Peronsalizing the Work Space

Whether you have a cubicle or an office with a door you can shut, this is the space where you spend most of your day. If you put no decorations up at all, colleagues may wonder whether or not you really have a personal life -- or a personality. If you decorate your office with cartoons and silly pictures, you come across as more of a pushover than a hardcore professional with dreams of a higher management position. Piles of papers around the office, although may seem like organized chaos to you, may come across as sloppy and unprofessional to coworkers. Here's how to turn your office into a comfortable and inviting space while keeping your professional status. Be aware of company regulations about decorating. You already know not to bring sexually suggestive images to work. For the best overview of how to decorate in your workplace, have a look around the offices of managers and executives in the company. The key is to personalize, not over-decorate. Pictures of friends and family, wall décor, small plants, and furniture are great ways to show your personality while keeping your image professional.

You do not need to fill every wall space and its important not to leave the same jokes and memos on display for years. It is suggested to clean the office thoroughly twice a year and rethink how you decorate so you are not bored with the office. Decide what to hang on the walls based on your personal interests and what is appropriate to display in the company atmosphere. Artwork that reflects your love of sailing can be elegantly reflected with a framed print or original painting. Hanging a fishnet and a life preserver on the wall should be saved for your home patio. Family photos decorate your office with a warm touch, but keep them to a just a few frames on your desk or side table. In addition, remember to keep them appropriate for the work place, pictures of your bachelor or bachelorette party are best kept at home. The other option is a bulletin board on one office wall where you can decorate with a collage of candid prints. Be sure to update the collage every year to remove curled photos and baby pictures of kids who are now teens.

Plants are a great way to bring a pop of color into the office without clutter. Remember to purchase plants that will survive in low lighting areas and put them in a suitable container that wont drip when watered. Also, be sure to check with your office neighbors to see if they have allergies that your plants could aggravate and be sure to work with them. Always choose plants over flowers, because flowers require more maintenance and tend to wither and die more rapidly. I once worked in an office that had no windows and grey walls. I’m sure you all can imagine how much fun that was to go into work everyday and stare at blank walls. One day, I bought my boss a small plant and it instantly brightened up the room at minimal cost. According to research done by Dr. Ulrich of Texas A&M