The average worker spends at least 1,800 hours in the office per year. For many of us, this number is even more. So why not make the office the best it can be? Here are seven design tricks you can easily implement in any office to improve focus and productivity.

Embrace clutter

It's a myth that organized workspaces improve productivity. In one research comparison of "filers" vs. "pilers," workers who let papers pile up on their desks turned out to be more productive. Why? They tended to focus more on matters at hand and were better able to handle the unexpected.

Messy workspaces have also been shown to promote creativity and innovation.

Get plants. A lot of them.

Plants can do a lot more than increase air quality. In one field study, desk plants improved workers' productivity by 15%. Greenery also improves focus and happiness. There's even evidence that green plants can reduce symptoms of ADHD.

As for picking the right plant, any large indoor plant will work, including ferns. A few medium-size or large plants should do the trick-- just don't get a tiny IKEA cactus and call it a day.

Add productivity-enhancing lighting

White cold light (about 4000k in temperature) has been shown to extend the amount of time students can concentrate and reduce writing errors. Normal office lights are typically only 3000k. Since you may not be able to change the light bulbs in your office, you'll need to find a way to enjoy this benefit.

Lark is one product that can produce this type of light.

Know the difference between high and low ceilings

Ceiling height can have different effects on your work depending on the type of task you're performing. Although people naturally prefer high ceilings to low ceilings, low ceilings are preferable for tasks that involve detailed concentration and precision focus (such as an operating room). High ceilings promote abstract thinking and creativity (the "cathedral effect").

If possible, choose a room with a ceiling height that fits the task. You'll have trouble focusing on detailed problems in open atrium. Such an environment is perfect for brainstorming with a colleague, however.

Bring your dog to work

There's still a lot of research to be done in this area, but according to one small study in Virginia, workers who bring their dogs to work are more satisfied, more trusting, and show lower levels of stress. No similar research has been done for cats. I'd expect that whatever type of animal you bring to work, some level of self-control will be required.

Ditch white, beige and grey

It's not surprising that the colors around you have a significant impact on your mood. According to one study at the University of Texas (summarized here), white, beige, and grey are likely to induce feelings of sadness and depression. Other colors can have positive benefits:

Light green and blue: improve efficiency, focus, and sense of well-being.

improve efficiency, focus, and sense of well-being. Red : increases heart rate and blood flow upon sight.

: increases heart rate and blood flow upon sight. Light yellow: provides a sense of optimism

Make sure you have privacy

Work in a space where no one can look over your shoulder. Privacy isn't just for doing online shopping at work, but has been proven to increase focus and productivity. This makes sense-- are you productive if someone is always looking over your shoulder?

In an ideal world we could control everything in our work environments. Even making one or two of the changes outlined above can have a significant impact on your productivity and focus, not to mention your happiness and well-being.