Posts Tagged ‘Work’
Work At Home Tips For Scheduling Your Time Effectively
When making the decision to work at home one must learn how to handle their time effectively. It is most likely high on the list of issues that can damper the positive experience of being able to work from your home.
Do not fear; this can be managed both effectively and with ease! With a few simple tips you can learn how to manage your time and get the most bang for your buck out of a typical eight hour work day.
The first tip would be to have a schedule and stick with it. Don’t have a schedule “in your head,” write it down! We tend to stick to things better if we have them in writing. Also, make your schedule realistic for you and your family.
Don’t write that you are going to spend four hours on the phone between 2pm and 6pm if you’re two year old gets up from her nap everyday at 3pm. You are setting yourself up for failure and will get easily discouraged and of course that’s the last thing you want! So, take some quiet time and jot down a schedule that works for you and everyone around you.
Something else that also may be beneficial when managing your time is not to procrastinate! We have already written our schedule right? So, if we have scheduled paperwork for the first two hours of our day try to complete that task within the time scheduled.
That means try not to chat on the phone, watch television, or listen to your ipod. It means get the paperwork done. You will be so happy that task is accomplished and you can move on to the next task at hand. At the end of the day you will be extremely proud of what you have accomplished.
The next tip that will effectively help manage your time would be to enlist the help of a spouse, significant other, child, neighbors, or actually anyone who you may come in contact with on a given day. You’ll want to explain to them that even though you were given the luxury of being able to work at home, you are still working and serious about making money.
Asking a spouse to field phone calls or take care of the children wanting their mommy or daddy can make a big difference. Tell significant others or neighbors that you are working and will contact them when you are free.
The last tip is having an office with a DOOR. This may sound simple but it makes all the difference. You need a quiet place to work and focus. If you are distracted by outside noises that will always affect your productivity.
Another idea is to put a simple sign outside your office door and in some cases outside your front door stating that you are working and do not care to be disturbed and will contact others after your stated work hours are over.
Of course there are probably many more tips out there than can help effectively manage your day but the above four tips will definitely get you started. If you implement the tips above and stay serious and focused you will definitely be on your way to a positive and successful experience working at home.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting For Mood Part V – Daypart Scene Designs
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part V – Daypart Scene Designs
In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I draw on my experience working with some of London’s top interior design companies to describe current best practices in this exciting area of design.
In my previous article (Lighting for Mood Part IV), I described the basics of pre-set lighting design. In this article I talk about a new movement, in use today by certain prestigious interior design companies in London: “daypart scene” lighting design.
As mentioned in my previous article, the Interior Design Company will often present the client with a simple switch plate with just four buttons. In daypart scene lighting designs, an interior design company will designate each scene for use during a specific part of the day. Scene one is usually bright, to be used on a dull day to compensate for London’s often-overcast skies. The interior design company will have adjusted most of the lights to full brightness and some of the very discreet effects of feature lighting, which only work when light levels are low, may even be programmed to ‘off’. Early evening often starts at 4pm in London during the winter– and this daypart is ideal for scene two, which features a slightly lower level of light. Interior design companies will select low voltage halogen beams for this scene, to give a crisp and fresh look to a room. Scene two’s task lighting is left slightly higher, so that cooking can still take place in the kitchen, for example – perfect for London, as homeowners and staff often prepare for soiree guests to arrive at this time.
For entertaining, scene three is suitably atmospheric. The interior design company will have pre-programmed a dimmer general light setting and will have raised the level of feature lighting to increase the contrast. This can also be effective when the client’s brief requires the interior design company to create dual-purpose rooms. For example, sometimes the kitchen needs to be transformed into a dining area (often the case in some smaller London flats), and lighting scene three can allow pots and pans to disappear into the background. For special occasions or after dinner, scene four can be more moody still, introducing a sense of cinema. Interior design companies will sometimes double-label scene four as an economy setting, providing night lights in a hallway for example.
This completes my series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood.” I hope these articles have helped you understand how interior design companies in London can tailor lighting effects to suit and enhance our favourite moods.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting For Mood Part III – Dimmable Designs
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part III – Dimmable Designs
Interior Design Companies understand the term “mood” to mean a barely-definable, abstract quality that makes us feel “in tune” with our surroundings. In London, lighting is often a critical part of an interior design company’s toolbox in creating the perfect mood. In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I will draw on my experience working with some of London’s top interior design companies to describe current best practices in this exciting area of design.
