10 Home Office Design Tips

Quick Tip #1
When buying furniture TRY IT OUT. Sit in the chair, bring the chair up to the desk. Can you reach comfortably, do your feet touch the floor, do you feel support for your lower back? This is important because a bad chair will lead to bad posture which will make you tired and achy both of which are not conducive to working successfully.

Quick Tip #2
If using a standalone monitor position it 16 inches to 28 inches from you and align the top of the monitor even with your head. Your eyes will thank you.
This is not so easy to achieve with a laptop. If you are a laptop user take more eye breaks.

Quick Tip #3
Reduce eyestrain and the early need for glasses by simply adjusting your monitor to match the lighting in the room. If you have monitor glare, purchase a glare screen or MOVE your computer setup. If you move, make sure that the computer is at a 90 degree angle from the source of glare.

Quick Tip #4
Having a problem because you feet don’t touch the floor when you sit back in your chair? Buy a foot rest; Don’t make one out of phone books or old folders! You need a good support system or you will eventually experience numbness and pain in your legs.

Quick Tip #5
The color you choose for your office is important. Greens and Blues are always good choices. Studies have proven that greens and blues lead to less eye strain and to better concentration. Neutrals work well but can be less than inspiring. I HIGHLY recommend staying away from bright whites and yellows since they tend to reflect the most light and that leads to eyestrain.

Quick Tip #6
A clean, pleasant smelling office will invite your clients in. Your perfect office image can be ruined in 2 seconds if it smells bad. All your hard-work to create an office for success is GONE if there is a bad smell.

Quick Tip #7
A cluttered desk may work for you but not your client. Keep an organization system close by so that you file away documents and keep your desk open for your current project. Trust me stacks of folders from your last 5 projects which are precariously close to sliding off your desk will not impress your clients.

Quick Tip #8
Buy the best office furniture you can afford. Don’t think short-term. For example you may think that your kitchen table and a few chairs you picked up at a garage sale would be great for your office. NO. Invest in your business success. If you don’t believe in your potential to succeed your clients aren’t going to buy into it either.

Quick Tip #9
When home is work and work is home it becomes difficult to make a clean break. Set fixed hours that you are at work and stick to them. It’s tempting to work more when you should be focusing on other aspects of your life. That rule also holds true for when you decide that the laundry needs to be done or the garage cleaned out. Set your hours and honor them.

Quick Tip #10
Use plants liberally in your office they will liven the office immediately. Plants add color, soften hard lines and work great for hiding unsightly areas! Silks are beautiful and easy to care for or if you have a green thumb life plants are perfect. IF you do have life plants don’t let them get brown and look like they are dying or your client will interpret that as a lack of paying attention to detail.

How many layers should a latex mattress have?

“Ask The Decorating Diva”

Dear The Decorating Diva,

I’m looking to buy a latex foam mattress and after reviewing all the available mattress choices I’m having a hard time figuring out if there is any benefit to buying a latex mattress that has one, two, three, or more layers. Is it worth the money? These mattresses are kind of steep price wise and I don’t want to spend money on a feature that isn’t necessary.

B. Steele in Austin, TX

B.,

Most eco-friendly bedding, including mattresses do tend to carry a much higher price tag than it’s less environmentally friendly siblings, so I can understand your desire to obtain some savings by carefully weighing your mattress buying options.

Typically latex foam mattresses are constructed from either two, three or four layers, with the softest layers on top of more firm layers beneath. In the two layer latex mattress you can expect to find a thin layer of foam laid atop a much thicker layer of latex foam. The three layer latex mattress follows the same layer recipe as the two layer – and then adds an even thicker layer at the bottom which will provide a nice and firm sleeping surface.

The best method to determine which layered latex mattress best suits your sleeping needs is to try them out.  A mattress is a major expenditure and many mattress and bedding companies allow “sleep trial” periods.

Best,
Carmen Natschke
Editor, The Decorating Diva LLC

Luxury Linen Care – Washing Fine Linens and Bedding

When you purchased your luxury linens you made an investment in quality materials. To protect your investment we recommend that you use the following laundering guidelines for washing your fine linens and bedding.

