Spring has officially sprung, which means it’s time for a fresh start and a renewed sense of energy! And what better way to kick off the season than by refreshing your home office space?

More of us are working from home, so it’s more important than ever to have a workspace that feels comfortable, inspiring, and productive. By taking some time to declutter, organize, and add some personal touches, you can transform your home office. It can become a space that you love spending time in. Plus, a refreshed workspace can help boost creativity, focus, and overall wellbeing. So, let’s dive into some tips and ideas for refreshing your home office this spring!

Aside: If you do not yet have a home office, visit an earlier blog I wrote entitled Creating an Efficient Home Office. As you create this space, you can keep this blog post in mind.

Benefits of a Refreshed Work Space

Refreshing your home office workspace has several benefits. First and foremost, it can help improve your productivity and motivation. When you’re working in a space that feels clean, organized, and inspiring, you’re more likely to stay focused and get things done.

Additionally, a refreshed workspace can help reduce stress and promote overall well-being. By decluttering and adding some personal touches, you can create a space that feels calming and comfortable. This in turn helps you feel more relaxed and at ease throughout the workday.

Finally, a refreshed workspace can simply make you feel happier and more energized! So, if you’re feeling stuck in a rut or just want to switch things up a bit, consider taking the time to refresh your home office space.

Where to Start and What to Consider

Breathing a breath of fresh air into your home office space is easier than you might think! When approaching this rewarding project, there are a few things to keep in mind. Remove clutter first. You will prepare the groundwork for the 7 tips that follow by taking this initial action.

Here are 7 tips to breathe new life into your home office space:

Tip 1: Declutter

I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to work effectively when my desk and office are cluttered. Yet, it happens. When my work and life get busy, it is easy to let things slip. Papers pile up on the desk, files do not go where they are supposed to, and it’s easy to create a bit of a mess. Even if everything is “neatly stacked” in a pile, it is likely time to do some decluttering. A weekly or biweekly office cleanup is ideal. However, spring is a great time to do a thorough job before refreshing your entire space.

Your Desk

Start with the top of your desk. Place everything on the floor to completely clear it. Give it a thorough cleaning while it is empty. After that, divide the various items into three piles by providing answers to the following questions:

1. What have I completely finished?
2. Are there items that will be helpful in the future or that I can refer back to?
3. What am I unsure about?

A simpler method is to have three piles… Toss, Keep, Donate.

Whatever label you give your piles, take action once you have them. Put the things you want to keep in the right location, whether it’s a file, bookshelf, drawer, or back on your desk. Put anything you’re throwing away in the garbage or recycling bin. Find a box and store any items you are unsure of until you have a chance to examine them. Have a box or bag ready for your donation-related items.

Additional Areas of Office

Go through each section of your office in the same way, cleaning as you go. Refreshing your space also means cleaning it.

After you have decluttered, consider the following:

• Color Scheme: Switch up your color scheme to add some fresh energy. Choose colors that inspire you and help you feel focused and motivated.
• Greenery: Add some greenery to your space to bring life and color. Consider low-maintenance plants if you’re not great at keeping them alive.
• Lighting: Change up your lighting to create a bright and welcoming atmosphere.
• Art and Décor: Add some art or décor to personalize your space and make it feel like you.
• Arrangement: Create a different office layout.
• Organization

By thinking about the previous, you can create a workspace that feels fresh, energizing, and productive. So let’s take a closer look at each and see how it can help you feel better and work smarter!

Tip 2: Add Some Color

Color plays more of an influential role in our lives than we realize. It can affect our minds, bodies, and overall mood. There are numerous articles and books written about color and the role it plays in our lives. How you react to or perceive color can be somewhat subjective. On the other hand, colors are also recognized worldwide to evoke a certain response.

In light of this, it’s important to consider color and its function in your office. It can affect your mood, energy, and productivity. Choosing the right color for your walls, furniture, and accessories can help you create a space that inspires you and reflects your personality.

Perhaps you are content with the color of your office walls and accessories. Great! On the other hand, you may be tired of looking at the same color (s) and/or you may not have selected the best color for enhancing your work experience.

When refreshing your office space, here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to color:

Purpose of Your Office

If it’s a space for creative work, consider using bold and bright colors like red or orange to stimulate creativity. If the office is for more focused work, consider using calming colors like blue or green to promote concentration.

Vibe of Your Office

Next, consider the overall vibe you want to create. If you want a sleek and modern look, consider using neutral colors like black, white, or grey. If you want a more energetic feel, use colors like yellow or red to create a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

Size of Your Office

It’s also important to think about the size of the space. If the office is small, consider using lighter colors to make the room feel more open and spacious. If the office is large, darker colors can be used to create a cozy and intimate atmosphere.

Whatever color(s) you choose, make sure it matches your style and preferences.

Tip 3: Add Greenery (Real or Artificial)

“Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul” (Linda Solegato). Why not add some plants since we are refreshing our space for the sake of our being?

Real Greenery

Adding a natural touch of live greens will bring the following benefits:

1. Better air quality: Plants absorb bad stuff and give out oxygen, which is great for everyone’s health.
2. Less stress and more productivity: Studies show that having plants around makes people feel more relaxed and gets them working better.
3. Looks nicer: Plants add some color and natural beauty to your office, which can make it feel more inviting.
4. Boosts well-being: Having plants around can make people feel more in touch with nature and happier in general, which is always a good thing.

