You spend your entire day at the office. You probably spend more time in your workplace than at your home. That means you deserve a nice-looking working space.
It doesn’t have to be expensive. It just needs to look good and provide a comfortable working environment. Against that backdrop, here are eight tips to help you spruce up your working space.
Buy Indoor Plants
Plants can brighten your office and purify the air you breathe. But they don’t have to be high-maintenance. Consider buying succulents if you’re unsure about your gardening skills. They need just a little bit of water occasionally and they can remain green for years.
If you think succulents are too common, here are some equally good plant choices:
- Snake plant
- Philodendron
- Oxalis
- Spiderwort
Plants can help you increase productivity at the office. They can also help you reduce stress and increase oxygen levels. Additionally, they improve aesthetics—the main reason people buy them.
That said, be strategic with how you use plants. Too many of them can make your office look disorganized. And if you just have one plant, it won’t add enough greenery and oxygen to your office.
Add Lighting
Lighting is important for your workspace. But you probably already know that. Choose an office with access to natural light and you won’t have to spend a lot of money on artificial lighting.
If your access to natural lighting is minimal, then you need to invest in proper lighting. Keep aesthetics in mind but prioritize the quality of lighting. If you're doing an office setup for your home office, consider buying a task lamp.
Task lamps provide great lighting for a home office environment while also reducing shadows and glare. Another great choice for homework environments is the directional floor lamp. It saves on space while providing lighting for the entire office.
If you’re a content creator or someone who makes many video calls, a ring light should be in your budget. It’s an inexpensive investment. Yet, it improves the quality of your video content tremendously.
Incorporate Technology
If your workspace is large enough you can invest in a large monitor or even two monitors to increase productivity. Also consider getting an ergonomic desk chair with adjustable seat height and armrests that will help you maintain proper posture while working.
Additionally, you should consider using more advanced technologies such as cloud storage for file sharing and collaboration. Companies often get cloud-based EHS management software for better data management and compliance tracking. For example, this helps them ensure their safety processes are up to date and that they're adhering to OSHA requirements.
Repaint Your Office Walls
Sometimes you don’t need a fancy office to improve your productivity. You need an office that looks good to you. Good paintwork can do wonders for your mood and the general view of your office.
Select a dynamic color palette. Select a color that calms you—blue, green, and grey are all excellent choices. Grey is a neutral color, meaning it pairs well with other interior decorations.
While painting your office walls is great, there's nothing fun in staring at a blank wall. Place your desk and chair in a place with access to plenty of natural light. Or, invest in wall decorations.
Add a Book Shelf
Do you read books a lot? That's great, but keep them organized. Invest in a bookshelf and keep your books arranged by genre, color, or author. Wall bookcases save space while providing enough storage for your books.
But I only have a couple of books in the office? First, you need more books. They increase your knowledge. And more knowledge means you can provide better value to the world.
In any case, you don't have to fill your bookshelf with books. You can use your bookcase to store video game copies, artwork, heirlooms, and collectibles.
Invest in Quality Furniture
Buying office furniture is a big decision. You have several factors to consider: space, style, comfort, and price, to name a few. Are you looking for one chair or a sofa of three?
Depending on your office, it might be a better idea to buy a collaborative furniture solution. This will help you save time while allowing your employees to work together.
Of course, consider your budget. You might be looking for the best ergonomic chair online. But maybe it's beyond your budget. Perhaps you have a preference for material, color, and configuration. Pay attention to these factors.
Ultimately, you want furniture that complements your interior décor. If the chairs and desks look out of place, your entire décor will feel misplaced. Hire an office interior décor expert if you need to: it’s a small price to pay.
Use Wall Art
Using wall art is one of the best ways to personalize your office space. The secret is to make the decoration personal. If you like illustrative art, decorate your walls with illustrative art. If you like paintings of people or places, this is what you should hang on your wall.
With that said, consider board dimensions. If you have a large blank wall, you can improve it with a large painting. But if you have little wall space, then the board dimensions need to matter.
Another factor to consider in an art piece is its first impression. What will people say when they see your office art? If it’s offensive or controversial, you could lose customers. If it’s inviting and gets people talking, it could be good for your business.
Similar to wall paint, colors also matter when it comes to wall art. Choose colors that rhyme with your wall's color palette. Also, consider the impact of the color on you. Yellow and red colors brighten a room while blue and green provide a calming effect.
Add Unique Elements
If you have proper furniture and have no plans of repainting your walls, accessorize your interior with elements that could add aesthetics. Think of a wall clock.
It could be an antique clock that communicates about your personality. Or, it could be a contemporary clock with unique features. Another idea is to use a calendar or a vision board. The goal is to add detail to your décor by using elements that add style to your office.
Your Turn
There you have it—some of the best ways to improve your office space. Look at your office and determine what you need to add. Maybe it lacks proper lighting. Perhaps it looks dull.
If you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry. Changing your workstation’s position or adding a painting to your wall could be the solution you need.
