Thinking Outside of The Box… Cubicle Style!
Are your attempts to decorate your office cubicle being foiled?
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The dreaded cubicle…. The last refuge for the worker without an identity. OK so maybe that’s stretching it a little, but I think I speak for all of us when I say that the thought of office cubicles conjures up images of trapped rats, boxed workers, unmotivated souls trudging their way through the work day.
It’s humorously ironic that we as employees are asked on a daily basis to think outside of the box then isn’t it…
There’s Room for Improvement!
A lot of people work in cubicles every day. In fact, most large offices are filled with cubicles. Most cubicles have a desk, a chair, and a computer… though there are also sometimes other furnishings included, depending upon what type of work is being done and on how much space there is available.
When it comes to decorating office cubicles, it is important to remember that how you go about it will play a big role in how work is accomplished. Whether you are interested in decorating your own cubicle or those of your employee’s, decorating to create feelings of inspiration and motivation, as opposed to discouragement and distraction, is going to be a key factor in how successful you (or your employees) are as you work.
When decorating an office cubicle, it is important that, first of all, you cut out distractions. This might mean eliminating unnecessary items, decals, posters, or pictures. It could also mean cutting out unnecessary noises. It is important that any background noise not be distracting, as it can be VERY difficult for some people to work if the background noise is creating a diversion that is difficult to ignore. Instead of things that will distract, try to decorate with things that will bring more focus.
For instance, instead of hanging up pictures with bold, bright colors that might have distracting messages or graphics on them, try to provide motivational posters that contain inspirational quotes. Instead of distracting background noise, attempt to reduce what level of audible distraction there is by having relaxing background noise playing all the time. Some people play waterfall sounds, nature audio, or even static to accomplish this, while others listen to soothing instrumental music (music with lyrics tends to be very distracting to some people).
Your Cubicle is as Individual as You Are
“You are unique – just like everyone else!”
With this in mind it is really important that you give your cubicle (your own space basically) a sense of individualism. Letting the cubicle know who is boss gives you a sense of pride and belonging, attributes that WILL be reflected in the work you do.
While you don’t want distractions to be present, you do want it to be an inviting atmosphere. Pictures of family or decorations that suit the individual’s taste can be welcoming additions to any cubicle, thus creating a more positive environment in which productivity will tend to be more likely.
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There’s a fine line between creating an individual workspace and being totally bonkers! I think the owner of this cubicle falls into the latter category, I am sure he or she is convinced that their cubicle is now ‘invisible’ to their boss and coworkers.
Conclusion
Always remember that designing a great cubicle begins with the question… “What can I do to make this a more productive working environment?” The most obvious answers to this question are probably what you need to address first.
Article by Caroline Webber
Caroline Webber is head of marketing and strategy for www.OfficeFitoutSydney.com.au , A Sydney based firm supplying Eco Friendly Fit Out and Sustainable Office Refurbishment Services. Whether you need an overhaul of your existing workspace or you’re moving to a new one, Office Fit Out Sydney has the experience, skills and expertise to get the job done on time AND on budget.
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