Most United States residents will spend an average of 40 hours a week at their workplace. When it comes to an office setting, a lack of personalization can lead to lower morale and negatively impact the people working there. However, if you’ve just moved into a new office, it’s not uncommon for money to be a bit tight. Still, that doesn’t mean you have to leave your office looking sterile, corporate, or impersonal. Below are a few inexpensive ideas for decorating your new office on a budget.
Obtaining the Décor
Many people think they need to buy a bunch of new things to decorate with, but you’d be surprised at what you can do with the things you already have. Start by taking inventory. Look through what you already have for anything you can reuse, remake, or repurpose. For example, you can use old glass jars as flower vases or pen holders. You can even paint them first to add a splash of color. The possibilities are endless, and sites like Pinterest are a great place to find a bit of inspiration.
After you find what you can for repurposing, sit down and list the decorations you’d like to have. You can list the supplies you need and compare them to what you already have. Opt for the less expensive choices and leave the more expensive ones for later when the budget isn’t so tight. You can also try looking online for cheaper alternatives to certain supplies (like off-brand paint, for example) that would replace some of the more pricey things on your list. DIY versions of the things you want may take a bit more effort but usually cost less.
Try to set a budget before you buy anything. It can be easy to get carried away and lose track of your spending, so setting a budget beforehand can make a big difference. It also helps to have a plan. Decide what you’re going out for and look for the cheapest places to find them. Local thrift stores and discount shops are often an excellent place to start; sometimes, they’ll even have unique or antique items.
Use Color to your Advantage
One underrated way to tie a room and its overall appearance together is to pick a color scheme and stick with it. The colors you use can significantly impact a room’s visuals and overall mood. Using the wrong colors can be the difference between making an office feel refreshing, inspiring, or comforting and making it feel ominous or intimidating. Everything matters – from the color of the paint on the walls to the tint of the lighting.
The first thing you need to consider about the colors you use is the impact of light and dark shades. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but pastel blue, royal blue, and navy blue will all have different visual effects.
Light Colors
Lighter shades, like pastels, can make a space seem roomier and more welcoming and can lighten the mood. However, they can also be more challenging to maintain as they often stain easily, and messes are often more visible. Due to the visibility of shadows on these colors, divots, dents, and unevenness in a light surface becomes even more apparent. Too many light colors can become monotonous and make a space seem clinical.
Dark Colors
Darker shades can make a room feel cozier. This ambiance is especially useful for offices, which tend to have large, open floor plans. However, too many dark colors make a space feel closed and oppressive. While they may be easier to maintain, they absorb light and make it harder to illuminate an area properly.
Neutral colors, like gray and beige, can be a good option for the primary color of your office. They don’t have any stand-out effects on a room but can be a subtle way to tie all the colors of your accent pieces and furniture together. Too many neutral colors can make a space feel bland. This boring atmosphere can sometimes make it hard to focus on work and make it too easy to stare into space while facing a wall.
It’s often best to use a combination of light, dark, and neutral colors so none of them become too overpowering. Using too many colors at once can be overwhelming, but 2-4 tends to be a sweet spot. Of course, it’s okay if the smaller décor pieces fall slightly outside the range of your chosen color scheme, but it’s a good idea to avoid going too crazy.
Opt for Functionality
While the main purpose of decorating a space is the visual benefits, choosing pieces that can serve as décor and functional items when you’re on a budget can be a great way to save money. For example, decorative shelving provides more storage space and adds to a room’s aesthetic.
Portland Move
Before you even start thinking about decorating your new office, you need to move into it first. Moving can be stressful, hard to coordinate, and time-consuming. It’s easy to break things in transit, and you may not have a vehicle large enough to move everything in one trip. That’s why many people rely on moving companies to help them transition to a new location quickly and efficiently. However, finding the right team of professional movers for the job can be difficult.
Fortunately, Portland Move is here to help. We offer moving services in both commercial and residential settings, and we’re licensed and insured for your protection. Our team of movers is experienced and dedicated to making your move as stress-free as possible.
Contact us today! We look forward to working with you.
