/

Christmas wrap ideas and tips | Growing Spaces

I’m going to make a bit of an admission. Ben actually wraps all the Christmas presents, not me. I know, right? I write all these posts about gift wrap when really I don’t even do it myself? In my defence, I have wrapped my fair share of presents over the years (countless magazine photo shoots requiring trees laden with gifts for example), and I am still the boss when it come to how we wrap our gifts at Christmas. The look (paper, ribbon etc) is all down to me, and I do all the finishing details once Ben has finished the manual… View Post

/

Working from home | Growing Spaces

Maybe it’s the need to be as close to the kettle as possible or just because it’s at the heart of our home, but even though I’ve got a dedicated home office that I love I can often be found working at the kitchen table instead. I guess that’s one of the best things about working from home – you’re not restricted to one workspace, you can pick your spot for the day, whether it’s at your desk, on the sofa, or even holed up in bed (this ranks pretty highly for me on cold, winter days or if I’m… View Post

/

7 golden rules for an organised home office | Growing Spaces

Getting my desk organised last week after the arrival of my new super-compact HP DeskJet 3720 printer prompted a massive sort out of the rest of my home office. I went through old files, binned bags of obsolete paperwork, moved furniture and generally tackled my problem areas – paperwork, reference material and office stationery – so that I could enjoy the benefits of a more ordered workspace. Just moving furniture gave the room an instant refresh – it’s almost like hitting a reset button. Other things I did: Finally let go of a load of magazines. They were all titles… View Post

/

  Space always seems to be an issue in my home office. The room isn’t tiny, but it’s not huge either, and I really struggle to fit in everything I need, despite being acutely aware that I’m lucky to even have a room at home that I can use as a workspace. I work from home, and it’s a constant battle to keep on top of the clutter. I’m one of those people who needs the space around me to be in order for me to be able to work productively. That well-known phrase ‘organised desk, organised mind’ totally applies… View Post

/

The secret to a good night's sleep | Growing Spaces

I felt like a proper grown-up when Ben and I bought our first decent mattress together over a decade ago – going into the store, trying to find the perfect firmness, having it delivered. Fast forward 11 years, and that mattress wasn’t quite as perfect anymore. I could feel the springs, and we were both starting to wake up feeling achey rather than well-rested. Even before having kids, my sleep was important to me, and I love my bed – I need a good eight hours a night or I am an emotional wreck. Then we had the twins, and… View Post