You spend a lot of time at work so wanting your office to look a little less cold and sterile and a little more welcoming is completely understandable. The problem is sometimes redesigning an office can get to be quite spendy. It depends on where you work and how big of a space you need to consider but budgets can get out of hand quickly.
Fortunately, there are some office design changes you can make that are very budget-friendly and still make a huge difference. Having an office that you and others actually want to spend time in will make a big difference in the morale of your work environment so it’s not something to be underestimated.
If you’re wondering how you can change things up and still stay within a tight budget you’re in luck. There are some great ideas out there and if you keep reading you’ll be able to use some of them in your own workspace. Here are seven awesome office design ideas you can use even if you’re on a tight budget.
1. Be Smart About New Furniture
Getting new office furniture is a good idea but it doesn’t have to cost you your entire budget. If you invest in used office furniture instead you can save some money and still upgrade from the basic things you have now. Consider what needs to be upgraded and then search your local area for what you can find used.
When you’re deciding what to upgrade think about what’s going to be more comfortable as well as what’s going to improve how the office looks. You may want to combine both comfort and looks to make sure your employees enjoy the new upgrades as much as possible. Going for something that looks great but feels terrible to use isn’t going to do much for morale.
2. Change Up The Lighting
Office lighting is something most people hate and sometimes it’s even something that causes headaches for some people. You can change things up by making your office lighting more friendly with lamps or other similar lighting options that don’t use fluorescent bulbs.
Floor lamps don’t have to break the bank. You can find pretty inexpensive options at mass retailers around the country and they will look great in your office because they’re already something that looks homier and less office-like. You can also find lamps for side tables or your break room without spending a ton of money too.
3. Use Bright Fabrics
Fabrics and textiles can warm things up and make your office instantly more inviting. Think about hanging brightly colored curtains or bringing in some cool area rugs. You can pull the space together by bringing in design elements like textiles without spending a ton of money this way.
Since you’re already trying to avoid the drab office environment look, using brighter colors will offer a big punch for a small hit to your wallet. You can find some great deals online for curtains and rugs, or even tapestries to cover your wall. Consider looking for some good deals there before spending too much at a local store to save even more money.
4. Bring In A Little Of The Outdoors
Plants aren’t expensive but they change how a space looks pretty quickly. It’s something people find welcoming and calming even if they don’t immediately notice the slight change. You can bring plants into your office to make it feel more calming and people-friendly. If you don’t want to deal with keeping real plants alive you can find fake plants for affordable prices too.
Use elements of the outdoors to make your office feel more lush and intriguing. You can place them throughout the office in areas you’d like people to feel more relaxed like the breakroom, or go for an unexpected but fun look in a meeting room too. Plants can make a huge difference in how much someone loves being in their workspace so don’t hesitate to use a lot of them. They’re one of the most affordable ways to make an office more inviting.
5. Consider Replacing Your Whiteboards
Whiteboards are pretty standard in most offices and for good reason. They’re easy to use and facilitate notetaking and conversation during meetings and group collaborations. The problem is they can also make walls look boring and unimaginative. It’s one of the areas a lot of workspaces sacrifice design for function.
Instead of using a whiteboard think about using something else instead. Chalkboard paint is a great way to make your walls look a little more whimsical and still functional for meetings or notetaking. You can pair the chalkboard paint with some of the other design changes you’ve read about for a bigger impact. It’s affordable enough to be part of a bigger plan.
6. Make Your Own Art
Buying a large canvas and some acrylic paint isn’t that expensive. You can create your own art using techniques that are simple and easy for almost anyone to do. Tutorials for acrylic pouring or string painting are all over sites like YouTube and the final results often look great no matter who is trying it out and what their level of experience is.
You can hang the results on walls around the office to make it look more enticing than using corporate posters you might find at a store. If you don’t want to paint them yourself the employees in your office may want to, and hanging art they’ve created themselves can be another huge morale booster. It’s a win for everyone involved.
7. Clean Things Up
Think about areas of your office that have become cluttered. Those are usually the areas everyone hates the most, and cleaning them up won’t cost you anything at all. Once they’ve been cleaned a little you can invest in some organizational storage for that area so it doesn’t become cluttered again.
While you’re cleaning you can also think about hiding things like cords to make the office look a little more put together. You may have to move where things are plugged in or hide cords under an area rug but it’ll be worth it when everything looks a little fresher and neater after you’re done.
Conclusion:
You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to make your office look and feel more inviting for everyone who uses it. If you use the tips you read about here you can make a big impact for just a small monetary investment. Decorate your office wisely and see how much more everyone loves being there during business hours. It could be the difference you’ve been looking for when it comes to employee happiness and that’s always worth your time and effort.
