Working at home seems to be the proverbial "new normal" for many professionals. Some shifted from their regular workplace to a home office, and they appreciate the change. People who work full or part-time teaching English as a second language might find remote video-based teaching a little less personal, but that's how things sometimes go. While you can't reverse the impersonal aspect, you do have a hand in keeping things professional. So, even though you are working at home, you want to create the impression of a professional office environment. The video camera sees many things, including the furniture inside your home office. How about refinishing desks and tables to make things look better?

Looks Count Towards Professionalism

An office, whether in the home or elsewhere, has to look professional. The choice of furniture contributes to the visual impact. ESL teachers do need to maintain a professional look, or their credibility could suffer. Unfortunately, spending money to upgrade to new furniture might not be possible. That's not a problem, as sufficient refinishing work can take older furniture and make it look almost brand-new. When hiring someone to refinish the furniture, make sure to stress the following:

• The New Finish Looks Good on Camera: Yes, you'll need to import some cinematic art direction and set design concepts into the refinishing process. You and the furniture will appear on camera, and some finishes may look better than others on someone's computer screen. Perhaps a lighter finished color would be a better choice than a dark one that blends too much into the background.
• The Finish Won't Suffer Light Glare: You'll need sufficient light so your student can see you on camera. A glossy finish to the desk and accompanying furniture might reflect too much light, which could look poor on camera. Discuss the lighting issue with the repair pro. Maybe there's a recommended finish that would work best with makeshift television studio-style lighting.
• Choose Complementary Finishes: Having a wonderful-looking desk and table and lamp in the foreground, but a worn-looking bookcase and other tables in the background could undermine appearances. You probably want everything on camera to receive refinishing. And the refinish jobs should match. Clashing looks won't impress.

Teaching out of the home brings with it new responsibilities. Making your office look great is among them, even when you suffer from budget limitations. Thankfully, furniture refinishing provides a cost-effective way to bring out the best in old furniture.