6 Ways to Update Your Office Space on a Budget

6 Ways to Update Your Office Space on a Budget

We spend a lot of time in our offices. So, it makes sense that these spaces should provide the comfortable and inspiring surroundings needed to work to our best. As they see so much use, offices can quickly become tired and in need of a spruce up. Doing a complete makeover isn’t within every budget, and sometimes a few simple changes can be the perfect way to update an office space without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re looking to give your home office a facelift, or you’re welcoming staff back into the workplace, here are six simple but effective tips to help breathe some life into your office space on a budget.

  1. Declutter surfaces

A simple Spring clean is an ideal place to start. It’s all too easy to allow desks and other surfaces to become a dumping ground for all kinds of clutter. Whether it’s paperwork and unused stationery items or personal belongings such as pictures, making sure surfaces have a clean and tidy look to them will immediately give your office space an important uplift.

If you’re an employer, consider setting a clean desk policy, where employees must leave their desks almost completely clear of items on a night and have a maximum number of pictures and personal possessions on display. This isn’t about limiting employees’ ability to express themselves, more so bringing some order and structure to this.

  1. Paint the roof

Painted walls and feature walls are common design techniques that are often used to add a pop of colour into a space, but have you thought about the roof? Leading interior designers Whinnie Williams and Kierra Campbell of Poodle & Blonde suggest making the ceiling a point of interest in your office space, “Ceilings are often the most forgotten surface in a room. By painting or wallpapering them in bold, fun colours and prints it immediately adds interest and makes the space feel bigger.”

In a home office, this can often be easily achieved but might be a little trickier in a larger office, particularly one with a false ceiling. If that’s the case, looking to add a similar effect to the walls can work just as well.

  1. Go big with artwork

Don’t have the budget to redecorate the entire office? Consider adding some artwork to the walls to add a splash more colour and interest to them. And it’s not just classic prints and images that could do the job. Poodle & Blonde recommend thinking outside the box, “when choosing artwork go big. Large art is such an easy way to fill space... and think outside the box! Frame up old kitchen tea towels, wallpaper, paint your own abstract print on some MDF or even pin up a large roll of fabric.”

Depending on the size and scale of your office, there are many different routes you could take to bring in artwork and update the space. What’s more, these do-it-yourself options can be changed as and when you feel the need to freshen things up a little.

  1. Create a chalkboard wall

Looking to tick off two things in one go – how about doing away with the reams of paper notes on your desk and adding an exciting creative space to your office walls? Chalkboard paint is reasonable to buy and can turn a boring, unused wall into something practical and useful in your office.

The great thing about this option is that it’s completely scalable. Whether it’s a small section of your home office wall or a large office meeting room wall, this idea can work perfectly well in any setting. It’ll provide you and your employees with a great space to work collaboratively and jot ideas down, or simply make an interactive art piece on the wall that everyone can contribute to.

  1. Make the most of natural light

Working on a budget doesn’t mean looking for cheap alternatives. It also means making the most of the natural surroundings of your office space. Natural light opens up a space and makes it much more inviting. Rather than going to work in a dark and dingy workspace, you and your employees can be inspired by working in a bright and engaging office.

Poodle & Blonde explain, “nothing will aide productivity more than having natural light. Always position your desk near a window, and to really maximise on daylight from above, consider adding VELUX roof windows to transform a space by flooding it with light.” They also go on to explain that, “lighting really can make any space feel magical, so think about the interiors in your home to help open up your space. Light-coloured walls and furniture help to reflect the natural light from your roof windows, creating a lighter, brighter working space.”

  1. Add greenery

Much has been said of the impact that indoor plants can have on everything from mood to general health. If you’re struggling with a grey working space, there really is nothing better than bringing in some greenery to spruce things up.

Plants can help clean the air, soften noise in a busy office and increase productivity amongst many other things. Palms and ferns are great varieties to look out for and consider purchasing for your office. Working on a smaller scale? Desktop plants, such as small succulents, can be a great addition and are easy to maintain.

You can find out more in our How to Decorate an Office with Plants guide.

As these six tips show, updating your office space doesn’t always have to mean a complete redesign and redecorate, making subtle changes can prove to make a big difference. As more and more staff return to working either hybrid or office-based, keeping offices an attractive place to spend time and flourish at work is more important than ever.