What's the best kind of rug to stand up to chair wheels? In other words, is there any comparable alternative to a standard plastic chair mat for protection of my lovely floor?
idk if you ordered a chair. i found a comfotable decently priced office chair that i WFH in 2x/week and will game in afterwork by serching "task chair" on amazon. I like to sit cross legged and like the ability to recline. cushion matters the 2nd most (after being able to cross my legs). I dont look fo r lumbar support since the pressure hurts my lower back and forced posture is painful to me. i love the task chairs so much i have them as my dining room table chairs cuz my partner and i play boardgames and will often time sit at the table for hours on end.
Exactly, that’s why I don’t get why in a large house with plenty of room you would sacrifice a full closet to make a dainty depressing little office nook.
I'm actually trying to move away from closed storage a bit. Sure, it's nice when you have to have some things that you don't actually want. Being able to shove them in somewhere and get them out of sight most of the time is nice. But I also think it can be very beneficial to be able to see a lot of the things you have at all times. Can help sussing out the things you don't need and don't want. I'm making myself a couple shelves, and will put them on a wall. One 80x100x50 cm dresser will be emptied, cloths, bed sheets etc.. And those will go on the shelf. I'll also likely get rid of the Plain white Ikea shelves and put the books on the new wood shelves. I'm likely putting a curtain in front of some, to be able to close them off when someone comes over. Also, being open will certainly have a positive effect on some things, that otherwise get a "cupboard smell" to them after a while. tl;dr while closed storage has it's benefits, I think having much of it can easily encourage hoarding. And for cloths etc. it's probably also somewhat detrimental.
Okay I stopped the video at 1:30 to just say this: I was feeling kinda miserable cause I'm old and creaky and in pain, and it's cold and the sun's already gone down and I'm sad, and then picturing those office pigeons and how pigeons are a bit like our co-workers, and well, thank you, Nick. Alright, now we continue.
If you can manage a small rescue dog of a certain age (puppies are too much to handle when bending down and lifting heavy wiggling things is out of the question), they will bring you joy, cuddles, kisses, and inter-species consternation every day. I am 68 and cranky and in pain but my rescue dogs rescued me and now I cannot go a single day without being showered with love. What a miracle are these delightful beasts in my age, after 20 years of living alone with no pets. What was I thinking?!?
i was VERY lucky that i had just created my ideal office/craft space right before covid hit. i was ready to work from home with a beautiful forest green and warm wood space and lots of art on the walls. it helped keep me sane
I would say a lot of this applies to a craft room as well, unless you have my all time favorite solution. I once had a Sewing room that could only be reached by going through my closet. The point was that I never felt the need to tidy up between work sessions 😂😂😂
I used to think the same. Lately though, I have wondered, who are we trying to impress? Now I just get a vibe of, "Look at me in my domain! Now bow down!"
Would've been cheaper than the gamer aesthetic I went for with shopping on Govee's website 😅. But I like my lights since I've strung them up through my bookshelves, so those can change colors, too, and other areas. But I'm finding they're not a perfect replacement for just having a regular lamp, so I want to still get a floor lamp, too.
I truly believe in “happy colors” ….my daughter prefers neutrals. She cringes at my colors. Well, luckily, she’s an ADULT DAUGHTER who lives in her own house so I can do what I want. 😂😂😂😂😂
I’m currently planning my home office corner and the most important requirement I had is that I have to have a nice view to my bird feeder, so I can watch them if I get bored.
@@Trammiliin_nr2My setup allows me to have a large empty space of desk directly in front of a window. My plants love it, my cats love it.. we see all sorts of birds and critters! Definitely makes working from home feel less glum.
Try putting out some shredded wheat mini-squares (not the frosted kind!) on a table at window height. You will never get a single moment's worth of work done again. Their antics are delightful. (OK, put in a curtain for when you must work and you need to block out the furry clowns.)
I love my cord management system. It made a huge difference in the anxiety I felt in my home office and throughout my home. I have the wrap covers and boxes that match my floor, so they just tend to blend in.
One thing to consider about the bright colours in your office is that the colour in front of you/closer to you will reflect on your face, and you'll end up with a green/blue/red/orange glow that may be very unflattering when you're doing video calls. It depends on many things (position of the lights and light temperature, quality of your camera, how bright and how near your walls are...) so keep this in mind when designing your office. In one of the examples highlighted in the video, the corner in which the desk is placed is painted in a less saturated shade than the rest of the room, I think it's because of this reason.
I have an Alex/Lagkapten desk from Ikea, and I'll never regret having chosen the blue-grey drawers and wood effect top rather than the basic white or black - it just adds a lot more interest to the desk. I got the version with 2 sets of drawers, so it's very sturdy and gives me a ton of closed storage too. Adding in monitor risers that have bamboo drawers (also from Ikea), a comfy chair in green velvet, a cute desk pad and a little wooden cubby for my notebooks (from Amazon) has given me a very functional and aesthetically pleasing work area without needing to spend a ton of money. I've also decorated the space around my desk with art pieces I enjoy, plus an assortment of lighting so I can adjust the light level as needed. I work from home full time, so it's been really worth the investment for me to make it a nice space. I just need to fix my cable management and it'll be perfect!
I worked in physical therapy for over 25 years. Economics is extremely important. Standing desk, monitor, and keyboard at the correct height, a good chair. Get up often and throughout the day. All of that is so incredibly important.
I’ve retired and downsized and made all kinds of compromises in a small space…but I still have a dedicated office/workroom where I can also stash the occasional guest, and it is DECORATED. I’m a maximalist, and this is my rose garden. And I can do all the messy things in a space I can close the door on. Best decision ever.
My boss called us back for no reason so I quit and making 35 percent more! And, he was just checking in and texted me yesterday! Sorry! Happier! You had your chance!
Not true. There *was* a reason. It's just that bosses feel useless if they can't micromanage us. I kinda liked Covid because I have been saying for years work from home was the solution to many problems. But now, they want people back at offices. But eh! I'm happy for you.
