Replicate the coolest offices in the world at your own desk
Inc.com recently released its fourth annual list of the World's Coolest Offices, and each space is uniquely different, boasting spacious hallways, colorful walls and brilliant window views. The way an office is arranged and decorated can have a direct effect on the way employees perform, as it can have an impact on things like creativity and productivity. Replicating these offices would take a whole lot of work (and money), but there are ways that you can bring their unique features into your workspace:
Use color to your advantage
At the Beats Electronics headquarters in Culver City, California, there are different vibrant hues in each area of the office. The company uses color to evoke various atmospheres and aesthetics. For instance, one room is blue to encourage relaxation and serenity, while another is red to help boost creativity and energy.
Consider bringing color to your desk by adding colorful shelving. Having open shelving is an easy way to keep items off of your desk and organized, but it's also a simple way of introducing more color to your desk area. Paint the shelves in a color that evokes whatever emotion or feeling that you prefer. You can also use washi tape (which is similar to masking tape, but comes in different colors and patterns) to cover computer chargers, cords, notebooks and folders.
Here are a few colors and the characteristics and emotions they are said to evoke:
Red: Energy, liveliness
Blue: Cool, calm
Pink: Joyful
Green: Restorative, comfort
Brown: Cozy, snug
White: Spacious, open
Produce an open, inviting space
You take one look at Google's office in Tel Aviv, Israel, and you immediately notice that the space is very open, which promotes collaboration among employees. Of course, you may not have control over the layout of your office, but you can do a few things to make your cubicle feel less cramped, and more open and spacious.
Eliminating excess clutter is an important step toward making your desk feel larger. File papers, birthday cards for clients, memos, etc., away into folders and cabinets and put any supplies you don't use on a regular basis into drawers. Try adding a small mirror to one wall of your cubicle, which will bounce light around and create the illusion of more space.
While you can certainly decorate your desk, avoid cluttering it with lots of trinkets and accessories. Instead, choose one or two larger pieces that you can use to enhance your desk, like a painting hung on the wall or a colorful vase with fresh-cut flowers.
Focus on light
Nasty Gal, a clothing company based in Los Angeles, boasts an industrial-looking office complete with marble flooring, exposed brick, concrete pillars, steel windows, and plenty of light. This office not only has lots of natural light streaming in from windows and skylights, it has hanging light structures as well to illuminate the space further. Light can have a big impact on an office or desk space, as a dim environment may only cause people to feel tired.
Brighten up your workspace by placing your desk by a window, if possible. Natural light can help you stay alert and focused throughout the day. If a nearby window isn't available, create layers of light at your desk. Hang an overhead light, whether it's white stringed lights or a paper lantern. Of course, if you only have fluorescent lighting above you, you can work with that. Add a small lamp to the surface of your desk for task lighting, then wrap a rope of LED lights around the outer edge of your desk for some ambient light. The combination of fixtures will help create a soft glow that won't put a strain on your eyes.
