No longer about quick tasks and just looking pretty, the home office needs to be a functional and pleasant place to spend many hours a day.

<p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="Home offices are an essential part of our home" class="aligncenter wp-image-16211" height="500" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2021/01/Home-offices-are-an-essential-part-of-our-home.jpg" width="750" /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	In 2020 we saw our home office go from the casual corner we used occasionally to pay some bills to an essential part of our home. No longer about quick tasks and just looking pretty, the home office needs to be a functional and pleasant place to spend many hours a day. It needs good lighting, a comfortable chair, office storage, and yes&hellip;an attractive Zoom background.</p> <p> 	We&rsquo;ve pulled together five ways to zoom your home office into 2021:</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <h2> 	<strong>1. Plenty of Plants.</strong></h2> <p> 	The plant trend, which has been growing (pun intended!) for some years now, continues in 2021. Not only do plants add life and clean the air but having greenery around has also shown to improve your mood. Try using a funky pot or planter, or try your hand at another growing trend, macrame, and make yourself a fun hanging planter. &nbsp;</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	&nbsp; <img alt="Having greenery around has also shown to improve your mood" class="aligncenter wp-image-16213" height="489" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2021/01/Having-greenery-around-has-also-shown-to-improve-your-mood.jpg" width="750" /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <h2> 	2. Task lighting and task seating.</h2> <p> 	There are two things you will have long after you quit your day job&hellip;. your eyesight and your posture. Lighting plays a big part in productivity, so be sure to have plenty of natural light coming in and use lamps, and other lighting to add ambiance and specific task lighting to the room. Think about your posture too and ensure your chair is comfortable for all day work. Make sure you have a proper desk chair to sit comfortably and ergonomically. If you have the room, consider adding another chair to your office set up like a wing chair or comfortable lounge chair (with appropriate lighting) to do reading or other non computer tasks away from your desk. &nbsp;</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	&nbsp; <img alt="Lighting plays a big part in productivity" class="aligncenter wp-image-16215" height="500" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2021/01/Lighting-plays-a-big-part-in-productivity.jpg" width="750" /> &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <h2> 	3. Use colours to drive your mood.</h2> <p> 	What do you need to focus throughout the day? A bold colour to energize you or a calm colour to help you create in peace? Whether it is a warm and comforting colour you seek or a bright POP of something rich and decadent, the colour trends for 2021 have your office covered. Since most home offices are smaller space, this is the perfect place to try out new bold colour combinations and try out the maximalist trend we&rsquo;ve been seeing for a while. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="Home offices are the perfect place to try out new bold colour combinations" class="aligncenter wp-image-16217" height="563" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2021/01/Home-offices-are-the-perfect-place-to-try-out-new-bold-colour-combinations.jpg" width="750" /> &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <h2> 	&nbsp;</h2> <h2> 	4. Professional but personal Zoom backgrounds.</h2> <p> 	Not going anywhere for 2021 is our love of art and we only see this trend growing as we seek out ways to support local artists and makers. Home offices in 2021 are getting big bold updates to their Zoom backgrounds. We&rsquo;re seeing large scale abstract paintings and massive murals making a grand entrance to &lsquo;virtually&rsquo; all meetings in 2021. As we each look for ways to express ourselves and add some personality to our relentless stream of video conferences, the importance of the professional yet personal Zoom background will only continue to grow. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="A happy mind is an organized mind, and a happy office space is too" class="wp-image-16221 aligncenter" height="600" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2021/01/A-happy-mind-is-an-organized-mind-and-a-happy-office-space-is-too.jpg" width="400" /> &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <h2> 	&nbsp;</h2> <h2> 	5. Clean and clutter free.</h2> <p> 	A happy mind is an organized mind, and a happy office space is too. Thanks to holiday binge watching of The Home Edit, we&rsquo;re seeing colour coded office organization taking top priority for 2021 (now that we&rsquo;ve already done the kitchen). Ensuring your desk has file drawers, making a place for your printer, and having all your chargers in spot are just some of the things you can do to make sure your workspace is clean and ready to tackle 2021 head on. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="Make sure your workspace is clean and ready to tackle 2021 head on" class="aligncenter wp-image-16223" height="501" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2021/01/Make-sure-your-workspace-is-clean-and-ready-to-tackle-2021-head-on.jpg" width="750" /> &nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	What home office trend will you be tackling in 2021?</p>

No longer about quick tasks and just looking pretty, the home office needs to be a functional and pleasant place to spend many hours a day. It needs good lighting, a comfortable chair, office storage, and yes…an attractive Zoom background.

