Spring is the perfect time to give your home a makeover - but what if your home also doubles as working environment? Many of our Joanie Gals work from home and manage their jobs around their busy lives, so we asked our friends at online homeware retailer, Wayfair for some tips on making the most of your work space, wherever that may be. Read on for home office tips!

A home office doesn't always require a dedicated space, it can be a multi-functioning area - so long as it's created to maximise creativity and minimise clutter!

We chatted to Katie who looks after Social Media at Wayfair UK to learn more about what she does at the brand, her favourite accounts to glean home inspiration from and her take on how to create a fun and functional working environment at home.

Plus - don't forget to enter our competition over on Instagram for a chance to win a £200 shopping spree with both Wayfair and Joanie!

For a little extra office to 'out out' inspiration, we've picked out some of our favourite Joanie outfits below - easy to dress up or down!

Hi Katie, could you tell us a little about your role looking after Social Media at Wayfair?

We believe that social media is all about building a community and providing our customers with inspiration for their home, so they can create a space they love. I enjoy staying on the pulse with new trends and Wayfair’s huge offering means I always have plenty of unique content to post. We’re active on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, so I’m definitely busy, but being able to get constant feedback from our wonderful social media audiences is so rewarding. Over the last year, we’ve made it one of our priorities to share some of the imagery we get from our customers – there are so many beautifully curated homes featuring Wayfair products so it would be a shame to not share the joy with our social media followers!

Are there any stand-out ‘real home’ Instagram accounts that are currently inspiring you?

There are so many to choose from! I’m always so thrilled to see the diversity of style created by our customers and influencers – it always provides me with inspiration for Wayfair’s social media and my own home too! @Bo__decor is one of my favourites for her moody, maximalist aesthetic while @myfirsthomebyclaire nails the neutral, cosy look to which so many people aspire at the mo. I’m also completely obsessed with Kate Lavie’s new home account @klvhome which is the epitome of Insta-worthy. Apart from that, some of our most-loved customer imagery has come from @behind_door_28, @ruffs_androots and @henrybettyuk – all smaller accounts that I can see blowing up any time soon, so keep an eye on them!

 

What homeware trends are you championing at the moment?

We are 100% in spring/summer mode right now – if only the weather would catch up! Wanderlust and travel are key home inspiration for us as we move further into 2019 - think burnt hues teamed with crisp whites and natural materials for an aesthetic inspired by Africa, or Mid-century shapes paired with flamingo motifs for a nod to Palm Springs. My personal favourite is the stripped-back minimalism inspired by Kyoto, the Japanese city which invokes an easy elegance.

 

What are your top three essentials for a comfortable and functional Home Office work space?

With an increasing number of us working from home, it’s more important than ever to have a dedicated space which fuels productivity. As tempting as it is to remain in bed with laptop on chest, we definitely have a few pointers that will make the daily grind as fruitful as possible:

  • Storage saviours: Invest in cabinets and organisers that will help you cut clutter and keep your mind clear. Having mess around you is an ultimate distraction, so these simple and affordable additions will help you focus and ensure everything is in the right place.

Kelly Pencil Print Collar Dress

  • Inspiration: While your work-self may seem worlds away from the usual ‘you’, it’s important to create a space that you genuinely enjoy. Add motivational pieces, such as typographical wall art, and décor details that inspire you to create an A-grade space that won’t have you yawning.
  • Be adaptable: Not everyone has the extra square footage to dedicate a whole room to an office, so it’s important to get smart with your space. You can maximise a lesser-used corner of your living-room with a fold-out or ladder desk, or create a space in your bedroom that doubles as a dressing table when needed.

Finally, what’s your go-to ‘desk-to-drinks’ outfit?

Our general office attire is laid back, so that makes it super easy to adapt for a night out. I’m a sucker for a midi skirt as they’re so versatile, and I’ll swap out a plain T-shirt for a statement jumper to pep up my outfit. Then, I just whack on a huge pair of earrings and top up my highlighter and I’m pretty much good to go!

We hope you enjoyed hearing Katie's tips on creating the perfect home office space! Don't forget to enter our competition with Wayfair before midnight Wednesday 3rd April, here.

Joanie x