Home Office: Décor Tips for a Chic Look

Your home office should be your hub of productivity and creativity, so it’s important that you implement the right design elements that will motivate you to work. While a minimalist design will keep clutter and distractions at bay, the right colour scheme will enhance your focus and work efficiency. Of course, there are plenty of design considerations that you can implement to boost your productivity, but you can also introduce certain ideas just for style. After all, working in a chic home office that reflects your personality and taste will definitely help you to achieve all your goals.

Embrace enticing wallpaper designs

Wallpaper is a great way to elevate your office décor. The year 2018 has brought numerous stylish wallpaper trends that you can try. From botanical and floral motifs to modern geometric patterns and textured designs, you can use wallpaper to create a specific look in your home office. However, if you want to go with something unusual and different, you should apply wallpaper onto your ceiling. This chic trend will definitely give your office a unique flair. 

Accentuate your walls

Yes, you can go with an elegant colour scheme that will give your home office a classic look. However, you can also experiment with your wall design to create a wow effect in your office. If you want to create a chic, yet rugged look, you can leave your walls unpainted. Exposed brick or concrete walls will truly create authentic appeal. You can always go with a single accent wall while painting the rest of your office. Chalkboard walls are also a popular and trendy design idea for offices. You can use them to write down your ideas or motivational quotes. If you’re an art enthusiast, you can create a chic gallery wall and surround yourself with inspiring masterpieces.

Use chic furniture as a statement

Aside from your desk and a comfy chair, you should also add one or two additional pieces of furniture. You can place them in an empty corner and create a nook where you can take a break, relax and relieve stress. For instance, you can go with a chic Barcelona daybed that will stand out as a stunning focal point in your home office. The simple, yet enticing and elegant design of this piece will work perfectly with a chic office look, bringing a touch of sophistication.

Spice it up with patterns

Patterns are always a great way to style up a space, bringing a touch of playfulness and elegance. You can mix and match patterns for a chic look, but make sure to link them with the same feature, such as a colour or a theme. You can use a patterned design for throw pillows, curtains and area rugs, or design a completely patterned accent wall.

Go black and white

For a chic and timeless look, the black-and-white combo is always a great choice. Although monochromatic, this look is infinitely elegant and glamorous, especially when combined with luxurious details and occasional pops of colour. For instance, just a few passionately red details can break the monotony and spark your creativity. If you don’t want to go with a completely black-and-white design, you can use this colour scheme for accent details, or paint your home office white and then add just a few black pieces.

Accessorize in style

Accessories will help you tie the look together in your home office, so make sure to pick them carefully. It’s always better to go with just a few impactful details instead of creating clutter. You can use lighting fixtures to give your office a chic flair while lush plants will fill it with a fresh, open and positive atmosphere. Hardware featuring an elegant finish can help you add a touch of luxury to your home office.

Paint your office desk

As one of the most prominent items in your home office, your desk should truly stand out. Although you can simply accentuate it by setting it against a simple, understated backdrop, you can create chic, bold appeal in your home office by painting it. For instance, a mint green or bright orange desk will truly stand out, working as a true décor statement in your home office.

Designing a chic, beautiful home office will provide you with a truly inspiring area to work in, enhancing your productivity and mood.

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Chloe is a graduated journalist from Adelaide and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Beside all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time. 

You can find Chloe on Facebook HERE

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5 Surprising Reasons You Should Write Every Day if You Want to Succeed

Please give a warm welcome to our first contributor Olivia Jones here on Cali Jae! Enjoy!

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Fellow bloggers among you will know just how much a single productive writing session can shape the success of your business on any given day, but how well do we truly understand our precious skill? Writing is so much more than mere work. For those who relish in the process, it becomes a calling and it permeates everything that we do. Yes, despite the occasional creative rut we get stuck in, the beauty of writing seems to outshine all of its challenges.

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However, what about those whose work doesn’t entirely rely on writing? Perhaps you’ve been too busy wearing a multitude of other hats in your own business to consider that this single practice could change the course of your own career growth. The following are just a handful of reasons that just might inspire you to pick up a pen every now and then and try your hand at wordsmithing to boost your success!

1.    Reflect in order to grow

Life is usually moving so fast that we rarely get the chance to truly contemplate what is happening to us and around us. Writing gives us a safe place to slow down or completely escape the notion of time and take an entirely different view (or several) on any given situation. It helps us express our emotions and our thinking patterns emerge, allowing us to recognize our own misconceptions and become better over time.

Studies have shown that this type of daily writing has a positive impact on our critical thinking, which is essential both in everyday life and our professional development. When there’s a difficult decision to make, pick up your journal and scribble away!

2.    Be an inspiration

 If your own work incorporates a hefty dose of daily writing, you likely come across many people in your own niche whose articles and bits of wisdom give you a morale boost or make you smile on a particularly bleak day. Imagine being that to someone who desperately needs it.