Five ways to Zoom your Home Office into 2021

Holidays can be lonely when it is not possible to spend them gathering with family and friends.

<p> 	The winter holiday season is not only a time to get together with family and friends, it&rsquo;s a time to reflect on what we are and can be thankful for as the year steadily comes to a close. Beginning with Thanksgiving (both Canadian and American), the holiday season is usually spent with family, friends, and those who&rsquo;ve made meaningful contributions to our lives. Holidays can be lonely when it is not possible to spend them gathering with family and friends. If you will not be able to join family this holiday season and are looking for ways to make it fulfilling and meaningful, venture outside tradition and do something new. Here are a few ways you and your family can have a more meaningful answer to the question &ldquo;Did you do anything special over the holidays?&rdquo;</p> <h2> 	<strong>Give the Gift of Time</strong></h2> <p> 	Most people don&rsquo;t really think about volunteering as a way to spend the Christmas holidays because it&rsquo;s usually a time to be with family and friends. Devoting time during the holidays to causes that are close to your heart is a fulfilling gift that pays compound dividends for the people you&rsquo;ve helped and yourself. It&rsquo;s also a great way to instill values in your children and let them experience for themselves the joy and satisfaction that giving brings. It&rsquo;s fun, meaningful, and can open up space to talk about social issues that may not often come up in conversation. Across Canada, there are a variety of local organisations serving vulnerable populations and frontline workers that are always looking for extra pairs of hands. This is especially true during the holidays since they&rsquo;re usually short staffed. Some organisations might allow you to cook at home and donate the food. Another option could be doing a food drive in your community or neighbourhood or by cooking and delivering home-cooked meals to the elderly, international students or single parent households.</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="Give the gift of time" class="aligncenter wp-image-16112" height="464" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2020/12/Give-.jpg" width="700" /></p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	Alternatively, if you prefer doing something hands-off, you could volunteer over the phone doing check-ins on elderly or the sick. Keep in mind that this type of volunteering might require training and a longer time commitment.</p> <h2> 	<strong>Spread Some Cheer through the Post</strong></h2> <p> 	Nothing brightens your day like getting a personal letter. Get younger children involved (and practice their penmanship) by having them write and send Christmas cards to friends and family. If your children enjoy this activity and you&rsquo;d like to explore other letter writing options, have them write letters of holiday well wishes and thanks to first responders and Canadian Armed Forces personnel serving.</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="write and send Christmas cards to friends and family" class="aligncenter wp-image-16114" height="485" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2020/12/Christmas-card.jpg" width="700" /></p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	Christmas cards can also be the beginning of long and fulfilling pen pal relationships. Many senior facilities have programs pairing letter writers with residents. These programs foster intergenerational relationships cherished by children and seniors alike and give both pen pals something to look forward to long after Christmas has come and gone.</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <h2> 	<strong>Convene with Nature; Cultivate Gratitude </strong></h2> <p> 	One of the simplest ways to cultivate Christmas cheer as a family is to disconnect from devices and get outside to enjoy what you already have around you! Fun activities like getting lost in a corn maze, finding a frozen pond to skate, or building a family ice fort will inspire rosy cheeks and laughter that will feed your soul and stay with you longer than any Christmas present or holiday turkey dinner will.</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="Convene with nature" class="aligncenter wp-image-16110" height="469" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2020/12/Convene-with-n-scaled.jpg" width="700" /></p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	Can&rsquo;t disconnect your kids from devices? Stage a photoshoot and have your children take the pictures. You will be surprised by their perspective and come away with some special photos to share with the friends and family who couldn&rsquo;t join you this Christmas.</p> <h2> 	<strong>Buy Local</strong></h2> <p> 	If you don&rsquo;t have the time or interest to volunteer and letter writing isn&rsquo;t your thing but you still want to make your holiday more meaningful, shopping local with independent retailers is a vitally important way of benefitting your community. Buy your holiday groceries from local food producers and farmer&rsquo;s markets or treat yourself by ordering a meal from a family-run restaurant. The added benefit for you: splurge on that new restaurant you&rsquo;ve been dying to try but couldn&rsquo;t justify; everyone can choose their own dish - meaning fewer or no dishes and more time to actually spend with family. Search for locally owned and operated catering companies nearby. You could even make it a new Thanksgiving or Christmas tradition to carry forward unto other holidays.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="Shop Local" class="aligncenter wp-image-16116" height="467" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2020/12/Shop-Loca.jpg" width="700" /></p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	When you&rsquo;re hunting for those special holiday gifts, locally owned and operated boutiques will have uniquely curated merchandise you&rsquo;re unlikely to find anywhere else. No matter what you&rsquo;re looking for or what your budget, the owners and employees of independent businesses will go above and beyond helping you find something sure to delight. If you are taking advantage of a less hectic schedule this holiday season to update your kitchen or re-do the d&eacute;cor in your home, your local BrandSource retailer will help you find the perfect pieces for your home, lifestyle, and budget. Each owner-operated BrandSource store is staffed by furniture, mattress, and appliance experts who are also your friends and neighbours.</p> <p> 	&nbsp;</p> <p> 	While there are many things you can do for yourself to foster gratitude, why not make it a new Canadian holiday tradition to show kindness and appreciation to others?</p>