Your office desk is gorgeous. I have had problems arranging my home office over the past 25 years, and I came to a conclusion. (It took flipping long enough). I decided to eliminate the home office entirely, buy a comfy chair & side table and be distracted by what I see out my window. It is much better to watch bull seals, whales, fish flopping, waves la lapping gently on shore on one of those perfect spring days. Chucking the office was my best decision ever.. But - I still love your desk. Maybe I should just have a faux office, just to own the desk. 👋
Good office chair is critical. I had a cheap one for awhile and I had a major sciatic nerve issue for a few months until I figured out the chair was the issue. Bought a better chair and in a week I wasn’t in terrible pain anymore from that dang first chair!!!
Closed storage is on my wish list but at the moment I have found a fairly good work-around. I have a tall bookcase which is behind me as you enter the room and I have arranged a few nice objects on the top shelves while the clutter (racks of file folders and mailing materials in my case) are on the bottom shelves and more or less hidden by my desk and chair. Thanks Nick. You are always both helpful and funny.
That happened to you ?? What a jerk !! I just kicked out a narcissist just like that. You are way better off !! His loss, and look at you looking so much happier now !! Thank you for doing what you do ! I love watching you and I love your advise and humor 😂 you have helped me figure out so many obstacles I didn't know how to fix or work around.
Sorry, but I didn't get the impression that he kicked his s.o. out... Narcissism is a serious disorder. I get what you mean and I'm glad you feel better now and you are in a better situation, but it isn't always the case. Nick could just have been annoyed one time and that's it. There are many layers to this situation that we haven't gotten explained here.
Thank you for being on YT. I’ve honestly learned everything about interior design from you. When my wife was pregnant we moved and I was totally in charge of designing the space. I used your videos to design our new home space and pick furniture. It turned out great and we received a bunch of compliments from my family when they came to visit!
Nick, if you see this…a Hoya plant is what I’d pick for you…super easy-forget to water two weeks, drench it one day and it’ll be happy no problem! Hope you get one!! My grandma gave me two slips (a clipping from her plant that got put in water to form roots) and they are so happy in my kitchen-one is on the top of a cabinet and one on top of the fridge. Blessing my sweet grandma for giving those to me!
I have cord covers for everything. They can be painted the same colour as your wall and are virtually invisible - and flexible. I have a row of them attached to the back of my desk to run cords invisibly. Double sided tape is very useful.
OMG 😂 "Life is short, lick the bowl," in the bathroom?!! 😋 🚽 🫦 😂 And "Check out the bedroom one and see if you're making some mistakes in that room, too." 😂😂
This was so helpful! I would love to see a video about building and curating an office/guest room combo. My partner and I both work from home full time, so both spare bedrooms are taken for our offices, but we'd love to offer guests more than just an air mattress. Would love tips on making a space like that be multipurpose
My "office" is in a little corner of my bedroom. My bedroom has been painted a bright light blue for years because I didn't know what I wanted to do with it but needing to have an office space has pushed me to figure out a fresh color palette & design. Navy & gold/mustard is the main color palette I'm pulling from now (cozy/calm/warm) & a mix of traditional style with organic modern... It doesn't sound necessarily like it would make sense but my bedroom has a good sized north facing bay window overlooking my garden so bringing the natural world in works really well.
Perfect timing Nick. I just started an at home job this week and am about to set up my office. I’ve been adamant about having my desk near the window as opposed to the corner where it has been for years. Your video was the reality check I needed. I am 100% a pigeon watcher, as painful as it is to admit. Your video has prevented me from making a terrible decision. 🙏🏻
You are spot on about tamping noise with solid core doors, rugs, plush furniture. Although sometimes Ikea white is a nice blank look .. ironically in this video half your space is dull beige along with your shirt. How about splashing some interesting pillows on the sofa to bring some color to that side of the room?
I have an Uplift, lift and lower desk 72"x30", it didn't have a good cord management system when I bought it almost 10 years ago...I purchased magnetic hooks to stick to the frame and added a cat hammock to put all of the cords and power strip in. It's very functional and a good conversation piece.
Back in mid 2020 when we were all working from home, my kitchen became my office. After a few months of that I needed a little pick me up, so I painted the walls deep red. What a difference! To this day I still think it looks amazing. If anyone out there is considering saturated colours, do it!
We are actually going to built a new office for me in our house. So a very timely video ! We are making sure it is sound proofed to a high degree as that is my biggest distraction and annoyance. I will get a great view from two windows as I like to be able to see what is happening around me and I get great ideas that way.
I think I got recommended this video because I've been watching so much LTT. For those not in the overlap, Linus Tech Tips is a channel about technology and especially PC gaming, but they also have a very specific interest in remaking their home offices and living rooms and cable management is a HUGE part of that interest. They sell a few different cable management solutions, so if you wander over there for tips just be wary that there will be some product placement - but effectively managing your cables not only gets rid of a lot of visual clutter but it also makes it easier to clean your space and (if you do it right) makes it easier to fix and swap components should something break.
My office didn’t have a door, so I just added a double door. Made a huge difference at reducing distractions. Blue is my favorite color so I added various shades of blue in the rug, accent chair, etc. I’m still working on it, but it’s improving and that’s what counts.
When I moved into my house, my office was a terrible shade of green and I looked sickly whenever I was on Zoom. I painted it as soon as I could and it's now Blueprint by Behr, with colorful art on the walls. I love it.
Pigeon-watching over a Cactus Club made me nostalgic for Vancouver, lol. So many good tips here. As a musician, untamed cords (pun intended) are a pet peeve on a stage and actually dangerous. Zip ties, velcro ties, cord drawers, those little boxes are your friend. Also a designated closed storage space for the cables you don't use every day.
