Check out this home office located by the guest bedroom, a place that is usually unoccupied, making it quiet with low foot traffic

Written By: Synergy Design & Construction

Hybrid work environments have become increasingly popular and with back-to-school season here, many working parents are once again having to navigate the challenges of crazy schedules and managing their work-life balance.

In today’s blog, we’ll explore some ways you can keep work and life separate through a well-designed and functional home office.

The Importance of a Dedicated Home Office Space

Imagine this: No more kids running around your feet while you’re answering emails at the kitchen table or having to turn your bedroom into a makeshift conference room at the last minute.

Your home office will become a sanctuary of productivity, fostering creativity and helping you get things done without distractions. Once you step outside, that is your family space, a clear boundary between work and personal life.

The clear distinction not only benefits you but also the family, creating a work-life balance that is at times hard to achieve when working from home.

Synergy Design & Construction

Designing a Home Office You’ll Love

Picking the perfect spot: Consider privacy, lighting, and noise level when choosing your workspace. Opt for a place with low foot traffic to keep distractions at bay, natural lighting for video calls, and minimal noise for meetings.

Synergy Design & Construction

Ergonomic furniture and equipment: Ergonomic furniture and adjustable equipment can improve your posture and overall comfort throughout the workday.

Personalize your space: Make the space your own! You get to choose the colors that uplift you, which beautiful artwork to display, and your favorite plants to create a soothing atmosphere. The possibilities are endless.

Prioritizing Productivity and Comfort

Lighting and ambiance: The right lighting can positively impact your mood and productivity. For a workspace, we recommend using natural light when possible, as it has a strong impact on emotional well-being. Cool-toned lighting can have a similar effect.

Synergy Design & Construction

Technology and connectivity: Splurging on technology needed for work, such as a quality monitor, can go a long way in boosting productivity. Just make sure you have a strong internet connection to go along with it!

Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Avoid burnout: Make sure you are taking breaks and finding ways to stay active while you work. Adding a yoga mat or exercise ball to your office can help you stay physically and mentally alert. Standing desks with a treadmill are also a great option that has been trending lately.

Setting boundaries: Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean you always have to be working. Even though we want you to love your office space, there comes a time to leave it!

Craft Your Ideal Home Office with Synergy

For parents who work hybrid, separating your home and work life can be challenging, especially when you have little ones and a back-to-school season to manage. That is why having a designated workspace that is comfortable and uniquely yours is so important.

Synergy is here to help you design the perfect functional home office. Contact us today to get started!


News

The Herndon Town Council has once again deferred finalizing an agreement with developer Comstock to redevelop downtown Herndon — a move met with an ire and skepticism that has steadily grown after years of delays.

The council voted 5-1 last night (Tuesday) to extend a deadline for signing an amended agreement with the developer to Dec. 10. The deadline — known as the “outside satisfaction date” — had already been pushed back from April 30 and again from Aug. 15 following a two-year pause on the project.


Countywide

After a lengthy and contentious debate, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a revised zoning ordinance that imposes strict regulations on data center development in the county.

Yesterday’s 8-2 vote followed over a year of community input and revisions to the proposed ordinance, which tightens restrictions on where and how data centers can be built in Fairfax County.


Capital One Center across I-495 in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Person Rescued From Sewer — The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department was called to the 4100 block of Wadsworth Court in the Annandale area around noon yesterday (Tuesday) after a person “fell 15-feet down a storm sewer. Technical rescue resources have successfully packaged and extricated the patient.” [FCFRD/Twitter]

Where to Commemorate 9/11 in N. Va. — “A number of events are planned around Northern Virginia to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.” In Fairfax County, there are ceremonies this morning in Great Falls, Vienna, Fort Belvoir and Legato. [Inside NoVA]

Fairfax City Man Charged with Abduction — A 54-year-old Fairfax City man was charged with abduction after City of Fairfax police got a report around 6:53 a.m. on Sept. 5 for “a man acting erratically in the common area in the 10200 block of Aspen Willow Drive.” A person who was at the man’s home when police knocked later said “they were intimidated by the suspect, who told them to not answer it.” [Patch]

Fairfax City Extends Restaurant Week — “The city’s Restaurant Week has been extended until Sunday, Sept. 15 with 20 eateries and options to choose from.” The promotional campaign’s popularity inspired Fairfax City Economic Development and other organizers to continue it beyond its original end date of last Sunday (Sept. 8). [DC News Now]

Vienna Students Surprise Custodian With Car — “A group of sophomore students at James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia, stunned their beloved school custodian Monday afternoon, by presenting him with something he’s dreamed about — a Jeep Wrangler.” Francis Apraku was greeted with the vehicle, which was made possible through community fundraising, at Vienna Inn. [WTOP]

New Film Festival to Offer Free Screenings — “In commemoration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, the National Park Service plans to screen several movies at Fort Hunt Park next month involving World War II and featuring characters with disabilities.” [On the MoVe]

Sign Unveiled for 50 Years of W&OD Trail — “September 1974 also brought the opening of the first segment of the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail. To mark the occasion, NOVA Parks (the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) held a special event Sept. 7, unveiling a permanent sign about the history of the W&OD Trail and its many enhancements over its first half-century.” [Gazette Leader]

Moon Gate Completed in Lincolnia Park — Construction a new moon gate, a circular stone structure, was completed at Green Spring Gardens in August. Conceived in 2020 to mark the park’s 20th anniversary, “the rest of the project – including a permanent path, an Asian-inspired garden, a bench, and plaques – is under development.” [Annandale Today]

It’s Wednesday — Expect sunshine and a high of 84 during the day, with light winds turning east at 5 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be mostly clear, with temperatures dropping to a low of 62. [NWS]


News

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted today (Tuesday) to authorize consideration of an amended interim land swap agreement with Inova Health System for the redevelopment of Reston Town Center North.

