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CREATURE_COMFORTS_IN_THE_WORKPLACE_How_To_Create_An_Office_You_Love
| CREATURE COMFORTS IN THE WORKPLACE. How To Create An Office You Love
CREATURE COMFORTS IN THE WORKPLACE How To Create An Office You
Love
Comfort. Peace. Beauty. These are all positive words associated
with quality of life, yet few people can say they experience
these things in the workplace. You spend a large portion of your
life working, so why not make your office an enjoyable place to
be, not only for yourself, but also for your clients?
If you?ve ever walked into a poorly lit, cluttered, stale room
and noticed how it made you feel, then you understand that all
rooms have energy. When you feel good in a room, you
automatically attach a positive emotion to the people associated
with that room. It stands to reason then, that when clients like
your space and feel good in your office environment, they also
attach a positive feeling to you, which is good for business. A
comfortable office environment is also great for helping you to
enjoy the time you spend working, which adds to your quality of
life and productivity.
Here are seven ways to make your office more comfortable for
both you and your clients.
1.If you own your building or have permission from the landlord,
paint the walls a color other than white or off-white. Color,
whether it?s soft or bold, is the least expensive and most
noticeable way to change the feel of a room. If your office is
naturally dark, brighten it up with a bold pumpkin or bright
gold accent wall with a contrasting lighter color on the other
walls. Use soft sage green, apricot or sky blue to create a calm
waiting area for clients. Wall color is a good way to start
brightening things up and makes a great canvas on which to build.
2.Blank walls can be peaceful, however, too much blankness is
sterile. Strike a good balance by adding art to make your office
feel inviting. Choose a few pieces that you really like for your
own space, and create continuity by having similar pieces in the
outer areas of your office. Instead of spreading small pieces
out across all your walls, group them together on one wall for
an interesting tableau. Save large pieces to hang alone on
larger walls, and remember less is more. Don?t be afraid to
leave one wall completely blank.
3.Add live plants. Nothing looks worse than an dusty old silk
plant in the corner. Live plants add their own energy and
lushness to a room and break that sterile feeling that some
offices have. Vary their heights for some interest. Hanging
plants, floor trees, and desk plants can all work together.
However, be sure to care for them properly so they don?t die,
because dead plants don?t project a positive image.
4.Add some additional lighting, especially if you have
fluorescent overhead lighting in your office. Fluorescent
lighting throws a cool green cast and can be harsh, so adding
incandescent lights helps to warm up the space. An attractive
floor lamp or a nice desk lamp will do the trick and you might
find that you can turn off those overheads for good.
5.Awards and trophies can add interest to your office if they
are displayed properly. Hang a nice shelf and use it to display
a few things that are special to you. Again, keep them grouped
together, so they aren?t spread all over the space. Things that
are spread about and end up looking like accidental clutter,
whereas things grouped together look like a collection.
6.The sound of running water is peaceful and can also mask the
sounds of traffic or a working office outside your door.
Tabletop fountains are inexpensive to buy, take up very little
space and they add a wonderful auditory texture to an
environment. Place one in your waiting area and one in your
personal office for quiet, soothing white noise while you work
or while your guests wait to see you.
7.Last but definitely not least, invest in some nice,
comfortable pieces of furniture for the waiting area as well as
your private space. In the waiting area, bigger, cozier pieces
of furniture work to set a comfortable frame of mind while
guests are waiting. In your private space where you conduct
business, something a bit less soft but still comfortable is
more appropriate.
If you have space, consider adding a small table between two
chairs in front of your desk so that you can come out from
behind your desk to interact with clients. Even a small sofa and
a chair will work for those times you may meet with more than
one person at a time. A big desk between you and your client may
not create a feeling of trust and partnership, whereas meeting
around a smaller table will.
Work and play are no longer mutually exclusive parts of life.
Making your office environment as comfortable as possible is a
key element in your having an enjoyable workday, as well as
creating a positive, memorable experience for your clients. The
more inviting your office is, the better it will serve you, and
the better you can serve your clients.
About the author:
Monica Ricci has been an organizing specialist since 1999, and
her motivational presentations teach effective organizing and
simplifying techniques for home and work. She also offers free
email tips and ideas on how to make life simpler and more
organized. Her topics include clutter control, paper management,
time management, organizing space and procrastination.Contact
Monica at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com.
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