3 Decor Essentials to Bring Life to Your Desk
Yes, you can make your desk feel a little bit home-away-from-home just by adding a few items.
Photo: freddie marriage
Surround yourself with things that make you happy and inspire you.
We spend a good chunk of our lives at work, and for many of us that’s at a table or desk. It only makes sense to invest in creating a pleasant space that helps us be more productive, that we enjoy being in. It’s sort of like how we invest in a good bed because we spend almost a third of our lives in it, right? Let’s invest a bit more in our workstations (in addition to your time and efforts invested, obviously!)
In the offices I’ve worked in over the years, many desks only have the basic plastic storage supplies from the supply closet, and these items don’t usually allow for an aesthetically pleasing workstation. Pair that with a pile of papers and to-dos and it becomes a ‘no thanks.’ Functional maybe, but not visually appealing. They’re quite impersonal. So I suggest you surround yourself with things that make you happy and inspire you (and are also functional). There is value in creating a space that looks nice, because we subconsciously find it more enjoyable to be in surroundings that we find pleasing, so it’s a good place to make nice.
What are the basics for a workstation? A work surface, a chair, a computer or laptop + accessories, storage, a pen and paper, and a water bottle or mug for hydration. If you have these things, you can work anywhere and get things done. But there are a few extras you can add to that list to make life at your desk more pleasant! If you don’t know where to start, here are a few items you can invest in to create a pleasant and functional desk area.
A PLANT:
I know I push this one a lot but having greenery near you really makes such a difference for your health and well-being! Here you can find a list of the best office plants for your desk. My favourite is the ZZ plant! You can also support a small business owner/maker and get something like this for your plant AND your cell phone. Also, check out this blog post for some plants that help boost productivity!
Photo: Frenchy Fancy
Photo: MyDomaine
AN INSPIRATION WALL:
If you’re surrounded by blank wall, or you’re in a boring cubicle, take advantage of the surfaces and use them for more than just post-it notes. Cut out images from magazines, print quotes and photos, collect small items, and create a little section of wall that has things you can look at that make you happy, inspire you, and add a personal touch to your desk. Check out this blog post for creating an inspiration wall.
Photo: Parker Etc
Photo: @fladrini.interiores
OBJETS D’ART:
This sounds fancy because it’s in French, but it’s just a small decor item that makes you happy and doesn’t necessarily need to do anything but that. It’s literally an “art object”. It could be a little soapstone carving of an elephant (that’s what I have), a funky paperweight (also functional!), or even a small toy car from your son or nephew. You can find these at home, any home décor shop, or even a thrift store – my favourite!
Photo: sfgirlbybay
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Pinterest
Even if you don’t work in a creative field, adding these three things will make such a difference at your desk. Surround yourself with things that make you happy and inspire you and you will notice that difference!
Hello! Catherine here.
I’m a Vancouver-based interior designer and love all things creative! I’ll be sharing things that inspire me, posting design tips and DIY projects, chatting about all kinds of topics, and hopefully inspiring some people to make little changes at home to create an environment that is functional, beautiful, and a perfect reflection of you!
