinds. What colours are dominating homes you ask? We say, from rich, moody hues to monochromatic bolds; it is all about what responds best to your emotions.

• Fat Furniture:

Inspired by the 1970s trend, geometric furniture conduce to sculptural statement pieces with their unexpected curved forms. Fat furniture creates a dramatic narrative by way of exaggeration thus forming a gallery like aesthetics. Huge armchairs, structured coffee tables, rounded sofas etc are making a statement in the interior scheme today. They bring a bit of whimsy and comfort into any space and are becoming favorites for couples to cuddle.

1. Statement Tiles:

Tiles when placed in a quirky arrangement make a wonderful statement. Textured tiles with variation add an interesting effect to the room. Tiled floors or feature walls offer great scope for creating an impact while bringing a heritage feel to the space. Popularly used in kitchens, bathrooms and living room, there are a lot of interesting shapes, sizes, patterns and colours to choose from to add depth, character and interest into any space. The key however is to stick to the theme of the room so that it enhances creating a striking focal point in the room. Remember, less is more when it comes to statement tiles. All designs shown here are the original copyright works of Ghardesigner.com experts. If you are someone who is looking for the best interior designer to design your dream house, please feel free to call us on (+91) 88262 80794.