Ask the Edit: Office Decor Suggestions

I remember my first office well.  After years in a cubicle or communal workspace, having four walls and a door was such a pleasure.  But how do you decorate an office in a way that’s professional?

Hi Abra,

What are your thoughts on appropriate office decor? I am graduating with my MA soon and with that I am moving from a cubicle to an office at my workplace. I want to hang art or perhaps bring in fake plants (our office prohibits live ones). Also, is it tacky to hang up your degree? I’ve heard mixed feelings about this (people trying too hard, etc.).

Thanks and keep up the great work!! I love waking up to new blog posts!

-Taylor

How you decorate your office depends on your industry.  If you work in the law, government affairs, accounting, or another equally staid profession, keep it simple and classic.  If you work in public relations, marketing, or another creative field you have more freedom to let your personality shine.

So before you move into your new office, take a walk by your co-worker’s offices and see how far they felt comfortable pushing the envelope.  It’s a good barometer.

Degrees.  In the law, hanging your degrees and professional licenses on the wall is standard.  In other professions, it may not be.  So look to your colleagues for guidance.

I think you should be proud of an advanced degree and see no issue with tastefully displaying it.  If you’re at all sheepish about it, I would recommend displaying in a grouping with some other photos and art to downplay its iconography.  But if you don’t see others in the office hanging theirs, I wouldn’t hang yours.

Art. Abstract art and photography are my office wall decor of choice.  Measure your walls and then head to a retailer like HomeGoods, Bed Bath and Beyond, or an online shop for the best selection at decent prices.

Shades of blue are always a safe choice.  I like this abstract sky piece from BBB for under-$200.  I’ve also seen a lot of lovely art at West Elm.  The key is to keep it tasteful and minimalist.

I had a co-worker who hung blue prints in his office.  They were of Star Wars elements like an Imperial ship or C3PO.  It was cheeky, but it worked.

Maps are another good office art piece.  This gold foil map of D.C. is kind of cool.  For a more conversation office, you might choose something more staid like this reproduction vintage map of D.C..

Lastly, I’m about to redo my office.  I have a number of pieces of Native American ledger art that I intend to mix with vintage Montana travel posters and railroad calendars that I already own.  It shows a little bit about me, but is office appropriate.

Mirrors. In my first office, I hung a square mirror that I purchased on Amazon, similar to this one.  I chose it because it fit the space, but also so I could check my hair and makeup prior to meetings without running to the restroom.  And then, a funny thing happened.

As the only owner of a non-bathroom mirror, my male colleagues would often stroll into my office (the mirror was directly across from the door) to straighten their ties.  I had more conversations with my boss while he was retying his tie then I can count.  No one thought of it as prissy that I had a mirror, and it became a useful way to chat with my boss.

Now, there are certainly some of you who would be uncomfortable having a mirror in your office because it might look narcissistic.  I think if you choose one that is more decorative than functional, that can be remedied.  If for some reason, you feel the need to have a full length mirror, put it on the back of your door.

Tschotchkes.  If you plan to do fake plants, I find that fake ivy or lilies look a little dated.  I recommend something more modern like this artificial succulent.  If you want to go big, I would go really big and put a large fig tree in the corner.

I used to have a ceramic elephant in my office.  I also find a decorative hourglass is a nice piece.  But the key to choosing items for your desk is to not crowd the space, but to use them as an accent.  A former colleague had an office filled with so much baseball memorabilia he had to add extra shelves, and things looked cluttered.

Shelfies are still a thing.  If you have a lot of books in your office (#lawyer), and you want them to look a bit nicer, turn them around.  This shot from ElleDecor shows how it really unifies a space and brings a certain sophistication to a shelf.

How did you decorate your office?  Any faux pas you’ve spotted?  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

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