Under the agreement, the county will acquire the land under the North County Governmental Center, which is currently owned by Inova, in exchange for a wooded area that has hosted the county’s largest homeless encampment — until today.


DC Fray League Registration

Fray social sports leagues are played with a focus on fun, recreation, and socializing. Since 2009, DC Fray social sports have been the BEST way to make new friends and stay active in and around the DMV!

Think: 50% Sport, 50% Social. Fray makes it easy for you to get into the game as an individual, small group or full team across 100+ leagues over 11 sports. 

Registration for our fall social sports leagues closes in just a week! Register by Tuesday, September 17 to get in on the action this season. 

Play traditional sports like volleyball and flag football, and embrace your inner kid with leagues like kickball or skeeball, or try your hand at the nation’s fastest growing sport: pickleball! We’re also pioneering a brand new form of play with our GLOW leagues. Grab some glow sticks and try your hand at bocce, cornhole, kickball and more — in the dark! 

If you haven’t had the chance to experience what a Fray league is all about, we’re hooking up FFXnow readers with $10 off your first league registration with promo code FFXFL24! 

Here are some leagues located near Fairfax: 

Check out our full list of open fall leagues, or subscribe to our newsletter to get notified when winter 2025 registration is announced! 

Have questions? Want help to get a team together? We got you — email us at info@dcfray.com! 

Want to save even more? 

Get an additional 25% of leagues, plus deals and giveaways to partner events, VIP treatment including open bars at select Fray events and more by becoming a FrayLife+ Member during league checkout! 


Countywide

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares issued an apparent challenge last week to Fairfax County and other localities over their policies on cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

In a response to an inquiry from Bedford County Sheriff Michael Miller, Miyares released an opinion last Thursday (Sept. 5) confirming that local sheriffs have the authority to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when someone wanted for deportation proceedings is scheduled to be released.


Around Town

Reston’s Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) will feature a large-scale video installation in its latest exhibition.

“Three Kings Weep,” an exhibit by Jamaican-born artist Ebony Patterson, will be on view from Sept. 21 through Dec. 14 at Tephra’s Reston Town Center gallery (12001 Market Street, Suite 103).


Around Town

The Virginia Native American Festival is set to return to Riverbend Park (8700 Potomac Hills Street) in Great Falls for its 24th year.

Scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the annual celebration of Native American cultures and traditions has been a staple in the county since 1997. However, it was put on hold for a couple of years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


A Lime e-scooter parked on the sidewalk in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Construction Begins on Pickleball Facility — “Construction has started on the Down the Line indoor pickleball center in the long-vacant Kid’s Choice building. The facility, at 4317 Ravensworth Road, Annandale, will have 18 full-size pickleball courts, seven state-of-the-art golf simulators, and a sports bar, says developer Jenni Bae. She anticipates opening in 2025.” [Annandale Today]

Poll Shows Support for Nonpartisan Fairfax City Elections — “Fairfax Commonsense PAC, a political action committee formed in 2021 by former Democratic State Sen. Chap Petersen, commissioned the poll to determine how much support there was for the city to continue its tradition of nonpartisan elections.” Most respondents (67%) said city elections should stay nonpartisan. [Patch]

Lawmakers Divided Over Dulles Greenway’s Future — “Greenway critics, including former Republican state delegate David Ramadan and current Democratic state Sen. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Loudoun), now want to push the SCC to force Greenway tolls down and ideally force its owners to sell the road to the commonwealth.” [Washington Post]

Tysons Play Among D.C. Theatre Week Options — “Theatre Week brings shows by more than DC-area companies under their umbrella with discounted prices” from Sept. 26 through Oct. 13. Ticket sales began yesterday (Monday), including “The Waverly Gallery” from the Tysons-based company 1st Stage. [Northern Virginia Magazine]

Flooring Stores Might Stay Open After All — “Richmond, Virginia-based LL Flooring, the former Lumber Liquidators, which announced plans to liquidate and close all stores last week, has agreed to a last minute deal that will save thousands of jobs and keep hundreds of its stores open.” The private equity firm F9 Investments will buy 219 stores, their inventory and a distribution center. [WTOP]

Sculpture Exhibition Coming to McLean — “The McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) and Washington Sculpture Group are collaborating on the upcoming ‘Sculpture NOW 2024’ exhibition, to be held Sept. 12 to Oct. 26″ inside the McLean Community Center.” The exhibit will feature works finished within the past two years by over 60 sculptors. [Gazette Leader]

Oktoberfest Celebrations Along Richmond Highway –“In two weeks, the 189th Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich, Germany. Around the Richmond Highway Corridor meanwhile, preparations are underway for several local celebrations. Following are some details on the festivities, listed in order by date.” [On the MoVe]

It’s Tuesday — Expect sunshine and a high temperature close to 85 degrees. Night will be mostly clear with a low temperature near 59 degrees; the northeast wind at approximately 5 mph will become calm during the evening. [NWS]


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