Great decor can make or break an office. The best office space is nothing without some smart, morale-boosting decor. In fact, making a few wise decorating choices can boost employee motivation considerably!

Office decoration can seem intimidating at first. But luckily, you don’t have to be an expert interior designer to create a space your employees want to be in. In most cases, you just need a fresh coat of paint and one trip to IKEA!

Whether you have a huge open office or a small room with a few cubicles, these office decoration tips will help you create a better space. You don’t have to renovate the entire space to increase motivation! A few choice pieces and posters will do.

How Office Decor Affects Employee Motivation

When consultants are brought in to help a sluggish workforce, their first piece of advice usually involves decorating the office. The experts in employee motivation strategies know that people don’t want to work in a drab, corporate space!

It really isn’t rocket science: people are happier when they’re in an aesthetically-pleasing workspace. People work better when they’re happier. Therefore, decorating your office is an investment in future profits!

Multiple studies have found that gray, dreary offices can demoralize employees and lead to a dip in profits. Workers want to come into an office that feels like home, but facilitates productivity. Luckily, striking a balance between comfy and professional is easier than you may think!

Morale-Boosting Office Decoration Ideas:

Here are our stellar ideas for improving employee motivation through decor. Most of these are easy changes to make, and won’t break the bank!

All of these ideas may not work for every office. Don’t hesitate to alter some of these ides and make them your own! After all, you know your office culture best. 

1. Bring in Houseplants

Incorporating a few low maintenance houseplants into your workspace will work wonders. Now only do houseplants bring visual interest to an office, they filter the air to make it feel fresher.

Having plants in an office can increase employee motivation because it inspires workers to nurture something. Rotate who waters the plants each week to encourage your workers to take care of their environment.

2. Encourage Personalization

If your employees have a space to themselves – even if it’s just a single desk – encourage them to bring in personal items. Family photos, small succulents, and fun calendars can all make a workspace feel more comfortable.

Allowing your employees to create a space for themselves will help them to feel more valued at the company. This will inspire them to do better work, as they’ll take more pride in the workspace.

3. Inspirational Words

Whether you want to deck out the office in Nelson Mandela or Gerard Way quotes, motivational sayings can help your employees make it through the day. Try to stick with quotes and aphorisms that focus in on productivity and self-care.

If there’s any one person everyone in the office admires (say, a certain celebrity or a business tycoon), print a poster or wall sticker with their quotes. Another great idea is to paint your company’s mission statement on a wall!

4. Bright Colors

Whenever possible, choose vivid hues for office decor. Pops of bright colors throughout an office space can completely energize the room. Your employees will feel brighter and sunnier with more color in their field of view.

Of course, don’t overdo it. Bright colors are best reserved for smaller items, like lampshades or hanging lanterns. Too much color could make your employees start to feel queasy!

5. Let the Sunshine in

If you have wide windows in your office space, you’re already a step ahead. Natural lighting is refreshing and motivating. Sunlight in a workspace can help people to forget they’re even in the office!

If you don’t already have huge bay windows, that’s fine. Maximize your existing natural light by using translucent shades. Also consider looking into natural sunlight lamps, which are a proven mood-booster!

6. Check Out Local Artists

This is an especially good idea if your company gives back to your city or county already. Purchase art from local artisans to hang up in the office. Your employees will feel more connected to the area and to the office.

Also consider contracting a local artist to paint a mural or wall for your company! A bright outdoor mural will help you to stand out among other businesses, and you’ll be investing in your local community as well.

7. Incorporate Your Branding

If your company has a strong brand image, incorporate it into your decor. Paint a stripe of your brand colors around the walls, or post your mission statement over the entrance to the office.

Creating an internal company identity is just as important as branding for marketing. Your employees will better be able to see what the company stands for. This can also motivate them to further encapsulate the brand ideals.

8. Add a Bookshelf

Adding a bookshelf or two to your office creates a cozy but motivational energy. Fill the shelf with books that you want your employees to read. Encourage them to check out a book or two, and to read in order to better themselves.

If you pick the right reading material, this could create a huge boost in employee motivation. You could even take this tip a step farther, and create an employee “book nook”. Encouraging productive downtime will help your employees to work better while they’re on the clock.

Elevate Your Office Vibe

We hope you found these decor ideas helpful. Once you incorporate these decorations into your office, you’ll see employee motivation skyrocket. Investing in a comfortable space will be more than worth it in the end!

For more tips, tricks, and advice, check out our blog. We bring you up-to-the-minute news and reviews to keep informed. Flip through our other articles to find out more!