Before You Start
Always wash your luxury linens and bedding separate from all other items of clothing. If there is embroidery or other finery on your linens, place those linens in a lingerie bag, before washing them.

Water Temperature & Detergent
Use cold or warm water in the gentle cycle. Do not use bleach ,even on your white linens. An oxygen cleaner would be appropriate. Bleach will “eat” the fibers of your fine linens and luxury bedding. Bleach also can “burn” yellow stains into your lovely linens.

Drying your Linens & Bedding
Do not use the high setting on your dryer. Use the low and fluff setting. It will take longer to dry but it is the best for your fine linens. Too much heat will dry out the fibers and cause breakage over time. I recommend taking the linens out 5 to 10 minutes before the dry cycle is completed. This helps reduce wrinkles and minimizes the chances of “over drying”.

The Finishing Touches
You may iron your fine linens, so that they are fresh and new every time you slide into bed. My favorite treat is to launder my fine linens with the Good Home Company Lavender Detergent and Lavender Laundry Fragrance and then following up with the Good Home Co. Lavender Ironing Spray during ironing. To finish, I spritz Lavender Sheet Spray, also from the Good Home Company. It feels great against my skin and helps me sleep peacefully. (TIP: Lavender, helps relax and induce sleep!)

How to Get Dingy Linens White

Dear The Decorating Diva,

How do I keep my white sheets from getting dingy without using bleach?

Shannan

Shannan,

First, I recommend washing white linens separate from all other laundry. Second I suggest using a little Oxy-Clean (non bleach whitener) – that should keep the whites white. There are other more expensive non-bleach alternatives, but over the years I’ve found oxy-clean to work just as well for much less.

Best,
Carmen Natschke
Editor, The Decorating Diva LLC

5 Tips for Buying Luxury Linens & Bedding

1. Thread Count is typically listed on the packaging. Thread count is determined by the number of threads per square inch of fabric. The higher the count the softer and more silk-like the material. It is important to note that as the thread count climbs, so does the thinness of each individual fiber packed into that square inch of material. Therefore it is imperative that high-thread count fine linens be laundered with care.

2. It Takes Three – it’s a good idea to purchase three sets of linens (sheets: flat and fitted), six pillow cases and at a minimum two duvet covers, coverlets, or comforters. Having three sets of linens will ensure that your bed is never bare. You can have one set on the bed, one set being laundered and another set in the linen closet as a backup. Those of us who have children and/or pets understand the necessity of having backup linens at the ready.

3. Size Really Does Matter - Unless you like to spend your free time standing in the returns/refunds line than you should measure twice and write it down (memory is such a fickle thing). Measure the length, width and depth (which is very important for pillow top mattresses). A fitted sheet should tuck under the corner not ride the middle of the mattress which I have seen many times because 14″ pocket fitted sheets were purchased for an 18″ pillow top.

4. Get Your Fiber - linens are produced from various fibers and materials (both synthetic and natural), with cotton being the most popular. The three cotton varieties are:

1. Egyptian Cotton - this cotton is grown in the Nile Valley and is well known for it silky luxurious feel. Egyptian cotton can be blended with inexpensive fibers resulting in a less silky blend. The best advice is to seek out 100% Egyptian Cotton. This cotton can be expensive.
2. Pima Cotton – is primarily grown in the Southwest United States. It has a nice smooth texture, is durable and is reasonably priced. Pima cotton is also grown all over the world, including Peru, Israel, and Australia (thanks to Jay Gunter).
   
3. Standard Cotton produces decent quality linens however they lack the luxurious tactile hand of either the Egyptian or Pima cotton. This cotton is also the least expensive.

5. Get Touchy – Shop at a “bricks” store first and if you want you can buy online later. Why? We are human and we like to touch. We want to know how those 1000 thread count sheets feel as our hand glides across its smooth surface. As much as I love the internet – it does not allow you to experience before you buy therefore I don’t recommend online shopping until you have made your final decision. NOTE: Some online shops do provide small fabric samples but I still hold firm on linen shopping off-line first, find the bedding you absolutely love and then if you want proceed online for the transaction.

