NEWS: Your Cubicle Needs A Makeover

I've never really had a job in a formal office with cubicles, and the thought of having one makes me, um, want to quit. Part of that is because my impression of an office is synonymous grey walls, clear plastic pencil cups, Post-it Notes, White-Out and other things that are kinda ugly.



Designers are at work everyday trying to come up with solutions for these irritating aesthetic conundrums. As long as cubicles are around, here are a few simple suggestions on how to improve your workspace:



Color



It's something that offices seem to lack. Here's a thought: Wallpaper. Even just one wall. Make it something you like. No walls? That sucks, wallpaper your desk. If you're lazy, get a swatch and stick it in a desktop picture frame.

trove offers an inspiring collection of wall coverings for the digital age.

Melinamade offers a gorgeous spectrum of 50's, 60's and 70's vintage reproduction hand-pulled, silkscreened wallpapers.

While I advocate buying designer direct, Ebay is, of course, a great resource for finding small amounts of weird and interesting wallpapers at bargain prices.

Photo Location: Melinamade vintage repro wallpaper



Lighting



While overhead fluorescent lights can be economical, don't they make you just a little bit crazy? Plus, allegedly, overexposure to poor lighting compromises one's ability to see a full color spectrum and retain good vision. Wait, but before you file for Workers' Comp, invest in a full-spectrum bulb.



While I can't recommend the right lamp for you (though the leg lamp from "A Christmas Story" comes to mind), I can recommend the right light bulb.

Seventh Generation offers natural spectrum, environmentally friendly, energy-saving light bulbs typically available at Whole Foods, lots of other natural food stores and online.

GE also makes the "Reveal" spectrum light bulb which is available at a host of corporate mega-stores like Target, Wal-Mart, etc.

Fun Desk Stuff



Not that you have to bring in your own file cabinet (though Ikea sells some well-designed, affordable ones) but something as simple as a mug from your house doubling as a pencil cup can go a long way. Here are some stunning, office-specific products to make your cubicle the envy of all your bosses:

Limited-edition address file by Lovely Design

In/Out/Limbo file folders.

Photo Location



Freebies

At Pixelgirl Presents, thousands of designers submit free desktop downloads to, at the very least, improve the look of your computer.

Use your office supplies (stapler, Post-Its, paper clips, the paper shredder, etc.) to create your own conceptual desktop art pieces. Your co-workers will probably think you're completely insane, but maybe that means they'll ask you to do less stuff.

…or, you could just quit.

These are all great Ideas but my fears are that the office fascist will come find you and make you conform to sittyness or you will turn into the the happy colourful desk nasties who cover their desks with 'cute' shit and wear humorous ties or colourful blouses. They will try to convert you I tell thee wtch out for that it is a tight line to walk just do what I do put up on your wall every stop and search form the police give you, I have two terrorism ones and nothing found worse thant some book on powder physics from work or once a nearly empty bottle of jd wrapped up with some dirty boxersfrom a weekend away. And they have to write that on the form awsome I tell you and anyone questioning it just leave in awkwardness!!!!!!!!

that's pretty damn funny.

I am a photographer. Had an office job for 8 years at one point. Put some of my own framed photography up in the cubicle. It was like an art gallery.