It almost goes without saying, but I will say it anyway: you will want to consider the following tips before purchasing your plants:

• Lighting: Different plants need different amounts of light, so you will want to choose ones that will work in the lighting conditions of your office.
• Space: Make sure you pick plants that are the right size for your office space. Too big can be overwhelming, and too small can be hard to see.
• Maintenance: Think about how much time and effort you’re willing to spend taking care of your plants. Some plants are easy to take care of; others need more attention.
• Safety: If you’ve got kids or pets, you want to make sure the plants you choose are safe for them to be around.
• Style: Make sure the plants you choose fit the style of your office. This will help create a cohesive look that’s pleasing to the eye.

Artificial Greenery

If, for some reason, you are unable to have real greenery, no worries. Artificial plants can still refresh your space. While real plants are great for improving air quality and creating a natural environment, artificial plants can still provide a sense of calm and beauty in your workspace.

Artificial plants come in a variety of sizes and styles and can be arranged in many different ways to suit your preferences. They require very little maintenance, so they are perfect for people who do not have the time or resources to care for real plants.

When selecting artificial plants for your home office, consider the size and style of your workspace, as well as your personal taste. Choose plants that go with the rest of your furniture and make you feel calm and creative at work. With the right choice of artificial plants, you can make your home office a more comfortable and appealing place to work.

Tip 4: Reconsider Your Current Lighting

Good lighting is really important when you work from home. You don’t want to get headaches, feel tired, or strain your eyes because of bad lighting. Furthermore, poor lighting can have a negative impact on your mood and creativity. If you are finding that you are suffering the effects of poor lighting, then you will want to “refresh” this as well.

When considering the lighting in your office, you will want to have a mixture of natural, indirect, and direct lighting. In his article, “5 Tips for Better Home Office Lighting“, Michael Desmond has some great tips, which I have included below.

Natural Lighting

Natural light can improve your mood and energy levels, but you should avoid glare and window shadows. Solar shades soften the light and reduce the heat without blocking the view or light, so you can change the level of brightness throughout the day. You can also try a straightforward blind or even a standing screen, which will nicely diffuse sunlight coming through a window. If you do not have any natural light in your office, then indirect and direct lighting become all the more important.

Indirect Lighting

This lighting can soften and diffuse the ambient light in your office. Lampshades disperse and soften harsh light, and an upward-facing floor lamp bounces light off of surfaces like walls and ceilings. The objective is to illuminate the entire area without adding excessive glare or contrast and without casting shadows.

Direct Lighting

 This form of lighting provides focused illumination for specific tasks. An adjustable desk lamp is ideal and can put light exactly where you want it.

If you have a well-lit workspace, you’ll feel better, be more productive, and come up with better ideas. So make sure you have enough light, whether it’s natural or artificial. Use energy-efficient LED bulbs to save money and be eco-friendly.

Tip 5: Add Personal Inspiration

Every individual is unique. One person’s inspiration and motivation may not be the same as another’s. By decorating it in a way that expresses your personality, you can easily make your home office feel cozier, more inspiring, and more pleasant to work in.

You can make your space truly yours by surrounding yourself with things that have special meaning to you. As a result, you may feel more invested in your work and be more productive as a whole.

Areas To Consider When Adding Personal Touches

Working from home has some advantages over working in an office, including more control over the environment. You are able to create a room that inspires you because you get to choose the style. When adding décor, take into account the following areas:

Total Space

Your office doesn’t have to have glossy, straight lines and sharp corners like some traditional workspaces. By including fabric window treatments, an area rug, pillows, and a throw, you can soften the ambiance.

Desk Space

You want this area to be both organized and inspiring. Upgrade or replace your desk accessories by spending a few dollars. It’s not necessary for these items to be brand new. You can buy items that have been upcycled or thrifted. Although they are not new, they will be new to you. Consider items such as a picture frame, a vase, or a unique desk lamp or statement pen holder.

Remember to keep this space clear of clutter. Utilizing the wall is one way to accomplish this. More room is created when you move vertically. This could entail the following:

• Mounting Shelving: Once you have the shelving, organize similar items and put containers, baskets, and bins on your shelf.
• Hanging Filing System: This can double as an In/Outbox or To Do/Still To Do list.
• Adding a Distinctive Wall Board: There are numerous kinds of wall boards. Find one that appeals to your overall theme.

Wall Space

There may be organizational items on the wall in front of your desk, but what about the other walls? Choose some artwork that supports your overall theme and serves as inspiration. Once more, this does not necessarily have to be a costly endeavor. Visit secondhand stores or download some gorgeous pictures from Adobe Stock or Canva, then frame them. Maybe think about framing motivational quotes or hanging some family photos.

Overall, personalizing your home office space with inspiration can make it a more inviting, inspiring, and productive place to work.

Tip 6: Rearrange

One of the easiest and simplest ways to give your office a new look is to move things around. Yes, this might mean plugging a few holes in the wall and dabbing some paint over them, but it will be worth it. Depending on the space, you may not have to move everything, just a few items. By rearranging the space, you provide yourself with a brand new environment without spending a penny.

Tip 7: Organize

For some, organizing their office goes hand in hand with decluttering (Tip 1). Others organize as they move through the process of refreshing their office. For myself, I organize all the way through the process and again at the end.

Decluttering, utilizing wall space, and adding storage solutions all help to organize. However, don’t forget to create a filing system that works for you. Use color coded file folders, binders, or digital tools to keep important documents, receipts, and notes organized and easily accessible.

Organizing your office to include a filing system for both hard copies and digital files will help you feel refreshed and increase efficiency.

Refreshed and Invigorated

If you have been feeling stuck or unproductive in your home office, spring is a great time to mix things up a little. You can change your workspace by thinking about and using one or more of the tips above. It can become a comfortable, stylish, and motivating place to work.

Don’t forget to take breaks, move your body, and stay hydrated throughout the day—your mind and body will thank you! Here’s to a fresh and productive spring in your new and improved home office!

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