New Year, New Office Space

Welcome to 2019! It’s a brand-new year, and time to make a few changes. While most of us focus on changing our diet and exercise routines, there are plenty of other things you can do to improve your life, become more relaxed, and increase your efficiency at work.

Research shows that the physical space around you can have a serious impact on your ability to focus and do your job. It can also impact the way you perceive your job, and improve or harm your feelings about your workday experience. So, it makes sense to take a critical look at your office work space and consider what you might do to make it more pleasant.

First, Change The Simple Things.

It might be tempting to look at your space and think, I need a bigger office! I need a new desk, a new chair, and it would be great if all of these things were located in the Bahamas. Whether you work in a cubicle, have an open office work space, or work from home, the easiest thing to change about your space is the décor. Even one simple addition might make your day a little bit brighter.

For example, add a piece of décor that brings you joy or happiness or some positive emotion. It could be a simple toy from your favorite TV show, photographs of your family, or it could be something elegant and refined, such as a vase or a sculpture.

This driftwood sculpture is sophisticated and eye-catching, with great lines and color. The marble base is smooth and nicely counter-balances the weight of the wood. Most importantly, it’s a great way to bring a taste of the outdoors into your office. 

Consider a painting, too. This abstract impressionist painting has the feel of a beach, with waves, sand, and sky. It too, will bring a little bit of the outdoors into your office. It’s mesmerizing—an easy way to brighten up your office space.

Next, Brighten Your Space.

Speaking of brightening your space, light has a significant impact on mood and attitude. It’s easy to feel down and gloomy when your office feels like a dark, underground cave. If you have a little more budget, consider changing the light in your space. It might be as simple as adding a new lamp, or more complicated, such as changing the light fixtures over your desk. Even if you work in a room with high ceilings and florescent lighting, a small lamp can add just a hint of warmth to your personal working space.

If all you have to work with is your desktop, consider something like this shimmering silver lamp with a fabric shade. It will add a warm light to your work space, and the silver acrylic finish will reflect the light even further.

You may also consider a floor lamp, if you have a little more room. This one features two lampshades that you can angle in different directions, to reflect light off the wall, or to shine more light on your personal work space. It has black lampshades with brushed gold stems.

If you want to take this step a little further, changing the light fixture in your office can do more than just add light—it can also give your space style and elegance.

For example, take this modern atom-style pendant light. The clear glass orbs allow the light to shine in all directions, and the design of the fixture is contemporary and beautiful—a great way to add sophistication to your office space.

Finally, Consider Comfort.

Once you’ve considered the simpler ways to brighten up your office space, it’s time to think about comfort. Are you comfortable in your office? There may be some things you can’t change—like how loudly your coworker chews their lunch, or whether you’re in an open office space or a dark dungeon. But you can change your seat and your desk.

Your chair, is of course the most obvious and easiest thing to change. Look for a chair that provides lumbar support, as well as lots of options for adjusting your position. You might even consider getting a pillow, for just a little extra back support.

This chair, for example, offers an ergonomic design with smooth casters, breathable polyester fabric so you don’t get too hot, tilt, and a pneumatic lift.

You could also go with something cushier, like this grey leather and nylon office chair. It has tilt and tension control, padded armrests, a pneumatic gas lift, and hooded double wheel casters.

Then there’s your desk. Rearranging it is the simplest way to go. Think about how you work. What do you use frequently? Make sure those things are easily in reach from your chair. It may be helpful to add a small bookcase to your set-up, so that you can keep papers, binders, or other tools of the trade within arm’s length of your desk.

Also think about how tidy or messy your desk gets. Is there a way to make your organizational system easier? Consider adding a filing cabinet, to better organize your work.

Or, you may want to think about upgrading your desk. Sometimes, all you need is a little more workspace. L-shaped desks are a great option, because they frequently come with extra drawers and shelves, which 1.) can be placed within reach of where you sit, 2.) make it easy to keep your space clean. L-shaped desks also have a lot of extra desk space, making it easy for you to spread out.

This brown L-shaped office desk, for example, has a simple design, with ample drawer storage, and a space for your computer tower. It also has a drawer for your keyboard and wire management. Conveniently, it also has a matching bookcase and file, to make it easy for you to upgrade your entire space.

Or, if you’re looking for something more contemporary, one side of this L-shaped desk is a standing desk, so you can sit or stand during the day. The other side has both drawers and shelves for easy storage, and you can select a matching extra bookcase or file.

In The End, It All Comes Down To You.

Whatever you decide to do, it all comes down to what you want and what you need. Work can be stressful, and you can’t avoid that all the time. What you can do, is take small steps to make your work space comfortable—a home at work.