I have a few things in my office space, some necessary, some just for my own sanity. I have a small plant, a few pictures, a nice large calender with bible verses on it, a blanket (because I freeze without it!), tissues, a jacket, a mirror (not so much to check my reflection but to see who is walking up behind me), and gluten-free snacks. I came across this article on cubefarming.com on why not to decorate your cubical, and it brings up a good point. Do you personalize your work area to make it comfortable or as the writer of the article suggests not decorate on the off chance you may get let go and it is easier for you to pick up your stuff and move along?
I have a plant on my desk, directly between my two computer screens. It helps bring something green and living into a rather blah environment. Staring at numbers on a computer screen all day kind of sucks the outside reality from you. I find the green leaves relaxing. Corny? Maybe. I do not have a lot of nick-knacks but I know many people that do have them on their desks. I assume the way they have their desk set up is probably the way they have their home set up. I also know people that bring nothing to their workspace, no pictures, no Kleenex, nothing. Where do you fall? Do we decide not to decorate on the off chance it is easier to not become emotionally attached to our work environment? How is your office space set up?
A BRUNETTE'S REFLECTION 
7 responses to “To Decorate or Not to Decorate Your Office Space?”
Finding the green leaves relaxing is not corny, it’s healthy. In the past I’ve had bonsai trees and even birds in my office space, but that was when we were involved with the church a block from the office, so I had a reason to go by the office on weekends to take care of the birds and trees. The bonsais and birds added a lot of life to the office space. Now I just have photos, paintings and trash art on the walls. The bonsai shelves are filled with computer parts, hood ornaments and Lobo football memorabilia other staff bring in (I’m not a sports fan). There is a sign with Foghorn Leghorn on the end of my desk that reads “I say! I say! Don’t bother me boy!” that no one pays attention to. And there are lots of papers, tools, computers, monitors, cables, adapters and computer parts spread out over the 40 feet of desk in my office space. One of my staff organized my office space while has out for a couple of days a few years ago, but it has since become disorganized to the point that I know where everything is again.
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I need one of those signs that say, “I say! I say! Don’t bother me boy!” haha I am sure no one would listen to me either! I never thought about a bonsai tree. That may make a good addition to my desk :)
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Bonsais are great office plants, but you need a indoor bonsai like a ficus, and if it’s in the proper soil, going a full weekend without water may stress it too much. My programmer who shares space with me made the Foghorn sign, and only one person ever paid attention to the sign. She was new and hadn’t yet figured out that no one pays attention to signs on desks in our office. A supervisor showing the most recent new hires around the office just flat out told them to ignore our Foghorn sign.
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Today the powers at be in our office made a new seating arrangement, I did not have to move anywhere but at least 25 people were moved around. I was glad I didn’t have to pack up my stuff and move anywhere but it made me realize I overlooked the much dreaded office move in my blog post last night!
Thanks for the heads-up on the bonsai tree. I will just stick with my low maintenance greenery.
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Fortunately, I’m the guy who moves people around while I stay put, but it usually involves me raising desks or customizing the work spaces to keep people happy.
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Since we (sadly perhaps) spend more waking hours in our cubes than we do at home, my coworkers and I have the autonomy to decorate our workspaces as we want. I have a few framed photos, two coffee mugs, a water bottle, and a pencil holder full of several hundred green Starbuck’s swizzle sticks. That’s my “plant.” I never have to water it and it never dies!
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Your green Starbuck’s swizzle sticks surely would count as something green and living I know I need my coffee in the morning to keep things living around me ;)
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