Whether you work from home or you simply need a quiet space for catching up on emails, many people value having a designated home office space. This area should inspire you to do work free from the clutter of everyday life, and these organizational tips will show you how to create a workspace that promotes productivity.

1. Use only functional furnishings. If you have a desk that is far too small, switch it out for something larger that you’ll actually use. The same goes for that uncomfortable chair and the rest of your outdated home office furniture.
2. Add framed photos. Frame a few photos that inspire you, whether they’re works from famous artists or simply clippings from your favorite magazines. Create a gallery wall of eclectic frames that you can look at when you need a boost.
3. Block out distractions. Whether that means switching your office into a different room or simply adding a room divider, it’s important to create a space that is free of distractions.
4. Find the view. If possible, position your home office in an area with a window so that you can gaze outside as you brainstorm.

Stylish Home Offices & Decorating Ideas [House Beautiful]
10 Tips for Designing Your Home Office [HGTV]
7 Tips for a More Productive and Inspirational Home Office [The Real Estate Book]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Epicantus

Art fans in the Houston area love visiting the First Saturday Arts Market, a family-friendly event that features works from some of the area’s best visual artists. This outdoor market is held in the charming Historic Houston Heights neighborhood, and it features live music, food trucks, and grassy areas for lounging before or after you explore the stunning works of art.

Wander through the market and you’ll find white, tented booths filled with works by almost 50 different artists, including paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and even handmade artisan crafts. All of these items are available for purchase at reasonable prices, so this makes a great place to visit if you’re looking to fill you walls with local art. Stop by to have an affordable lunch, check out live, local music and maybe even bring home a new painting to hang on your wall.

First Saturday Arts Market
540 W. 19th Street at Lawrence Street
Houston, TX
(832) 273-4798
www.firstsaturdayartsmarket.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr kjarrett

Laundry day is likely your least favorite day of the week, but it doesn’t have to be quite so difficult. By attacking your piles of laundry with a bit of pre-planning, you can make laundry day much more manageable. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Separate lights and darks ahead of time. To avoid the tedious task of separating lights from darks, separate them as soon as you toss your dirty clothes in the hamper. Invest in a double-sided hamper that does the separating for you.
2. Invest in good detergent. Using the wrong detergent (or a cheap brand) can make your clothes come out dull and dingy. Instead, choose one detergent designed for washing dark clothes in cold water, one for keeping colors bright, and a separate stain treatment to put on spots.
3. Treat stains as soon as they happen. The most important thing you can do to remove a stain is catch it as soon as it happens. You can even rub in a stain treatment and toss your clothes in the laundry, leaving the stain to deal with on laundry day.
4. Turn clothes inside out. Avoid fading and shrinking by turning your clothes inside out before washing them.
5. Fold right away. To eliminate the need for ironing, prevent wrinkles by folding your clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer.

Laundry 911: Color care basics [She Knows]
How to Care for Your Clothes [How Stuff Works]
Laundry Basics – Sorting it Out [For Better Living]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr Technofreak