5 Simple Ways to Upgrade Your Work Area
We all want to have an office or workplace that makes a statement. We want to impress our guests and we want to feel good about ourselves when we work. This goal is well within our reach. It is not necessary to spend tons of money to upgrade your work space. Sometimes small, simple change is all you need to transform an old dull looking space into an area to be proud of.
Lighting
When you look at your work area what is your first impression? Is it bright and welcoming or is it dark and dingy looking? Proper lighting can make a huge impact to any room or work space and it does not have to be expensive to upgrade. The first question you need to ask yourself is if your lighting sources are properly placed. Sometimes moving one or two lamps around in a room can make a huge difference. Additionally, you need to consider if you are making the most of natural day light. Do you have a window that is being obstructed or always has a shade pulled down? If so, consider moving some furniture around or simply pulling up the window shade. Natural light can really change the feel of an area. Finally, do you have the right light bulbs? There are different types of light. Daylight bulbs provide a different look to a room the amber color lamps. So take a few minutes to consider the light color, making a change can be affordable and can make a huge difference.
Wire Management
When you walk into your office what do you see? Take a minute to really think about this question. The obvious answers are computer monitors, desks, chairs, lamps, and other major furniture pieces. However, the small things we do not think about can really make an area look neat or messy. One of these little things is wire management. If you see power cords and computer cables all over the place you can make a major change by simply cleaning things up. Cords can be properly run through grommets on a desk or credenza and can be hidden behind furniture. Additionally, there are tons of products out there that give you the ability to organize and minimize the amount of wires you see. Finally, ganging extension cords and power cords together can be a fire hazard. So next time you are at a hardware store or electronic store stop by the cable management aisle. Spend a few dollars on a new surge protector and some cable ties. Putting the time and effort into cable management will only make your office look cleaner and feel nicer.
Desktop
So what is actually on your desk? A computer monitor? A keyboard and mouse? Piles of paper or family photos? In the past, large work surfaces were needed to spread out reference materials and to ensure you had plenty of room to write. The computer changed all of this. We can now research anything we need digitally and no longer have the need for large amounts of reference materials. All we need is a monitor or two. This raises the question of what should we do with our large work surface area. There is no right or wrong answer. Some people pile family photos on their desks while others keep trinkets or souvenirs on it. What matters is what are you comfortable with and what makes you happy. Some of us prefer very clean empty desks and some of us still like writing with a paper and pen. The point is to take a look at your desk and see if it can be improved. We often fail to take a step back and assess these things. Do it now, you really have nothing to lose but a few minutes and you could come up with an idea to make your work area feel completely new.
Monitor Upgrades
As stated above, most of us have some computer components on our desks. What we need to consider is are they the components we actually need and are they modern enough to be stylish and functional. If you are still using a tube monitor you are living life a decade in the past. If you have a flat screen monitor, consider how they are sitting. Are they resting on a stand or are thy mounted on moving articulating arms? These arms are a huge upgrade to any desk and people do not even realize how great they are until they get them. Stands take up space and can lead to dust and clutter. Additionally, they are stationary. Articulating monitor arms have been growing in popularity for a reason, they work and make our work areas more comfortable. We no longer have to move toward a screen when we need a closer look we simple pull the monitor toward us. The space under the monitor is also available to us now should we need somewhere to put some reference materials. Most of us already have flat screen monitors and an articulating arm is a simple way to make them work better for us. They make things make sure we do not have to move to get a better view. Finally they can be purchased for a reasonable price and mounted to almost any work surface area.
Proper Storage
When things have a proper home our areas remain clean and better functioning. This being said, it is time to consider if you have all the storage space you need? Take a step back and look and it should be painfully obvious if you do. People with stuff all over their desks are usually not messy people, though clearly sometimes they are, but more often they simple do not have proper places to store everything. There are countless storage options out there from hutches to mobile pedestals to large lateral files. Almost any work space can get a storage upgrade if you take the time to look at your options. Think about what items you have that are always getting in the way and consider possible solutions. Sometimes you might not even need more storage, you might just need to spend some time throwing away old items that are taking up too much space. Being neat and organized helps productivity. So if you are spending too much time looking for things, it is time to think about why and to make a change.
Everyone wants to have a high end modern office, but sometimes that’s simply not in the budget. Altering your existing space can be done on a budget and can make a huge difference. Finally, if you need some furniture advice or decide that your desk, chair, or storage unit has seen its final days, do not hesitate to ask for help. Feel free to email us at sales@furniturewholesalers.com anytime.