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Lighting in your home office is a lot like the weather. When it’s good, you feel energized and productive. When it’s bad, you feel lethargic, frustrated, or distracted. What makes lighting good or bad while working from home? Let’s dive in and take a look.

Lighting while working from home affects concentration/focus

Most of us have never given much thought to lighting while working from home. We’re aware that organization influences mood and productivity at work but tend to overlook lights for a home office. We just want to be able to see what we’re doing. 

While working from home, you probably have a desk lamp and maybe also a floor lamp or table lamp by a cozy reading spot. Access to natural daylight is ideal but not always available, so that affects your lighting choices too. 

Relying on misplaced lighting, overhead or too far away, can cause shadows that make it hard to work, ultimately influencing your ability to work effectively and efficiently. 

Take the time to check that lighting in your home office works for you. Get creative in your space. A lamp in a design that appeals to you will make you happy every time you turn it on.

Web conferencing relationships

Currently, one of the most neglected considerations while working from home is lighting during video conferences. Did anyone see this coming in home decor trends? 

Web conferencing online enables us to build relationships while social distancing. Video calls have been vital to both large and small businesses during the pandemic. Home office lighting is critical for fostering connection from afar.

Consider the last time you were on a Zoom call and the other person’s home office lighting was dim. It’s really hard to connect and communicate with someone who’s in a dark room. Consider these points when you get ready for your next call.

1. Ensuring your face is bright and clear allows others to see and connect with you. (Use the “improve my appearance” filters if you’re more comfortable with that. Not all of us love the camera!) A good light behind your monitor or attached to your laptop is a good investment in your home accessories.
   
   
2. Be aware of any glares or shadows that are happening. Glasses and glass picture frames behind you will reflect your monitor. The sun in your eyes will cause you to squint. These are distracting and make it difficult for others to focus on what you’re saying when they’re studying what’s visible in that glare (or just shielding their eyes if it’s too bright).
   
   
3. Notice how it can be challenging to virtually connect with someone who appears to be in a sterile pod. Having an interesting light in a modern design behind you in your home office will add some ambiance. Showing a little personality allows others to get to know you better and helps bridge the gap of not meeting in the same room together. 

Home office lighting is a beacon for productivity

At the end of the (work) day, be mindful that lighting affects our mood and overall health. Poor lighting is distracting and often causes headaches while bright and cheerful lighting uplifts our spirits and can improve our outlook. 

If you’re looking to boost your productivity and improve your ability to connect with your remote colleagues, check out Domanda Design’s made-to-order lighting options where you can pick a pattern that lights you up.

This blog post was written by Kara Stefancik. 

The anticipation of remodeling a room, big or small, adds excitement to our lives. What starts out as a Pinterest board turns into a much-awaited reality and is only the beginning of the adventure.

Small rooms can be challenging, especially if you are planning to renovate a small bathroom. In this case, the most important words to remember are: keep it simple. Small spaces don’t have to feel small. Any size room can feel spacious, as long as you pay attention to detail. 

If you are doing a complete remodel, that suggests a new shower or tub. When choosing a tile, keep in mind that the smaller the tile, the bigger the area will appear. There are many choices today for beautiful tiles, including glass. Glass tile alongside another tile, or by itself, gives the illusion of space. If going with a pre-fab unit for your shower or tub, chose a light tone since this is the most prominent bathroom fixture in a limited area.

Now for the question of preference, do you choose a free-standing sink or a small vanity? A free-standing sink will provide a feeling of openness but has limited storage. A vanity will provide storage for toiletries and supplies but takes up more space. Whatever your preference, consider white fixtures for a small space. White works well in a small area and allows for a lot of freedom in choosing wall and accessory colors. Regardless of the size of a bathroom, the mirror is always your focal point. It catches your attention immediately, and the reflection of your room can appear to add space. 

Finally, don’t forget about texture! Amidst all the hardware in the room, texture helps to soften your space and add warmth. Shower curtains, towels, and rugs make the room pop. These home accessories can also be more on-trend colors or modern designs since they are easy to update every couple of years.      

It’s easy to forget how much time we spend in a bathroom each day, even a small one. Make it a room you enjoy by surrounding yourself with color and pattern that makes you happy.  and keeping it free from unnecessary clutter. 