Regarding colors: days before the beginning of the pandemic lockdowns I moved into a house that was head to toe, wall to wall, medium-neutral gray EVERY SURFACE EVERYWHERE except for the black & white kitchen cabinets. I had no furniture (everything in storage except a bed, one table, and one chair) and all my tchotchkes were also in storage. What saved my sanity? Fruit and glassware and pop-up paper flower bouquets from Amazon. A clear glass compote dish filled with lemons and limes (thanks Walmart grocery pickup!) A red cabbage. A bowl of apples and pears. ANYTHING with some color. I also found these lovely paper flower arrangements that pop out into 3D that had many pretty colors. But oh my gosh, I was so broke (lost my job the first day of the pandemic lock downs), I was so depressed (did I mention GRAY EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE), and I was far too often paralyzed with fear (34 weeks without one single penny of income. Aieeeeee!!!!!) I learned from this experience that even white walls and cabinets would have been 1000 times less depressing than gray. Now I have a giant rug patterned with beautiful flowers in beautiful colors. I have turquoise and sky blue everything in the bedroom. I have two sweet dogs (one blonde, the other auburn) that add color along with kisses, cuddles, playful exuberance, joy and comfort! I have a white IKEA desk and pedestals, but I have a turquoise keyboard and mouse, brilliant floral wallpaper on my two 27" monitors (like a wall of flowers), and a basket full of dog toys in every color of the rainbow, to entertain my pups and add more joy and brightness to my day. I will never go back to living in a gray box, alone, for months on end. I might as well have been in prison, except I didn't have to make moonshine in my toilet or shower with scary strangers. Color has a profound impact on our mood, our energy, our inner light, our creativity, our attitude. (Note: be careful with purple and lavender, as these can be very depressing colors for some people.) We need color. We're evolved from monkeys in the jungle, not from gray creepy-crawlies in a gray desert under white-gray skies. Color! Enough said!
Finally! I thought I was crazy or weird because I was being so picky about my office space. It was tricky because most desks and most people had no idea why it had to be perfect, I have no idea how people do it, throwing a desk together and just going at it. I can’t imagine getting work done unless I 100% want to be at my desk and feel comfortable.
I've had two office chairs that were pretty but not the most ergonomic. My new favourite is from ergoCentric. Their adjusters under the seat have different shaped handles - square, round, and triangle so you know what you are adjusting without looking under your seat. Pricey but amazing.
My child is off at university, so this video is timely as I want to redo/ convert his former workstation area to something I can use when I work from home. PS# side commentary was 🔥 today 😂
Love these these tips!!! I would love to see a video or a short on your suggestions for those of us that work from home, but share a room/office with our spouse. How can you create a cohesive space when its shared. Love your videos, Nick!!
Totally totally agree on the room color choices! I jettisoned the dark gray/white and went with bungalow Blue on the walls, white desk with gray leather mat, and then accented walnut wood and some artwork with cream chair for reading. It is really inviting and looks much more adult than the typical gamer/sterile office. I really enjoy it over 8+ hours a day.
I'm tall and always have an issue at desks: when the chair is at the correct height for me, standard desks are slightly too low. I just got a brand new ergonomic chair and I'm planning to get a standing desk so I can set it to the exact height I need.
I'm short and there is absolutely no desk arrangement with chair that works for me. I found a non-desk table and chair that fit and it makes all the difference.
I have the opposite problem. Being short, finding a desk and chair that works is just as problematic. I finally purchased a standing desk that goes really low. Best decision I ever made.
My desk is facing a wall (because distractions) but I did paint the wall in a purple color ❤ I am reconsidering the lighting, it can be a bit dark. Especially in winter.
Thank you - good suggestions for an office set-up. I wish I could have such an office. However because my WIFI reception is so spotty, I had to move my office to a corner of the living room. This is the spot of best reception. My family and friends say that I keep it so neat, tidy and attractive that it fades into the background. Alas, I still wish it was that separate room, that I had prepared. Darn tech!!!😅
Have you considered mesh WiFi? Like Amazon has the eero system and there's plenty others. Basically they extended your WiFi so you can spread the signal to other places in the house. Alternatively you can get an additional router and use it as a repeater to do a similar thing. Used to live in a shared house which was over 3 floors so had to look into how to get WiFi everywhere. Nowadays don't have an issue as I have a small one bedroom apartment but that WiFi drama got me interested in tech solutions and now I love smart tech (which is awesome when you have mobility issues I now have)
OMG - “watching pigeons all day”. TRUE! My “pigeons” is the interstate right next to our office building. Watching traffic go by during a meeting is my constant habit.
Have been looking for a kick in the butt to get going on setting up our “new” home office area (reimagining our spaces after a flood remodel) and your timing with this video is perfect - thanks for the tips and inspiration! We did live through working together during the pandemic (luckily our sit-stand desks were in separate rooms) but now that I’ve retired and he only works from home occasionally, we can put the desks in the same room and still coexist. 😊
We are renovating right now and I didn’t even consider the solid core doors being more soundproof uhhh - you just saved my house from the hollow doors! ❤️
I got myself the branch chair and desk! Beautiful design, standing desk saved my back and chair is great if you’re short. So can def recommend. As a freelance designer/artist, I can attest to the fact that an office should be aspirational and comfy! Recommend surrounding yourself with all your favorite things!
Yes! I passed the video! My office is in a back, quiet corner of the house, it's pink, I have pretty rugs and a small chaise lounge (with hidden storage), have storage cabinets, and my cord management is handled. Good job me 🎉
Ergonomics in the office also dictates angles of your body. It’s really, really important to keep your elbows, wrists, keyboards and screens set for YOUR body. Elbows at 90°, wrists flat rather than bent either way. This might mean having a separate keyboard on a level that keeps elbow and wrists in the best position. These things along with a chair you can raise or lower to keep your knees and hips at 90° angles will help you avoid repetitive stress injuries.
Redoing my two spare bedrooms even as we speak. One used to house my AirBnb; the other one I arranged as an office, with furniture I brought with me from another home. I'm selling it ALL on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. I had one of the bedroom carpets steam-cleaned on Thursday, and I'm really not sure what I'm doing in either space. One thing I know is that I'm using Feng Shui principles to redo the space, and my Bedroom #3 area is in the "abundance" area -- so I'm looking for wood, olive green, maybe purple...and what the heck else, I'm not sure. In Bedroom #2, I'm 90% sure it'll be a room for tatami mats. Meditation space. That's about it. Kind of excited about this! I love thrift stores, and spent hours today walking through thrift stores in town, not finding anything decent.
Here’s an idea….some ways to incorporate SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lights and humidifiers seasonally for winter. Mine are always cluttered and I forget to put them out until too far into cold season.
I have two houses, both with a dedicated office. One is painted green, the other, blue. I’ve found led desk lamps that have adjustable Kelvin color temperatures and brightness, and they are absolutely amazing! The over head lighting is daylight. Actual office furniture and not “home office” furniture is a must too, it’s been tested for full day ergonomic use and it’s worth the price.
