Now, onto the important stuff. This also means I’ll get to officially decorate my office, which is unofficially one of the things I’ve been looking forward to the most! I’ve always felt very affected by my environment, which is why I tend to keep a healthy assortment of paint and pictures on the walls. A warm house = a warm heart! My über-white walls at the office are currently defeating my soul, so I’ve spent the last seven weeks fantasizing about brighter days to come.
This leads to a very important question: is it appropriate to go all Martha Stewart on your office décor? Brian says no. Because he’s a boy. (When I described an intricate setup involving a wall sticker, wheatgrass, and a reed diffuser, I might as well have said I was opening a petting zoo in my office). Although I still think my idea would be the perfect way to cheer up my white2 walls, I guess there is something to be said for the fact that I’m new, and misdecorating my office could misdecorate my reputation. (Isn't it good to see my professional focus is in the right place?)
I’m going to execute a Phase I upgrade tomorrow by bringing in some bamboo and hanging the oversized Paper Source calendar that Amy got me for my birthday, which I am unreasonably excited about! But seriously, look how vintage-bright-cute it is.
There's plenty of white space left to jazz up, but I’m going to hold off on anything else until I get a little feedback. What’s on your walls at work, and what do you guys think is acceptable décor protocol? Framed pictures? Framed art? Candles? Reed diffusers (say yes)? Nothing at all? Let’s hear it, or it's going to be me versus an Ikea catalog and that's something scary.
4 comments:
Don't bring reed diffusers initially!! I did that and Kathy (our secretary who has been at the company for 20+ years) is apparently allergic to fragrance - so after first bitching to EVERYONE in the office about my diffusers, one day I was sitting in my office and she walked in (saying nothing) and wrapped them in a bag and said "take these home." Um, ok...(what just happened?)
But aside from that fiasco, I keep my office pretty girly/non-corporate. I have a cool iron-rimmed mirror, some hanging wall vases with fake flowers, 3 decorative lamps, and a couple pictures in frames. I also used to have a beta fish in a fishbowl.
Maybe I'm not the one to ask about office appropriatness....
I think you are smart to gradually add in your decorative accents. Show that you are getting comfortable but without seeming too eager.
I also agree with Jackie to wait on the fragrance...or at least holding off on something that would be really strong. I started with a soy candle that has a cap on it so I could open it when I needed a burst of freshness but it wasn't knocking out my new neighbors 24/7.
As for decor, our offices are all pretty cute. My cube walls have a white framed bulletin board, my diploma and the Austin photos McAdams gave me for Christmas. On my desk is a photo of Matt, cute fake orchids, and a fun lamp. I also have a guest chair that I accented with a cute pillow from Target.
PS - Love that calendar from Amy!
Love an office makeover! Perhaps HGTV should do a show on that. I can see a 30 minute show where a host and design team help create more professionally motivated spaces.
I agree with Jackie and Peters that it needs to be a gradual thing. Looking like you "moved in" right away can be a little obnoxious.
I don't know about these reed diffusers though I think a fragrant office might be a bit off-putting? No?
I normally go with a variety of lamps (hate overhead lighting), framed diplomas (but I'm in higher ed and might be different for corporate), framed photos for the desk, bookshelf, etc. and if there's space, some framed art. You could always do a wall collage of different frames and photos you've taken of Austin, Chicago, the honeymoon, wherever.
Good suggestions! I like the extreme lamp usage in this group. I could use some non-flourescents fo sho.
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