Office Space S.O.S.

When I was working at American Express, I had a decent size office so I put my imagination to work and redecorated the place. I logged in more hours in that office that anywhere else at that time so I transformed the room! People would joke that it was nicer than Harvey’s (the CEO) Office and smelled like fresh cut flowers and sweet perfume instead of old furniture and cigar smoke! Co-workers would refer to my office as “Headquarters” or “Victoria’s Secret” because of my love of English Chintz. I went to town and displayed the artwork of friends of mine and bought things at craft stores to spruce the place up! I even had handmade pillows that my Nanny made for me years ago. Colors, incense and architecture can create positive Feng Shui. So many offices look like jail cells or an Institution. I put fresh flowers and plants that I supplied myself. After a while, I started a trend and others began to ask me to decorate their offices. Harvey even joked about it and actually came down to visit “The Enchanted Gardens” I have to admit my love of English Country and Laura Ashley at that time earned that title! It got to the point where men felt uncomfortable sitting in my office because it was super femme! 🙂

It is very important to incorporate positive colors, plants, animals (I would have brought my dog if that was allowed) paintings, photos, and lovely flowers and artifacts.

Redecorating your desktop may be job one for avoiding colds or the flu this season. That’s the takeaway from a recent study in the journal Ergonomics, which found that people in open offices (with no or only partial walls) take significantly more sick days than workers in closed spaces. The explanation: Cube dwellers tend to interact with more people than those sequestered in private areas, exposing them to more germs. Luckily, employing these four moves to make over your work space will help keep you in tip-top shape.

1 Get a plant
Along with illness-causing germs, indoor air often contains higher levels of fatigue and headache-inducing pollutants like benzene and formaldehyde than outside air.
Try putting some potpourri, and air freshener on your desk. Also place a pretty hand sanitizer as to encourage others to use it when working with you! 🙂

2. Learn to be clean and organized. Nothing is worse than looking at a dirty and/or messy and completely unorganized workspace! It tells a lot about you so please do try to be clean and organized. I cannot tell you how many times I would cringe as I had to touch a co-workers papers and go through their mess! It was usually a female co-worker too=very poor habits and very sloppy. As I am a germaphobe, I have a lot more problems with this than most people.

3. Display lovely photos that make you happy and put you in a great mood. When I say this I mean “appropriate photos.” I don’t want to see you in a bikini drinking a marguerita, your wife in a hospital bed after having given birth, my boss without a shirt flexing his muscles and pulling on a fishing rod, a photo of you sitting on your throne etc. You get my drift! 🙂

4. Display appropriate artwork. Unless you own and run the company, it is not advisable to display any type of artwork that the Met would be dying to get their hands on! Lovely paintings can really spice up an office space.

5. Keep your decorative toiletries in your office. It is always nice to have your favorite perfume and body lotion in your drawer.

6. Men, please keep a few extra pressed white shirts and some decent clean ties in your office. I cannot tell you how many times I had to run out to Brooks Brothers because my boss looked like a slob! Sorry, I tell it like it is. If you are a socialite, please keep a tuxedo with a nice bow tie in your office as well. 🙂

Dress You Up