10 Ways to Cheaply Revamp your Home Office
So without further ado, here are 10 ways to shape up your office on a dime, with some extra tips from yours truly.
1. Buy some plants. They're pretty, emit oxygen and can lift the mood of your office. I used to have a plant on my desk until it grew some kind of creepy green mold and had to give it away. But our plant aficionado and affiliate manager April Hartmeister has lots of plants on and around her desk and it's quite lovely.
2. Start a recycling system. There's no sense in throwing away all the paper that you use in a day. Buy some color-coded bins and start recycling. Make sure to shred personal information, of course—but recycle the bits. You can find cheaper versions of stackable bins at local retail stores.
3. Clean up the wires. FS has three great suggestions for this:
- Untangle cords, then bind them together. Use a rubberband or twist tie to bind cords together in intervals to keep a mess at bay.
- Afix long running wires to the wall. I just did this with the cord to my desk phone last week and can't believe I didn't do it sooner. Run wires along the wall and use clamps to keep them there—available at your local hardware store.
- Try retractable cords. FS blogger Collis Ta'eed recently tried out a retractable ethernet cord and loves it. Available for under $20 on Amazon.
4. Get a filing cabinet. It doesn't have to be ugly or a behemoth. Try this little guy for under $100 (also available in black). For more filing cabinet tips, check out this FS post.
5. Organize your desk. Yep—pen holders, paper trays, the whole nine. The Container Store has a wide array of affordable desk goodies, so be sure to check them out.
6. Put some color on the wall. Whether you decide to paint or put some colorful art on the wall, color will drastically improve the look of your space. My friend Justin recently painted his home office a bright lime green (not pictured) and really cheered up the place.
7. Get a clock. I'm iffy about clocks (I don't own an alarm clock and cover up the time when I work out), but if you're going to get one, I recommend putting it to your back. That way it's not in your face, and it'll give you something to look up at once in awhile. Try this one for $13!
8. Get a USB cup warmer. FS' suggestion is right on. Anyone who regularly drinks coffee or tea knows what a pain it can be to get up and find a microwave. It plugs right into your USB port to keep your beverages toasty.
9. Change the lighting. It can make a world of difference, especially if you don't get much natural light in your office. Find some cheap alternatives at Ikea.
10. Add a calendar/whiteboard/planner. Technology is great, but sometimes you've just got to get things down on paper. I love big wall calendars, like this contemporary classic from Crate and Barrel.
There's still a week before Christmas to get these items on your list—helping you recreate your office just in time for the first quarter.
Comments
Funny, Megan...I just cleaned my cube area and transplanted plants. I certainly find it refreshing to have greenery surrounding me for air, life and viewing pleasure. Plus, decluttering is a good thing to do at the end of the year. I sometimes hang onto stuff that is so old and useless. End of the year is a good time to clean out your overstuffed areas!
Posted by: April | December 17, 2007 02:49 PM
Yes, I can be a bit of a pack rat, too. I was looking through some stuff at home last night and was astounded by how much stuff I have that I don't need. I also came to the realization that I need a shredder to get rid of old bills, insurance invoices and the like.
Posted by: Megan | December 17, 2007 03:18 PM