The Gift of Giving Back - How to Make the Holidays Special when You Cannot be with Family

Generations of kids have bargained away weeks of work to their siblings to avoid doing dishes and being elbow deep in dirty water and chunks of mom’s meatloaf. Having a dishwasher is a life-saver.

<p> 	Generations of kids have bargained away weeks of work to their siblings to avoid doing dishes and being elbow deep in dirty water and chunks of mom&rsquo;s meatloaf. Having a dishwasher is a life-saver&mdash;unless you depend on your sibling&rsquo;s bad bargaining skills. No need to scrub your pots, pans, or silverware when you have a <a href="/en/searchitemresults?searchterm=dishwashers|cie~440">Maytag Dishwasher</a> with <strong>PowerBlast Cycle</strong> to do the job for you! Equipped with <strong>enhanced cleaning features</strong>, it allows you (or your kids) to easily manage the after-dinner cleanup and have plenty evening hours left to catch up on homework, chores, or favourite Discord server.</p> <p align="center"> 	<img alt="PowerBlast-Maytag" class="aligncenter wp-image-15956" height="342" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2020/11/powerblast-masthead-1024x498.png" width="704" /></p> <h2> 	<strong>PowerBlast Cycle: Clean You Can Trust&nbsp; </strong></h2> <p> 	Dishwashers that don&rsquo;t thoroughly clean and sanitize dishes in one cycle are not worth your time. You want to select a dishwasher that is efficient because you don&rsquo;t want to spend your precious time removing spots from your already-washed dishes. With Maytag&rsquo;s PowerBlast feature, sticky, baked-on or burnt-on food will be effortlessly cleaned in only one cycle using <strong>high-heat, high-pressure spray jets</strong> and then hot steam to finish the job. The process is quiet and flawless, ensuring your dishes will be left spotless and ready to be put away.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> 	<img alt="Maytag Dishwasher BrandSource" class="aligncenter wp-image-15914" height="470" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/magento-media/blog/canada/2020/11/shutterstock_746370664-1024x683.jpg" width="704" /></p> <h2> 	<strong>Ditch the Pre-Rinse Routine</strong></h2> <p> 	Pre-rinsing your dishes is time-consuming even if you&rsquo;re accustomed to it. Since Maytag Dishwashers are equipped with one of the most powerful motors on the market, you won&rsquo;t need to pre-rinse (or even pre-wash) your dishes. So, next time you encounter a mountain of dirty dishes, load up your dishwasher and take a load off your back!</p> <h2> 	<strong>Make More Me-Time</strong></h2> <p> 	Your dishwasher plays a key role in kitchen cleanup productivity. Washing your dishes by hand or having to remove spots on your dishes due to a faulty dishwasher eats up your time. The 20 or 30 minutes spent doing dishes daily could be converted into being more present when your kids do their schoolwork, going for longer walks with the dog or even taking some time for yourself. Maytag dishwashers add convenience to your life and in doing so, increase the quality of your life. Maytag Dishwashers with the PowerBlast Cycle come in different colours and models, including a gorgeous, smudge-proof, <strong>stainless steel </strong>finish you won&rsquo;t need to wash fingerprints from constantly. Speak to one of our <strong>appliance experts</strong> and learn more about <strong>energy efficient</strong>, quiet cleaning from Maytag dishwashers.</p>

Maytag Dishwasher PowerBlast Cycle Makes Meal Time Messes Disappear

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Blog

Five ways to Zoom your Home Office into 2021

The Gift of Giving Back - How to Make the Holidays Special when You Cannot be with Family

Maytag Dishwasher PowerBlast Cycle Makes Meal Time Messes Disappear

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