It’s the tail end of the winter season, and many workers are looking forward to the end of cold and gloomy days. Though the office may look bleak during this time of year, there are many things that one can do to brighten up his or her workspace with just a few accessories.
You don’t have to have decorating skills or spend a fortune to make your workspace look cheerful. All it takes is a bit of color and a few extras to make your desk or cubicle more appealing.
Here are some tips on how to makeover your workspace when it’s gloomy outside.
Get a nice calendar
Take down that generic calendar and get one with designs or artwork that appeals to your style sensibilities. Don’t know what to get? Check out calendars with artwork from modern-day impressionist Thomas Kinkade. His dreamy, colorful paintings of landscapes are just the thing to get you in the mood for spring. The Thomas Kincade Disney Dreams Collection Mini Wall Calendar is only $7.26 on Amazon, while the Deluxe Wall Calendar is $10.87.
Replace your desk blotter with a carpet or rug sample
If your desk blotter is starting to look a little grubby, get a carpet or rug sample from carpet and flooring shops and lay it on your desk. Now, put your keyboard over it. There you have it—instant chic.
Change your desktop wallpaper
You spend hours staring at your monitor at work, so why not change it to brighten your mood? Some people like to have beach scenes on their desk, while others go for colorful flowers and forest scenes. Whatever you do, make sure that what you’re choosing is appropriate for the office.
Add some color to your desk
A quick way to add a burst of color to your desk is to get a nice pencil holder and fill it with a bouquet of freshly sharpened colored pencils. No need to get the 150-count set—a set of 24 pencils will suffice. You can use those pencils during your downtime to doodle or draw, as studies have shown that doodling or drawing can help people stay focused, retain information, and understand new concepts.
The best colored pencils that you can get for less than $7 are the 24-count sets from Crayola, Staedtler, Sargent, and Prang. If you want artist grade pencils and don’t mind spending a bit more, get Prismacolor Premiere Colored Pencils ($13.27 for a pack of 24) or Faber-Castel Polychromos Pencils ($38.58 for 24 pieces in a metal tin).
Add some life
You can bring a small plant, such as a mini potted succulent, and place it on your desk. You can also switch out the pot for something a bit classier, like a teacup with a matching saucer. Succulents can thrive anywhere and it’s absolutely low maintenance. If you want something a bit leafier, look for a mini bonsai tree or a small topiary for your desk.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on how to use a bullet journal for work.
