Category: Creative Workspaces

Exploring the tools, materials, lighting, and functional choices that support creative thinking and making.

Creating a Japandi Office: Peaceful Elegance Meets Functionality

Creative Workspaces, Organisational Aesthetics

Sleek and sophisticated fittings and Furnishings for Hard Working Zone

Boucle textured seating
Elegant breakout area
Japandi meeting room
Plants bring organic

An Effective abundance of textures

While visiting some London City offices recently, I found some authentic Japandi. Working as a facilitator corporate trainer/ instructor I was able to see how the combination of textures used in the external meeting rooms and breakout area fittings created a captivating and calming atmosphere. Colours are neutral and highlighted by the colours from natural elements such as metals and woods and watery looking glass panels.

A spacious training room with rubberised table
Minimalist and well considered details
Natural wood accents
Beautiful combination of natural textures.

If you want to create the Japandi look in your home office here’s five things to remember

  1. Natural elements wood, marble, wool and metal
  2. Paired back details
  3. Double the circulation space for that sense of spaciousness
  4. Juxtaposition of natural textures such as mats verses glosses
  5. Tiny elements of metal craftsmanship to admire

Comment below to share what your favourite elements are in Japandi office or home interiors. Do you like light Japandi or dark Japandi?

Innovative Wall Ideas for Home Office Inspiration

Creative Workspaces

Previously I complained about companies not getting the walls of the training room right for instructors in this post, here.

But recently I was impressed when I visited one major international corporation in the business district of London and saw a well thought out design scheme for delivering learning.

The whole space and training rooms were all thoughtfully designed to inspire and lock in the learning and development of their talent. Read the captions in the images below to discover how the design details support learning.

Whiteboards that run the length of the room.
Rest and digest areas have words of inspiration and empowerment enshrined
A functional mix of fabric and glass for soundproofing and capturing thoughts


The designers of this training space clearly recognized the importance of walls for facilitating learning. They understood that walls play a crucial role for trainers and corporate instructors in enhancing the educational experience.

This week’s photo blog showcases the impact of wall decor in corporate training room environments. From functional and stylish fittings to the carefully crafted calligraphy on the walls, each element contributes to creating a memorable impression and inspires innovative ways of working.

We can take some of these ideas and incorporate them into our home office wall decor. For instance, having a large poster with inspirational quotes can serve as a personal reminder of how we want to work. Additionally, when planning the treatment of our walls, why settle for plain paint? Consider creating a space that includes a glass panel for chalkboard sessions with your team. This setup encourages more interactive meetings and gives leaders and managers a reason to turn on their cameras and engage effectively.

How to clean a cloth lampshade

Creative Workspaces

The trend for cloth lampshades is returning. Whether gathered, pleated or stretched over a frame, I love making fabric lampshades.
However, I noticed a dilemma because fabric tends to gather dust and is too delicate for hoovering with the crevis or upholstery attachment. I have to be careful that the home is as dust-free as possible with my asthma. The video below came after a sleepless night of wheezing and being convinced I had COVID-19 at worst or the flu. I then took the lampshade out of the bedroom and washed it under the tap. I was using ordinary gentle soap gently trickling over it. I slept better with no wheezing after that.

After rinsing, I let it drain on a un upturned empty Gu pot. A yoghurt pot will do. And it dripped dried on kitchen towels. The washing process brought the colour of the lampshade up back to its normal sparkly shimmer too.

Here are the ten tips for cleaning a cloth fabric lampshade

  1. Check with the seller that your lampshade has not been glued anywhere.
  2. 100% hand-stitched lampshade
  3. Do not wash drum lampshades that are mass-produced as there are bound to be some glue-attaching pieces. The fabric is attached to UPVC.
  4. Check the fabric is washable, such as cotton.
  5. Check the fabric pattern will not run if wet.
  6. Use lukewarm water
  7. Lather up a small amount of detergent.
  8. Sprinkle it over the lampshade in and out
  9. Rinse thoroughly
  10. Drain until dry

It’s interesting how dusty old lampshades often end up in landfill. But just giving your old lampshade a wash could be both good for you and the planet.

Home Office Charm 2021