With one in five Americans having an anxiety disorder, it’s no surprise that work stresses us out.
One of the easiest ways to combat on-the-job anxiety is with a little sprucing up. And it’s not just having a tidy desk that will make your life better. Having a beautiful office environment is important for those in the rat race.
Some people use fidget spinners, or houseplants, or even weighted blankets in their laps to decrease their workplace anxiety. And we’re hoping to help you out. We’ve got eight office decor ideas that will turn your tiny corner of the corporate world into a beautiful oasis.
With just a few tweaks and these great office cubicle decor ideas, you will be blissful, more productive, and the target of major desk jockey envy.
1. Enhance Energy With Colorful Supplies
It’s not just red staplers that brighten up an office space, it’s all the colors of the rainbow. Consider brightening your line of sight with multi-colored, bold file folders, or fancy sticky notes. And you don’t have to stop there — you can make a rainbow of pens and pencils in happy colors, too.
If you’re not a big fan of the rainbow, choose one or two “pop” colors, and make sure everything coordinates well. Green is both calming and energizing, whereas bright orange can also enhance your attitude.
2. Breathe Easy With Plants
One of the most beautiful and health-conscious ways to liven up your cubicle decor is with plants. Whether you go for a fern, a flowering plant, or a cactus, the serene greens and delicate leaves will be sure to make your day.
If you don’t have a lot of space, small succulents can be planted in cute, tiny pots that you can theme out or decorate how you want. If you have the luxury of hanging things, air plants are low maintenance and an excellent source of peace and wonder.
Plus, plants take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen, making your office a breathable bastion of productivity. Indoor plants can live almost anywhere during any season, and they’re not that hard to take care of. Are you feeling less anxious yet?
3. Use Fun Push Pins or Merry Magnets
Do you have a whiteboard? A bulletin board? Or those drab, grey cubicle walls?
Spice it up with some fun push pins or happy magnets. Whether you get glittery thumbtacks or magnets from your favorite vacation spots, this is a little DIY office decor that anyone can pull off.
If you’re not sure what direction you want to go to decorate your desk, thumbtacks and magnets are a great way to insert some personality without making a big commitment to an office theme.
4. Go Aromatic
For those that might be decoratively disabled, there are other ways to spruce up your space. Try a mini-reed diffuser or an essential oil nebulizer. You’ll want to make sure smells are faint and don’t travel — sometimes a wax warmer or candle could be too much.
It’s important to ask the folks around you if they would mind and to make sure your office policies don’t say no to scents. A good rule of thumb is that if people eat lunch at their desks — you’re probably OK.
Look for faint smells that will only affect your area, and stick with citrus, floral, or clean cotton!
5. Cute Up Your Computing
There are so many things you can do to deck out your computer! In your computer, you can program adorable backgrounds, e-mail client themes, and cute screensavers that showcase your personality.
But outside your computer, there’s a lot you can do for your cubicle decor, as well! You can get a bejeweled mouse, a PC or Mac keyboard cover, or even decorate your desktop with stickers or crafts.
You can create a theme around your screen with silk flowers, leis, or even colored paper cut into seasonal shapes — such as snowflakes or shamrocks!
6. Change Out your Mug
One of the most easily personalizable desk decor ideas is to periodically change out your coffee mug. Whether you drink water, tea, or coffee from it, having a mug that matches your personality is a simple way to brighten up your day. And the caffeine can help you stay awake at work!
You might have several mugs at the office, and can change them out for each day of the week, if you like. Seasonal mugs and cups are also always a good conversation starter, or you can have personal ones that showcase family pictures or a favorite quote.
7. Ditch the Inbox for Bookends
Have some files to hold for a while? Ditch the boring plastic file boxes or bland black metal bookends, and bring in something specific to use as a file holder or bookend. This is an easy and inexpensive DIY office decor idea because you can usually find something at home that brings you happiness and energy.
Some people like to use geodes or rocks from a camping or hiking expeditions, while others will use Buddha statutes or Day of the Dead painted skulls. You can really let your imagination run wild here!
8. Pics on a Wire
Last but not least, hanging a wire to clothespin photos from is a common and beautiful decoration that can easily be changed. Some people use family pictures, vacation photos, or snaps of their pets. Others change out seasonal pics and postcards.
There are so many cubicle decor ideas that you can explore with a hanging picture wire, and they’re not expensive to make on a DIY budget.
If you’ve used any of the tips above, it can be easy to pull together a theme with pictures on a hanging wire. And it’s non-intrusive — you can put it somewhere that only you can see.
Cubicle Decor and More
If decorating your office space has decreased your anxiety, you’re ready for the next level. You can learn how to have a more productive time at the office, live a healthier lifestyle, and bust through what’s holding you back. Check out our tips and hack page for more fun facts and life hacks today!