Image credit: Hillarys
The ‘opening shift’ trend: 8 ways to decorate your home for better mornings
Dreaming of slow mornings, leisurely coffees and a little peace before the day begins?
If the reality involves missing keys, overflowing laundry baskets and a frantic dash out of the door, TikTok’s ‘opening shift’ trend could be for you.
Borrowing its name from the way cafés, shops and restaurants prep for the day ahead, the opening shift has been given a homely makeover by TikTok creators, who are turning their everyday morning routines into something of a ritual.
Think throwing open the curtains, making the bed, clearing away yesterday’s clutter and generally getting your home (and you) ready for the working day.
Essentially, it’s the morning counterpart to the closing shift the TikTok trend that encourages us to tidy up and reset our homes in the evening to make life easier for our next-day selves.
But while the closing shift is about putting the day to bed, the opening shift is about carving out a little calm before the chaos takes over.
“The ‘opening shift’ trend is about giving the start of your day the same care a café gives to opening up: lights on, space ready, everything where it should be,” says Sanel Konyar, founder of London luxury interiors studio, Interior Kollection.
“It is resonating because mornings are where most of us feel the most pressure, and a home that is set up well takes some of that pressure away before the day has begun.”
But it’s not just about adopting a new routine.
How you decorate and organise your home can play a surprisingly big part in getting your mornings off to a smoother start.
“Good design does much of this quietly,” Sanel continues.
“If the light is right, the things you reach for are close to hand and the room feels calm, you start the day in a better frame of mind.”
From dedicated coffee corners and clever storage that puts an end to the frantic key hunt to feel-good colour schemes, layered lighting and cosy spots to enjoy a little morning me-time, it’s about setting your home up to work with you, rather than against you.
And who knows?
You might even have time to enjoy that first cuppa while it’s still hot. * praying hands emoji *
Let the light in
We may have perfected our bedroom’s cosy evening atmosphere, but what about how it feels when the sun comes up?
The right window treatments can do far more than provide privacy and look pretty.
They can help set the tone for your entire morning.
“I always notice how much better my mornings feel when I can instantly let natural light in,” explains Victoria Robinson, interiors expert at Hillarys.
“It sounds simple, but a bit of sunshine first thing in the morning can completely change the mood of a room and help you feel awake way quicker than any alarm clock.”
Science backs up this theory.
Exposure to natural light in the morning helps regulate our circadian rhythm – the body’s internal clock – signalling that it’s time to wake up and helping us feel more alert as the day begins.
“If you’re someone who struggles to get out of bed, automated blinds or curtains can be a really useful addition too,” Victoria continues.
“Having them open gradually in the morning feels much gentler than being jolted awake, and it helps your body ease naturally into the day.”
When it comes to what kind of window dressings to opt for Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV, says voile curtains are a lovely option for bedrooms and living spaces, as they allow daylight to filter through while still offering a little privacy.
“They also soften the look of a window without making the room feel too heavy,” she adds.
“If you prefer more flexibility, layering voiles with heavier curtains means you can adjust the light and privacy to suit different times of the day.
“It’s a simple way to make the most of natural light and create a more welcoming start to the morning.”
Carve out a coffee corner
Let’s face it, most of us aren’t firing on all cylinders until that first caffeine hit.
So why not give your favourite morning ritual its own little corner of the kitchen?
The good news is, you don’t need oodles of space to create an at home coffee station.
“I’m a big fan of dedicated coffee stations because they take the faff out of busy mornings,” explains Victoria.
“When the mugs, coffee and kettle are all in one spot, it’s one less thing to think about before you’ve had your first cuppa.”
Sanel says a tray at the end of the worktop or on a sideboard can be a useful piece of kid to house a coffee machine, cups and caddies.
“If you want it out of sight, concealed joinery with a pull-out shelf keeps the clutter behind closed doors but ready to use,” she adds.
Give hallway clutter a landing spot
The secret to a beautifully organised home, and therefore stress-less mornings, isn’t necessarily having less stuff.
Sometimes it’s simply about giving everything somewhere to live.
“Hallways can quickly become a bit of a dumping ground, especially when everyone’s trying to get out of the door in the morning,” explains Kate Palmer, creative director, at The Painted Furniture Company.
But having a proper place for everything makes such a difference.
“A slim console or a storage cupboard can keep everyday essentials tucked away, while hooks for coats and bags mean they’re easy to grab when you need them,” Kate advises.
“It’s also worth thinking about the whole family, with lower hooks for children and a handy spot for school bags and shoes.
“The aim is to make the hallway work for your daily routine, so you’re not hunting for missing shoes or keys just as you’re trying to leave!”
Tackle the ‘chairdrobe’
A beautifully decorated bedroom is all well and good, but if your favourite chair has disappeared beneath a week’s worth of clothes, it might be time to rethink your storage strategy.