I find the biggest problem I have with most home offices is the direction the chair faces. Sometimes feng shui makes psychological sense, because it recommends having a view of the window but not facing it (and all the pigeons), and having a view of the room entry so your subconscious instincts don’t have to be alert for people sneaking up behind you. Looking through an IKEA catalog once, I was drawn to all the office furniture that was a cheerful rosy pink 😊
You have great ideas on lighting throughout your channel! Too bad my current home has inadequate wiring and horsehair plaster walls (containing old gas pipes). So I am stuck with 1 (sometimes 2) standing lights per room to avoid running to reset circuit breaker every 23 minutes.
During 14 years my ex had the house- he replaced my small antique brass chandelier with a boob light in the foyer. Really? He clearly didn't watch your channel
Add in for decor considering swapping out the same office supply holder ftom Staples with things you like. My pencils and pens are in a mug I got from Disneyland, my random junk like lip balm, nail clippers, gum, and tiny candy in a mug from a bar I loved, a spot for dead batteries go in a shotglass from Vegas (gets put in recycle jar asap but doesn't become a thing to search). It just brings more joy than "gray cup." Heck, even my pencil sharpener, staplers, etc are colored because it keeps the space welcoming.
Re: office chair ergonomics - I've got "short little legs" for someone 5.5 ft tall, and even high end rolling office chairs just don't fit me. My best "hack" yet for this is to remove the back and arms of the chair (or not install them in the first place, since I figured this out) to create a very large cushy rolling stool, and sit "backwards" on the bum cushion. This orientation reverses the bucket seat that would have kept my lower back up against the backrest. That allows my thighs to angle slightly downward, and my feet to actually touch the floor, while my torso is high enough to type normally on a normal height desk. Hack for experimentation!
Have you tried a kneeling chair? I'm suuuuuuuuuper short (under 5ft), and there is no office chair that doesn't pinch my sciatic. Found a kneeling chair and have had no back pain, no leg pain, no neck pain, etc... since I bought it.
I have the same issue, 5'4". Weirdly, I've had 2 chairs that work. One is a cushioned dining chair with no back for the butt and lower back areaarea, just has a curved back back area for the upper back. It's the perfect fit for comfort except my feet still don't touch the ground. Lol The other is those "boss" chairs you see on TV. No weird lumps for ergonomics, it has that curve, and I can touch the floor!
You had no business calling me out like that 😂 Thank you so much for the video because I bought an ikea desk setup with the alex drawers and although it's incredibly cost effective and organization friendly I am in dire need of advice to make our home office more fun and appealing to the eye
I have a window in my "office" (which used to house the water heater), but it's high up and I made a cotton voile curtain that sufficiently blocks my view of the squirrels in the crabapple tree.
Excellent video! My office brings me so much joy. I spent a lot time designing it and considering color, mood, light and sound. It makes such a difference. I really enjoy WFH now vs 2020 when I worked from my bedroom 👎🏼
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for the tips I'm currently building an office in a small space. I didn't see the chair recs, are they buried in the links?
I just added them to the description! Sorry for the delay.
What's the best kind of rug to stand up to chair wheels? In other words, is there any comparable alternative to a standard plastic chair mat for protection of my lovely floor?
idk if you ordered a chair. i found a comfotable decently priced office chair that i WFH in 2x/week and will game in afterwork by serching "task chair" on amazon. I like to sit cross legged and like the ability to recline. cushion matters the 2nd most (after being able to cross my legs). I dont look fo r lumbar support since the pressure hurts my lower back and forced posture is painful to me. i love the task chairs so much i have them as my dining room table chairs cuz my partner and i play boardgames and will often time sit at the table for hours on end.
"I'm not saying that happened to me, but it definitely happened to me." - Nick, you are just so darn adorable 😄
I love the way Nick just slipped in this comment 😂
Yeah, just so cute he is
A paw-swipe and a little hiss, that! Yes. Absolutely adorable.
Love you Nick, I adore your snippets of snark added unexpectedly 😅
Uhhh Nick, I need to write my correspondence in full view of the pigeons. How else will I send my parchment to the warfront?
✒️😊
😂
Lol...😊
Perhaps one of those pigeons can make itseful useful and transport thy correspondence for thee?
Also: Sunlight is vital in preventing inkwell spills, and in centering one’s wax seal. 📜
"Put a clock that doesn't work...like I do." My husband always knows when I'm watching my snarky Canadian because I am howling 😂
The clock works, but in a different way
Is he Canadian???
I’ve got the broken clock, always set for 4:20.
"Closed storage, closed storage, closed storage..." Preach it Nick...the world needs more closed storage.
Oh, put a lid on it!
Exactly, that’s why I don’t get why in a large house with plenty of room you would sacrifice a full closet to make a dainty depressing little office nook.
@@jamesengland7461 😆
I'm actually trying to move away from closed storage a bit. Sure, it's nice when you have to have some things that you don't actually want. Being able to shove them in somewhere and get them out of sight most of the time is nice. But I also think it can be very beneficial to be able to see a lot of the things you have at all times. Can help sussing out the things you don't need and don't want.
I'm making myself a couple shelves, and will put them on a wall. One 80x100x50 cm dresser will be emptied, cloths, bed sheets etc.. And those will go on the shelf. I'll also likely get rid of the Plain white Ikea shelves and put the books on the new wood shelves. I'm likely putting a curtain in front of some, to be able to close them off when someone comes over. Also, being open will certainly have a positive effect on some things, that otherwise get a "cupboard smell" to them after a while.
tl;dr while closed storage has it's benefits, I think having much of it can easily encourage hoarding. And for cloths etc. it's probably also somewhat detrimental.
Okay I stopped the video at 1:30 to just say this: I was feeling kinda miserable cause I'm old and creaky and in pain, and it's cold and the sun's already gone down and I'm sad, and then picturing those office pigeons and how pigeons are a bit like our co-workers, and well, thank you, Nick. Alright, now we continue.
If you can manage a small rescue dog of a certain age (puppies are too much to handle when bending down and lifting heavy wiggling things is out of the question), they will bring you joy, cuddles, kisses, and inter-species consternation every day. I am 68 and cranky and in pain but my rescue dogs rescued me and now I cannot go a single day without being showered with love. What a miracle are these delightful beasts in my age, after 20 years of living alone with no pets. What was I thinking?!?
