For many of us around the world, working from home may have lost its novelty after several months of craning our necks over our tiny laptops.
But for all the challenges facing society right now, perhaps something positive can be taken from the chance to slow down and spend time with our families within the environment we’ve created around us.
It’s never been more important to have a home that reflects who we are, the things we love, the people who we share our lives with. So have a look around. What do you love about your home? What would you like to change? And what can you do to personalise your house or apartment and create the ultimate nest in which to settle until the storm has passed?
Here are five ideas to get you started:
1. Print and frame family photos
The wonderful thing about modern technology is that we all take way more photos now than we used to, before the advent of digital cameras and smartphones. But how many of them do you see regularly? The problem with having thousands of photos on your sim card, hard drive or cloud folder is that they get forgotten.
Nothing personalises a home more than pictures of the people who live there and their loved ones. In fact, if you are selling a property, one of the standard tips is to remove personal photos so that buyers will be able to imagine themselves living there. So print out a good selection and put them in frames all around the house. Another alternative is to buy a digital frame that will scroll through a selection of images on rotation – ideal if you are struggling to pick only a few.
2. Add artwork that tells a story
Art spans so many tastes and styles, which makes it a really effective way to stamp your personality on your home decor. Whether you prefer large, sweeping landscapes or geometric abstracts, striking sculptures or collections of knick-knacks, forget what is in fashion and choose art that makes your heart sing.
For a personalised feel, buy from local artists or, if you know anyone personally, get them to create a bespoke commission for you. And next time you go on holiday – because we will not be at home forever – look out for small works that you can carry back to remind you of your travels.
3. Discover your creative self
If you have a creative side, why not make something for your home? Nothing says personalised like homewares you have crafted yourself. There are plenty of simple projects you can start with, such as scatter cushions for your bedroom or living room. Or, if you are experienced, why not consider making your own curtains?
It is not only about textiles, though. Decoupage a pretty tray or a small piece of furniture. Use fabric paint to transform a plain white blind into something really eye-catching. Knot together macrame hammocks to hang potted plants in. There are so many options out there: take a look at Pinterest for inspiration.
4. Build your personal library
If you are a book lover, you will know how even simply glancing at the cover of your favourite novel can whisk you away to a whole other world. The books you love tell a story about who you are, whether you have got dozens of travel guides, a stack of chick lit titles or every Agatha Christie novel ever written.
Chances are you have probably got more books than you can store, so go through your collection and ditch any that you do not feel a personal attachment to; the ones you did not really enjoy or know you will not get around to reading.
Place the rest on your bookshelf in a way that makes sense to you – alphabetically, by size, genre or colour – then add little extra touches, such as bookends, a small photo frame or statuette, to complete your personalised display.
5. Ditch what does not spark joy
The lovely thing about creating a personalised house – as opposed to a so-called fashionable one – is that it is not about what other people think, it is about what makes you and your family happy. Marie Kondo, the queen of tidying up, advocates keeping only items that "spark joy".
Whether you are using this time at home to do a bit of decluttering, or you are thinking about what new bits you need to buy, keep in mind that personal taste trumps all. Do not worry about sticking strictly to a mid-century modern theme or creating an award-winning French vintage look. Instead, by choosing items you really love, you will create a style all of your own.
Who knows, maybe you will set the next trend among your friend circle.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Fly to Rome with Etihad (www.etihad.ae) or Emirates (www.emirates.com) from Dh2,480 return including taxes. The flight takes six hours. Fly from Rome to Trapani with Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) from Dh420 return including taxes. The flight takes one hour 10 minutes.
The hotels
The author recommends the following hotels for this itinerary. In Trapani, Ai Lumi (www.ailumi.it); in Marsala, Viacolvento (www.viacolventomarsala.it); and in Marsala Del Vallo, the Meliaresort Dimore Storiche (www.meliaresort.it).
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)
Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)
Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)
Wednesday
Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)
Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)
Norwich City v Everton (9pm)
Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)
Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)
Thursday
Burnley v Watford (9pm)
Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)
Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
THE%20SWIMMERS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESally%20El-Hosaini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENathalie%20Issa%2C%20Manal%20Issa%2C%20Ahmed%20Malek%20and%20Ali%20Suliman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
