How to Decorate Your Office or Cubicle Work Space
You might spend more waking hours within the four walls of your office or cubicle than you do at home. If this is the case, give careful consideration to decorating your work environment. Personalizing your office gives it a sense of identity -- it connects you with home, family and co-workers. Check with the human resource department to see if there are any rules about what you can and can't do when decorating your cubicle.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Walk around the work space to see how others have decorated their cubicles. Peek in the offices of other employees. Note any patterns you see. For example, stuffed toys, cutesy little sayings or tons of personal photos may be unofficially frowned upon by upper management. The current employees know this rule, so use their knowledge as a guideline for decorating your own space.
-
2
Choose a color scheme that goes with the main color scheme of the office. If the office walls are painted drab beige with beige carpeting and shades of beige cubicle paneling, you can probably use whatever colors you want in your office. However, if the office uses a striking color combo of navy, burgundy and grey, for example, you have to use colors that coordinate with those colors.
-
-
3
Pick a theme for your office for a coordinated look. Choose colors and accessories that pick up that theme. For example, a beach theme would mean greens and blues as the color scheme. Select artwork such as paintings or artwork that focus on ocean waves, palm trees on a sandy beach, sea shells or sailing ships.
-
4
Clear off all surfaces. Dust or wipe them down. Check the lighting for glare or dimness. Turn on your computer monitor to see if the screen is in a shadow or reflects light and is difficult to see. If that's the case, position the monitor so it's sharp and clear.
-
5
Position the desk where you feel comfortable and electronic wires are hidden. Wires and plugs look messy. If you can't hide them, use one of the fabric wire holders to gather and cover them up. Some people feel better with their backs to the wall. They feel protected when they can see who is entering their office. Others want to take advantage of any window view. Depending on the size of your office, or cubicle, there may be only one space where the desk fits.
-
6
Arrange a chair for visitors. Put the chair in front and off to the side of the desk. That way visitors won't feel like they're being interrogated. If there's room, place two chairs with a table between them, across from your desk.
-
7
Include plants in your scheme. They add a sense of nature to your cubicle and they help keep the air clean. Don't overdo the greenery and end up with a jungle. One or two will suffice. Keep the plants maintained and healthy. Dead and dying plants don't say a lot about your productivity.
-
8
Put up pictures using adhesives that won't permanently mark the walls. It's a challenge to hang items from fabric cubicle walls. Try using the fabric tape that has hooks on one side and fuzz on the other. Or use a safety pin in the fabric and then a ribbon attached to the pin to hang the item.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that if you meet the public or potential customers, your office décor represents the company.
Your office probably has a housekeeping crew that does the cleaning. Keep your space neat and tidy between the cleanings.