The principle way in which interior design companies will control lighting is by dimming the various levels in relation to each other. General lighting, whether in the form of table lamps, up-lights or down-lights, should be controlled separately from feature lighting – especially in older London residences where there is a danger of overloading electrical circuits. By day, relative contrasts are less marked, especially given London’s rainy weather patterns. When general lighting is at its maximum strength, interior design companies try to make sure it achieves a fairly even light throughout a room. By night, interior design companies will try to create atmosphere and mood by including a feature to dim general lighting to a low level and raise feature lighting. For maximum effect, interior design companies will make sure the contrast between different light sources is high. Alternatively, some London clients request a soft, inviting light, similar to that produced by candlelight; under these circumstances, the interior design company must ensure that the contrast between feature and general lighting is less marked.
Every interior design company knows that mood and atmosphere are very subjective and impact how we feel. After a hectic day in a brightly lit London office, coming home to a softly lit environment can have a very calming effect, helping us to relax and reducing stress. Alternatively, interior design companies may be asked to create an energetic and dynamic atmosphere – perhaps for a new London nightclub or classy restaurant. This requires lighting that is more dramatic, creating positive areas of brightness and darkness. While light is the key to changing mood, professional interior design companies know that the right levels of contrast are the means to success, achieved by controlling each lighting effect individually.
In the next article in this series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood,” I will discuss pre-set scene lighting.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part II – Fine-Tuning
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part II – Fine-Tuning
Interior design companies understand the term “mood” to mean a barely-definable, abstract quality that makes us feel “in tune” with our surroundings. In London, lighting is often a critical part of an interior design company’s toolbox in creating the perfect mood. In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I will draw on my experience working with some of London’s Top Interior Design Companies to describe current best practices in this exciting area of design.
Mood and atmosphere are the ‘special effects’ of any lighting scheme, but the subtle levels required can only be determined at the fine-tuning stage. Once the various layers of lighting have been selected, interior design companies focus on creating a balance that can produce visual harmony. This is especially important in London, where outdoor gloom can often make indoor spaces appear flat or dull. The approach used by interior design companies is similar to that involved with layering textures and fabrics when decorating. Uplighting may need to be combined with down-lighting, or table light with spotlight, in just the right proportions. Some interior design companies will employ specialist lighting consultants to advise and guide the process.
The requirements will vary from room to room. For a living room, London interior design companies often recommend table lamps for general lighting and to ensure that guests are seen in a soft and flattering light. These can be combined with low-voltage feature lights to illuminate artwork or favourite antiques. In a kitchen, interior design companies realise that lamps are not practical for general lighting. In newer London residences, hygiene and cleanliness are key selling points, and kitchens require non-porous washable surfaces. As a result, interior design companies will generally prefer to select down-lighters, wall-washing the front of the kitchen units, or up-lighters, which provide a soft indirect light. These light sources can be combined with under-cabinet lighting for task light and – particularly popular in London today – perhaps a pin-spot over a kitchen island for added focus.
Interior design companies will often be asked to redesign bathrooms and bedrooms, since these rooms will often confer the most added value in London’s competitive property markets. Bathrooms require flexible lighting that is energizing in the morning and calming at night, with task lights for reading or around a mirror. In a bedroom, where there is less need for overall illumination, interior design companies love to make the bed itself the focus. One technique is to make the bed appear to float on a pool of light by installing rope-lights which can be subtly concealed under the bed platform.
In the next article in this series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood,” I will reveal the secrets of dimmable lighting.
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting For Mood Part I – Introduction
Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood Part I – Introduction
Interior design companies understand the term “mood” to mean a barely-definable, abstract quality that makes us feel “in tune” with our surroundings. In London, many interior design companies will focus on lighting, more than any other element, because it allows the design team to manipulate the way rooms look and feel. London has so many lighting boutiques and showrooms that it is often no problem to find exactly the right light fixture or effect to meet any interior design need. In this series which I call “Lighting for Mood,” I will draw on my experience working with some of London’s top interior design companies to describe some best practices in this exciting area of design.
Light is all-important. For example, if an interior design company has a brief to create a room in which guests will feel relaxed, light can achieve this. Alternatively, if the client desires a space that is exciting and stimulating, then light will make it happen. Light reflects the way we choose to live, and professional interior design companies can even use it to change a mood from morning to evening.
Most rooms today have several different functions, and this is especially true in some smaller and more modern London residences, which tend to tighter and more compact. Lighting can enable these types of spaces to meet multiple needs more effectively. For example, an Interior Design Company may be asked to turn a working kitchen, with practical task lighting for cooking, into an intimate super venue. Alternatively, a London client may request that a child-friendly play area be turned into a sophisticated living space by night. Light holds the key to these types of stunning transformations, and professional interior design companies have all sorts of tips and tricks on how to achieve the desired effects.
In the next article in my series on “Understanding How Interior Design Companies Work: Lighting for Mood,” I will go into detail on different types of rooms and I’ll reveal how London’s top designers will fine-tune lighting approaches to achieve stunning results.