13 Tips for Making Your Office Your Happy Place

young woman studying working at desk with computer in office or library.

Despite spending roughly 40 hours a week there, most people would not describe their office as their happy place. Maybe we can fix that.

Whether you have a private office at your company, a home office, or an open office space, it shouldn’t be a place that causes you distress. With our tips, you can prevent common office unpleasantries and make your space homey and happy. Maybe you’ll even be excited for work on Monday morning after these changes.

Decor That Sparks Joy

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One of our favorite ways to improve an office space is with happy, personal decor. Is there a photo of your partner that always makes you smile? Do you have a silly drawing from your child that you adore? Is there a painting that inspires you?

Decorate your office with items that are meaningful to you and elicit positive or productive emotions. The decor can be anything, but don’t pick just anything. We’ll give you the same advice we give for home decor and art: don’t bring anything into the space unless you’re enamored or enchanted by it.

Bring in Live Plants

Green home, woman relaxed trendy middle aged woman the modern living room in sunny day.
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Whenever you want to improve the energy in a space, live plants are often the answer. Plant parents with little green babies at home can consider moving one to the office. It’s like bringing a stuffed animal from home to summer camp with you.

If you don’t already have plants, we recommend starting with one low-maintenance plant, like a succulent or cactus. Don’t get a needy plant that will cause you stress or die in the office over the weekend.

Balance Your Lighting

An adult woman sips her coffee while engaging with a laptop in a bright home office, reflecting a moment of tranquility amidst a busy workday.
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A huge mistake people make in offices is overly bright lighting. Yes, bright fluorescents can increase productivity. But if they’re too bright, they can cause headaches, eye soreness, screen glares, and other issues.

If you use LED lighting, we recommend choosing warmer bulbs and using lamps rather than overhead lighting. However, you should let as much natural light into your space as possible. It can also be beneficial to have one fluorescent and one incandescent light source so you can switch based on your mood and needs.

Have Two Work Spaces

Woman stretching and doing yoga at desk.
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We don’t mean you should have two separate offices; we mean it’s helpful to have two spots in your office where you can work. This might not be possible if you work in a cubicle or have limited room. But if you do have space, create two areas where you can comfortably be productive.

For example, maybe the first location is your desk, and the second is a couch or comfortable accent chair. If you hit a wall during work, switching work locations can help you reset and refocus. It can also break up the day, making it less monotonous.

Don’t Settle for Supplies

Opened office desk drawer with stationary and office supplies.
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The small details matter. Don’t settle for subpar supplies that cause frustration or just don’t please you. Have your favorite kinds of writing utensils in your office, planners and calendars that work for you, and the right kind of paper for your tasks.

Use the best paper clips, staplers, staples, binder clips, tape, tape dispensers, and sticky notes. These tiny things may not seem important, but they can add up to make a comfortable, convenient workspace — or an aggravating one.

Embrace Aromatherapy

Woman working on laptop and using Doterra oil diffuser, aromatherapy for office. Lemon, Peppermint and Onguard.
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Our sense of smell and memory are closely related. If your office has an unpleasant smell, it will create an unpleasant association with the space. But you can create the opposite effect. A scented candle, essential oil diffuser, scent plug-in, air freshener spray, or even car freshener can get the job done.

Make your office smell wonderful and you’ll be happy to walk in every day. We recommend choosing your favorite aroma, but you can also select scents based on their properties. Opt for sage, lemon, or peppermint for productivity and lavender, chamomile, and rose for calmness.

Always Go Ergonomic

Woman working in a comfortable adjustable ergonomic armchair with lumbar support.
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Your office furniture must be comfortable and ergonomic. Otherwise, your office will become less of a happy place and more of a torture chamber. Of course, your desk chair needs to be ergonomic, but it doesn’t stop there.

Your computer height, mouse, keyboard, floor, and desk height all need to be ergonomically set up. Take the time to optimize all these elements for your body and eliminate sore necks, backs, and wrists from your workday.

