FASHION AND MODE

The idea of renovating an office can be scary, especially if you are considering doing it yourself. The do it yourself trend may have you thinking of sprucing up your workspace without paying for a costly interior designer or contractor. Offices in desperate need of repair may require a few bold additions, but many offices and rooms can be completely made over with a few smartly selected statement pieces. Here are a few great tips and ideas to make your office renovations go smoothly.

Before any major renovation project is taken on it is important to clearly define your goals. Try to pick three words to describe the look you want to achieve, and chose one phrase that defines the function of your office. This way you will be consistent in your descriptions as you go from store to store for supplies and ideas.

If your only goal is making your space look new and fresh, painting the walls would be a great place to start. Many offices have boring white walls, so adding a little color can go a long way in making your area stand out. If your area is small, you may consider choosing two shades of the same color. This way you can paint three walls the milder color and create an accent wall by painting one wall the darker color. Small areas can appear even smaller if all four walls are painted a color that is too dark, so keep that in mind. If you have a large area and wall space to play with, you will have a lot more color options available to you. Consider stopping by the paint department at your local hardware store for more fun ideas.

When you are happy with the color of your walls, you will want to think about adding some decorations. There are a few different types of art that can be added to walls. The reason you want to add wall art is because it will make your office look classier. Hanging art shows that you have good taste and that you care about your space. Large paintings, decorative mirrors and mountable metal pieces can be combined or used individually. Another plus to wall decor is that it is removable, which is especially important when renting an office space.

Depending on the function of your office, you might try adding some more stylish furniture. This technique is great for offices that have a waiting room area. An overstuffed chair in a corner can really bring a room to light, and is easy combined with coffee tables or end tables for a fuller look. Buying new furniture does not have to be expensive, there are hundreds of consignment companies and second hand stores carrying quality pieces for reasonable prices.

Large, unused spaces can be filled in with any number of objects. Consider installing a fish tank in the center of a room or against a long wall. Adding something like this can be good for your employees because it gives them something to look forward to, especially if people can add a fish or name one. Another way to fill a large space is to add a table with large vase full of flowers. Fake flowers are durable, beautiful, and inexpensive.

To change the interior layout of an office, walls can be built or removed. Knocking down a wall can open up your office, creating a more teamwork oriented environment. On the other hand, adding walls can create the privacy that is essential in some industries. To make a new wall more formal you can add crowning to the top, or you can have a custom doorway designed.

It is possible to visually divide sections of your office without adding walls. Different sections can be floored differently. Changing the texture and type of the flooring from one area to another is a good idea, and is more defining than simply using different colors. Go from carpet to wood or tile, or add a large rug if your floor is concrete. Faux wood flooring and tile are easy to install, and often can increase the market value of your space as well.