Although we are living in uncertain times, one thing is for certain — our homes must be equipped to accommodate much more of our lives than ever before. For many families, nightly homework and the occasional need to put in a few extra hours of work at home were manageable. Homes have become full-time schools, workplaces, and essentially one of the lone areas where we can relax, recuperate, and ready ourselves for the next day.

Now more than ever, we must outfit our homes with the tech, tools, and trends necessary to create both an effective workspace and an inviting sanctuary where our families can retreat. Believe it or not, there are dozens of tricks to reduce stress and improve productivity around your home without breaking the bank. As many of our local retail stores are opening back up, we encourage you to consider these quick home enhancements that will positively impact your everyday life.

• Fresh Paint Works Wonders
  Color has an amazing impact on our mood, productivity, and energy levels. In fact, simply paining a room a particular shade of blue, green, or yellow can immediately make you feel relaxed, happier, and more creative. Head to your local hardware store and pick out paint samples for your office or multipurpose room — you'll be surprised how much a can of paint can positively impact your day.
  
  
• Declutter Dedicated Spaces
  While color can be a positive influence on our moods, clutter can have the opposite effect. Although some people can work well with "organized chaos", some studies show that a messy room can cause us to be distracted and stressed. Purchase storage containers to help you keep dedicated spaces like offices and kids' homework centers free from clutter so everyone can focus on the task at hand.
  
  
• Consider Whole-Home WiFi Solutions
  With multiple people using their computers, phones, TVs, and gaming systems all at once, your WiFi might have trouble keeping everyone connected. Consider upgrading your WiFi capabilities and integrating whole-home WiFi, or mesh WiFi, around your house. Not only can it make your WiFi stronger and faster, but it will also enable everyone to receive the same level of WiFi connectivity no matter where they are in the home.
  
  
• Let Natural Light In & Regulate Artificial Light
  You shouldn't work in a dark dungeon but you shouldn't work under a spotlight either. Managing the natural and artificial light in your home is actually very important to your productivity and your health. Let natural light in where you can and consider adding dimmer switches or less-intense LED lightbulbs to your indoor fixtures to reduce the level of glare, heat, and brightness in the room.
  
  
• Spruce Up Outdoor Spaces
  Just because we need to remain at home doesn't mean we need to stay indoors all day. Spruce up your outdoor spaces with a few lawn chairs and tables so anyone in your family can take their work outside. Soaking up the sun will help you keep a positive attitude and it will also give you an alternate option for privacy.
  
  
• Make Sure Every Member of the Family is Accommodated
  Most importantly, you need to make sure that whatever changes you make in the home are beneficial to everyone in the family. While you may not need more than a laptop to accomplish your work, your children may benefit from their own organized space where they can store their school books and supplies.

Are you looking for a new space that caters to the growing needs of your family? We can help! Call today to schedule a private showing of our Minneapolis homes for sale and Saint Paul homes for sale.