❤
I do have a bird feeder outside my office. It's calming and lifts my mood.
my cat would love that
The struggle between ergonomics and design is so real.
I LITERALLY came up to my office to declutter and reorganize and went to put on a video in the background and here you ARE!! LOL
i was VERY lucky that i had just created my ideal office/craft space right before covid hit. i was ready to work from home with a beautiful forest green and warm wood space and lots of art on the walls. it helped keep me sane
Nick, after the last few days we USians have had I have never looked more forward to your entertaining and educational snark. Thank you ❤
😁Our Emotional Support Canadian?
Amen
@@sammussynthesizer9650...and amen
Showing us how to make sure our homes and spaces are as much of a sanctuary as they can be.
I'm thrilled with this week. Nick on Saturday is just a happy little bonus.
Speaking of distractions, that lamp in the background!! Gorgeous. It looks like a bellflower. I love the undulating stem. ❤️ 🔔 🌹🛋️
Agreed, it's a beautiful lamp!
I have been admiring that lamp for weeks
@@nataliechim5227 Literally ditto. I was going to post those exact words. 😍
Ok but having a “Life is short, lick the bowl” sign in the bathroom is diabolical 😂
I stopped what I was doing to make sure I heard that right! 😆
I snort laughed at this comment. 😂
I would say a lot of this applies to a craft room as well, unless you have my all time favorite solution. I once had a
Sewing room that could only be reached by going through my closet. The point was that I never felt the need to tidy up between work sessions 😂😂😂
you had a craft room in Narnia? cool
Why would you put stuff away? Better to come back and pick up where you left off!
Love his random comments !never a dull moment with him 😂😂
I love how Nick continues to pretend he doesn’t know what we do in our homes. Please! 😂❤
I love when a desk is in the middle of the room instead of facing a wall! It looks so much nicer.
I loved the comment "staring at the wall is depressing." Oh I felt that comment. Lol
Yeah, it looks great when u don't have a million chords that look like spiderwebs all over your desk 😆😆
I invested in excellent cable management. The back of my computer doesn't exactly look aesthetic but it's neat and i don't have to look at it anyway 😂
@@claremiller9979 invested 😅
I used to think the same. Lately though, I have wondered, who are we trying to impress? Now I just get a vibe of, "Look at me in my domain! Now bow down!"
Adding the the lighting tip: get WiFi light bulbs. You can change the lighting temperature, brightness and color.
Would've been cheaper than the gamer aesthetic I went for with shopping on Govee's website 😅. But I like my lights since I've strung them up through my bookshelves, so those can change colors, too, and other areas. But I'm finding they're not a perfect replacement for just having a regular lamp, so I want to still get a floor lamp, too.
I truly believe in “happy colors” ….my daughter prefers neutrals. She cringes at my colors. Well, luckily, she’s an ADULT DAUGHTER who lives in her own house so I can do what I want. 😂😂😂😂😂
My office is a bit darker blue than periwinkle. It's a very calming color.
Nick Lewis Quote of the Week: “Be honest with yourself - are you the type of person who’s going to watch pigeons all day?” 😂
PS: I am!
Me too 😊
I’m currently planning my home office corner and the most important requirement I had is that I have to have a nice view to my bird feeder, so I can watch them if I get bored.
@@Trammiliin_nr2My setup allows me to have a large empty space of desk directly in front of a window. My plants love it, my cats love it.. we see all sorts of birds and critters! Definitely makes working from home feel less glum.
Squirrels, in my case. 😂
Try putting out some shredded wheat mini-squares (not the frosted kind!) on a table at window height. You will never get a single moment's worth of work done again. Their antics are delightful. (OK, put in a curtain for when you must work and you need to block out the furry clowns.)
I love my cord management system. It made a huge difference in the anxiety I felt in my home office and throughout my home. I have the wrap covers and boxes that match my floor, so they just tend to blend in.
Your timing is impeccable Nick. I was literally about to change up my office layout and I saw this video
Which didn't happen to me, but it did...😅
Thank you Nick!
Nick, you can’t possibly kill ALL plants! Seriously, you need some greenery in your space IMHO! ❤
One thing to consider about the bright colours in your office is that the colour in front of you/closer to you will reflect on your face, and you'll end up with a green/blue/red/orange glow that may be very unflattering when you're doing video calls.
It depends on many things (position of the lights and light temperature, quality of your camera, how bright and how near your walls are...) so keep this in mind when designing your office.
In one of the examples highlighted in the video, the corner in which the desk is placed is painted in a less saturated shade than the rest of the room, I think it's because of this reason.
I have an Alex/Lagkapten desk from Ikea, and I'll never regret having chosen the blue-grey drawers and wood effect top rather than the basic white or black - it just adds a lot more interest to the desk. I got the version with 2 sets of drawers, so it's very sturdy and gives me a ton of closed storage too. Adding in monitor risers that have bamboo drawers (also from Ikea), a comfy chair in green velvet, a cute desk pad and a little wooden cubby for my notebooks (from Amazon) has given me a very functional and aesthetically pleasing work area without needing to spend a ton of money.
I've also decorated the space around my desk with art pieces I enjoy, plus an assortment of lighting so I can adjust the light level as needed. I work from home full time, so it's been really worth the investment for me to make it a nice space. I just need to fix my cable management and it'll be perfect!
I have that colour Alex desk too. Love it
my home office sometimes I can watch a visiting cardinal :)
I’m usually banging on the office wall chasing the woodpecker away from the wooden house…😂😂😂
I was picturing you, sitting in your office, looking across to the basilica across the road . . .😂
I worked in physical therapy for over 25 years. Economics is extremely important. Standing desk, monitor, and keyboard at the correct height, a good chair. Get up often and throughout the day. All of that is so incredibly important.
Oh good - Saturday Wisdom from Nick! 'It's amazing how much time you can waste just looking at Pigeons!'
I’ve retired and downsized and made all kinds of compromises in a small space…but I still have a dedicated office/workroom where I can also stash the occasional guest, and it is DECORATED. I’m a maximalist, and this is my rose garden. And I can do all the messy things in a space I can close the door on. Best decision ever.
“Sitting down to do my correspondence like it’s 1850” 😂!!!
