It’s no secret that we spend most of our time at work. For the average professional, that’s more than 40 hours per week, five days a week.
Some of us are lucky enough to have our own offices, while the majority of us have a partially enclosed workspace separated by a partition, better known as an office cubicle.
Cubicles have been around since the 60s and were initially created to give employees more freedom. Cubicle designer Robert Propst wanted to “give knowledge workers a more flexible, fluid environment.”
Today cubicles are met with mixed feelings. Some people enjoy the semi-private feeling that cubicles afford, while others dislike feeling boxed in by the drab grey walls of most office cubicles.
How to decorate a cubicle at work?
In any case, if you’re stuck at an office cubicle, you can still make the most of it by adding personal touches to create a clean, organized workspace that makes you feel comfortable and productive.
Decorating your cubicle at work is one way to add your own personal touch and to create a work environment where you can focus and concentrate. Check out the 8 simple office cubicle decor ideas you can add to elevate your workspace.
1. Get an indoor plant
Indoor plants are a great and simple way to uplift your office space. They add color and depth to your desk and are proven to improve mood, reduce stress, increase concentration, and the perception of improved air quality.
Don’t have a green thumb? Not to worry, many low maintenance indoor plants require little to no attention. A few office favorites include:
- Bamboo plants
- Minature Bonasia trees
- Orchids
- Terrariums
2. Bookends
Most of us have stacks of papers, books, or folders on our desk. One way to neatly organize them is to use bookends.
Bookends are a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to your desk while helping to keep things in order. There are many shapes and sizes to choose from, including wood or gold accented bookends, like this elephant-shaped pair.
3. Put things into perspective with a picture frame
Picture frames are a classic and easy way to add a personal touch to your office space. Pictures of family members, friends, or a significant other can provide just the motivation you need to get through a tough day at the office.
I personally don’t like to go overboard, but having one or two treasured memories framed at my desk always brightens my day.
There are many different shapes and sizes to choose from, including this cute geometric shaped frame on Amazon. The gold accent complements most color schemes and gives your desk a more regal feel.
4. Personalized office stationery
Many offices provide office stationery like pens, pencils, and folders, but those are usually generic and boring. Add your own touch with personalized office stationery. Here are a few must-haves for your desk.
- Pens
- Pencils
- Highlighter
- Stapler + staples
- Notebooks
5. Pen holder
I’m not sure why, but I always seem to have a growing pen and pencil collection. Keep them organized and within reach with cute pen holders that compliment your space. Select one that matches your color scheme or ones that have multiple compartments to store even more stationary.
6. Get the support you need with a back support cushion
Sitting at the computer all day can be incredibly taxing on your back. While most offices claim to provide ergonomically designed office chairs to help with back support, many fall short.
Along with getting up regularly to stretch, a good back support cushion can help to keep away back pain by providing improved support and comfort. They can also help to add a nice touch to your space if you choose a colorful design.
7. Whiteboard
Whiteboards are a great way to use up some of the cubicle real estate and provide a productive and effective way to hash out new ideas or keep track of project deliverables and your to-do list. Many are lightweight and easy to install.
Related: How to find remote work from home jobs
8. Headset
Concentrating at the office can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’re in a cubicle. From coworkers talking loudly to phones ringing, it can be hard to get anything done. Using noise-canceling headsets is one way to block out the noise around you. You can listen to relaxing music to help you concentrate and also use them for conference calls.