Should I Buy Expensive Sheets and Bedding?

Dear The Decorating Diva,

Are high thread count fine linens worth the expenditure? I’m confused as to whether or not a hefty price tag means quality or not. Can I get quality linens without spending thousands? I’m looking at a budget of $300 to $500 to dress my queen size bed.

Thanks, Caitlin

Caitlin,

To answer your first question, yes, high thread count linens and/or bedding collections are definitely worth the expenditure.

However, buying high quality sheets and other bedding doesn’t require draining your bank account. There are dozens of wonderful linen manufacturers that produce affordable bedding collections with respectable thread counts (ranges: 200, 300,and 400).

In regards to your second question: Yes, I think that you can definitely dress your bed for the budget you have listed. You can even score very expensive linens(think 500 thread count and up) for that budget if you shop the seasonal sales. My recommendation is to stick to classic styles and neutral colors (white being the best choice) that will not go out of style as decor trends shift.

Best,
Carmen Natschke
Editor, The Decorating Diva LLC

4 Tips on How-to Buy The Perfect Pillow

Did you sleep well? Feeling cranky today? Are you achy? Beth Mack, CMO of Hollander Home Fashions, the largest pillow manufacturer (maker of one-third of all the pillows produced) in the United States, wants to help you out. Below, Beth offers four tips for buying the perfect pillow that will have you feeling rested, energized and ache free:

Tip # 1: What’s Your Pillow Style?
Stomach sleepers- Go for a soft pillow with little elevation.
Back sleepers – You need medium pillow with moderate elevation.
Side sleepers – Choose a firmer pillow with higher elevation; aim to fill the space between ear and shoulder, so your head and neck are aligned.
The “Flipper” – Make up your mind! You need a lot more support because of all that tossing and turning, and down alternatives are great because the fills inside can be manipulated, so they squish, but still have a lot of support.

Tip # 2: Keep It Fresh: Pillows should be replaced every one to two years. A pillow past its prime could contain a high level of dust mites, which can increase breathing disorders, asthma or allergies.

Tip # 3: The Telltale Signs: Pillows that have reached the end of the road will often feel lumpy or flat and will not re-fluff very well.

Tip # 4: Take The Test: To determine whether your pillow needs replacing, fold your pillow in half. Place a tennis shoe on top of the folded half. If the pillow throws the shoe off, it still has some life. If the pillow remains folded with the shoe on top, it needs to be replaced.

Image courtesy of Hollander Home Fashions. Shown: Asthma friendly pillow. Hollander has received the asthma friendly® certification mark by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) on its pillows. Unlike other bedding products that claim to be hypoallergenic (merely a marketing term), this Hollander product has passed stringent scientific testing standards. The Hollander pillow is proven to provide a barrier to the passage of allergens as well as being free from chemicals known to impact airway inflammation. They are machine washable so any allergen accumulating on the external surface can be easily removed. The asthma friendly® pillow retails from $19.99 – $29.99 and is available at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

For more information on getting the best sleep possible, visit Hollander Home Fashions’ Comfort Council.

Hypoallergenic Bedding Can Improve Your Health

Dear The Decorating Diva,

I have terrible allergies which seem to be worse when I wake up. My friend tells me that hypoallergenic bedding can help me. I found your site when I googled for allergy proofing my bedroom so I hope you can help me figure out if hypoallergenic bedding can help me feel better.

Stacey

Dear Stacey,

First I’d recommend that you see an allergy specialist. She can run tests to determine if you have allergies. She can then recommend the appropriate treatment course – this may also include a prescription for hypoallergenic bedding (typically recommended for dust mite allergies) and other allergy alleviating technologies like air purifiers.