The opening shift starts before you’ve even left the bedroom, so creating a space where everything has its place, including those not-quite-dirty clothes, can make mornings run that little more smoothly.
“The chair of doom is something we’re all familiar with,” explains Laura Rich, interior designer at Furniturebox.
“But the clothes chair isn’t really a tidiness problem, it’s actually a design problem.”
Laura says our bedrooms could function a whole lot better with some cleverly designed storage.
“The fix is to give those clothes a home of their own,” she says.
”Install a row of wooden pegs or wall hooks either on the back of the door or on an unused, empty wall to store those not-quite-dirty jeans, cardigans and jackets.”
If you don’t want the clothes to be visible, Laura says an ottoman or a lidded storage bench is another option to banish the chairdrobe.
“Try to find storage benches and ottomans with compartments,” she continues.
“This will make them multi-purposeful; clean bedding in one compartment and in-between clothes in another.”
Get your morning glow on
Being greeted by the full glare of the big light when you’re barely awake isn’t exactly the gentlest way to start the day.
And with the clocks going back and darker mornings on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to rethink your lighting scheme and make those early starts feel a little more inviting.
“For me, lighting is one of the biggest elements that can change how a space feels, especially first thing in the morning,” Mike Whitfield, luxury interiors expert at LUSSO explains.
“Nobody wants to be hit with harsh overhead lighting the second they get out of bed.”
Mike says layering your lighting helps create that softer, warm glow you get from the sunrise, and allows you to ease into the day.
Plus, with so many of us working from home, having lighting that helps us shift from sleepy morning to work mode is more important than ever.
“Take a little inspiration from your favourite coffee shops,” Mike continues.
“You’ll often notice they use a variation of lighting fixtures, such as wall sconces and table lamps, to create a cosy, welcoming atmosphere.”
Try emulating this at home by introducing lighting at different heights and creating little pockets of warmth in the spaces you use most, whether that’s your breakfast nook, reading corner or home office.
“Materials like marble and alabaster are great for light fittings, too, as they give off a lovely, diffused glow rather than anything too stark,” Mike adds.
Using rechargeable lamps is another great way to help ease you into the day, adding a gentle glow that makes your home feel warm and inviting even on darker mornings.
“One of the biggest benefits of rechargeable lamps is their flexibility,” explains Annie Stonehouse, buyer and product designer at ValueLights.
“You’re not restricted by plug sockets, so you can introduce light wherever you need it, whether that’s a breakfast bar, a cosy coffee nook or a kitchen corner that doesn’t get much natural light.
“They’re also incredibly easy to move around, so a lamp that sits on your bedside table in the evening can be brought into the kitchen for your morning coffee or placed on a side table while you enjoy a slower start to the day.”
Set the morning mood with colour
The colours you surround yourself with can help set the mood for the day ahead, so it’s worth giving your morning spaces a little extra thought when choosing your decorating scheme.
Soothing, restful shades in the bedroom can help ease you into the day, while something a little fresher and more uplifting in the kitchen or bathroom may put a spring in your step.
Overall Sanel suggests opting for colours with warmth, such as soft clay, sand or pale sage (Dulux’s chose Soulful Sage as its Colour of the Year), but it’s also worth considering how your chosen colours look in the morning light, rather than just under the glow of a bedside lamp.
“In rooms that are a little on the dark side, an eggshell finish and a mirror opposite the window will help to bounce light around, which lifts the whole room.”
Bring a little spa calm
Whether you’re a quick shower-and-go type or prefer a more leisurely getting-ready ritual, a well-designed bathroom can make all the difference to how your morning unfolds.
“Drawers or a mirrored cabinet keep everyday products out of sight, and a tray on the worktop holds the few things you use daily,” advises Sanel.
“Decanting products into matching containers makes the space feel calm, and a heated towel rail means a warm towel waiting for you post-shower.”
Make room for a little me-time
Of course, the opening shift isn’t just about getting things done.
It’s about creating a little breathing space to enjoy your home before the demands of the day take over.
Sanel suggests carving out a dedicated place to pause and recharge.
“A small café table and two chairs by a window, a banquette with cushions or a window seat with a throw gives you somewhere to sit for ten minutes,” she explains.
“A comfortable seat and a good cup slow the morning down, and that is the point of the whole trend.”
Victoria agrees that it’s these little everyday pleasures that are at the heart of the trend.
“It’s not about creating a perfect home, it’s about making everyday moments feel a little nicer,” she explains.
“Whether that’s a cosy spot for breakfast or a favourite chair where you have your morning coffee, those little details can completely change how you start the day.”
Want more inspiration? Read: Strictly is back! 10 ways to bring razzle-dazzle into your interiors and Bake off is back! 8 ways to channel the tent in your own kitchen. And check out Practical Magic interiors: 10 magical ways to incorporate the whimsical look at home
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