Do you have a small bathroom you love? Tag us on Instagram so we can see your space! 

This blog post was written by Ann Hayes.

Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness.
– Anni Albers

Domanda Design was born out of the simple idea that art isn't just for hanging on walls. Neither is it a luxury reserved for people with a lot of money. Everyone deserves to have art in their lives and their homes. Our goal is to bring the good feelings art can nurture into your home through beautiful color and pattern, using on-demand manufacturing and drop shipping.  

But first, who is Domanda Design?

Domanda Design is the sister store to Design Pool, a pattern design company founded by artist and designer Kristen Dettoni. Since Design Pool launched in 2019, Kristen has designed over 600 patterns (and counting!), all in multiple colorways. She works directly with interior designers and digital printers to customize residential and commercial interiors with her unique patterns. Her partners print on felt acoustic panels, vinyl flooring, faux upholstery, wallcovering, fabric, pretty much anything!

But ... Design Pool does not sell directly to the public. Kristen wanted to make her patterns accessible directly to consumers, so she launched Domanda Design in late 2020. 

What is print-on-demand manufacturing? 

Print-on-demand manufacturing means that everything is made to order when a purchase is made. While getting a one-off of a printed product was previously unheard of, advances in digital printing technology have made this a reality. 

What excites us most about digital printing and print-on-demand manufacturing is how much waste it keeps out of landfills. In traditional manufacturing, lots and lots of products get produced, and retailers hope they sell. They hope they chose the designs people want, in the colors people want. If they chose wrong, then they just wasted a lot of resources.

With on-demand manufacturing, that isn't an issue. Printers only print a product when it sells, and no waste goes to the landfill. For us, that means we have the freedom to offer many design options. And for you, you have the freedom to choose the pattern and color you want and have it made just for you.

What does drop ship mean? 

Drop shipping means that the printers ship the product directly to you, and not to us first. That means there is less movement of goods across distances and less emitting of greenhouse gases. It also makes it possible for small businesses like ours to sell our products since we don't need large spaces for inventory or shipping.

We invite all of you to add a little art to your life.

Whether art comes into your life on a printed canvas to hang on a wall or your new favorite coffee mug, we hope our work helps you breathe, as Anni Albers described, "with a different kind of happiness."  

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane. 

Photo of Kristen Dettoni by Brittanny Taylor.

April signals the time of year when we start coming out of winter and life starts opening up. We’ve all been hibernating these past few months, but also this past year. Spring brings with it a sense of renewal, hope, and new growth. Feng Shui encourages us to honor the cycle of fresh starts and new growth by working in the home to welcome in this new season. 

Lisa Law, a certified Feng Shui practitioner and author, guided us through using Feng Shui to improve the energy in our bedroom to get a good night’s sleep. We spoke with her again this month for insight into using Feng Shui to inspire spring cleaning. As always, she had great advice. 

5 ways to use Feng Shui to tackle your spring cleaning

Start at the front door.
Our front doors are the main entry point into our homes and are referred to as the “mouth of chi” in Feng Shui. Think about your front door as the primary source of fresh energy in your home. To get started, go outside and clean up around your front door. Sweep the stoop, remove any cobwebs, and dust off your doormat. Check to see if your door needs any repairs and clear the clutter from this area. Plants in the cheerful colors of spring can help attract new energy. As with anything you do for Feng Shui, do this with intention. While you’re working to refresh this space, invite new opportunities to come into your home and life.

Do a thorough cleaning.
Spend a day doing a deep clean of your whole home. Open all your windows to move stagnant energy out and allow fresh energy to move in. Move your furniture to clean and vacuum those hard-to-reach spaces. Wash windows, clear cobwebs, and see if any curtains and window treatments need cleaning, repairing, or replacing. Try to make this type of deep clean an annual tradition.

Evaluate your winter equipment.
As you put away all the hats, gloves, boots, and shovels from winter, don’t put them away without thought. They will only become next year’s clutter. Look at each item and move things out of your home that no longer serve a purpose. Always keep in mind that you want to make space in your home for new energy. If your home and life is full, there is no room for new energy to come in. Leave space on a bookshelf, clean out a basement or attic, and attempt to reduce items before they have a chance to become clutter.

