You can’t just walk into an office and expect it to be perfectly, well-appointed. It takes a lot of thought to create the right vibe for your workplace, but if you’re looking for some ideas to get started, here are tips on how to go about designing your own workspace.
The first thing to consider when designing your new office is what kind of work you’ll do there. If you’re an independent contractor or freelancer who works from home, your space will likely be different than if you work in an environment with other employees.
But that doesn’t mean you have to completely reinvent the wheel. In order to make sure your desk is functional and aesthetically pleasing, think about what goes along with the type of work you do.
The Work Space
When you don’t have any coworkers around, you may not have much occasion to interact with your desk furniture at all. However, once you start working in a team, it’s important to keep things fresh by changing up your office furniture every so often.
For instance, if you use a swiveling chair, rotate it periodically throughout the day to prevent the fabric from getting stiff and wrinkly. Or if you prefer to sit at a table instead, switch out the legs or even put together a temporary coffee table for a more casual look.
This idea also applies to desks. If you work at a computer all day long, then having a desk that’s big enough for your monitor might be too bulky, especially if you need to open drawers or files frequently. On the other hand, if you only spend part of each day at your desk, you might want to focus on making your desk look nice without being overly cluttered.
What you bring into your office should reflect your personality as well. So if you tend to be very organized, invest in some file cabinets or storage bins. If you like lots of natural light, add a window. And if you’re a creative type, maybe you’d rather have a wall full of inspirational quotes. Make sure whatever you choose will fit within the overall look and feel of your office.
The Environment
While you don’t need to go all out and buy expensive decorations, you can still incorporate a few personal touches to help set the mood. For example, you might want to hang photos of family members or friends from your past. This way, everyone knows where they stand in your life, and it keeps you grounded and gives you something positive to look forward to each morning.
Other ways to give yourself a little pep talk before hitting the office each day include putting up motivational posters or artwork. Even a favorite quote or saying can brighten your spirit and remind you why you love what you do.
One last tip: Try keeping a small journal at your desk. This way, you can jot down notes about your day, such as client feedback or anything else you need to remember.
The Desk
Obviously, this one depends on your situation. If you’re going to be in an office for years to come, your desk should probably be more permanent than temporary (unless you really enjoy moving furniture around).
As far as size goes, most people would agree that a larger desk is better. A large desk means you won’t have trouble fitting everything you need inside, and it gives you more room to spread out while you work. At the same time, however, don’t let your desk become too big. Otherwise, your back will ache while sitting at it.
Your desk shouldn’t take up any extra space on your floor either — ideally, you shouldn’t see the base of your desk above eye level. Having a low profile desk allows you to see everyone who walks by and helps to make you feel more connected to your colleagues.
Finally, if you work from home, you don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of your desk as much as someone who spends their days in a shared office. That said, try to keep your desk neat and tidy. Don’t leave papers and folders scattered around or anything else that could potentially get lost.
The Chair
Just because you’re going to spend the majority of your time sitting at your desk doesn’t mean you should settle for a boring office chair. Instead, go ahead and splurge on something comfortable that feels good to you. There are plenty of options out there, so make sure to check them out carefully before buying.
Of course, you don’t have to spend a fortune to purchase a chair that’s both affordable and comfortable. You can find great chairs for under $100. But if you’re willing to pay more, there are a number of models that offer excellent value and comfort. For example, Swann offers several high-quality chairs for less than $400, including the Arbour Executive, which has adjustable lumbar support and is available in many colors.
A word of warning though: Most people assume that the best place to store a chair is next to their desk. In reality, that’s actually bad news. Not only does it limit the amount of space you have for other items, but it also makes it difficult to move the chair later on. So if you plan to store your chair somewhere else in your office, make sure it isn’t against a wall where it can’t easily be reached.
The Accessories
Although we’ve already covered a few of the basics, there are a bunch of other accessories you can use to improve the décor of your office. For example, if you have a computer screen that’s higher than the surface of your desk, you can always elevate it slightly using a pedestal. Similarly, if you need to reach across your desk to access files or documents, a shelf can help you accomplish that task with ease.
Another useful accessory is a lamp. If you don’t have a lot of space at your desk, a reading lamp can provide additional lighting while you work. And if you need to stay focused during the day, you can grab a pair of reading glasses. They’re handy while you’re reading email or typing reports, and they add a touch of elegance to your office.
If the person is planning to do the decoration of the place in a proper manner then the look of the office will improve. The person can plan to do the office desk décor with the help of the things that will beautify the place. Even the employees will love to be at the place.
The Final Word
Now that you know everything you need to know about creating the perfect office workspace, you can put these suggestions into action and start creating your own unique office. After all, the biggest decision you can make when designing your office space is choosing the right theme.
