Sorry for the absence, but I had to take a break from writing while I was finishing graduate school. Now I am back and ready to talk about decorating at work. A good friend of mine used to say that he didn’t trust a co-worker who didn’t have at least one personal picture in his/her office or cubicle. I generally agree, but as I look at the ever increasing number of pictures in my cubicle, I wonder when enough is enough.
Most of the time it is common sense – don’t put up pictures of you doing inappropriate things and don’t let it interfere with your workspace or environment — but I found some “decorating tips” from ayushveda.com and associated content that are helpful for those of us who believe that work is pretty much like a second home.
1. Your desk or cubicle should be an extension of you. Whether it is a colorful calendar, a cute magnet or pictures of family and friends, these items can help with motivation and “in low moments, you’ll feel much better looking at their pictures.”
2. Post motivational quotes. I am not necessarily talking about those huge inspirational posters, but I keep a list of quotes at my desk – some inspirational, some funny, and it is a nice break to read them over if I am having a rough day.
3. Bring in some green. Plants can make your office more colorful and peaceful. But if you don’t have the time or skill to take care of it, opt out of bringing it to work. There is nothing like a “gnarly dying plant” to bring down the mood or dissuade someone from coming over to your desk.
4. A candy dish or conversation piece to attract visitors. One of my co-workers keeps an M&M jar at her desk and people come from far and wide to grab a treat and chat. While work is the priority, having new visitors at your desk can help you make connections and build networks. It’s all about who you know these days.
There are a couple of don’ts in the office decorating world:
1. Don’t clutter your desk. There is nothing I find more distracting than sitting at somebody’s desk and seeing their cubicle and desk covered in pictures. I have a hard time focusing on them speaking and I can only imagine how hard it is for them to work around them.
2. Smelly stuff. Candles or aromatherapy may be an extension of you and can be relaxing, but be sensitive to the smells they produce. Not everybody likes the smell of freesia – or any smell at all, actually.
3. Leave the stuffed animals and wild photos at home. Again, I believe this is common sense, but depending on your work environment they can be unprofessional.
While I am not always the best at keeping the clutter at bay, I am always looking for items or ideas to brighten and organize my workspace. Feel free to make some suggestions on do’s or don’ts from your office decorating acumen. And just for fun, this site http://youcube.us/ has some crazy cubicle decorations – mostly don’ts in the cubicle decorating world!
