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4.Add some additional lighting, especially if you have fluorescent overhead lighting in your office. Fluorescent lighting throws a cool green cast and can be harsh, so adding incandescent lights helps to warm up
space. An attractive floor lamp or a nice desk lamp will do trick and you might find that you can turn off those overheads for good.
5.Awards and trophies can add interest to your office if they are displayed properly. Hang a nice shelf and use it to display a few things that are special to you. Again, keep them grouped together, so they aren?t spread all over space. Things that are spread about and end up looking like accidental clutter, whereas things grouped together look like a collection.
6.The sound of running water is peaceful and can also mask sounds of traffic or a working office outside your door. Tabletop fountains are inexpensive to buy, take up very little space and they add a wonderful auditory texture to an environment. Place one in your waiting area and one in your personal office for quiet, soothing white noise while you work or while your guests wait to see you.
7.Last but definitely not least, invest in some nice, comfortable pieces of furniture for waiting area as well as your private space. In waiting area, bigger, cozier pieces of furniture work to set a comfortable frame of mind while guests are waiting. In your private space where you conduct business, something a bit less soft but still comfortable is more appropriate.
If you have space, consider adding a small table between two chairs in front of your desk so that you can come out from behind your desk to interact with clients. Even a small sofa and a chair will work for those times you may meet with more than one person at a time. A big desk between you and your client may not create a feeling of trust and partnership, whereas meeting around a smaller table will.
Work and play are no longer mutually exclusive parts of life. Making your office environment as comfortable as possible is a key element in your having an enjoyable workday, as well as creating a positive, memorable experience for your clients. The more inviting your office is, better it will serve you, and better you can serve your clients.
Monica Ricci has been an organizing specialist since 1999, and her motivational presentations teach effective organizing and simplifying techniques for home and work. She also offers free email tips and ideas on how to make life simpler and more organized. Her topics include clutter control, paper management, time management, organizing space and procrastination.Contact Monica at 770-569-2642 or Monica@CatalystOrganizing.com.
