It is well known that a little bit of TLC in a space can go a long way and how an attention to detail can really elevate a room. But, coming up with the ideas on how best to decorate can sometimes prove tricky, especially if it’s your first time decorating your workspace. Let us offer you some guidance on the best ways to decorate an office space and make it your own.
Make it light and bright!
If you have access to natural light, this is going to be your best friend. There are so many benefits to natural light, not only does it help our bodies to produce more Vitamin D, but it can help with improving our circadian rhythms and therefore our sleep patterns. It has also been shown that natural light can help us to focus allowing us to get more done, the perfect thing to have in your workspace! Making windows the focal point of the room can also aid in making the room as well lit as possible.
If you either don’t have access to natural light or you have minimal access we have a few tips to keep the space as bright as possible.
- Utilise mirrors – mirrors are a great way to make a space feel bigger and brighter when there are minimal natural light sources. Adding a mirror across from your natural light source helps to bounce that light around the room.
- Keep Lampshades Simple – A simple lampshade can be a great way to get the most light into the room as possible. Large, bulkier lampshades can end up blocking the light from areas of a room. Bright white lampshades will make your lighting more effective and give the space an airy feel.
- Avoid Dark Tones – If your space has minimal natural light you want to avoid using dark tones and colours within the space. Darker tones can absorb the light and heat more than lighter tones. A windowless room can benefit from being painted a light and airy tone such as eggshell or bright white, allowing light to be reflected more easily.
- Artificial lighting – Using full spectrum light bulbs to rooms that aren’t very well lit is a great life hack as they are designed to simulate daylight.
- Green Is Good – Adding greenery can help compensate for a lack of natural light within a room. Don’t worry if you do not have the greenest of fingers, false plants can get the job done too! If you are using real plants, ensure they are plants that are low-light tolerant, Philodendron and spider plants are great examples of low light tolerant houseplants.
Decorate Those Walls
Simply adding some wall art can make a space look instantly less bare and more personalised. You can tell a lot by a person by their choice or wall art, so let your walls speak for you! Here are a few examples of some wall art you can choose:
- Interesting canvases or art canvases
- Personal Photographs
- Professional achievements/certificates
- A wall clock
- Some funky lights
Add A Wall Calendar
Keeping your space organised is a big chunk of what makes your office your own. Having a large wall calendar can enable you to keep track of your days and give you a visual cue to when things are approaching. It is a great way to fill a bare wall with something that is visually pleasing but also serves a purpose in a professional space.
Choose A Colour Scheme
As mentioned before, colour schemes can be important for keeping a space light and bright, but it can also be a way to subconsciously improve productivity. The debate surrounding whether colours can affect our mood, productivity and psychological wellbeing has been argued throughout history.
“One of the first studies to look into the links between colour and mood was in 1979 by Schauss. It was a study on American prisons that discovered at the time that by painting the walls pink, aggressive behaviours of inmates were reduced. While offices are not to be confused with prisons, this study does show how much of an impact colour can have.”
Here are some colours and what they are thought to help with:
- Blue – Blue is a harmonious colour that is stress relieving and does not disturb the focus of the brain, resulting in more efficient work being delivered.
- Yellow – Yellow has been linked with creativity and is often featured in innovation labs and other creative spaces.
- Green – for a calming effect creating a harmonious office. This is down to its association with nature and the outside world. Several studies show that having plants in an office space will boost
- Red – Red is a good colour to be used in a more active workspace. A splash of red can be a great boost in stimulation, but too much red can cause a feeling of stress and anxiety so use sparingly!
Keep Windows Clear
If you have windows within your office space we suggest keeping these areas unobstructed. Now obviously sometimes if you’re pushed for space then furniture may have to be placed in front of a window, and we get that. But, for the most part we encourage you to keep the area as clear as possible and let that natural light shine in.
You can also opt for more lightweight blinds/curtains or if you’re up for it you can ditch them altogether! If the window feels bare without any blinds or curtains you can always opt for a hanging plant of sorts to give it a sleeker finish and add that splash of green we all love.
So there you have it, a few tips and tricks on the best ways to decorate an office space and really make it your own. Most of us spend as much, if not more time in our workspaces than we do in most other spaces, so why not take the time to really make it our own.
