If your workspace has not been updated in over 10 years. That’s right. There are some people who have not touched, added, moved, or dusted their workspace in over 10 years!  Imagine what a fresh coat of paint or new carpet could do for their workspace and their work life. Recreating outdated spaces is a game changer in starting the renovation process.

Your workspace color scheme is dated. Your office wall color is burgundy or green – yep green, you might be a candidate for a nice new color scheme for your office. Stop by Lowes, Sherwin Williams or your local hardware store and start by picking out a few neutral paint color collections to get you started.  A fresh coat of paint can work wonders for a workspace.  It can also highlight dirty, old flooring.

You have the budget. If you are fortunate enough to have the budget to renovate your workspace, you are, first of all, revered among the millions of professionals who do not have this freedom to create. Secondly, you can capitalize on your added value to your organization by initiating renovation in your own space. Movement ignites more movement so do not be surprised if others start hopping on board to your momentum train and begin to add their own spark of renovation in their respective spaces.

Your workspace has turned sterile and you could use a creative boost.  You have the power daily to take inventory on what is adding to your best self. When you find that you do not enjoy your workspace and want to revive your excitement about your career, start by imagining all the possibilities for that space.  Next, brainstorm them and create a blueprint on how you can begin the process. Research or visit a building similar to your ideas and concepts. Allow yourself to enjoy the journey of reviving participating in your own solution.

It’s a directive from upper management. Your boss just told you to clean up your act! By act he or she meant every aspect of you as it relates to your work ethic and workspace. Although directives can tend to be intimidating and sap the life out of the ‘fun’ of creativity, never mind that and make it your mission to renovate your space as a significant challenge or opportunity given especially to you to simply evolve.

You need functionality. I cannot emphasize functionality enough as it is a ‘founding father’ of sorts in the essence of workspace and society. Every system, in any organization, whether big or small, operates on the method of functionality. Your workspace is reflective of how you function. Whether you are organized, messy or claim organized chaos as your method of functioning, it can all use evaluation and redefining at some point in your career especially if you desire to reach the next level of leadership.

Just because. This is my absolute favorite reason.  It was once said that ‘Discipline is doing what needs to be done without being forced to do it.’ Who says you need a reason to transform at a moment’s notice? After all, there are no rules to your own method of jumping into what you know best. Discipline. You make the rules. Now, go confidently with them in tow to design the workspace of your dreams and greatest expression of you.

Here are six simple steps to take today to make your workspace fit your style and get the energy flowing. 

1. Evolve your thinking.  

Ask yourself – is my workspace boring?  Does your workspace create an environment of creativity?  Does your workspace reflect how you spend your spare time? Is your space collaborative and conducive for brainstorming?  If you answered no to any of these questions you might need to evolve your thinking.by reading books such as “The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson” to help get you in the evolving frame of mind.

2. Make your workspace complimentary to who you are or what you love.

I used to believe that a workspace should be plain, I mean really, really plain.  But now when you walk into my workspace, you know a couple of things immediately – I love to travel, I love books and I love fresh flowers.  I witness visitors looking around taking in my knick-knacks and inquiring whether or not I have read all the books on my shelves. Incorporating elements of who you are and what you love is one of the important factors I enjoy about workspace design.

3. Pick out modern and/or bright colors that speak to your personality. 

Do not be afraid of pops of color.  You can emphasize color in art.  A throw pillow. Décor pieces.  Even an accent wall.  Find colors that are classic that speak to your style and make you feel like a boss!  If you don’t have an office, there are several ways to add pops of color.  A soft throw on the back of your chair, a small floor mat, colorful desk accessories or pretty flowers if allowed, always adds a touch of eccentric class to any space. 

4. Create a goal or vision board of how you desire your space to look and ultimately feel.

Show up by doing one thing every day towards that goal.  This is super easy!  Clean out a desk drawer once a week. Select a number of files to review in a week. Walk out your goal daily by scheduling days on your desktop or calendar to mark off once completed. This adds a sense of accomplishment for your committed work and effort of discipline once completed. 

5. Find a fun design and incorporate that throughout your office/home workspace.  

Love a certain color or artist? Incorporate a few pieces in your office décor. Elements like this always serve as a great conversation piece for colleagues and guests alike.

6. Give yourself some grace.

Be patient if your canvas isn’t quite how you like it yet. The Picasso wasn’t made overnight! Trust that it will all come together with consistency. Express gratitude during the process and relish in the beauty that’s unfolding before you all because of the one decision you made and stuck with to be intentional.

I am drawn to elegance and traditional style with hints of color to accent any dull or bland space.  I rarely indulge in trends, unless while on vacation. Fit and function of signature pieces in my wardrobe help keep me focused and intentional. For example, when I am in a department store, I automatically know what will not work for my body type or what will not fit into my wardrobe.

The essence of my style is reflected in my home and in my workspace. It takes little effort, yet intense consideration in discovering how you desire to show up in the world each day.

Seek out ideals of what would reflect your defined style in your workspace. Make changes as needed and do not be afraid to try new concepts that are easily adaptable and that you could make your own.  Be bold and express yourself and your style.

Considering that your workspace will send a message about who you are, dive in and have fun creating that ever-evolving message to all who enter your space.

Coming soon, Managing Director of Workspace Facilities Solutions Trisha Hill shares her love of commercial real estate in its essence and its tremendous impact in her life and everywhere around us in this exclusive interview.

