A Room with a Door

I l @ ve RuBoard

If you are fortunate enough to have a real dedicated office with a door, you can begin creating a space that reflects the office you've always wanted. We've all heard horror stories of companies where personal items are not allowed to be displayed, places with tiny cubicles, lack of storage space, and file cabinets from the 1940s. Maybe you've even worked at a place like that (we have). A dedicated office allows you to take stock of the kind of "space" you want to create. For some, this will mean being creative and colorful ; for others it will mean meticulous filing systems. Either way, you're in charge.

People all over the world consider Feng Shui when designing their office spaces. Others consider natural light, whether they want a "homey" feel, or whether they wish to indulge a taste for ultramodern. For many of us, it is simply a relief to get away from the drab gray and fluorescent lights of an on-site office.

While it may seem insignificant, planning your very own office environment can actually bring great pleasure ”both at the time you do it and in the long run. It's a terrific energy booster to really feel excited to get to your desk every morning. Often, new telecommuters and new entrepreneurs at home revel in the first weeks of a 60-second commute. However, you can further enhance this feeling by indulging your personality when shaping this space. Don't many people leave corporate America because they feel like a drone? A number? Well, if you want yellow walls and scented candles , posters of Jimi Hendrix on the wall, and Led Zeppelin playing in the background ”it's your office! One of our favorite mottos is: Get used to thinking like a CEO. Design your office space for you. Be decisive and let your personality shine through.

Color : All in the Mind?

"Color psychology" is a relatively new niche within the realm of studying the mind and the mind-body connection. Interior designers and psychologists alike are studying the role of color on our moods . Certainly, when painting workspace at home, it might be helpful to consider the principles of cool versus warm and the relationship colors and hue have with our energy level. Looking at the color wheel (remember that from grade school?), you can see the relationships colors have with each other. Warm colors are thought to increase energy (oranges, reds, etc.), whereas some studies have linked cool colors with a drop in blood pressure and even with soothing behaviorally disordered children. One theory of how color reacts with the mind is that neurotransmitters in the eye transmit information about light to the brain and that this information releases a hormone that affects our mood, mental clarity, and energy level. Think of how you work best in your chosen profession. Some writers and graphic artists might prefer to be calm and serene as they create. Those in high-pressure sales positions might like feeling revved up. While the jury is out decisively on the role of color and the mind, we are all, usually, in touch with the type of color we prefer on the walls.

I l @ ve RuBoard