Transform Your Home Into a Relaxing and Productive Haven

You have an important job and one that requires you to work long hours at home. Because of this, you must create the best environment possible to maximize your productivity and take advantage of every free moment you have. Don’t let your home stress you out — ensure it gives you the relaxation and rejuvenation you need to recharge your batteries and get back to being productive. These tips will help you transform your home into a relaxing and productive haven, where you can think, get things done, and de-stress after a busy day at work.

The Functional Home Office

It’s one thing to declutter your office desk now and then — it’s another thing to remove anything nonessential from your entire workspace. But if you want your home and workspace to be an inspiring place of productivity, it needs to be clear of all clutter. Clutter affects you both physically and psychologically, and those negative effects can creep into your work.

Repaint Certain Areas

Sometimes all you need is a new color on your walls. Whether it’s injecting a little more energy or making your home feel cozier, painting can be an easy way to refresh — and de-stress — your space. Paint trim or accent walls to try out colors. You don’t have to paint every wall in your house at once. If you have only one room that needs some love, start there and see how much of a difference it makes before tackling another area.

Use Natural Light for Better Mood

Natural light can change your entire mood, and it improves productivity. So if you’re not getting enough, start looking for places in your home that could use some natural light. Replace heavy curtains with lighter ones, and consider adding extra windows or skylights to get more light into dark rooms. 

Add Plants to Freshen Your Living Space

Indoor plants don’t just look great, they also improve your health. Plants freshen up your living space, can lower stress levels, and can even boost your energy levels — and most types are inexpensive to purchase and easy to maintain. If you’re looking for something special, consider an air-purifying bamboo palm. 

Spruce Up Your Furniture

Contact furniture upholstery services if you want to extend the life of your furniture or repair something that's damaged. Search ‘reupholster near me’ and read internet reviews before meeting for estimates and to discuss your needs. The cost will depend on the furniture that needs to be upholstered. Furniture size and fabric affect pricing and whether you'll need anything specially created.

Build a Backyard Oasis

If you love to cook and entertain, an outdoor kitchen is perfect for your Virginia home. An outdoor kitchen provides a natural place to prepare and serve food, but it's also an area for your guests to mingle, unwind, and enjoy themselves. As you design your outdoor kitchen, think about how you want people to use it — and incorporate that into its design. You can include a grill, sink, refrigerator, or outdoor range hood.

Relaxing and Productive

Home is where you unwind, regroup and recharge. Making changes to your home can help you create a relaxing and productive environment.

Visit James Nay for help finding your dream home in Virginia.

Author Vanessa Holwell  |  Hiring Squad  

Quick Tips to Help You Maximize the Home Selling Process

Selling a home involves many moving parts. From your first contact with an estate agent until the time you sign at closing, you will be constantly on the go. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to your home that will help this process move along quickly. Keep scrolling for advice that will help you turn the for sale sign into a sold sign before you can say, “Buy my house!”

Cultivate curb appeal

According to Realtor Magazine, homes with great curb appeal sell for more money than those with an unwelcoming exterior. Your lawn and garden are the first things that potential buyers see, so they should leave a positive impression. Make sure that your exterior is well-kept and that you have a pop of color to draw in the eye. 

If you don’t have a green thumb but need to save cash, work with landscape design services to help you come up with a quick and easy plan to beautify your yard. Using an online job board is a lot more cost-effective than working with a design agency—plus, you have a wider array of service providers to choose from! 

Major in minimalism

It’s important to clear out clutter and live a minimalist lifestyle while your home is on the market. Keeping things clean is crucial to the selling process. If possible, remove every item not necessary to daily life and ticket in storage. Can’t afford a storage unit? There are lots of innovative ways to keep things neat and organized.

Prioritize appearance projects

Take a day and evaluate things that date your home visually. This could be anything from heavy drapes to peeling wallpaper. Remove these types of eyesores and replace them with modern variations that won’t make your space look old and worn. For example, you can upgrade the walls with wallpaper that’s one of a kind to make the pop. This can help prospective buyers visualize the decorating options the space presents.

Further, look for small repair and maintenance projects that make your house look as though it’s been neglected. Popped nails on the deck, scuffed baseboards, and stained carpet are a few examples of quick and simple fixes that will elevate your interior and leave a good impression. Fortunately, most are simple DIY projects, so you won’t eat into your profits by outsourcing to a handyman.

Captivate with a killer kitchen

If there are two rooms that sell a home, it’s the kitchen and the bathroom. These are, after all, not negotiable when buying a new place. Plan to revamp these rooms with easy updates, such as painted cabinets or a new backsplash. You should also do a deep clean on the floor and, if you can afford it, replace the countertops. 

Military.com also recommends staging with furnishings that help potential buyers envision themselves cooking up a family meal. In the bathroom, make sure that the tile is clean and, if necessary, re-grouted for seamless lines. You might also consider permanent epoxy paint to cover outdated tile.

Light it up

Lighting can make or break the feeling of a room or entire home. Choose light based on how that room is supposed to feel. Warm, soft light in the bedroom and bright, daylight bulbs in the kitchen or wherever you need high contrast. Remember, light is measured in lumens, so pay close attention to this number, which ranges from 2700k to 6500k. Ideally, you’ll have plenty of natural light, so make sure that windows are clean and all of your fixtures have been taken down and dusted before your first showing.


Doing all of the above may expedite the home-selling process and help you get closer to—if not more than—the asking price. None of these will take up too much of your time, but they are easy and affordable projects you can do starting today. When it comes time to sell your home, let James Nay maximize the sale of your home. Call 804-704-1944 to get started!

Author Vanessa Holwell  |   Hiring Squad

Source Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

Why Virginia Is Ideal for Entrepreneurs

Why Virginia Is Ideal for Entrepreneurs

Why Virginia Is Ideal for Entrepreneurs

By Vanessa Holwell / Hiring Squad

It doesn’t matter if you are looking to open a new business or relocate. You need to choose a city that is ideal for both entrepreneurs and business owners. Virginia is an example of such a place…