Writing is an incredible way to make a difference, in your community, as a trusted source of information, with your knowledge or your personal story. We as humans are madly in love with words, and when you pour your heart and soul out onto a piece of paper, or the digital version thereof, you significantly improve your chances to connect to your audience. The old saying that the pen is mightier than the sword is no coincidence.

3.    Get your creative juices flowing

No matter what you do, offering innovation is the one thing that keeps businesses afloat and at the forefront of growth. In order to keep that edge, it takes an ample dose of creativity to keep sparking new ideas that will drive personal and professional advancement. Writing is a simple way to tap into your creative well of novelty and bring your ideas to life.

You’re on the train heading home, scrolling down your social media newsfeed? Instead, you can take out your trusty ballpoint pens and a notebook and start brainstorming on your next novel, unique product, or a great blog post. Nothing drives success like unhindered imagination taking shape in your own words.

4.    Hone your communication skills

Whether you’re looking for a new job, wish to advance in your current one, or you’re tackling the endeavor of entrepreneurship, you need to connect. In order to do so successfully, leave a great first impression and attract a wider readership, your words need to resonate with your audience.

Regular writing sessions let you review, play with, and enrich your vocabulary, as well as your entire communication approach in a wide variety of situations. It gives you time to process your thoughts and find the right words, and that in turn helps your brain do the same when a crucial conversation takes place.

5.    Build your identity

It’s so easy to get lost in this sea of trends, online and offline alike, and lose our own voice as we are immersed into the noise made by others. While we’re all growing, developing creatures that strive to improve all the time, it’s essential that we can always recognize our true selves – and this is where writing can help you safeguard and shape your identity.

The solitary process of writing gives you a safe space to face your fears, limitations and all your innermost struggles. It’s a healing tool that will always let you recognize your own truth, and stay devoted to your own purpose, whatever it may be. After all, authenticity is one of the most invaluable qualities that define success today, so why not do your best to cherish it with the help of such simple, rewarding habits, such as writing?

Contributor: Olivia Jones

 Olivia Jones is a psychologist, passionate writer, an entrepreneur, a traveler and conscious consumer, seeking healthy and sustainable products to incorporate into the lives of her family. Visit her over on her website and Twitter! 

5 Important Lessons Learned As An Entrepreneur + Blogger

Each person has their unique story, a story that inspires and a story that portrays their experiences that have led them to the point they are at now. I believe everything you go through is a learning process and whether it is a step in the right direction or a bump in the road, it propels you to where you need to be! 

Being an entrepreneur brings about many blessings; meeting amazing people, doing what you love, being your own boss and having that freedom to achieve your desires. It also brings along obstacles that we have to overcome both personally, professionally, and financially.

NEVER STOP LEARNING

I have always enjoyed school and learning about different aspects of topics. No matter what age you are and where you are in life, you should never stop learning because that is when you stop growing. Study your passion, take a class in something that interests you or read a book on an interesting new topic! This allows you to grow and broaden your knowledge! For all my entrepreneurs out there master your craft and never stop learning it. This will allow you to become an expert in the field and really gain the trust of the people you work with. I will never forget the conversation I had one on one with Essie Weingarten (can I just input a quick squeal here at how awesome that was?). She told me that technology is constantly changing so you have to keep your mind open and change with the times! Be open to new opportunities and go with the flow!

BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS

I can't even begin to describe how important this is. One of my favorite parts about being an entrepreneur is networking and building relationships with like-minded people. Whether it is a friend, a mentor, or a coach you will be blessed with newfound knowledge, a wonderful community and the ability to learn and share what you have learned with others. By being involved in Facebook groups, reaching out to those I want to collaborate with or learn from I have really gotten involved in the community and have built relationships that have not just landed me referrals and clients, but friendships that I know will last a lifetime which is priceless.

PUT OUT GOOD VIBES

Are you putting out good vibes to your audience? Put out good vibes and positivity and you will see it come back to you full circle. I know life isn't easy and it is easy to complain from time to time, but you have to motivate and inspire your audience. Share your story and let them know they are not alone. People will be attracted to your energy, so put your best foot forward and share your amazing vibes! 

DON'T GET DISCOURAGED & PERSEVERE

The road of entrepreneurship is not an easy task. It is so easy to get discouraged and give up but I can tell you right now when you persevere through those hard times, you will have incredible breakthroughs and become stronger from your struggles. Every struggle you overcome allows you to learn and share your experience with others. I can't even tell you how many times I have wanted to throw in the towel and after sticking through it for a few days, have come out of that funk with a breakthrough idea that has led me to where I am now. My Dad always instilled in me to persevere no matter what. It has been my mantra word from day 1! 

LET FAITH BE BIGGER THAN YOUR FEAR

Ever had something you wanted to accomplish but were to afraid to put yourself out there? Yep, we have all been there. You can't let fear stop you, go for your dreams and go outside of your comfort zone! Trust me, once you let faith be bigger than your fear you will start to see amazing things happen on the other side of fear. Go big or go home! 

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What have you learned through your journey as an entrepreneur? 

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