Bring in fresh flowers.
Fresh flowers instantly brighten up a whole space. When you’re done with your deep clean, pick up tulips or other spring flowers for your home. Also, bring the colors of spring into your home with your décor. Bright corals, yellows, and reds on decorative items can help make a room feel like spring has arrived.

Set intentions as you work.
Spring is a time of renewal and new growth. As you work, ask yourself, “What do I want to do next?” Put a symbol of that goal in your environment. This symbol can be an inspiring quote on your fridge or a beautiful piece of art in a room. Choose something inspiring and motivating, something that makes your feel good. Avoid symbols that cause you to feel stressed. Imagine you’re turning your home into a vision board. This practice helps make what you’re working toward tangible.

Feng Shui always encourages you to set an intention and then take inspired action. As you finish your spring cleaning, think about doing one activity each day to work toward your goal. Focus on the idea of making steady growth through incremental changes. When you tackle your spring cleaning with this in mind, your environment will be in the position to help you achieve those goals.

Lisa will be teaching a virtual spring cleaning workshop on Friday, April 30, at 3 pm. You can find information on her website or by following her on Instagram or Facebook.

Want to remember these tips as you get ready to clean? Download our FREE tip sheet to print out and keep nearby as you get ready to tackle your spring cleaning.

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.    

What color do you associate with healing? Growth? Optimism? Sustainability? Is it also the hue you associate with greed, illness, inexperience and envy? Is it the same for for both new leaves and moldy bread? For both Kermit and Godzilla? One hue, with so many contradictions, makes green an oh-so fascinating color.

As the predominant color on land, green has always surrounded us.

Regardless of what ecosystem or season, there is always green around us. The chlorophyll that makes plant life possible tints every plant some shade of green. Grass is bright green. Pine trees in winter are spruce green. Cacti in deserts are pale green. Kelp in the ocean is dark green. The one thing all these plant greens have in common is that they are edible – to insects, herbivores, or humans. Without chlorophyll, the food chain would fall apart. It’s no wonder we associate the color green with life-giving power.

Yet, when we’re sick it’s often said someone is “green around the gills” or they “look green”. Vomit is green. Urine is green(ish). Gangrene is green. Mold is often green. Green is a signal to both “eat me” and to “stay away”. The duality is often overlooked in our preference to only see the good. We love to praise “Mother Nature” for her blessings and bounty, but we do so by ignoring her fierceness and cruelty. The same nature that gave us avocados, also gave us praying mantises that bite their mate’s head off after copulation. Thinking of nature as only kind and gentle devalues the strength and determination of natural selection. Green is powerful because it represents survival.

As a design tool, green is often used as a “calming” color to aid with depression and anxiety.

Some of that is from our association with being outdoors, away from the chaos, concrete, and steel of urban life.  Perhaps some of it is also due to its place in the middle of the color spectrum at about 555 nanometers.  Scientists speculate that its position makes it easier for us to see, less strenuous than red and blue on the edges of the spectrum. Our nervous system can relax rather than strain to see green. If our eyes can relax, then the rest of us can too. One 8 year study of over 100,000 women revealed that women who lived near lots of green lived longer than those who did not.

On the flip side, green as a paint pigment has a toxic history. In the 1770s, a vibrant new bright green pigment called Scheele’s Green was introduced. It was used on paper, wall hangings, fabrics and more.  Over the next 100 years, it replaced most mineral and vegetable dyes, but it was based on the toxic chemical arsenite. Napoleon Bonaparte used it on his bedroom walls and some historians think it killed him. The Impressionists replaced Scheele’s Green with Paris Green which wasn’t really any better. Some speculate that that caused Cezanne’s diabetes and Monet’s blindness. It was banned by the 1960s.  Today’s green pigments still have a troubling chemistry containing toxic cocktails of chlorine, titanium, nickel, and or bromide. (My advice: don’t eat your green paint. Stick with spinach!)

Green today continues its powerful messaging.

It is seen in the Green Giant marketing for vegetables, sustainability programs all branding with green, green being the most popular color for money, and the “green light” being a universal sign for “Go”. Perhaps its duality is best represented by its secondary status on the color chart and thus through its parent colors: blue and yellow. Blue is deep and cool. Yellow is bright and hot. Blue is water. Yellow is sunlight. Water and light are the two ingredients that give us chlorophyll, that give us life. 

