Whether your workspace is located in an office building or within your own home, the way you design it can have a direct impact on your everyday performance. From adding personal effects or curated art to investing in higher-quality furniture, even small, simple changes can enhance comfort, promote productivity and boost your morale.
Humanizing your office space and making it truly your own not only makes it a more comfortable, welcoming place to work, but may also fuel your creative and innovative instincts. Below, members of Forbes Business Council share their best tips for shaping a space that’s truly inspirational rather than simply utilitarian.
1. Include Reminders Of Your ‘Why’
I fill my space with reminders of my “why.” These can be flower Legos my kiddo builds for me, photos that spark joy and images that make me feel light, energized and inspired. Other leaders should surround themselves with what connects them to purpose and play. When your space reflects you, creativity naturally follows. – Casey Halbach, Intentional Talent Solutions
2. Incorporate Personal And Professional Growth Reminders
Keep reminders of your personal and professional growth present at all times. If you make a tangible product, keep your earliest prototype and every iteration in between. Organize them in a timeline style to show how far your company has come. If you have a personal office, keep little reminders of your earliest wins and the steps you’ve taken along the way. – Ryan McFarland, Strider Bikes
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3. Reflect Your Energy And Vision
My workspace reflects my energy and vision. I keep it clean, intentional and full of purpose with quotes that ground me, music that lifts me and tools that help me think big. Leaders should design a space that reminds them daily that they’re here to build, lead and drive impact. Your environment fuels or drains your potential. – Eduardo Fuenmayor, Tensik Industries
4. Choose A Space That Reflects Your Current Work
I switch up my workspace depending on what I’m working on. If I need to think deeply, I move somewhere quiet with no screens. If I’m focused on the team or hiring stuff, I’ll work where conversations happen more naturally. I’ve found that matching the space to the type of work makes a big difference. It clears my head and helps ideas land quicker. – Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures
5. Show What’s Possible
We keep our workspace visual by having whiteboards filled with ideas, quotes and income stream maps. Seeing the vision daily fuels creative momentum. Other leaders can design a space that reflects their mission. If your environment shows what’s possible, your team also will believe it. – Michael Lanctot, YoungNRetired
6. Invest In A Comfortable Chair And A Fast Laptop
I learned early in my career that focused creativity requires two main things: a seat so comfortable that you forget about it and a computer that operates at the speed of you. Good chairs and fast computers are something every company should invest in for its leaders. Together, these two critical basics can make every distraction fade into the background while you do your best work. – Cameron Deemer, DrFirst
7. Position Your Desk Toward A Window
I position my desk to face away from digital screens and toward a window with natural light and changing views. This setup forces regular visual breaks that allow my brain to “flow” while processing complex problems. As all teams in my companies work remotely, I advise my colleagues to do the same. – Nikola Minkov, Serpact
8. Think About Comfort
Always design a space that feels warm, luxurious or homelike, because comfort sparks confidence and creativity. Natural light, elegant details and calming tones inspire both clients and staff. Leaders should create environments that reflect their brand energy and make people feel safe to express themselves and innovate. – Roxana Diaconu, ROXANA AESTHETICS CLINIC
9. Tap Into Your Personal Feng Shui
I tap into my personal Feng Shui to orient my desk toward my most supportive direction and balance energies on each side—for example, left (dragon) for motion and right (tiger) for calm. I incorporate elements like wood, metal and water to enhance clarity and flow. Leaders can spark creativity by aligning their workspace with their energy and using the five elements for harmony. – Irina Logman, Advanced Holistic Center
10. Incorporate Natural Elements
There’s something about natural elements. Whether it’s watching leaves move in the breeze or simply having living greenery nearby, nature always seems to unlock different thinking patterns for me. The quiet presence of nature offers a counterbalance to digital intensity. – Laurent Valosek, Peak Leadership Institute
11. Gather Emotional And Sensory-Rich Objects
I surround my workspace with objects rich in emotional and sensory meaning, like vintage perfume bottles, burning incense and fresh flowers. They serve as quiet muses. For other leaders, I recommend curating a space that tells your story. When your environment reflects your soul, creativity flows naturally. – Sudhir Gupta, The Facticerie
12. Hang Representative Art
I use art that represents who I am or who I think I might be to inspire me to stay creative. I have dozens of framed pieces that are visible on video calls. They also make for great icebreakers with new colleagues and clients looking in. – James Felton Keith, InclusionScore
13. Don’t Be Afraid To Go Bold
Ditch the beige. My space is filled with bold female visuals from around the world, turquoise wallpaper, evergreen drapes and a Spanish silver armoire. Creativity doesn’t live in clutter or cubicles—it lives in spaces that feel like possibility. Design for energy, and build for vision. Make your space reflect the future you’re building, not the job you left. Never apologize for having taste or courage. – Aleesha Webb, Pioneer Bank
14. Make Room For A Personal Passion
My home office doubles as a music studio with keyboards, guitars and electronic drums. When I need a reset, diving into a quick jam session helps immeasurably! In particular, the drums are a great way to mentally shift gears. A workspace that includes a personal passion—be it music, art or something else tactile—can create a powerful outlet for creative thinking and emotional clarity. – Luke Lombe, Faculty Group
15. Designate Distinct Areas For Specific Functions
Design your workspace with distinct areas for focus, collaboration and recharging. A creativity zone—with whiteboards, flexible seating and natural light—encourages brainstorming and fresh thinking. Leaders can replicate this by integrating inspiring visuals and adaptable setups to support different workflows and boost innovation. – Rohan Sharma, Zenolabs.AI
16. Remove Distractions
Clear your space of distractions first, removing clutter and phones. Then, guard your time. Block creative sessions on your calendar, set a timer and stick to it. Creativity isn’t just about space; it’s about focus. Leaders can foster this by modeling discipline and making room for deep thinking. – Jon Osterburg, Jitasa
17. Keep It Clean
Include elements that stimulate focus and imagination, like a clutter-free, organized space with plenty of natural light. When the space is clean, disinfected and well-organized, it helps clear mental distractions, making it easier for employees to focus and think creatively. A clean environment sets the tone for fresh ideas, sharper problem-solving and more inspired work. – Adam Povlitz, Anago Cleaning Systems
18. Tidy Up At The End Of The Day
Overwhelm is the enemy of action. When your workspace is a mess, it’s impossible to think clearly or creatively. By tidying up your desk at the end of the day, you ensure you’re set up for success the next morning while mitigating overwhelm. – Erin Stafford, Stafford Company
19. Spark Your Curiosity And Bold Thinking
I surround my workspace with books, art and objects that reflect curiosity and bold thinking. This keeps my mind engaged and open to new ideas. Leaders can create similar spaces by blending personal inspiration with tools for focus. Think open layouts, creative prompts and areas that encourage reflection and collaboration. – Asaad Hakeem, SARC MedIQ Inc.
20. Reflect Your Unique Goals And Mindset
I believe it’s not the space that inspires the person, but the person who inspires the space. I keep my workspace simple, clean and filled with purpose. It’s not about design; it’s about focus and energy. Leaders can do the same by creating a space that reflects their goals and mindset, as that’s where true creativity begins. – Jekaterina Beljankova, WALLACE s.r.o
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