Decorating a small basement office

3 years ago

Hi everyone,

The photos are shots (including a panorama) of my small office at work. I recently started this job and am trying to make it feel more like my space. My gut really wants to paint either a single wall or the entire office a dark color (probably some type of navy, maybe even dark gray or black), and my sister-in-law agrees, but my boss thinks it will make the office feel even smaller.

What do you think? The office is 9'x7', and is mostly filled with the desk. It is in a basement with no windows, so it has no natural light. I can bring in as many lamps as I please.

Work Office: Before · More Info

Any suggestions other than color are welcomed too. I'm trying to make it a bit more masculine, and am considering either a space or outdoorsy theme with a big photo poster on the wall above the computer. Mainly I want it to feel tranquil, welcoming, and helpful for concentration.

Because it's a work office, I can't change the construction at all, but I am able to paint or decorate it how I want. (And yes, it's a bit of a mess. It's getting better as I get more organized...) :-)

Work Office: Before · More Info

Work Office: Before · More Info

Work Office: Before · More Info

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JudyG Designs

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Okay…going out on a limb here. I happen to love dark colors in a no window basement. You have to turn on lights anyway, so why not go with a strong color.

Going with this one because it works with the desk.

Do a strong green desk chair.

Remove all the other furniture….asumming you don’t need a client chair.

Clock on your desk.

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Comments (6)

Michael A.
Original Author
3 years ago
Very cool, thank you! I had a feeling I could pull off a dark color, and I love the way a dark-painted room looks... I just needed some confirmation. Would you do an accent wall, or the entire office?
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Cheryl Smith
3 years ago
I like a darker color too but probably not every wall. Choose a color from the rug. I hate my back to the door so I'm not crazy about the layout. It's bad feng shui. You want to be able to see the door from your chair without turning around. Can you just turn the desk so that the files are on the wall opposite the door with the actual desk portion floats into the room between you and the client chair? I think when there is no window in a room it's nice to bring the outdoors in with art. Place it on the wall in front of you so you have something nice to look at instead of a blank wall. You can't enjoy it f its behind no you.
Lynn
3 years ago
@JudyG Designs, do you have a link to the clock?
Jennifer Hogan
3 years ago
I don't know anything about your job, the tasks you need to perform or your relationship with your boss, but I am going to make my recommendation based on these two comments

1. You recently started this job, would like to paint it a dark color, but my boss thinks it will make the office feel even smaller.

2. Mainly I want it to feel tranquil, welcoming, and helpful for concentration.

Do not paint your walls a dark color. Your new boss has given you an opinion. Your not going to make a great impression by doing something they have advised against as one of your first acts.

Do not paint your walls gray or black. These are great colors for power negotiations, but not great for concentration or productivity.

If you are doing repetitive tasks brighter, more stimulating colors help with accuracy.

If you are doing more complex cognitive tasks a softer blue and green both enhance concentration.

To make the room feel masculine I would use a mid toned grayish green or a mid toned slightly grayed blue without overdoing the gray or going excessively dark.

I would pick the art for over the computer first and then pick a wall color that complements the colors in the art. I would get art that has some richer colors and higher contrast to help balance the calming effects of the wall color. If the art is primarily blues and greens and the wall color is blue or green you will want a couple of items with some orange or yellow to add warmth. Hopefully the art has some warm tones, then you can use something on your desk that has some warmth.
PRO
JudyG Designs
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
IMO, the room is too small for an accent wall. However, a nice big canvas (with the view leading your eye out), would be perfect. I like this one because the road relates to the color of the desk. (greatbigcanvas). Put it on the wall across from the door…first thing you see.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=large+digital+desk+clock&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8