Laughed out loud at this comment!🤣
My boss called us back for no reason so I quit and making 35 percent more! And, he was just checking in and texted me yesterday! Sorry! Happier! You had your chance!
Not true. There *was* a reason. It's just that bosses feel useless if they can't micromanage us.
I kinda liked Covid because I have been saying for years work from home was the solution to many problems.
But now, they want people back at offices.
But eh! I'm happy for you.
Your office desk is gorgeous. I have had problems arranging my home office over the past 25 years, and I came to a conclusion. (It took flipping long enough). I decided to eliminate the home office entirely, buy a comfy chair & side table and be distracted by what I see out my window. It is much better to watch bull seals, whales, fish flopping, waves la lapping gently on shore on one of those perfect spring days. Chucking the office was my best decision ever.. But - I still love your desk. Maybe I should just have a faux office, just to own the desk. 👋
I’m so happy you prioritized health and ergonomics over design. Most don’t.
Good office chair is critical. I had a cheap one for awhile and I had a major sciatic nerve issue for a few months until I figured out the chair was the issue. Bought a better chair and in a week I wasn’t in terrible pain anymore from that dang first chair!!!
Makes all the difference!
Closed storage is on my wish list but at the moment I have found a fairly good work-around. I have a tall bookcase which is behind me as you enter the room and I have arranged a few nice objects on the top shelves while the clutter (racks of file folders and mailing materials in my case) are on the bottom shelves and more or less hidden by my desk and chair.
Thanks Nick. You are always both helpful and funny.
That happened to you ?? What a jerk !! I just kicked out a narcissist just like that. You are way better off !! His loss, and look at you looking so much happier now !!
Thank you for doing what you do ! I love watching you and I love your advise and humor 😂 you have helped me figure out so many obstacles I didn't know how to fix or work around.
Sorry, but I didn't get the impression that he kicked his s.o. out... Narcissism is a serious disorder. I get what you mean and I'm glad you feel better now and you are in a better situation, but it isn't always the case. Nick could just have been annoyed one time and that's it. There are many layers to this situation that we haven't gotten explained here.
@@mimmikibilly I wasn't implying that he had kicked him out, I said I'd kicked out MY narcissistic jerk. 😊
Thank you for being on YT. I’ve honestly learned everything about interior design from you. When my wife was pregnant we moved and I was totally in charge of designing the space. I used your videos to design our new home space and pick furniture. It turned out great and we received a bunch of compliments from my family when they came to visit!
Nick, if you see this…a Hoya plant is what I’d pick for you…super easy-forget to water two weeks, drench it one day and it’ll be happy no problem! Hope you get one!! My grandma gave me two slips (a clipping from her plant that got put in water to form roots) and they are so happy in my kitchen-one is on the top of a cabinet and one on top of the fridge. Blessing my sweet grandma for giving those to me!
Or a jade plant. Just water it when the leaves get sad and it's fine.
@@eflan3453 I’ve killed two jade plants so I’ve given up on them. They were pretty while they lasted though.
I have cord covers for everything. They can be painted the same colour as your wall and are virtually invisible - and flexible. I have a row of them attached to the back of my desk to run cords invisibly. Double sided tape is very useful.
We got a glimpse into your life, Nick. Thanks for sharing.
OMG 😂 "Life is short, lick the bowl," in the bathroom?!! 😋 🚽 🫦 😂
And "Check out the bedroom one and see if you're making some mistakes in that room, too." 😂😂
I just moved in to our new house and had the BEST time decorating it. Lots of pops of color and art and personality. Thanks for making me feel good.
This was so helpful! I would love to see a video about building and curating an office/guest room combo. My partner and I both work from home full time, so both spare bedrooms are taken for our offices, but we'd love to offer guests more than just an air mattress. Would love tips on making a space like that be multipurpose
My "office" is in a little corner of my bedroom. My bedroom has been painted a bright light blue for years because I didn't know what I wanted to do with it but needing to have an office space has pushed me to figure out a fresh color palette & design. Navy & gold/mustard is the main color palette I'm pulling from now (cozy/calm/warm) & a mix of traditional style with organic modern... It doesn't sound necessarily like it would make sense but my bedroom has a good sized north facing bay window overlooking my garden so bringing the natural world in works really well.
I painted my home office mauve-y pink and it’s my favorite room in the house!
Great practical ideas. I also loved how you pointed out that the mood of an office is important!
Perfect timing Nick. I just started an at home job this week and am about to set up my office. I’ve been adamant about having my desk near the window as opposed to the corner where it has been for years. Your video was the reality check I needed. I am 100% a pigeon watcher, as painful as it is to admit. Your video has prevented me from making a terrible decision.
🙏🏻
You are spot on about tamping noise with solid core doors, rugs, plush furniture. Although sometimes Ikea white is a nice blank look .. ironically in this video half your space is dull beige along with your shirt. How about splashing some interesting pillows on the sofa to bring some color to that side of the room?
I have an Uplift, lift and lower desk 72"x30", it didn't have a good cord management system when I bought it almost 10 years ago...I purchased magnetic hooks to stick to the frame and added a cat hammock to put all of the cords and power strip in. It's very functional and a good conversation piece.
Back in mid 2020 when we were all working from home, my kitchen became my office. After a few months of that I needed a little pick me up, so I painted the walls deep red. What a difference! To this day I still think it looks amazing. If anyone out there is considering saturated colours, do it!
We are actually going to built a new office for me in our house. So a very timely video !
We are making sure it is sound proofed to a high degree as that is my biggest distraction and annoyance. I will get a great view from two windows as I like to be able to see what is happening around me and I get great ideas that way.
Nick: Avoid distractions while you're working.
Lucy: _listening to Nick videos whilst working_ Oops, this is awkward.
I think I got recommended this video because I've been watching so much LTT. For those not in the overlap, Linus Tech Tips is a channel about technology and especially PC gaming, but they also have a very specific interest in remaking their home offices and living rooms and cable management is a HUGE part of that interest. They sell a few different cable management solutions, so if you wander over there for tips just be wary that there will be some product placement - but effectively managing your cables not only gets rid of a lot of visual clutter but it also makes it easier to clean your space and (if you do it right) makes it easier to fix and swap components should something break.
