You might be wondering why a commercial interior designer keeps posting items about home décor. The reason is simple. Great design does not always mean high cost. There are so many ideas out there that can be modified slightly to work in office environments. Offices need a bit of “decorating” to appear inviting and not so sterile. I don’t find many people who enjoy inhabiting extremely sterile places. We spend 90% of our time indoors and often more time in the office than in our homes. Why not bring a little bit of “home” to the office while maintaining a professional look?
Art is an after thought (if any) in most offices. Art is also the first to fall to the axe on a tight budget project. But there is a reason why humans love art, it creates an emotional response. I am a big believer in using money to the best advantage and there are many ways to create an “expen$ive” look with items that are a great price (bargain shopper). At minimum, the office reception area needs at least one focal point. I would even say that every room needs at least one art focal point.
The corporate identity (brand or image) your company is trying to portray is key. Every choice you make in your interior should relate back to your corporate identity, especially visual items you select from infinite possibility. Why pass up the chance to make a statement? Why not use that opportunity to influence your clients’ perception of why they should pick your business? Try to select art images that subliminally relate back to your company corporate identity (nature with rocks = stability, trees or columns = stability, local photos = familiar, etc).
I spend a lot of time looking at catalogs and ads in the media for ideas. In fact, I have binders full of ideas that I have pulled for years. Look at things with an open mind and look for the concept behind what you are seeing. How can you adapt it to work for your specific needs? I like to look at items being sold and come up with ways to use them in a manner that they WEREN’T intended to be used. Hardware and office supply stores are most fun.
http://www.diyideas.com/quickprojects/WallsFloors/wall-art_ss22.html
Why not use your company logos
http://www.diyideas.com/quickprojects/WallsFloors/wall-art-ideas_ss6.html
Create privacy by hanging a “divider” from the ceiling grid. For the office you don’t want to spend time swapping out real leaves, instead use printed images that relate back to your corporate identity.
http://www.diyideas.com/quickprojects/WallsFloors/wall-art-ideas_ss15.html
Remember you don’t always need glass for artwork. Another tip: take old mismatched frames and spray paint all one color. The unified color creates a visual group with interest. I like contrast and personally am partial to black accents, but what color do you like? Use three dimensional found objects. Do you have any promotional items laying around the office that would look fun?
http://www.diyideas.com/quickprojects/WallsFloors/wall-art-ideas_ss17.html
Perfect office idea. The accent paint strip is fun and the recycled ceiling tile is great. Groupings are more interesting to the eye if items are in odd numbers like 3 or 5.
http://www.diyideas.com/quickprojects/WallsFloors/diy-artwork_ss4.html
What found object can support your corporate identity?
Happy creating!
Suzanne Dummer Stafford, IIDA LEED-AP
Elemental Design, LLC
http://www.elemental-design.com/
Follow us http://www.twitter.com/elementaldzign
Become a fan http://www.facebook.com/Elemental.Design.LLC
Dedicated to improving quality of life for everyone with functional interior design.
We are ready to work magic to solve your built interior environment problems!
