Transform Your Tiny Space: How Your Home Environment Impacts Business Success
2 years ago I moved into my first long term let after living out of hand luggage for 24 months across 4 Latin American countries. Nomading had been fun but it was never meant to be forever. I wanted a place I could call home.
And here I was.
In this TINY - two windows with natural light - 2 bed apartment.
Grateful for the upgrade from the room in a shared house which flooded when it rained.
This private cave would be my home and office with my toddler and Colombian partner.
And for the first year I hated it.
My home was dreary and depressing and I longed to move. My business stagnated with my income remaining under £700 a month.
Time leaked away into looking for alternative living arrangements. Feeling stuck, sapped of energy, my business, wellbeing and relationship suffered.
BEFORE: Even the plant hated it - it didn't make it hardly suprising without windows!
The First Transform: Small Changes, Big Impact
March 2024, my partner suggested we decorate – maybe that would make our living space more comfortable for me he reasoned.
Initially I was horrified... why would I want to spend money here when I want to move? Admittedly, I was not convinced any amount of paint could help this hole. Yet I reluctantly agreed.
It was worth a shot, right?
It was a freshen up job, a lick of paint and some huge mirrors in hope of creating the illusion of space, and reflecting the light we had.
To my utter surprise it helped.
For the first time I began to like my home. I was happier and relationships improved dramatically. Business was ticking along and my time was spent enjoying cooking, keeping the home pretty and thinking about the next moves in my business.
AFTER: This tiny monstera is now a giant in my daughters jungle bedroom :)
But 6 months later I was back looking at moving. The dark was getting to me again. And the black mismatched furniture had a LOT to answer for.
Again we had no luck finding a place. We had come to love our landlady and her family like our own. Plus, there were other benefits including economical ones to staying put.
Rather than waste anymore money travelling to viewings, it was decided to redecorate. On a scale never seen before in this building. A total refurbishment - total redesign. Walls, doors, furniture, the lot.
It all had to go.
BEFORE: Even the plant hated it - it didn't make it hardly suprising without windows!
AFTER: : This tiny monstera is now a giant in my daughters jungle bedroom :)
The Game-Changing Refurb
Mentally I shifted into the mindset that if I had to stay, I'd make the place exactly as I desired. Clearly, there was a lesson here, that I could have my dream home right where I was. No moving required.
For years in the UK I had bought things based on price and doing what I needed them to do.
Now I was going to do it differently.
Creating a beautiful, functional space for my unique requirements of the tiny space was the mission. Every item would be curated intentionally. And everything already here that didn't fit that brief would be let go.
After all, if you are going to live and work somewhere then should it not be perfectly functional for work and comfortable for you and your family?
Gaining the blessing from my partner, he granted me full creative control of the project.
He just wanted me to be happy. Questioning nothing, he offered me his strength and time to do the labour as needed. His support allowed me to drop completely into my feminine energy.
Mission home office family sanctuary activated.
Pinterest engaged, boards created for each room, filled with small apartment ideas and gathering colour schemes. Seeking support from my business besties – one of whom is just magical when it comes to designing gorgeous spaces and my mother who is an interior design veteran.
Screenshots, ideas and decisions were made.
I Spanglished my way through the DIY stores, Ubering around the city and video calling my DIY support network for paint colour advice - and work began. I took time away from my business to focus on this project at hand.
I figured a break to create this new space may help bring fresh perspective to my next moves in business.
My daughter and I painted during the day and my partner would help me paint after work in the evenings.
As a homebody mamapreneur who hates a traditional office, I designed spaces for my unorthodox requirements.
My sofa was to serve as my office, family snuggle and meal space. Naturally, this meant a much larger sofa was needed.
Out went the uncomfortable black sofa bed (as if having guests in here is viable!) and in came a locally made latte coloured, corner sofa (covered with a light coloured throw of course!)
Perfect for my lap desk and extension leads with USB sockets, soon to be joined by a sofa arm tray to hold my morning kefir or cacao – complete with storage for pens, notebook and remotes.
Out went the black and grey floor lamp. In came a beautiful copper floor lamp and rattan lamp shade for the ceiling light.
With every stroke of paint, every parcel of new kit and each new item of furniture, my sense of home and comfort expanded. And my excitement and creativity continued to flow.
My sense of well being did a 180. My relationship continued to improve and remain so.
Despite not being quite finished with the refurb at the time of writing (Jan 2025) I can honestly say I love my tiny apartment. I no longer wish to leave. At least not until I am ready to buy land in the mountains and have a wood cabin built with windows the size of entire walls.
However, I am LOVING where I am now.
AFTER THE AFTER: Lounge is bright and beautiful and comfy for work and movies
Video: Tiny apartment transformation - a quick look at where we started to how its going!
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The Business Impact
Certainly the most profund part of the entire process, is the impact on my business. Business has blossomed.
That fresh perspective I had hoped for came through with such beautiful clarity. This change in attitude towards my home resulted in answers to questions I'd had about the direction of my business for years. How I could possibly combine my tech expertise with my passion for food and wellbeing.
And this very paradigm I'd been in and the shift to a new one gave me all the answers I needed. The process was the incubation period that concluded with the birth of the Tech & Tastes brand.
The very creativity and transformation of my home bought through total transformation of my business. Business has never felt so easy and joyful until I began running it from a place I love to be in.
Creating content comes easily, my photos look great, my joy oozes into my written word and can be felt through the screen. And folks jump into my offers without hesitation.
Life feels good. I feel good. Even dropped a few lbs.
But the impact is clear: creating a space you love transforms how you work within it.
Key Takaways
When we change our perspective what we see changes.
It really doesn't matter where you live, you can make it a functional and comfortable space to run a successful online business and raise your family.
You just have to decide.
Bulit on Systeme
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