This blog post was written by Luise Stromberg.

If you love color, check out Luise's post on the power of pink!

What time is it? Time for another product launch! This month we are so excited to add wall clocks to our print-on-demand home collection. If you're looking to add a little bit of art to a room, but not a wrapped canvas art, these fun clocks are the perfect choice.

Here's what we love about our wall clocks.

They're battery operated.*
It may not sound like much, but having a battery operated clock in your home can be very useful. Our homes are getting smarter and smarter, but one big storm can show you how vulnerable you actually are to your energy source. If your electricity is out and your phones and watches have died, having a battery operated clock is crucial for a home. 

You can customize the details.
We have 25 different patterns to choose from, and each pattern comes in 5 different color choices. Once you've chosen your favorite color and pattern, you can choose a wooden, white, or black frame and either white or black hands. Make your clock perfect for your space.

They're easy to install.
Each clock has one pre-installed backside hook on the back. Once out of the package, it's super easy to hang in your kitchen, home office, or playroom. 

Head on over to check out our full collection of wall clocks and let us know your favorite pattern! We're adding new product all the time. Wish we had something? Let us know over on Instagram and give us a follow if you haven't already.  

* Please note, our clocks require one AA battery, which is not included.

Working from home can be very beneficial to your quality of life. For example, you can exercise in the morning instead of driving to work, eat healthier lunches, and save money on trips to the coffee shop. Best part? You can even get some chores done that used to eat up time on the weekend. (I'm looking at you, laundry.) 

Yet, it also has the potential to be a negative experience. When your office is in your home, it's easy to let work creep into your home and family time. Suddenly you're checking email on a Sunday or using Saturday morning to finish up Friday’s tasks. One way to be sure that working from home works for you is to create a space that respects both parts of your life. Next, keep this space organized so it functions effectively. Being organized helps you feel productive but not overwhelmed.

5 Tips for Organizing your Home Office:

Keep your area clutter-free.
Clutter can suck the energy right out of you, whatever the room. In your office, clutter can add stress to your job and eat up your precious time. Whether you have a dedicated room for your office or a desk set up in your family room, keep your work-zone free from clutter. If needed, invest in a storage system to keep your tools and documents organized and keep non-work items away from this space. At the end of your workday, tidy up your area and put your work out of view.  

Bring nature indoors.
In a traditional office environment, it could be challenging to score an office with a window, but it might not be as hard at home. Take advantage of this and try to arrange your workspace near a window. Views of nature are known to reduce stress and help us feel focused. Go one step further and bring a touch of nature indoors with a live plant.  

Invest in good lighting.
The quality of light in your workspace can have a significant impact on your productivity. Bad lighting can cause eyestrain, headaches, and reduced energy. Look at your space and pay attention to how you work within it. Then, light your space in a way that serves your needs.

Consider the power position.
When we spoke with Feng Shui practioner Lisa Law, she advised us to consider the power position in room arrangement. This position refers to having your back against a wall and within view of the doorway. This position helps you feel in control. If you don't have the flexibility to rearrange an entire room, you can place a mirror in a strategic position that offers a view of the door from wherever you are sitting.  

Add your personality.
Making a space of your own ultimately creates a feeling of comfort. Doing your best work happens when you feel comfortable, safe, and focused. What personal touches can you add to your workspace to make it feel your own? A piece of art? A framed inspirational quote? Whatever it is, add it!

Keeping an organized home office is ultimately about feeling in control and free of distraction. Life will be throwing enough distractions your way; searching a messy desk shouldn’t be one of them. What about you? Do you work from home? What tips have you learned to make it productive?

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.

We've been on a roll lately, adding lots of new products to the shop. With all the pets happy, it's time to think about those New Year's resolutions you made a couple of months ago. If you're looking to freshen up a room with a piece of art, we just added brand new wrapped canvases. 

These canvases instantly turn any pattern into a piece of art. Each piece is printed on finely textured, an artist-grade cotton substrate that consistently reproduces image details with outstanding clarity and detail. Each print is available in three sizes and five different colorways.  