Ergonomics, YES! Like honey I love your beautiful chair, but you're starting to walk like Quasimodo, so maybe get another one ❤
My office didn’t have a door, so I just added a double door. Made a huge difference at reducing distractions. Blue is my favorite color so I added various shades of blue in the rug, accent chair, etc. I’m still working on it, but it’s improving and that’s what counts.
“Not saying it happened to me but it happened to me.” Ah, yup. Now I don’t have an office and my space is the dining room.
😂 love his sarcasm
When I moved into my house, my office was a terrible shade of green and I looked sickly whenever I was on Zoom. I painted it as soon as I could and it's now Blueprint by Behr, with colorful art on the walls. I love it.
Pigeon-watching over a Cactus Club made me nostalgic for Vancouver, lol. So many good tips here. As a musician, untamed cords (pun intended) are a pet peeve on a stage and actually dangerous. Zip ties, velcro ties, cord drawers, those little boxes are your friend. Also a designated closed storage space for the cables you don't use every day.
Regarding colors: days before the beginning of the pandemic lockdowns I moved into a house that was head to toe, wall to wall, medium-neutral gray EVERY SURFACE EVERYWHERE except for the black & white kitchen cabinets. I had no furniture (everything in storage except a bed, one table, and one chair) and all my tchotchkes were also in storage. What saved my sanity? Fruit and glassware and pop-up paper flower bouquets from Amazon. A clear glass compote dish filled with lemons and limes (thanks Walmart grocery pickup!) A red cabbage. A bowl of apples and pears. ANYTHING with some color. I also found these lovely paper flower arrangements that pop out into 3D that had many pretty colors. But oh my gosh, I was so broke (lost my job the first day of the pandemic lock downs), I was so depressed (did I mention GRAY EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE), and I was far too often paralyzed with fear (34 weeks without one single penny of income. Aieeeeee!!!!!) I learned from this experience that even white walls and cabinets would have been 1000 times less depressing than gray. Now I have a giant rug patterned with beautiful flowers in beautiful colors. I have turquoise and sky blue everything in the bedroom. I have two sweet dogs (one blonde, the other auburn) that add color along with kisses, cuddles, playful exuberance, joy and comfort! I have a white IKEA desk and pedestals, but I have a turquoise keyboard and mouse, brilliant floral wallpaper on my two 27" monitors (like a wall of flowers), and a basket full of dog toys in every color of the rainbow, to entertain my pups and add more joy and brightness to my day. I will never go back to living in a gray box, alone, for months on end. I might as well have been in prison, except I didn't have to make moonshine in my toilet or shower with scary strangers. Color has a profound impact on our mood, our energy, our inner light, our creativity, our attitude. (Note: be careful with purple and lavender, as these can be very depressing colors for some people.) We need color. We're evolved from monkeys in the jungle, not from gray creepy-crawlies in a gray desert under white-gray skies. Color! Enough said!
Finally! I thought I was crazy or weird because I was being so picky about my office space. It was tricky because most desks and most people had no idea why it had to be perfect, I have no idea how people do it, throwing a desk together and just going at it. I can’t imagine getting work done unless I 100% want to be at my desk and feel comfortable.
I've had two office chairs that were pretty but not the most ergonomic. My new favourite is from ergoCentric. Their adjusters under the seat have different shaped handles - square, round, and triangle so you know what you are adjusting without looking under your seat. Pricey but amazing.
My child is off at university, so this video is timely as I want to redo/ convert his former workstation area to something I can use when I work from home.
PS# side commentary was 🔥 today 😂
Love these these tips!!! I would love to see a video or a short on your suggestions for those of us that work from home, but share a room/office with our spouse. How can you create a cohesive space when its shared. Love your videos, Nick!!
Totally totally agree on the room color choices! I jettisoned the dark gray/white and went with bungalow Blue on the walls, white desk with gray leather mat, and then accented walnut wood and some artwork with cream chair for reading. It is really inviting and looks much more adult than the typical gamer/sterile office. I really enjoy it over 8+ hours a day.
I'm tall and always have an issue at desks: when the chair is at the correct height for me, standard desks are slightly too low. I just got a brand new ergonomic chair and I'm planning to get a standing desk so I can set it to the exact height I need.
I'm short and there is absolutely no desk arrangement with chair that works for me. I found a non-desk table and chair that fit and it makes all the difference.
I have the opposite problem. Being short, finding a desk and chair that works is just as problematic. I finally purchased a standing desk that goes really low. Best decision I ever made.
That sage green office is gorgeous!
My desk is facing a wall (because distractions) but I did paint the wall in a purple color ❤
I am reconsidering the lighting, it can be a bit dark. Especially in winter.
Thank you - good suggestions for an office set-up. I wish I could have such an office. However because my WIFI reception is so spotty, I had to move my office to a corner of the living room. This is the spot of best reception. My family and friends say that I keep it so neat, tidy and attractive that it fades into the background. Alas, I still wish it was that separate room, that I had prepared. Darn tech!!!😅
Have you considered mesh WiFi? Like Amazon has the eero system and there's plenty others. Basically they extended your WiFi so you can spread the signal to other places in the house. Alternatively you can get an additional router and use it as a repeater to do a similar thing.
Used to live in a shared house which was over 3 floors so had to look into how to get WiFi everywhere. Nowadays don't have an issue as I have a small one bedroom apartment but that WiFi drama got me interested in tech solutions and now I love smart tech (which is awesome when you have mobility issues I now have)
@@nixi-bixi Thank you for taking the time to give these practical suggestions. I will certainly look into it. 😊
I think you can buy wifi boosters for your desired room
So besides your wonderful design perspectives…. Gotta give you love on your authenticity and relatability!,,,❤🎉. Love your vids.
OMG - “watching pigeons all day”. TRUE! My “pigeons” is the interstate right next to our office building. Watching traffic go by during a meeting is my constant habit.
Fantastic!!! Currently planning my home office remodel - thank you for giving me permission to buy ergonomic
Have been looking for a kick in the butt to get going on setting up our “new” home office area (reimagining our spaces after a flood remodel) and your timing with this video is perfect - thanks for the tips and inspiration! We did live through working together during the pandemic (luckily our sit-stand desks were in separate rooms) but now that I’ve retired and he only works from home occasionally, we can put the desks in the same room and still coexist. 😊
This video was just in time! I’m pouring my workspace together and feel like I now have some direction. You’re the best!
