Your office is where you spend the majority of your time. It is most likely shared, but if it isn’t then you can pick and choose the items that you put inside it. However, if you are in charge of running an office and you’re wanting to spruce up your premises, then there are some great additions that will make the office feel, fun, fresh and productive. What we surround ourselves with is going to essentially be what makes us focus and work harder.

The decor of an office is usually quite bland, with white walls, bright lights (which can be migraine-inducing but also quite important for heavy paperwork), and the odd spider plant on a windowsill with some broken blinds. You may work in a modern office that is perfectly gorgeous and doesn’t need any improvements but if you do, let’s look at the type of things to put in your office to make things look and feel fantastic.

1. Good computers – the computers you work on need to feel great and be user friendly. The systems you also use will be just as important to you. You will probably have some type of help desk software, but the type of computers you use will help productivity.
2. Fun plants – plants bring a little more oxygen to the office and they look pretty; adding colourful succulents could be a huge benefit because they take no looking after at all and they look really nice and stylish. Hanging plants can also look nice and can be hung up near windows or office separators and boards for some extra privacy.
3. A good coffee machine – coffee is an important elixir to help workers feel motivated and keep them awake and alert. Most people love a coffee in the morning and a mid morning pick-me-up to get them up to lunch and beyond. It can be a great investment and is such a novelty for people working in the office. A biscuit tin can also be a lovely perk and it’s such a simple and cheap solution.
4. Moodboards – your workers should definitely be allowed to have one of these sat on their desks or pinned to their walls. It provides necessary inspiration for your workers day to day, a collection of inspirational quotes, photos, accessories and anything that keeps them inspired. Perhaps they want to go on a luxury holiday to the Maldives, it will remind them that they will need to work super hard to ensure they can afford to go in the coming months as they wanted.
5. A fun desk organizer – this is such a fun item to have on your desk. Not only does it keep your desk neat and tidy but it’s also super fun and you can choose one that has everything complete, including post-it notes and paper clips and all the coloring pens you could use!
6. Sufficient natural lighting – natural lighting is key to helping you feel alert and productive. So, make sure you have plenty of flooding into your office. It’ll keep your circadian rhythms in check and boost your mood! If you have the opposite problem and find that sunlight directly into your workspace is hurting your eyes or giving you headaches, consider Sun Control Center window tinting.

So there you have it, some fun ways to incorporate a little joy back into your office, and to ensure your workers are feeling ready to tackle yet another year of work!

How to create a comfortable home office on a budget

Right now many people will be working at home and it looks like that’s going to continue for quite some time to come. This raises the question of how to move your office into your home without having it take over your space. Here are some tips to help.

Working at the kitchen table or dining table is fine if nobody else needs to use it. If, however, you’re having to fight for space on it, then a folding table is an affordable alternative to a permanent desk.

Invest in the best work chair you can afford. You don’t need to buy a proper office chair, a dining chair can work perfectly well for a home office. You do, however, need a chair with proper back support. This is the one place to splurge if you can, even for the shorter term.

Make sure you have ample task lighting. Wall lamps and floor lamps can both save on workspace. If need be, however, give up a bit of workspace to save your eyes.

Use a laptop stand plus an external keyboard and mouse. Having your laptop monitor at the right height can make a huge improvement to your comfort. Laptop stands are very affordable and some are even foldable. Wireless keyboards and mice can save on cord clutter, but if you’re on a budget, wired ones are often more affordable.

Have some form of closed storage to hold your equipment at the end of the day. When you’re done, put everything out of sight and out of mind for the evening/weekend.