Here are a few reasons to treat yourself to wrapped canvas art.

They're affordable art.
Let's face it; original art can be expensive. At Domanda Design, we firmly believe art isn't a luxury and should be accessible to everyone. Professional artists and designers have designed all our patterns. Digital printing offers the ability to turn original pieces into affordable prints without sacrificing quality.

They're fun to rotate.
Just because you live in a small space doesn't mean you have to stop buying art. If you have more art than wall space, rotate your artwork seasonally, quarterly, or whenever you feel like a new view. Rotating art is a quick solution to breathe a breath of fresh air into a space. Bonus? Bringing a piece of art out makes it feel new all over again. 

They are perfect for a gallery wall.
If space isn't a limitation, a gallery wall makes a striking impact on a room. Choose a few pieces in different sizes and hang them together in a creative way, or maybe two large pieces side-by-side. Get creative!  

There is no wrong way to live with wrapped canvases. However you're inspired to use them, you have many patterns and colors to choose from. Find the perfect one (or few) for your space today!

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.

If there is one item in my bag I could not live without, it is the pouch that keeps everything else organized. Living in a city, I'm often getting around on foot and carrying everything I need with me for the day. I like to travel light and be able to get to what I need quickly, without digging through my whole bag.

Our  accessory pouches are the perfect item to keep me organized. And the thing I love most about them is how versatile they are. I use them to stay organized on the go and at home. Just how versatile are they?

Here are 5 of my favorite uses for an accessory pouch:

Cosmetics
Every handbag needs a place to keep small items from getting lost in the bottom. These pouches are perfect for keeping your cosmetics together and clean. They're also easy to transfer from bag to bag so you never find yourself without your favorite lip gloss. 

Cords, Wires & Chargers
Modern technology may be wireless, but not all the time. You're free until you're not and then you'd better find some juice. Keeping all my cords, plugs, earbuds and chargers in one place means I never have to go searching when I need to recharge. No matter if I'm home or on the road. 

Gift Card Packaging
Shopping for other people can be challenging and sometimes the best gift is a gift card a favorite shop or restaurant. I like to add a personal touch by tucking the gift card into a pouch with a fun design I know they'll love. 

Art Supplies
I never take a trip without a travel journal and my tiny art supply kit. In our highly connected lives, the privacy of a journal is the perfect antidote to Instagram. My go-to travel kit always includes a glue stick, water brush, water soluble pen and a pencil for those museums that won't let me use ink. 

Pandemic Essentials
While I am clearly dreaming about traveling, for now my travels are closer to home. This past year has changed what I consider essential and I don't want to spend time digging through my whole bag when I need hand sanitizer. I now keep one pouch full of sanitizer, disposable wipes, an extra mask and my own pen in case I need to sign a credit card slip.

Whether you're throwing one of our pouches into your favorite handbag or one of our weekender bags, we're sure you'll find it both helpful and stylish. Have you bought one of our accessory pouches? What do you use it for? Tag us on Instagram or use #DomandaDesign so we can see how you use it.  

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.

Our last new product announcement focused on the human members of your family, this time we're focusing on the other ones. We are excited to announce another new product at Domanda Design, PET BEDS!

Your furry family members deserve a comfy place of their own to rest. And just because they can't tell you their favorite color, doesn't mean they don't deserve to rest up in style. Our pet bed collection includes nearly 30 different patterns to choose from, and like all our product lines, each pattern has 5 color options. Choose a pattern that fits their personality or one that fits your decor. Either way, we're sure your pet will be happy and comfy.

Pet beds are about more than just comfort.

According to the American Kennel Club, a comfy dog bed is actually important to the health of your dog. For developing puppies, a dog bed supports joints, helping them get a good night's sleep. For older dogs, a supportive dog bed helps cushion their body and provide relief from joint problems that may develop in old age.  

Dogs also relax better when they have a spot they know is dedicated to them. Just like you sleep best in your own bed, dogs also feel safe and secure in a space they know is theirs. For puppies, having their own comfy bed encourages them to go to sleep and stay there through the night.  

Similarly to humans, dogs are healthier and smarter when they have high quality sleep. For example, a well rested dog will have better memory and be easier to train. More rest translates to more energy for learning new commands. 

