This article is a part of the series to discover female career paths within the creative and digital industries

Read the series by @rtumasonyte

Environment usually affects us a lot – our productivity, creativity and it ultimately makes us feel comfortable – more or less. Also, your office is part of your professional image.

They say it’s good to change your surroundings from time to time. Whether you are moving into a new office, whether you want some fresh update in the current one – how do you do it without painting all the walls and giving it too much of the effort?

1. RULE NO.1 – IF YOU BUY SOMETHING NEW, THROW AWAY SOMETHING OLD

To keep it simple, you must limit the colours, items and textures around. Thinking in terms of frequency of use might help a lot when deciding what things must go.

2. FLOWERS

Flowers give you oxygen. Can I say something more?

3. LIGHTS

Lights are very important – they might make the room look warm or cold just on their own. Make your space light. When it might be challenging to change your lightning system itself, you might experiment on the lamp covers you use – easy to change & it instantly gives a new look for the room. Add a few table lambs with textile hoods that might also be changed. Test light bulbs with different shades of white or even different colours.

Learn how to make a geometric golden lamp on the right at Sarah’s blog.

4. SNACK BAR

Kitchen on the wheels! Easy to move, might be useful both – for snacks and for your product samples. Perhaps even piles of documents and books. I would recommend choosing a wooden or metal one – just so you might paint it without a lot of trouble if you will want to renew the colours of your office, lets say, in 2-3 years.

5. SCENT

Candles, flowers and incense might do the trick! Smell is one of the strongest triggers – there is a reason why retailers invest so much money into it! It might be especially useful if you have meetings with clients in your office, although it will really make a difference for the productivity of your team if you choose the right scent as well!

Or make your own cookie-cutter candles. Just like designer Casey Noble. That’s also a kind of cute idea for your Christmas gifts!

6. WALL OF IMPORTANCE

It may be a dream board for me, Achievement board for you, Customer Feedback wall for someone in service business, travel map for administrator Sindy, who is saving for her next trip or Russian grammar tips for someone learning new language.

The trick is – it must be useful and inspiring. It’s one wall in the office that will actually change dynamically once in a while – make it for actual use. It must also be visually attractive, so that when it will evolve, it would also give a certain new look.

There is a short guide how you might make this one yourself as well.

If you love to draw or are a “to-do-list” freak like me, you will love this Studio Roller by George & Willy.

7. DO SOMETHING CRAZY

Like hanging the hammock! Or simply stretch a carpet to get into the truly cozy-homy atmosphere.

Or get some fur for the winter season.

Include as many of the 5 senses as you can – the more you will be able to include during this office make-over, the bigger change it will feel like. And whenever you choose the decor, furniture – try to choose the items you might easily renew again – paint, change the textile, move to the other place, ect.

And final idea to make office a bit more vibrant – once in a while make it a TAKE YOUR PUPPY TO THE OFFICE kind of day!

///

Part of the series to discover female career paths within the creative and digital industries

Read the series

by Ramune Tumasonyte

@rtumasonyte