Coming soon, Guest blogger Mitch provides a few pointers.

One of the first things you need to determine is how much space you need and how much time will be spent working in the space. Find out if teleworking is temporary or now incorporated into your regular work schedule.  If all you need is a laptop, your solution may be relatively easy.  If you need additional work equipment or larger pieces of workspace furniture, organizing could be more challenging but doable.

After you have determined the space, time spent and equipment needed, contemplate whether or not the furniture and accessories can serve a dual purpose.  Can that coffee table, with the space underneath, be used as storage? Storage requires creativity when making it multi-functional. Think of ways to be efficient when storing items. You’ll be surprised about the dual purpose you will discover.

Can the dining room table serve as your desk? Beautiful art or your favorite colorful portrait always makes a lovely backdrop for your zoom meetings no matter where you decide to set up your office. 

If you have a flexible budget, the options are endless, gorgeous built-in cabinets, a brand-new home office, hidden rooms behind camouflaged doors, the possibilities are endless.  So, let’s get creative together and make a beautiful home office workspace.

This quote couldn’t have a more profound meaning in the world of freeing your personal space. In its essence the Art of Decluttering is tough. History and the past are often attached to things we tend to hold on to throughout the journey of our lives. We lose ground when we think that we will dismiss or forget those eras by hanging on to significant fixtures, artifacts and clothing, etc. that once defined us. 

We also tend to hang on to things ‘just in case we need it’. One of my biggest challenges was clothes. In my quest to declutter my wardrobe clothing, I learned that if you don’t feel fabulous in it, LET IT GO! Ideally, when you think about your workspace think about the things you can let go of as well. 

Here are a few items to consider to help you start the process of eliminating clutter in your workspace:

• Furniture.  Are there pieces you can donate to open up the space?  Consider a fun DIY project to repurpose a piece of furniture for your home workspace. Grab an idea from Pinterest or check out some ideas from magazines or DIY websites and TV shows to help jog your creativity in repurposing your newly evolving style. 
• Files. Files can be the lifeblood of any organization. As we continue to embrace the digital world, consider decluttering by scanning files to storage for future reference. 
• Promotional event trinkets or ceremonial gifts. It’s fun to hang on to promotional pins, cups, water bottles, and bags from a company launch or special commemoration ceremony. Old company artifacts or event memorabilia can tend to pile up over the years. However, these things don’t necessarily actually add value once those events are over. Donate those trinkets to your local Greater Business and Visitors Bureau. 

These steps will move you in the direction of grasping the Art of Decluttering in your workspace. Remember it took you a few years to get an abundance of things. Allow yourself to dedicate and commit to the time it takes to eliminate those things that no longer serve you. 

Unlike many children, I fell in love with every aspect of it. Little did I know it would translate into a love and passion for commercial real estate and transforming a blank canvas of offices into functional esteemed workspace. 

Statistics show that people will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. With the realization that you will spend a third of your life in your workspace, it’s safe to say your job can have a huge impact on your quality of life.  As we celebrate ‘Get Organized Week October 3, 2021,’ creating functional workspace is a form of discipline and an equally important factor that helps improve and sustain our daily work life. 

Workspace is where new technology is created and evolve, where fashion designer’s clothe the world, where the halls of justice ring, where medical discoveries are made, where new structures are designed, where retail goods are sold – the list is endless.

No matter your profession, you may have workspace at home, in an office building, in a hospital, in a courthouse, in a shopping center – workspace is everywhere.  I firmly believe the space should be functional and stylish as well as a pleasant place for anyone working in the space.  

When you have an aesthetic workspace, you can be your best creative self!  Your space becomes your sanctuary whether you are in a cubicle or an office. I believe it’s our job to make workspace awesome for our clients and their individual needs. 

Offices, buildings, lofts and high rise buildings are where history is created. My passion for workspace quality was ignited and helps organizations achieve their purpose. Let us help you make your mark and transform your workspace.

If you currently don’t have a place to store your supplies consider these additional elements to add to your office or designated storage room:

• Cabinets are key for keeping all necessary supplies in one place. Think of a secluded space to keep the cabinets away from the workplace traffic, all while keeping it accessible.
• Stackable storage bins are simple ways to organize your countertops, large desk drawers or desk cabinets with all PPE equipment. It’s important that all supplies are kept in cool spaces to keep their effectiveness once opened. 
• Masks, hand sanitizers, wipes, aerosol sprays, etc. are what most office settings are requiring to be present especially when there are large flows of traffic entering and exiting buildings. These simple safety tools will eventually become a fuss of clutter if not properly organized and stored away. Take a few minutes of your day each week to make sure everything is in its proper place to keep the clutter at bay.
• Take inventory of your supplies and determine which storage options are best for all of your supplies. Remember, effective storage is best when used as preventative measures against contaminants. Gloves can tend to lose their elasticity over time or can melt if the space is too humid or warm. 
• Hand sanitizers have expiration dates and should be evaluated on a regular basis. Keeping them tucked away in storage easily makes them forgettable so be mindful to keep checking those dates.

Discuss all options with your janitorial supervisors, including keeping up with new additional PPE supplies, and implement the best storage options for your facilities. It’s all about safety and ensuring every measure possible is taken to achieve just that.