Over the past few months, I’ve tried to up my Etsy game. And as I put more time into designing t-shirts, bullet journal stencils, and planners, I realized that I need to dedicate a specific space for this work.

Until now, I’ve sat at my work desk, surrounded by papers I need to grade and articles I need to read. And funnily enough, that constant reminder of my todo list was not conducive to my creative vibe.

With that being said, I didn’t have a ton of extra space with which to work. In fact, I had to get creative about finding that creative space.

Ultimately, I simply moved a bookshelf out of my home office, set up a small table in the corner of the room, and boom – I had my creativity nook.

Because this nook is in the same space as my work office, however, I wanted to find a few ways that I could boost the creativity factor overall. More specifically, I wanted to establish a creative office space that would provide me with inspiration.

The good news? It was super easy and fun to do!

So if you want to establish a creative office space, or if you’re looking for ways to get those creative juices flowing, then check out my list below.

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4 Easy Tips For A Creative Office Space

Add Some Green

It’s amazing how powerful our connection to nature is; as I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, incorporating live plants in our living space can help promote both a calm and tranquil bedroom as well as a productive office.

Well guess what, exposure to nature can spark your inspiration and enhance a creative office space as well.

As Rachel Weiner from the Denver Post reports, ‘[n]atural light and natural objects “connect us to the universe and stimulate the brain.”’ Furthermore, Weiner recommends “if there’s no outdoor space nearby, consider including plants or even a bowl of fruit. Living natural things really change the feel of a space.”

Yep. It’s that easy.

I ended up situating my creative nook so I can gaze out of the window in my office.

This way, when I look up for inspiration, I’m rewarded with life outside; the bright greens of spring, the hot blue sky of summer, the beautiful oranges and golds of fall, and the clean white snow of winter all offer inspiration in their own way.

Color

Speaking of color, surrounding yourself with specific shades can also foster a creative office space. Color has proven time and time again that it can influence our emotions. And sparking your imagination is no different.

According to a study by the University of British Columbia, surrounding yourself with blues were ideal for a creative office environment. Different shades of blue support better communication, trust, and efficiency. Combine that with blue’s natural calming abilities, and “it’s great for the workspace as it opens your mind to new ideas.”

Similarly, the University of Munich discovered that green also contributes to creative inspiration. According to the head of the research team, Stephanie Lichtenfeld, even just a glimpse of green could trigger “the type of pure, open (mental) processing required to do well on creativity tasks.”

So as you consider what color curtains you should get, keep the pure, calming colors of blue and green in the back of your mind.

(I lucked out on this one, since my office is already painted a sage green. 😉 )

If you’re interested in learning more about these studies in color, Arlyn Hernandez dives into them here.

Include Items of Whimsy

As you put together your creative office space, be sure to include items of whimsy and inspiration, and things that bring you joy.

Include a favorite photo of your family on spring break or a snapshot of you and your girlfriends laughing your heads off. These positive memories fill you with joy and ultimately offer inspiration.

Similarly, incorporate a few things that are simply fun. I was listening to something by author Elizabeth Gilbert, and she recommended using a sand-filled hour glass for a more whimsical way of time blocking.

I love this idea! Turning over the hour glass and working as the sand falls is much more enjoyable than simply setting a timer on your iPhone and shifting gears every time the alarm goes off.

I definitely jumped on Gilbert’s suggestion, and I ended up purchasing this hour glass with blue sand for my office at work and this one, which is a bit smaller, for my creative nook at home. I love them.

In fact, having this little novelty actually makes me want to work.

Hang an Inspiration Board

Though similar to a vision board, an inspiration board is a little different. Here’s what you do.

Hang up a bulletin board, magnetic whiteboard, or chalkboard near your desk.

They key is to have something that you can easily change. This way, as you begin new projects, find new inspiration, or dream up new ideas, you can adjust your inspiration board accordingly.

Hang pictures, quotations, goals, and affirmations that are particular to your current project; each time you look up for motivation, those images and words speak directly to your goals.

I opted for a bulletin board/whiteboard combo, which gave me the best of both worlds. But use whatever sounds most inspiring to you. 🙂

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And that’s it! 4 fun and simple suggestions to establish a creative office space.

If you’re still feeling a bit stuck, be sure to check out my post 10 Ways To Break Through Your Creativity Block and download my free creativity cheatsheet here!

Question:

How do you establish a creative office space? What items of whimsy do you include? What color is your office? Do you have an inspiration or vision board? Let me know below!