Hone Your Hidden Organization

White work desk with organized stylish gold stationery is arranged very neatly in the drawers of the desk.
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The odds of a cluttered space being your happy place are low. It’s important you prevent the clutter and have an easy-to-follow organizational system. While we like to keep some items on our desks, like writing utensils, it’s best to store as many things out of sight as possible.

If you are not actively using or working on something, it should not be on your desk. File folders, rolling cabinets, and closed desk organizers are some products that can help. You might be amazed by the sense of serenity and satisfaction you feel when your desk is clean and clear.

Give Yourself Gold Stars

Woman writing and checking things off a 'to do list' at her desk with a cup of fresh coffee.
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This one might sound silly, but giving yourself gold stars for your hard work can not only make your office space happier but also make you feel more fulfilled at work. By “gold stars,” we mean a small acknowledgment of a job well done or a task completed.

It could be as simple as a green checkmark on your to-do list, or you can use actual stickers to cross out tasks. How you pat yourself on the back will depend on your type of work, but the point is to give yourself a little visual high-five for being so awesome at your job.

Use the Right Colors

Stylish and colorful workplace with computer at home.
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Colors deeply impact our mood and perspective, so choose your office colors thoughtfully. The ideal color will depend on you, but our overarching recommendation is blue, as it fosters calmness and focus.

We recommend bright, cheerful colors if you tend to feel sluggish and unmotivated at work. Bright oranges and sunny yellows can inspire and help you focus. If your work tends to be stressful and overwhelming, opt for calming colors, like muted blues and soft purples. For hectic and energetic workplaces, moodier colors like navy blue or chocolate brown can be grounding.

Add Soft Elements

Comfortable cozy workplace with office chair and modern table.
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Offices, especially company offices, frequently feel cold and industrial. We don’t know about you, but our happy place is definitely not an industrial warehouse. Avoid this soulless vibe by bringing soft elements into your office.

Plush rugs, soft blankets, fluffy pillows, and fabric wall hangings are excellent items to make the space homier. You don’t want your office to be so homey that you mentally check out of work, but it should have some level of coziness so it feels inviting.

Adjust the Air

Woman enjoying enjoying aromatherapy steam scent from essential oil diffuser in room at home office.
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We mentioned curating the aroma in your office, but there are other ways to adjust the air to your liking. A dry or humid office can make you uncomfortable and lead to frequent illnesses.

Bring a humidifier, dehumidifier, or air purifier into your office to perfect the air. Breathing fresher air enhances comfort and focus, making you happier, more comfortable, and more productive. Also, adding plants to the space will improve air quality!

Set Up a Speaker

Professional ma wearing headphones listening to music while and working on laptop.
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Having a speaker in your office is not a must, so you can ignore this tip if it doesn’t resonate with you. However, we love to work to our productivity playlist, which is inspiring without being distracting. Podcasts can work too! White noise or rain machines are alternatives to a speaker.

We recommend adding a speaker or other sound device to your office if noise — or silence — is a problem for you. If a speaker is not possible, we recommend having headphones at your desk for those days when you need to retreat into your own world.

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Veronica is a lifestyle and culture writer from Boston, MA, with a passion for entertainment, fashion, and food. She graduated from Boston University in 2019 with a bachelor's in English literature. If she's not in the kitchen trying new recipes, she's binging the latest HBO series, catching up on the hottest trends in Vogue, or falling down a research rabbit hole. Her writing experience ranges from global news articles to celebrity gossip pieces to movie reviews and more.
Her byline appears in publications like The Weather Channel, The Daily Meal, The Borgen Project, MSN, Wealth of Geeks, and Not Deer Magazine. She writes about what inspires her — a stylish Wes Anderson film, a clever cleaning hack, a surprising fashion trend. When she’s not writing about life's little joys, she’s keeping her dog away from rabbits and spending too much money on kitchenware.

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