HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME A SANCTUARY

With many of us social distancing and working from home, it can be hard to adjust to a new lifestyle confined to the familiar four walls of the home. Here, the team at One&Only Resorts alongside Elie Choucair, Design Director at Kerzner International have put together some handy tips on how to transform your home into a sanctuary.


Prepare the home for social distancing:

It is important to consider the home as a multipurpose space, creating different areas for different activities throughout the day. With existing furniture, try to move things around to help you create a flexible and comfortable space where you can spend most of your time.

Make sure you differentiate between the work corner and the living corner and try to avoid doing all your activities in the same room, as this may impact your mood and wellbeing after some time. Ensure that your workspace is facing a view, with natural light to increase productivity and efficiency


Bring the outdoors inside:

Indoor plants and greenery have become a popular interior design trend over the last few years, whether in our homes, working spaces, or in more communal areas such as shopping malls.

These are a design feature we have used across our various One&Only Resorts including the authentic Mediterranean restaurant Olives at One&Only Royal Mirage, where namesake green olive trees surrounded by a palette of whitewashed walls and slat floors were introduced within the interior, evoking a fresh feel and reference to the French Riviera.

Interior ideas can range from the more extravagant green wall and roof designs, to even just a small desk plant for a simpler way to bring greenery into a home and improve both productivity and happiness. Some of my favourite indoor plants for bringing positive energy into the home include Lucky Bamboos, Peace Lilies, Aloe Vera, and orchids. Most of these plants are considered to bring luck in health, as well as give off a pleasant aroma which can stimulate energy, whilst also being aesthetically pleasing.


Create a home office location:

Most of us are now having to get used to working from our homes every day, and whilst this set up might seem easy for some, others may find it more uncomfortable. Working from home can offer many advantages; however, if your home office is not set up properly, it can compromise efficiency.

Identify what is needed for you to work and find a corner in one of the rooms of your home, which allows access to everything you need. If you are using a dining chair, make some adjustments to suit your working from home lifestyle by adding casters to raise the height if required, and cushions to support your lower back.

The location you chose for your home office should be in a quiet area, ideally with some privacy, that allows for a view and natural light, as both of these will have an impact on your physical and mental wellbeing, in turn allowing the work to be more productive

These are factors we take into consideration when designing the guest rooms and meeting spaces at our various One&Only Resorts so that our guests have access to a comfortable and inspiring workspace should they wish to use it during their stay.


Make the most of your balcony or terrace:

For most people living in a city apartment, enjoying a private outdoor space can be a real novelty, even if it’s just a small balcony or courtyard. So, if you do happen to have a small outdoor area, try to take advantage of it, keeping in mind that no matter how minimal the space is, there is still a lot of design potential. Some of this transformation may be very simple but can go a long way in improving the quality of the living space.

Start by adding a small table and chair. This will allow you to enjoy a morning coffee in the fresh air as a refreshing way to start your day. Filling your balcony with lush plants and herbs will create the feel and smell of a proper garden (even if the space doesn’t quite allow it to be. Create comfortable lounging areas. If you do not have proper outdoor furniture, comfortable pillows and cushions are a good alternative for relaxing outdoors. Lastly, being outdoors can provide a real feeling of escape at this time, especially whilst holiday plans are currently on hold.

Hanging chairs and hammocks are a simple but much-loved feature at many of our One&Only resorts where guests can switch off and relax, and adding one of these to your balcony space can help to create that laid-back, holiday vibe we are all missing right now.

GO: For more information on One&Only resorts visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com