We are renovating right now and I didn’t even consider the solid core doors being more soundproof uhhh - you just saved my house from the hollow doors! ❤️
I got myself the branch chair and desk! Beautiful design, standing desk saved my back and chair is great if you’re short. So can def recommend.
As a freelance designer/artist, I can attest to the fact that an office should be aspirational and comfy! Recommend surrounding yourself with all your favorite things!
Reorganizing my studio and have a second office under my suspended metal stairs…. Needed this today, thanks ☺️
Yes! I passed the video! My office is in a back, quiet corner of the house, it's pink, I have pretty rugs and a small chaise lounge (with hidden storage), have storage cabinets, and my cord management is handled. Good job me 🎉
NICK LOOKS LOVELY HERE THE SUN BLARIN DOWN ON HIM LOVE IT 😄
love the lamp in the back( the big one )
I love the snark about sharing an office.😊
I started wfh with my husband and we still work together. We made it!!
Thanks Nick. I gave up on my office redo and didn't know where to go next.
Ergonomics in the office also dictates angles of your body. It’s really, really important to keep your elbows, wrists, keyboards and screens set for YOUR body. Elbows at 90°, wrists flat rather than bent either way. This might mean having a separate keyboard on a level that keeps elbow and wrists in the best position. These things along with a chair you can raise or lower to keep your knees and hips at 90° angles will help you avoid repetitive stress injuries.
Redoing my two spare bedrooms even as we speak. One used to house my AirBnb; the other one I arranged as an office, with furniture I brought with me from another home. I'm selling it ALL on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. I had one of the bedroom carpets steam-cleaned on Thursday, and I'm really not sure what I'm doing in either space. One thing I know is that I'm using Feng Shui principles to redo the space, and my Bedroom #3 area is in the "abundance" area -- so I'm looking for wood, olive green, maybe purple...and what the heck else, I'm not sure. In Bedroom #2, I'm 90% sure it'll be a room for tatami mats. Meditation space. That's about it. Kind of excited about this! I love thrift stores, and spent hours today walking through thrift stores in town, not finding anything decent.
Just a few seconds in, but Nick's new floor lamp is 🔥 fire!
Here’s an idea….some ways to incorporate SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lights and humidifiers seasonally for winter. Mine are always cluttered and I forget to put them out until too far into cold season.
I have two houses, both with a dedicated office. One is painted green, the other, blue. I’ve found led desk lamps that have adjustable Kelvin color temperatures and brightness, and they are absolutely amazing! The over head lighting is daylight. Actual office furniture and not “home office” furniture is a must too, it’s been tested for full day ergonomic use and it’s worth the price.
Wow I just followed you the other day and you make a video about my main problem. Wow talk about high quality service
I find the biggest problem I have with most home offices is the direction the chair faces. Sometimes feng shui makes psychological sense, because it recommends having a view of the window but not facing it (and all the pigeons), and having a view of the room entry so your subconscious instincts don’t have to be alert for people sneaking up behind you. Looking through an IKEA catalog once, I was drawn to all the office furniture that was a cheerful rosy pink 😊
You have great ideas on lighting throughout your channel! Too bad my current home has inadequate wiring and horsehair plaster walls (containing old gas pipes). So I am stuck with 1 (sometimes 2) standing lights per room to avoid running to reset circuit breaker every 23 minutes.
During 14 years my ex had the house- he replaced my small antique brass chandelier with a boob light in the foyer. Really? He clearly didn't watch your channel
Some of the inspirational pictures you wonder if anyone could work on those setups haha
Add in for decor considering swapping out the same office supply holder ftom Staples with things you like. My pencils and pens are in a mug I got from Disneyland, my random junk like lip balm, nail clippers, gum, and tiny candy in a mug from a bar I loved, a spot for dead batteries go in a shotglass from Vegas (gets put in recycle jar asap but doesn't become a thing to search).
It just brings more joy than "gray cup." Heck, even my pencil sharpener, staplers, etc are colored because it keeps the space welcoming.
ABSOLUTELY
Re: office chair ergonomics - I've got "short little legs" for someone 5.5 ft tall, and even high end rolling office chairs just don't fit me. My best "hack" yet for this is to remove the back and arms of the chair (or not install them in the first place, since I figured this out) to create a very large cushy rolling stool, and sit "backwards" on the bum cushion. This orientation reverses the bucket seat that would have kept my lower back up against the backrest. That allows my thighs to angle slightly downward, and my feet to actually touch the floor, while my torso is high enough to type normally on a normal height desk. Hack for experimentation!
Have you tried a kneeling chair? I'm suuuuuuuuuper short (under 5ft), and there is no office chair that doesn't pinch my sciatic. Found a kneeling chair and have had no back pain, no leg pain, no neck pain, etc... since I bought it.
I got lucky with a vintage MCM chair without arms. I think furniture was made for smaller frames 50+ years ago.
I use a short ottoman so my legs aren't dangling, it works perfect for me
I have the same issue, 5'4". Weirdly, I've had 2 chairs that work.
One is a cushioned dining chair with no back for the butt and lower back areaarea, just has a curved back back area for the upper back. It's the perfect fit for comfort except my feet still don't touch the ground. Lol
The other is those "boss" chairs you see on TV. No weird lumps for ergonomics, it has that curve, and I can touch the floor!
@@sarahsovereign4522 I had a 5 inch high platform built under my desk which worked nicely
You had no business calling me out like that 😂
Thank you so much for the video because I bought an ikea desk setup with the alex drawers and although it's incredibly cost effective and organization friendly I am in dire need of advice to make our home office more fun and appealing to the eye
Love this video format! Thanks for continuing to share photo examples to reiterate your suggestions. Helpful!
Love your lamp!
I recently started redoing my office. The burotic desk you recommended will fit in perfectly! Thanks for the information!
I have a window in my "office" (which used to house the water heater), but it's high up and I made a cotton voile curtain that sufficiently blocks my view of the squirrels in the crabapple tree.
Excellent video! My office brings me so much joy. I spent a lot time designing it and considering color, mood, light and sound. It makes such a difference. I really enjoy WFH now vs 2020 when I worked from my bedroom 👎🏼