My $130 office transformation
I recently moved from a cube into an office. My first observation was how large the office actually was for a single person. Given how tight we are on space in our team, I was convicted to turn it into a collaborative team space.
Creating dimension
I new my request for a new painted wall would probably be too much, so we hacked up some old foam core we had lying around to create an illusion of a matte black wall. Using leftover colored duct tape, we were able to cover the seams. Best part of the foam core wall is how usable it is!
Increasing usable space
The current furniture in the room was so large that it ate up valuable space next to the whiteboard and made a corner completely in-usable. I got ride of them and used a lovely mid-century floor lamp and cheap leaning shelf to bring some warmth and storage into the space.
Inviting collaboration and inspiration
I made a request for some tables and chairs which created the new team studio space. I oriented through furniture in a way that it actually invites people in. Much as I wanted to personalize the space with photos of my kids, I decided to reduce it That way, the team wouldn’t feel like they were intruding on my personal space. And to amplify that, I’ll be featuring both internal and external works as a means of inspiring the team creatively.
Fueling action
Tools matter to create an environment for collaboration and problem- solving. Things like post-it’s, sharpies, poster sticky paper are a MUSTS for any workshop room. Otherwise people will just talk. We need to bias to action whether it’s brainstorming, frame-working or whiteboarding and the design of the environment can help fuel it.
It doesn’t have to be expensive
Look around the space and see what you can recycle and reuse to create the space for the best work of your life. Here’s my list:
Mid-century style floor LED lamp with shelf
Small leaning wooden shelf (it’s more decorative so don’t load it up heavy)
I love the hidden message this Umbra casa tissue box holder sends - Treat this space like your home and keep it clean.
Every office should have a stash of these. It’s the only way to keep facilities off your back - 3M commander indoor hooks
These 3M commander Universal frame-hanging hooks have been extremely handy for picture/clock hanging (8 lb max)
And lastly, 3M spring clips. A great way to keep an “organic gallery” of both internal and external inspiration. (COMING SOON!)
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