Easy Office Upgrades

Not only does a well-appointed office give your clients the right impression, it has the power to create a space that keeps your employees happy and motivated. So what are some fast and inexpensive ways to update your space?

Get a fresh coat. It may seem basic, but a new coat of paint is a simple way to smarten up your workplace without having to shell out a lot for labor. While mainstay shades like traditional white or gray are always unobtrusive, branching out with color—be it a bold red accent wall or a subtle pastel—can really liven up a lobby or a stairwell.

Upgrade accents. Mouldings come in a wide variety of styles, materials and prices—from standard unfinished wood moulding to prefinished polystyrene moulding—and go a long way to spice up walls and give a room some character.

Grow a green thumb. Consider plants or flowers, and designate some planters in your lobby for items that you can rotate seasonally. For example, in the winter they can hold Christmas trees or poinsettias, and in the spring, you can fill them with daffodils and tulips. In addition to being inexpensive and low-maintenance, they will keep the air fresh and oxygenated, and can even decrease the temperature in your office, lowering heating costs.

Appeal to the eye. Other items with which to spruce up a lobby include display cases to show off company awards, publications and products. Area rugs or runners can add some color to wood or cement flooring, and tiles are another option that provide a polished look. Although fluorescent lighting is functional, a few well-placed lighting fixtures or track lights can provide your lobby with a style update and make all-necessary stairwells more pleasant.