How to Make Your Corporate Office a Nicer Place to Be
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Readers had a great threadjack recently on ways to make your corporate office a nicer place to be, so I thought we'd round up some of the ideas.
The reader noted that she'd recently been dreading coming into work, writing, “I realized part of it is that I don’t really have a nice space to spend my time.” She was officially moving to 100% full time in the office, so it was definitely time to make her office a nicer place to work!
As she described it, she has her own office with a door that closes, plus “two empty bulletin boards, a big whiteboard, some empty shelves and a sit-stand desk. Couple of basic visitor chairs. Overhead fluorescent lighting.”
Ooof — we definitely have some ideas, but let's see what the readers said!
We've talked a lot about office decor in the past, including general discussions like how to decorate your workspace, “how nice is too nice for office decor,” how to make your office more comfortable right away, tips on decorating office walls, and “when is an office too messy?”, as well as a close look at the best office chairs for women and the best places to get cute office decor.
We've also done a few specific office decor inspo pieces like how to add Art Deco style to your office and tips for creating a preppy-inspired office. Trying to get your steps in? We've discussed adding a walking pad to your office for under $500.
How to Make Your Corporate Office a Nicer Place to Be
Plants
This was one of the top things readers noted that make your corporate office a nicer place to be. It could be a bouquet of fresh flowers, a fresh plant, or even a faux bouquet or faux plant. One reader noted, “I do spiky grass, so nothing too demanding to clean.”
Artwork
We've rounded up 7 great places to get art for your office and home, and that's helpful here, because art was another one of the top things readers recommended that could make your corporate office more comfortable!
(Of course, you may want to reconsider things like movie posters and children's artwork.)
Other suggestions from the readers:
- inoffensive art –- painting of your city/town skyline or notable landmark, for example
- a pretty calendar to brighten things up (look for calendars starting in October)
- photos from your travels
One reader noted, “I work with lots of men who have a lot of stuff on their walls — often these are articles about them/their cases, power photos, or court sketches, so very work related, but I don’t think this needs to be gendered.”
Mirrors
Some readers have worried in the past that mirrors on your office wall can be too girly or come across as “vain,” but there are a number of decorative accent mirrors that are similar to artwork and can brighten the room while also allowing you to check for spinach in your teeth. And there's nothing wrong with a full-length dorm room-style mirror behind the door.
Better Lighting to Personalize Your Office
We've rounded up stylish desk lamps for your office and it was one of the top things readers suggested to bring to spruce up your workspace. One noted that she never even turned the “awful overhead light on,” while another mentioned she specifically chose a warmer light bulb to “cut that fluorescent light.”
One woman noted that her lamp is “shiny silver with a nondescript off-white shade, so it doesn’t feel cozy-homey, it feels businessy.” Nice!
How to Make Visitor Chairs Nicer
A number of people suggested throw blankets or colorful pillows on your visitor chairs, and you can also use an office pashmina or office shawl for this purpose (and for a lot of other purposes as well).
Can You Decorate Your Office With Family Photos and Artwork?
This is a topic we've discussed a number of times on Corporette. In the 2025 threadjack, people suggested steering away from child-related things. But in our last full discussion on family pictures at the office in 2015, a number of readers didn't see a problem with it so long as it was done tastefully.
I would suggest this comes down a lot to placement, as well as the particular photos. For example, the pictures don't necessarily need to be visible to your visitors unless you want to make them a topic for discussion. (Related: Check out the strategy of parenting out loud.)
Other Ways to Make Your Corporate Office More Comfortable
Cute bookends and other objets d'art can add a lot of personality to boring corporate bookshelves.
One reader noted:
I’m in government IT, not corporate, but all the men have a ton of goofy decorations and crap in their cubicles: tacky diy art, fidget toys, hobby related knickknacks, out of date calendars and holiday cards. The women universally have 1 or 2 framed personal photos, an attractive lap blanket, and a personalized coffee cup and/or water bottle.
So, bring in what you want that will make the space nicer for you! We actually rounded up some similar options in our white elephant gift guide.
Readers, what are your top tips for how to make your corporate office a nicer place?
Stock photo via Stencil.
