2020 came to change both our lives and homes

2020 changed our lives in unimaginable ways. All of our hobbies and interests that we used to pursue outside of our living space suddenly became a part of our daily life at home. Some of us faced even more difficult challenges because now the whole family had to accommodate all the different activities in one place. 

Based on this new normal in the middle of a pandemic, the showroom located at the IKEA Tallinn Pick-up Point also got a fresh look, and we invite everyone to come and explore the new smart solutions. The comfortable and coordinated living room has now two separate corners for working.

Happiness starts with a home that is well put together
Therapist and workplace happiness researcher Tiina Saar-Veelmaa believes that people's homes were really put to the test last year. "If we have a normal work rhythm, for example getting home late at night or in the worst-case scenario, arriving home only to sleep, then we don't even notice the strengths or weaknesses of our living space. However, if we spend more time at home with family members, the moment of truth is here," says Saar-Veelmaa. "We do not necessarily need a large living space for cosiness. A comfortable sofa, potted plants and candles are definitely enough. When our home is well-designed or put together according to our personality and taste, then it creates a feeling of happiness," the therapist adds.

New functions of the living room
Most of our activities still revolve around the living room and sofa, but now they have taken on another dimension. A sofa is no longer a place where the family only spends time in front of the TV, but it plays a much bigger role in our new rhythm of life, being a playground, a work area and a place to meditate.
In some ways the time spent at home also gives us more flexibility. For example, a day in the home office doesn't have to start at the desk or end when you get up from your office chair. If you needed to send some important morning or evening emails, it could be done without even getting up from the couch. However, a good posture should also be kept in mind while you are working away on your cosy sofa. Thanks to the small and stylish laptop support, there is a place for your laptop and, if necessary, even a snack bowl.

A small home office nook does not require much space
The pandemic increased people's need for a space to do their work at home – 36% of Estonians worked from home during the lockdown measures. However, not everyone has a special or comfortable place to get their things done at home. IKEA interior designer Eliise Tammekivi also found an opportunity to create a work area in the IKEA showroom, where at first glance there was no space for such thing.
According to the Interior Designer, it is enough if there is empty wall space at home or an unused niche between different furniture. "An ergonomic workplace is the most important thing in a home office. We placed a height-adjustable office desk in a normal-sized living room and there is plenty of room for sitting or standing, and you could even add a stand support if you wanted to. What is more, raising the table is a breeze thanks to the crank hidden under the table top," Tammekivi adds.
"One of the biggest challenges in a home office is good lighting, which is important when making video calls. What often happens is that light falls upon our faces from the wrong angle or we just don’t have enough light to begin with. In order to combat this problem, we installed an adjustable FLOALT LED light panel above the table top, making it more professional to make video calls and find the right lighting solution. The panel can be adjusted with a wireless remote control, you can switch between warm light and cold light and between dim light and full power with just one push of a button," she explained.

Small space calls for multifunctional furniture
The interior designer pointed out that a cabinet is not absolutely necessary to store all work-related items. "Another solution which helps to get additional space for keeping things are movable trolleys – they can serve as additional shelves next to your desk. Since you can wheel it easily, it can be taken to any corner of the home, when needed and serve for other functions too. And it takes up little space," the interior specialist explains.

How to make best use of a small home
The IKEA Interior Designer believes that if you have a small apartment, you should take notice of the back of the sofa as well. "In the showroom apartment we installed our IVAR modular system between the sofa and the wall, giving the room some valuable space for storing books, pens, flowers or blankets. We also attached a lamp to the shelf to provide additional light for working on the sofa, if necessary," says E. Tammekivi.

The Whole Life at Home
We believe that home is the most important place in the world. This is why every year IKEA conducts a global research called “Life at home”. The research aims to find out how people live at home and understand what makes their life at home better.