Decor That Works

Tips on colors, coverings, and accessories for your office

by Shirley Good

The appearance of a church office can foster productivity and make guests feel comfortable. Or it can do just the opposite.

When facilities are old and budgets are tight, church-office decor may be low on a priority list. Nevertheless, there are certain principles you can follow to make your office a pleasant place.

Decorating Basics
Good decorating incorporates four basic components:

1. Unity. A room should maintain the same style throughout. Avoid mixing styles. You should not feature a rustic look on one side of the room and a southwestern style on the other.

2. Balance. Spread furniture around the office; do not push all the chairs in one corner and leave the rest of the room empty.

3. Emphasis. Every room should have a focal point. The attention-getter could be your desk. Tasteful emphasis eliminates the visual overload produced when excess items scream for your attention. Example: One large picture is better than many small ones.

4. Rhythm. Repeat patterns that are harmonious. This can be done by using similar materials, coordinated color tones, or prints with evenly spaced features. Similar patterns create continuity. Even-spaced patterns produce a calm, relaxed mood.

Clutterless Comfort
You should decorate your office in a way that helps people feel comfortable, conveys a professional atmosphere, and shows forethought and organization. That means, do not cover the walls with lists and announcements, do not allow piles of papers to accumulate on your desk. Do not let your space take on the look of an office supply store or computer outlet.

When you're ready to decorate, here are some additional tips on how to make your office look fabulous.

Choose the right colors. A simple coat of paint will enhance the office's appearance if you choose the right colors. Neutral colors create a roomy feeling because they recede, making walls and furniture look farther away than they actually are. Blues and greens with white create an open look that's relaxing and comforting. Romantic colors such as pinks, roses, lavenders, and purples should not be used as primary wall colors in an office, but can be used as accents. Orange, red, and fluorescent colors are considered aggressive. To avoid monotony, add visual interest to neutral walls with sponge painting or other texturizing techniques and include nubby upholstery.

Find the right wallpaper. Different wallpaper patterns create different effects. Vertical lines visually raise the ceiling because they draw the eye up. Narrow stripes create the tallest but least obtrusive effect. Horizontal lines widen a room. A wallpaper border placed slightly below the ceiling tends to lower it visually; placed mid-wall at chair-rail height, it can serve as a divider between two paint colors or wall textures.

Floral wall coverings are rarely the best choice for a church office because they tend to be feminine rather than gender-neutral. They also create the look of a dining room.

Other hints: Textured wallpaper covers bumps and flaws. Papering just one wall adds interest depth to a room. Chair rails and molding add character.

Add pictures and accessories. Plants give life to a room and a cheery sense of the outdoors. If you use live plants, keep them trimmed and watered. If you don't have a green thumb, use silks. Mixing silks or dried flowers with the live plants is a wonderful way to add color and interest. Avoid tiny, cutesy feminine flowers. Use tall floral arrangements if the room is small; keep accents minimal for a most spacious feel.

Pictures should be hung just above eye level, which is lower in seating areas and higher in walking areas like hallways. One large picture is better than many small ones. Consider using matted or attractively framed pictures of serene settings, Scripture verses, and religious imagery. A clock that is visible to staff and guests will help keep everyone on track.

Make the most of windows. If you have windows, show them off. A scarf valance or tailored valance adds a nice touch. Avoid using ruffled or puffed valances, which create the impression of a bedroom.

Lined draperies hang well and help maintain comfortable temperatures in an office in both summer and winter. For a narrow window, hang wide drapes at the outside edge to visually create a wider opening. If the outside view is unattractive, cover the window. Mini-blinds are an economical way of filtering light and providing security for an office.

If you don't have enough windows and can't add them, hang mirrors to enlarge the impression of light and space.

Keep a clean office. A neat, well-organized office is always attractive. Efficient and appropriate storage containers can help make an office look more inviting. Use translucent plastic boxes with content identification to improve efficiency and overall appearance.

Offer comfortable seating. A straight-back chair is easy for guests to get in and out of, but office seating should not give the impression of a bus station. When selecting a sofa, choose one that's comfortable enough to promote conversation but is not so plush that it fosters napping. Low furniture makes the eye think the ceiling is higher.

Add lighting. Light—whether natural or artificial—makes an office feel more spacious. Track lighting or spot lighting can change a room's atmosphere and open it up by washing walls with light. Spotlighting a plant can also have a nice effect.

Invest in a rug. New floor coverings can be costly, so consider sprucing up the floor with a new area rug. Also, try inexpensive carpet remnants to cover old or worn tile floors in small spaces.

Mistakes to Avoid
Churches typically make three mistakes when decorating their offices:

1. Too homey. Decorators assume that the components of a well-decorated church office are the same as those of a private home. This can result in a look that is too homey. So don't put prissy curtains and excessive floral or lacy items in your office. And don't allow an excessive number of personal photos.

2. Too crowded. Reduce wall-to-wall furniture, clutter, unused equipment, and general junk. A messy wall, resembling a teenager's bulletin board, also is not acceptable.

3. Too unfocused. Some churches design by committee. They have no theme of color or pattern and are just a catch-all of donated items. They should be refocused.

Welcome Decor
Your office should give visitors the impression of a friendly, comfortable place in which the business affairs of church are handled in a professional manner. It should say: We are ruled by the Prince of Peace; clutter and chaos will not be found here.

Shirley Good is the director of Office Revival, a church office efficiency consulting service.

Copyright © 1998 by the author or Christianity Today International/Your Church. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mail yceditor@yourchurch.net.
May/June 1998, Vol.4, No. 3, Page 36

	Subcategories of Office Equipment
	Copiers & Duplicators Offering Envelopes Office Equipment Other Printing Telecommuncations