Our pet beds are comfortable and easy to clean.

Dogs are lovable, but not the tidiest. A good pet bed should be one that is easy to clean. Dogs track in dirt and pests, as well as shed hair and dander. Just like us humans love the feel of freshly cleaned sheets, dogs love a clean bed too. Our pet beds all have a machine washable, removable cover for easy maintenance.

We're confident you and your fur baby will both love our new pet beds. Head on over to find your favorite. And don't forget to tag us on Instagram so we can see all your happy dogs.

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.

Have you checked out the Domanda Design weekender bag? It has fast become one of my go-to bags for daily tasks, as well as weekends away. It has a roomy body, flat bottom, long straps and comes in over 30 different patterns to choose from. Whether your style is mid-century modern or more traditional, there's a pattern you'll love. 

What makes this bag so special? Mostly, it's versatility. 

Here are my 5 favorite ways to use our Weekender Bag:

Visiting the farmer's market.
Not all farmer's market totes are created equal. Since I am not the one doing the cooking, my job at the farmer's market is holding the bags (and my iced coffee) so the cook has his free hands for the actual shopping. My favorite bags have a flat bottom, long enough handles to go over my shoulder and are easy to wipe clean inside after each visit. 

Shopping local.
I'm often out running errands on foot and love a bag big enough to add to as I visit different shops. The flat bottom of our weekender bag helps distribute the weight so items stay a bit organized. And the open top accommodates items that need some space, like fresh flowers and long baguettes.

Going to the gym.
I prefer a gym bag that is easy to pack and unpack so I am sure to empty it after each visit. This bag has enough room for extras such as water bottles or yoga blocks and the open top allows for plenty of air flow so contents don't get stinky. 

Hitting the beach.
For me, the perfect beach bag is one that is roomy but also easy to access. Nothing is worse than my book and sunscreen being buried under layers of towels. The more I can keep in my bag until I'm ready, the more the bag stays free of sand. 

Crafting on the go.
As a knitter, I like to keep my projects organized at home and easy to grab in a pinch to take on the go. This bag is big enough for any long needles and can easily contain tools and bulky projects. Perfect for knitting, needlepunch, embroidery, or any other art you want to be able to do on the road.

How are you using your weekender bag? I'd love to know! Tag us on social media with @DomandaDesign so we can see your bag out in the wild. 

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.

We are so excited to announce a brand new product in Domanda Design, PLACEMATS!

This past year we have spent a lot of time at home and to be honest, we've grown a bit tired of the view. So tired of it, in fact, that it inspired us to add more home products to the shop, starting at the table. 

Whether we're cooking or bringing in a food from a local restaurant, meal time is about more than just eating. It's a time to connect with each other and take a much needed break from our screens. Placemats are an easy and accessible way to add beauty to your table and change up the scene with minimal effort. Some color and pattern also help to create a pleasant vibe for mealtime.  

What do we love most about our placemats?

• You can mix and match. 
  Who said you need to buy multiples of the same design? Each placemat is printed on-demand, which means it's easy to mix and match colors and patterns for a truly unique table setting. One family member like Portuguese Azulejo and another not so much? No problem!   
  
  
• They're made with a double-sided construction. 
  Each placemat is 100% cotton and made in a sturdy, double-sided construction. The design is printed on the front and the back is a neutral color. The final result is a placemat suited for both formal or casual meals. 
  
  
• They're easy to clean.
  All placemats are machine washable. Crumbs can easily be brushed off, but for deeper cleaning placemats can be put in the washing machine on a cold water cycle.
   
• You can create a sense of occasion. 
  Placemats are such an easy way of creating a sense of occasion for an otherwise routine event. They bring an artistic sense to the table with minimal effort. Set the tone for a special gathering or make a regular Tuesday night dinner feel more special.  
   
• They add beauty.
  We can all use a little more beauty in our lives and the place we gather to share a meal is an ideal place to do that. Why reserve a beautiful table for special occasions? You deserve a little beauty every day. 

We're confident you'll love our placemats as much as we do. They are available in 24 different patterns and each pattern has 5 different colors to choose from. Head on over and find your favorite!  

This blog post was written by Kristin Crane.