Mount Pleasant Magazine March/April 2021

50 www. ReadMPM. com | www. VOICE forRea l Es tate. com | www.MountPl easantBu i lder s . com W orking from home can seem like a dream for many people. There’s more time in the day thanks to a lack of a commute, and they can work in a familiar space and avoid the distractions that can come with a regular office space. Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced employees all over the country to work remotely, avoiding a potentially infectious office space. A survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers notes that 83% of employers saw success when moving their employees to at-home work, and around 55% of employees would like to work remotely at least three days a week in the future. When remote work looks like a more permanent option, having a productive and efficient workspace at home is crucial. Katelyn Irizarry, owner and lead designer at Polished Renovations and Design, has a few tips for those looking to create a solid workspace. “I’m very big on intentional spaces. When designing something like a home office, I always ask my clients how they live in the space. Some people just use their laptop, a pad of paper and writing utensils. Other people have a lot of things that they need to use,” she said. “I think it’s really important to pick items that help you organize based on the way you go through your day and for everything to have its own home. If everything has its own place, it’s a lot easier to keep things organized,” she continued. Polished Renovations and Design has redesigned and remodeled home offices in the past, but the company has noticed more of a focus on remote workspaces over the past year. Before, an office would be part of a larger home renovation and would require small changes, like a paint job or a lighting change. But now, overall changes to lifestyle have caused homeowners to be more mindful of potential workspaces for themselves, as well as spaces for children to complete schoolwork. “These times are a little bit different, and people are working for companies that are more lenient and flexible with BY KATHER I NE WATERS Home Sweet Office Spruce Up Your Workspace Kate l yn I r i zar r y, Owner and Lead Des i gner at Po l i shed Renovat i ons and Des i gn . Photo by Ca l l i e Cranford Photography & Graph i c Des i gn . Organi zat ion i s essent i a l for a produc t i ve home of f i ce, so lots of storage i s key. “When des i gn i ng someth i ng l i ke a home of f i ce, I a lways ask my c l i ent s how they l i ve i n the space,” Irizarry said. Photo by Le f t Lane Produc t i ons . Photo by Callie Cranford Photography & Graphic Design.