Whether you spend your workday in an office cubicle or telecommute out of a home office, your workspace should be organized and not resemble a cluttered workstation littered with unorganized files and sticky notes plastered all over the desk.
This applies not just to individual work areas, but also to the entire office if you share the space with other staff. A few small renovations are all it takes to make the office more “breathable” for the lack of a better term.
Create an L-Shaped Desk
If space permits, create a workstation with an L-shaped layout as opposed to just having a single desk in front of you. This means having a front desk as well as a second and adjacent one off to the side. Some office desks come in this type of shape, though you can also improvise by adding a separate side desk, which can be as simple as a foldable table.
The front desk will be for your essentials, such as your monitor and keyboard, while the side desk will hold items like your printer, fax machine, and hard drive. An L-shaped layout allows everything to be more spaced out yet remain within arm’s reach.
Give the Entire Office a Home-Like Environment
It’s beneficial to give the entire work area a homey feel – especially if you share the space with multiple staffers and their individual stations consist of cramped cubicles. If modifications to the cubicles are limited due to the miniscule space, then focus on other areas, such as the meeting room, a private break room, or lounge area. Grace these spots with plush upholstery like a couch or bean chairs. Just because it’s an office doesn’t mean the facility has to be formal.
Add Decorations That Match the Business Culture
It doesn’t seem like decorative modifications have anything to do with improving efficiency. However, studies have actually shown that the mere presence of bright colors have an impact on the human health and psyche. Pink, for example, has been shown to produce a calming effect and repress angry emotions.
As mentioned, don’t make the office so monotonous and formal. You and your colleagues likely face enough stress as it is from your work, so create an environment that is more reminiscent of what a home would look like for a therapeutic effect. The following are some decoration ideas:
- Replace a plain office clock with a more creative one, such as the iconic kitty cat clock with a hanging tail
- Adorn the walls with inspirational art and photography
- Add a miniature basketball hoop, golf course, or foosball table in the lounge area
- Create an indoor garden with streaming water for a zen-like environment
Efficiency and organization are not just about making the working space neater or less cluttered. It’s also about creating an ambiance that will serve you and your staffers well.