Office decor doesn't have to be drab and boring. So many workers all over the world spend as many hours, if not more at work than they do at home. When you go to work, you are probably looking at those same walls day after day.

Ah, the typical texture cooler color walls and the commercial textured carpet. For most people they have no control how their employee decorates. There are many regulations in businesses today, but one of the things I like to think about when decorating offices is to create for success! Businesses like each of us, are on a budget in so many different areas. To me part of boosting morale and motivation is to have a warm look to work areas. I have gone on consultations for commercial buildings. One area I like to look at is the overall theme of the entire building.














If you work in large cubicles, I like to recommend each individual choose their work area staying within the foundation colors. Many of you may be saying,"I have no say in decorating." Start a committee and see if you can discuss this with your superiors. My husband did this at his work. He is a department head and worked with his staff in allowing them to choose their own work area, staying with the color guidelines of the company overall scheme. This allows each employee to have their very own personality to feel comfortable in.

A warm and inviting work area has been proven to increase productivity. So now the next question is how to take the standard commercial colors and make them warm and inviting? Here are a few simple suggestions to think about if you are decorating your own space, or able to have input in decorating the work place.

1. Think about the standard colors that surround the entire area. Is there a way to soften up the look by bringing in warmer tones?



2. Bring in some personal items you can relate to during your work day. Not to day dream, but to give you that homey and good feeling mode.



3. If you are locked into a certain color scheme, consider softening up your own office area with warmer color accents and accessories.



4. Soothing nature or family pictures hung around your work space.



5. Live or artificial plants add color to the area.



6. Consider having your department have seasonal or monthly themes throughout the year. This can be a lot of fun and also a great team building exercise.

I wrote a staff development program a few years back and one of the items was the decor in a workplace. The decor has to be inviting to not only potential clients and customers, but to each employee that works there. Decorating for success comes about by input not from possibly a professional decorator, but also from employees such as yourself.

Everyone has there own decorating ideas, but to blend the ideas together, can bring about an overall team effort to a business. Of course men and woman have different decorating ideas. Blend in all ideas of colors and accents. Now some of you may be thinking, this sounds great but how do we make our office area look warmer? Take a look again at the color samples at the beginning of the page. Now look at the colors in these two photos.

Soften up the walls with lighter and brighter tones. If the walls have wallpaper, considered using warmer tones instead of your cooler blue and gray tones. If your furniture is wood, bring in matching tones with art work, picture frames and other collectables from home. Many companies have logos, take the logo colors and play off of them in softer or richer colors. Make the logo a center focal point in an area, and bring some soothing accents and accessories around the logo.

Take a look at my logo of my home page, interior-decorating-ideas-for-you. Notice how the color of the logo blends in with the entire page. This is a key in home or office decorating. Create an atmosphere that will be a place of motivation, excitement, and a place where you know you have to go, but will also not dread looking at everyday.



There are two scenarios when decorating an office area, one is the decor is already in place. This is where you have to be a little more creative in making the work area come to life. The theme idea would do well in this situation. Give the work area an overhaul by adding your own as well as your peers special touch.

The other scenario is if you are starting new in creating an work area. Think of your companies product line. Create warm and productive tones. Take a look at the pastel page for ideas for your office. Pastel will soften the look of a room. Neutrals are another idea for your base foundation and bring in a warm secondary color of green or yellow color. Jewel tones will work if you want to create a rich and eloquent look.

These are just a few basic thoughts I have used when decorating a commercial work area. I will be doing a page in the near future on small business decorating as well as home office. I work out of the home full time and it is so important for you to have a very special and motivational place to work. Do you have a decorating tip for other people in the work force? Is there something that your company does to make the office area a warm and more productive place? Is there something that you would like to see change with the decor of your work area? Not only is the interior an atmosphere for success, but also the landscape look in a commercial building. Go ahead and share your thoughts with others on both your interior decorating and outside landscape area. We would be happy to give suggestions, tips, or learn from you. Decorating Tips!