It’s spring cleaning time—and there’s no better place to freshen things up than your home office! Updating your desk décor can be just what you need for a little change of scenery and a big dose of inspiration in your work life.
And guess what? Infusing your office with a new style doesn’t have to mean dropping a couple grand on furniture. Stick with your existing desk and chair, then make these six easy updates to get a fabulous new space without breaking the bank.
1. Add Colorful Desk Accessories
The easiest (and cheapest!) way to bring some life into your workspace is to add a few pops of color. Bright pens, staplers, tape dispensers, and other accessories add function and cheer to your desktop at the same time. (Just stick to one or two colors to keep your desk looking chic—not like a bag of Skittles.)
We Love: Colorful Desktop Supplies, Poppin
2. Frame a Print
Adding cool art to your workspace is a great way to update and personalize it. Make a striking statement by displaying a black and white print you love in a bold black frame. Target and IKEA are great resources for this—or, take one of your own photos and blow it up to poster size at PosterBrain. Pick up cheap black frames (from $23) at Amazon.com.
We Love: Framed Zebra Print in Black and White, Kristy Lee Interiors
3. Create a 3-Ring Library
Your spring cleaning will last you right up until New Year’s resolution time if you organize your work life into 3-ring binders, categorized by client, project, month, or any other system that works for you. Pick up a bunch of binders in the same size and stick to one or two colors for a neat, uniform look.
We Love: 3-Ring Binders, Russell and Hazel
4. Lighten Up
Every office should have at least three points of light: natural, overhead, and desk-level. If you don’t have a window in your workspace, you can make up for the lack of light by adding a floor lamp or doubling up on desk lamps. For a modern, warm feel, shop in the living room lamps department (and pass on those wiry, corporate desk lamps).
We Love: Sylvan and Vera Table Lamps, Crate and Barrel
5. Get it Off the Desk
There’s nothing that clutters up your desk faster than all that paper—forms, files, business cards, shopping lists, you name it. For an easy way to clear your space and still keep everything you need within arm’s reach, pick up a corkboard. Choose one in a pretty pattern, and the functional space will double as wall décor.
We Love: Large Vintage Office Organizer, Etsy
6. Invest in One Eye-Catching Piece
When you want to make a big change on a limited budget, it’s best to invest in one striking, multi-functional item, rather than try to stretch your dollars across multiple new pieces of furniture.
We love this bright ottoman, and not just because it looks fabulous—it can double as seating for office guests as well as an additional workspace. Just place a leather serving tray on top, and your comfy and colorful footrest is instantly an extra desk.
We Love: Gerber Round Ottoman, Target
With your freshly updated office, you’ll feel a renewed sense of excitement about kicking off the workday.
Happy updating!