I’m glad that our article on allergy-proofing your home was helpful to you. In that article we recommended the following with regards to allergy proofing the bedroom:

• Clean all bedding – duvet covers, sheets, etc once a week in hot water to get rid of animal dander, dust and other allergens.
•  Purchase allergy proof pillows and bedding such as Lands’ End Pure Loft . If you aren’t able to purchase allergen proof pillows and bedding you can always use protective coverings on your mattress and pillows. This greatly reduces the occurrence of dust mites which will lessen allergic reactions.

If you do  have allergies attributed to dust mites, then buying hypoallergenic bedding can alleviate many of the symptoms you suffer with.  Material-wise latex is probably the best defense against both dust mites and mold, and latex also happens to be eco friendly. Latex mattresses and pillows are a great choice, however if budget is an issue you can buy dust mite pillow covers and mattress encasings . When shopping for dust mite bedding covers check the product labeling for the “pore size” of the cover. You want to buy those casings that have pore size of 9 microns or less – anything equal to or larger than 10 microns is large enough for the dust mites to get through.

Best,
Carmen Natschke
Editor, The Decorating Diva LLC

Sateen Sheets: A Primer for Dressing Your Bed

Dear The Decorating Diva,

Shopping for linens recently I noticed “Sateen” sheets. Are they related to satin or satin like?

Awaiting your Reply,

Carianna V,

Carianna,

Sateen sheets (made from a specially woven and treated cotton fabric)  are  luxurious and very soft, with a luster resembling satin. Unlike satin bedding, sateen sheets provide enough friction that you don’t slip all over the bed.

Sateen is typically 100% woven cotton; long-fiber, combed or carded cotton is used. A sateen weave means that for every one vertical thread there are four horizontal threads. The weave is what imparts the soft, smooth satin like, luster. High quality sateen is created via the weave process and subsequently through a process called Mercerization.  During the mercerization process the fabric is  treated with sodium hydroxide which increases it luster, and prepares it to better take to bleaching, or dying.  Beware of sateen sheets created via a calendaring process instead of mercerization, as that only creates the “look” of satin-like luster. Those low quality sateen sheets will lose their luster quickly.

Best,
Carmen Natschke
Editor, The Decorating Diva LLC

Floral Art Workshop: Simple Modern Masterpieces

DIY Flower Arranging Workshop – Designing Modern Floral Masterpieces

Learn how to make contemporary floral arrangements with orchids. DIY floral arranging workshops are all the rage, and you too can learn how to make exquisite flower arrangements.  Celebrity floral designer and founder of Floral Art, Jennifer McGarigle is offering several floral workshops (perfect for the creative DIY-er) throughout the year. Details for her next workshop below:

• 6:30 – 8:00pm, Thursday, August 12^th,  Simple Modern Masterpieces (Submerged orchids, textured leaves, and grasses – Vision Glass vases featured.)

Class Schedule

• 6:30-8:00pm on Thursday, August 12^th: Simple Modern Masterpieces
• 6:30-8:00pm on Thursday, September 16^th: Rose Inspirations
• 6:30-8:00pm on Thursday, October 14^th: Bulb Bliss
• 6:30-8:00pm on Thursday, November 11^th: The Modern Wreath
• 6:30-8:00pm on Thursday, December 8^th: Holiday Entertaining on a Budget

Floral design class pricing and information.

About Jennifer McGarigle of Floral Art

Celebrity floral designer and founder of Floral Art, Jennifer McGarigle is renowned for her exquisite designs and innovative sensibility. Inspired by architecture, fashion and interior design, Jennifer has developed a distinctive style – fresh, fashion forward and immediately recognizable.

While her work continually evolves, her approach remains consistent. Whether designing for individual clients, luxury brands, or celebrities (Katie Holmes, Giada de Laurentiis, Ryan Seacrest and Jerry Bruckheimer are among several of Jennifer’s floral design fans), she translates their personal style and vision into flowers and event décor.

In 2009, Jennifer expanded into designing and manufacturing furniture. With the essence of nature reflected in each piece, she brings Floral Art’s compelling sensibility to modern home furnishings and accessories.

Related: Jennifer’s tips on creating easy, beautiful floral arrangements.