Office cubicles are set up to be the same, with rows and rows of the same square space and gray half-walls. It often feels like an empty space that sucks out creativity and personality. Thankfully, that doesn’t have to be the case.
No matter how much money you are willing to spend on items, or how much space you have, you can find all sorts of office decor ideas for work to make your space unique and stand out. In no time, your little cubicle will feel like a home away from home.
12 Office Decor Ideas for Work
1. Wall Folders
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Do you have a lot of folders and paperwork to go through and organize at any given time, but you are tired of dealing with a filing cabinet, or want something a little cuter? Wall folders take up far less space than a filing cabinet, and are just as easy, if not easier, to organize.
If you want, you can even keep both, organizing files and documents you are currently working on at the moment in the wall files while organizing older documents that are still important to keep in the filing cabinet.
This is a great option for those who need visuals to remember what they need to do and like things laid out in front of them. If you are a person who has a desk littered with sticky notes and reminders, you may find these folders help increase your productivity.
2. Desk Organizer
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When you are in a cubicle or a small office space, you don’t usually have a lot of areas on which to put your tools of the trade. Having organizers can help you to maximize your space. Individual organizers, like pencil holders, paper clip holders, and business cards can take up a lot of space and be hard to organize.
However, with organizers like the ones in the link above, you can put a lot of objects onto it without having to take up much extra space. This one, for example, sits between your keyboard and computer monitor. And as you can see, you can fit tape, staplers, headphones, your phone, journals, measuring tools, paper clips, and more into one tidy space.
Of course, you can fill it however you want, or look for other desk organizers that fit your needs better. If you are someone that likes to see what all you have right in front of you instead of hidden away in a desk drawer, but still want to stay somewhat minimal, this is a pretty great option.
3. Art You Enjoy
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When you think of office space, you may think of those weak motivational posters, often the ones involving cats hanging from trees. But just because you are at work doesn’t mean you have to have motivational posters or art focused on work.
Instead, consider putting up the artwork you enjoy. It does need to be appropriate, and probably not too crazy, or you risk hurting or distracting others, but simple pieces or quotes that resonate with you can remind you why you are doing what you are doing, and what you have to look forward to.
4. A Standing Desk
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Are you tired of sitting at your desk for hours every day? Consider getting a standing desk. That way, you can switch between standing and sitting as needed. You can stretch your legs, move around, and feel better, all while still working.
If you want to kill two birds with one stone, you can get a desk treadmill as well, so you can get your steps in while never slacking on the report due soon.
Of course, sometimes these desks don’t fit in a cubicle, and they may take up too much space, but you and your manager may be able to figure something out and determine what will work best for you and your office.
5. A Plant
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Plants are beneficial for many reasons. Even small ones can help clear the air, and the burst of color can make you feel like you are in a brighter, happier place. You can also consider going to work for more than just going to your job and getting a paycheck. Now, you are responsible for a life and have to go to work to make sure the plant gets plenty of water and care.
If you are in an office area far away from a window, you may think you can’t get a plant, but that isn’t necessarily the case. There are plenty of plants that survive or even thrive in low light conditions and will do perfectly in an office space.
6. Personal Pictures
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If you want to make the space stand out as yours, the easiest way is to add personal pictures. Tack a few images on the wall, get an electronic picture frame that is filled with images of friends, family, and pets, or do what this user did and hang up some vintage-looking polaroids.
You can hang as many or as few pictures as you want, setting them up so they are hanging up just above your computer, or so they are covering all four sides of the cubicle.
7. Drawer Organizers
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If you have drawers in your office look at getting drawer organizers. You can get the basic ones for pens and pencils, or you can go somewhere like a container store and get perfect sizes and shapes to fit your drawers.
By using organizers, you can ensure that your space is set up well and you can always find anything. It makes it easier to keep track of all of your small odds and ends, and makes sure that everything has a place.
Though using organizers to set up your drawers may seem to be less efficient because it takes up more space, it makes it easier to find things, you don’t have to worry about objects breaking, and you don’t have to sort through the items just to find a paper clip.
8. Unique Office Supplies
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Want to make your office cuter while remaining functional? If you want a burst of dopamine every time you use a basic office space, then consider spending a little extra on office supplies. You can find unique function tools like tape dispensers, pens, pen holders, staplers, notepads, business card holders, and more.
Those in the link above are great examples, but there are so many more. Even paper clips and binder clips can be found in fun shapes and sizes. These are ways to reduce clutter in your office space, and not have to spend ridiculous amounts of money, while still making your little area full of personality.
9. A Comfortable Chair
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One of the best ways to make your space feel comfortable and inviting is to make sure you have a comfortable chair. Most office chairs, if they come with one, are uncomfortable and likely broken.
If your office allows it, consider buying your own office chair. They are expensive but can make your day at work that much better. After all, you are sitting on a chair for eight or more hours a day, five days a week. It is worth the investment to make sure you are comfortable.
Plus, you can take the chair with you as you move from office to office, and even take it home later to make your own office space if you end up doing that.
The chair in the picture above is just one of many. You can find plenty that look more like proper office chairs, or ones that look a lot more comfortable. Work with your boss to find a chair that you find comfortable and that they will approve of.
10. A Little Shelf and Books
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Do you enjoy reading during your breaks, or use a lot of references in your work? Consider getting a shelf. If you have a whole space to yourself, like a proper office, you can just get a small bookshelf.
However, if you are in a cubicle like many others, you don’t have to hide the books in a drawer or take up precious desk space with books and bookends. Instead, they have shelves that hang over the wall of the cubicle.
That way, you can still have a few shelves for books and other decors, and you don’t have to worry about taking up already limited space. In addition to books and magazines you use and enjoy, you can put pictures, decorations, and plants as well.
11. Wallpapers That You Enjoy
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If you want a subtle way to make your office space feel more like yours, without having to buy anything new, consider just changing up the wallpaper on your computer. If you are allowed, look around for a wallpaper that brings you happiness, or that sparks your sense of adventure.
This makes the space feel a lot more personal and welcoming, and doesn’t take up more space, or interfere with anyone else’s space either. The best part is that you can change it up as you want when you want different scenery or you are in a different mood.
You can also set up a slideshow with a lot of different pictures, so every time you look at the screen, you have a new image before you.
It may be a subtle way of changing up your office space, but it can make you feel more comfortable and like the space is actually yours.
12. Wall Planner
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Do you want a calendar, but are tired of wasting paper every month as you rip off and throw away a page? Consider getting an erasable calendar. There are ones made from glass and other materials that can be hung on the wall.
This one covers a wide range, focusing on daily and monthly goals, water tracking, and habits, but you can find giant monthly calendars or weekly ones to fit your needs better just as easily. You can even find some ones that are cute and will fit your office theme.
This is also a great option for visual workers, so you can see at a glance when you come in what needs to be done for the day and what meetings you have scheduled. No more having to search through all your sticky notes or open your planner.