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Canberra Times Journalist's desk gets a makeover
Canberra Times' Life and Entertainment editor Bree Winchester's desk gets a makeover with help from local businesses. Timelapse with no sound.
It's the hallmark of Canberra work life - a cubicle, in an open-plan office, walls covered in dated fabric and a desk covered in tacky faux-wood laminate.
But what if you could 'pimp' your cubicle just before the Christmas break? Give yourself some extra inspiration to return to your desk in 2017?
This was the challenge I put to Canberra interior design company SPACElift DC this week. Just like the rest of Canberra, we here at The Canberra Times also sit in cubicles. And I was willing to "take one for the team" by allowing my workstation to receive an extreme makeover.
Here's what happened when the SPACElift Design Consultancy crew rolled in and took over my desk for about 60 minutes last week:
The results are - well - breathtaking.
Here are the Top 5 things SPACElift DC recommends to design the perfect workspace for 2017:
1. Select a good base finish for your space (desk and screen)
If your desk or screen finish is tired or dated consider covering these surfaces to bring a more modern aesthetic to your space.
Hands down the most impactful change you can make is to set a stunning foundation for your work. Meg Campbell, senior designer at SPACElift DC, bought the marble contact for Bree's desk from Kmart for just $3 per roll.
"The contact just lifts straight off, so when you leave, it's a simple case of peeling it off," Meg said.
"You'll of course need to ask your boss first, and you can colour tag cords so you remember where to plug them back into.
"A new base can make the most phenomenal difference."
2. Start standing
Current workplace research suggests that regular movement during work time minimises fatigue and increases productivity.
"The negative health effects of sitting all day are well documented, so for Bree's project we wanted to make sure she was standing for at least eight minutes every hour," Meg said.
The Quickstand product used in the makeover is the same stand used by staff of the Department of Human Services, the Productivity Commission and the Department of Communications. It seamlessly transforms any fixed-height desk into an active one, and has a plug-and-play cable management system to get piles of messy cords off your desk.
3. Add some greenery
By putting real plants on your desk. According to Meg, the number of plants required to filter the air per employee is six, but two or three plants is an excellent start.
"Having plants on your desk not only looks amazing, but also helps with air quality," Meg said.
Philodendron, peace lily and ferns are among the best plants for your desk as they're small, efficient in filtering toxins, and convert carbon dioxide to oxygen.
4. Dot your space with personal touches
Include family photos, favourite books and artwork that relates specifically to your role.
"Bree is from Queanbeyan and is deeply passionate about the city, so an 'I Love Queanbeyan' artwork in a frame was perfect," Meg said.
"Have a flick through Pinterest or Instagram and find a quote or an image that you love - it's then as easy as printing it at the right size and whacking it in a frame.
"You don't even have to use the colour printer - black and white is very much in at the moment," she laughed.
5. Lift things up off your desk
"Clutter is caused by having everything just sitting at one level on your desk, like paper, folders, notepads, pens, empty coffee cups," Meg said.
"Add some stacking shelves so you've got loads of space underneath to spread out and do your work."
The SPACElift DC team used a shelf from The Reject Shop to raise a plant, a pen holder, a piece of art and some pins up off my desk.
Shop Bree's new cubicle look:
- Soft Boundary (for noise elimination), Schiavello, $1,320
- Toro desk stool, Schiavello, $585
- Desk four-piece set-up (in-tray, magazine file, folder file, pen holder) in rose gold, Kmart, $20
- A4 felt compendium, Kikki K, $59.95
- Kingston ash photo frame, Kmart, $10
- Giant peg organiser, coolthings.com.au, $9.95
- Vide desk mirror, Schiavello, $90
- Masonite clipboard, Kmart, $3.50
- Quickstand seated/standing desk, Humanscale, $1,275
- Liberty Conference/Task Chair, Humanscale, $735
- Herman Miller Tackboard, Designcraft, $327.80
- Para.mi desk lamp by Waldmann, Designcraft, $965
- Stacking shelf (non-slip), The Reject Shop, $6
- Mobile pedestal (drawers), Schiavello, $575
- TP coat stand, Schiavello, $920
- Waste bin, Officeworks, $6.29
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