MINIMIZE PROCRASTINATION AND MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY
For most Montecito homeowners, their home is their castle. Today, your abode can also be the central command post for your business. As the king or queen of your castle, you are free to design and decorate the perfect home office to your exact specifications. But where do you start?
Justin Klosky, CEO, and co-founder of the O.C.D. Experience (Organize & Create Discipline), explains it like this, “Trends come and go – but no matter the Pantone Color of the Year, my forever favorite trend is a minimal aesthetic. Keeping your desk space clean with little, non-distracting touches of personality here or there makes a difference in productivity and helps keep your head clear.”
The 8 steps:
Step 1: Location, location, location
When creating the perfect minimalist home office, choose the location carefully. First, consider noise and traffic factors. Second, consider the traffic inside your home. If you plan to work in your office when the rest of the family is at home, choose a room that’s not too close to the kitchen, bathroom or family room.
Those places can mean lots of activity which could easily interfere with your productivity. On the other hand, for those with small children, it might be best to place the office relatively close to their playroom so you can monitor their activity.
Step 2: Consider a minimalist approach
Although traditionalists and old school creatives would beg to differ, these days office space usually requires a minimalist approach to make it look professional. Paint the walls a soothing, light color. Avoid heavy and excessive furniture to facilitate the use and flow of space.
As with minimal design in any room, it’s vital to keep your minimalist home office free of clutter that can be distracting and make it hard to focus. A mess can also make it difficult to find important documents or items.
Ideally, your office will contain nothing more than a high-quality office chair, a desk with storage space, a computer, a telephone, office supplies, potentially a filing cabinet and a few personal touches. If you are holding meetings in your home office, then you will need space for at least one extra chair.
Step 3: Cut (or hide) the cords
Wireless printers and scanners are one way to keep those ugly wires out of view and reduce the chances of tripping over them. Experts recommend a two-in-one laptop paired with a wireless charging mat, wireless keyboard, and thunderbolt docks if you need dual displays. However, if you don’t have wireless equipment, you can hide 99% of your wires from being seen with a crafty combo of PVC piping, Velcro and zip ties to mount power sources under desks and out of sight.
Step 4: Avoid paper clutter
Ask yourself if you really need to keep all of those documents that clutter your desktop? Klosky advises readers to go paperless.
“Goodbye Rolodex and planner – by digitizing your address book and keeping your calendar online, your network is literally at your fingertips, whether you’re on the go or while you’re working from home,” he says. “Digitizing also allows you to scan and shred documents for recycling, preventing the further use of paper and saving the planet.”
Step 5: Go green
Working at home is better than being in a stuffy office building, but you’re still indoors. However, greenery can help you bring the outdoors inside. Adding green touches is easy on the eyes and helps us feel more connected to nature.
“A plant, for example, brings a low-key source of life and color to any room,” Klosky says.
Step 6: Let the light in
We’ve already discussed why your minimalist home office needs to be in a quiet area, away from distraction. It should also be somewhere with lots of natural light. Natural light has many health benefits and can help to create a clean and fresh feeling.
Recent studies show that people who work in natural light are more productive, absorb more vitamin D, sleep better at night and have fewer eye problems. If that’s not enough then consider the fact that light can also improve your mood. If you need another reason to put your office in a location that allows you to take advantage of natural light, consider all the money you could save on your electric bill.
Step 7: Blend in
When decorating, think about how the room will blend in with adjacent areas. The style choice and colors should be complementary, not clashing. And by all means, pick a comfortable desk. It’s your work surface and it’s a critical element in any minimalist home office. Make sure your desk gives you enough room to stretch out. Also, invest in a great chair. Think beautiful, ergonomically correct, and comfortable.
Step 8: Add inspiration
Although Klosky recommends a minimalist approach, he says homeowners should have space in their office for personal items. Sometimes, displaying some of your favorite things can provide inspiration. Whatever you add, make sure everything speaks to you. That way, you’ll not only be comfortable, but you’ll also be more creative and productive.
As you can see by this blog, your environment can make a huge difference when it comes to creating a minimalist home office that works for you. I love my home office and feel both productive and creative in the space. If you’re considering putting the “home” in your office, why not consider a home in Montecito, Santa Barbara,Hope Ranch, Summerlandor Carpinteria? That’s where I come in. Give me a call at 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. Let’s find the perfect space for your home office!
“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”
- J & A
“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”
- M.F.
“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”
- P.B.
“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”
- T.C.
“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”
- D.R.
“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”
- M.A.
“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”
- D.K.
“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”
- S.N. Decker Ph.D.
“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”
- Johan and Paula van den Berg
“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”
- John and Lacey Williams
“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”
- Michael & Nancy Lee
“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”
- Richard and Catherine Frinier
“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”
- Laurie Siegel
“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”
- Ken Saffir
“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”
- Michael & Susan Marquart
“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”
