After months and months (and months) of searching, sending your resume to anyone possible, and countless exhausting rounds of interviewing, it’s official – you’ve landed a new job. Hooray! Friendly co-workers? Check. Better hours? Definitely. More interesting work? Yep! Awesome office space? Ehhhh, not so much.
Photo credit: Pexels
Unless you’ve recently signed on to work with one of those millennial-run-and-decorated startups we’ve all seen photos of (you know the ones – floor to ceiling glass everywhere, elegant furniture, plenty of natural light), chances are your day-to-day surroundings might be a bit less inspiring (and a little more. . . stupor inducing) than would be ideal.
But regardless of how drab your office surroundings are, you’re going to be spending the majority of your day, Monday through Friday, right smack in the middle of them. If you’re feeling a yawn coming on just thinking about it, not to worry – there are ways to work with even the most outdated office décor. With just a few simple adjustments and additions, you can turn your new office into a cozy space where you won’t be able to contain your inner worker bee.
Less-Than-Ideal Issue 1: Everything is the same dull shade of grey. (Or brown. Or dingy off-white. You get the idea.)
Solution: There are few things more mind-numbing than walking into an office that’s entirely one color every morning. Luckily, this is also a pretty easy problem to fix. But before doing anything else, I’d recommend buying some Clorox wipes and scrubbing down all surfaces (and the insides of drawers, etc.) before you really move anything in. It’s amazing how much nicer even old furniture looks when it isn’t covered with a layer of grime.
Once you’ve got everything sparkling clean (looking better already, isn’t it?) decide on a particular color you want to focus any decorative pieces around. Sticking to one color can keep an already small space from looking too busy or overwhelming, but also provides a few bright spots that really catch the eye and make things more fun.
Image Credit: Pexels
For my office (ahem, cubicle), I chose a muted shade of gold as my decorating color of choice. I think gold works well because it keeps things muted and professional, but also lends a bit of elegance to an otherwise drab office space. But depending on your style or office environment, a brighter color can work just as well. If your favorite color in the world is electric blue or bright, eye-popping pink, then go for it! Just remember – your office (and how you choose to decorate it) is part of your professional identity, so if you choose to go with a bold color, then definitely go for moderation as well.
Less-Than-Ideal Issue 2: The lighting makes you wonder whether you’re at work or in an insane asylum.
Image Credit: Pier One
Solution: No matter where you work – from the dingiest, oldest hole-in-the-wall to the shiniest, newest office in town – I cannot recommend highly enough bringing your own lighting, in some form. The impact a pretty little lamp makes on the feel of an office cannot be overstated. Not only is it a great, practical way to bring some of your own style to the office, even a small lamp lessens the harshness that is fluorescent lighting. And it doesn’t have to be a huge lamp to make a big impact – I have this cute little guy on my desk at work, and the difference it makes is fantastic.
I’m a big fan of desk lamps, but if floor lamps are more your thing, it might be worth checking in with office management to see if there are any company-supplied floor lamps that could be brought in at no charge to you. (Or, if you don’t mind the process of getting a floor lamp into your office, then by all means, bring your own.) If you absolutely cannot abide fluorescent lighting, (and depending upon what kind of lights you have in your office), you could also check into whether office maintenance would be willing to unscrew one or two of the overhead fluorescent strips in your office to soften the hospital-like ambiance. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Less-Than-Ideal Issue 3: The carpeting (or other flooring) is clearly about to celebrate its 500th birthday.
Image Credit: Google Photos
Solution: Let’s face it – flooring attracts attention, and it can make or break a room. And if it’s dirty, dingy, or threadbare, let’s just say it’s definitely not making the room. It’s also pretty hard to feel like you’ve got a chic office space when the (already not super attractive carpet) looks like it hasn’t been replaced since it was installed in the 1970s. Luckily, this one comes with a super simple solution – an area rug. Not a super expensive one – we aren’t trying to break the bank, here – just something practically priced that will give guests to your office (not to mention you) something to look at aside from that weird stain in the middle of the floor.
A good area rug can also work wonders in terms of warming up a space – it’s an almost effortless way to instantly cozy up your office, not to mention make it feel more your own. If you went with a more neutral color for your overall decorating theme (like the muted gold mentioned above), then try incorporating a color or two with your rug to add an extra layer of dimension. If you went with a bright, bold color, try sticking with a more neutral rug to balance things out.
Less-Than-Ideal Issue 4: The furniture is old and industrial, which isn’t quite your cup of tea.
Solution: It can be a liiittle hard to get inspired when the only thing you can see from your vantage point at your desk is a bunch of clunky, ugly furniture that you never in a million years would have chosen for the basement, let alone your office. Problem is, unless you happen to be a very senior staff member, chances are, you’re stuck with whatever they gave you.
Not to worry though, because even if you can’t change the furniture, you can definitely upgrade the feel of the space with a few well chosen accents. If your office consists primarily of big, old, heavy furniture (or even if it doesn’t), I’d recommend keeping any decorative additions clean and streamlined to give things a more modern, airy feel. For example, the lamp I chose for my office (click on the link above to see it) is petite, pretty, and minimalist – it adds elegance to my desk without taking up too much space or looking clunky.
In sum, it’s all about the little things.
This happy plant is part of my office!
You might also consider upgrading other small details. Buy yourself a pretty pencil holder and file organizer. Find some pretty prints (or framed photos, whatever you prefer) to hang on the walls. Bring in a throw blanket for the guest chair (if you have one.) Get a desktop calendar with a design that you like (attractive and functional.) And for bonus points, add some plants. (I’ve found that succulents tend to be best – they’re pretty, they don’t grow like crazy, and if you aren’t great with remembering to water them, it’s not a problem.) It’s all about the details – once you’ve strategically accented the space, soon you won’t even notice that furniture you used to hate anymore.
So there you have it – my thoughts on making the best of a less-than-ideal office space. I’ve found that they’ve really worked for me, and I hope they help you with making your own office a place where you feel inspired to get things done (isn’t that what it’s all about, after all?)
How have you made the best of a badly decorated office?
Share in the comments below!
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