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Office Space
As an executive, you can use your office to show off your personal style. HGTV's John Gidding, host of the hit show Designed To Sell, has decorating advice that will make every businesswoman feel right at home while at work.
by Natasha D. Smith
August 19, 2008
E
very woman needs personal space. But when you are at work, it's not always easy to
get away. After all, you have a board meeting in the morning, an interview for a new
assistant right after lunch and a major presentation late in the afternoon. But take
heart. There is one place where you can escape the fray - your office. Every office is a
personal space. And it can be a great place to show off your personality and style. HGTV's John
Gidding, a host on the Atlanta-based, Designed to Sell, explains how you can create a professional
and personal décor in your office.
Chill Out: The Relaxing Office
As strange as it may sound, your office doesn't have to be all about work. Sure, you have
invoices and reports stacked higher than the Eiffel Tower. But clear away the clutter and your
newfound space will be the perfect place to create a peaceful, relaxing environment. Gidding, who
is an architect, insists it doesn't take much to instill serenity. You need only the right colors.
" With a relaxing feel, you want to go with natural tones. Sands and stones for the base colors and
the neutral blues and greens for an accent wall." But be careful when picking out a color palette.
Gidding warns the wrong hue will throw that feeling of relaxation right out the door. "You want to
stay away from highly saturated spice colors: reds and oranges, and things like that, because those
actually give a fight-or-flight reaction."
Creating a relaxing office can go far beyond a few coats of paint. Gidding suggests
designing a seating area where you and others can take a minute to kick back. "Create a small
little nook where someone can take a break from actually sitting at a desk with a big hard
surface." He says if you don't have a big office, a small couch or a soft chair just might do the
trick. "Even in the smallest places, you can create a little area that doubles as a place where
someone might sit with you in your office."
If you don't want to haul in furniture, there is a subtler but just as effective option -
change the lighting. Gidding says you don't have to resort to mood lighting. "There's a lot of very
interesting lighting out these days that lets you control how cool or warm you make your light."
Classy Meets Creative: The Sophisticated Office
Sophistication. It's one of the
most respected qualities of a highly successful businesswoman. A professional woman often portrays
refinement through her actions, her clothes, and of course, her office. "A sophisticated office is
what most people try to go for because an office is a place of business," the expert designer
explains. "It's a place where one likes to put one's best foot forward." Gidding, president of John
Gidding Design Inc., says a sophisticated office can be interpreted in two ways: a modern approach
and a more traditional look. When a contemporary look is desired, the HGTV star suggests stainless
steel accents and more saturated colors. "Go for the more modern furniture: the glass, the built-in
storage, [also] the blacks and the browns for colors."
If you are a woman who is more of a traditionalist, a sophisticated office can also be the
right choice for you. "You can have an extremely sophisticated office with crown molding, paneling,
a large writing desk with the leather desk pad and the wing-back chair," Gidding says. "[This
style] is more of an old-school way to look at sophistication."
Sophistication often yields to creativity. "For me, a sophisticated office is a place that
shows personality." Gidding, a graduate of both Harvard and Yale universities, encourages a
businesswoman to add a personal, unique touch that illustrates a well-rounded professional.
"There's a little worldliness implied with sophistication that a lot of people try to embrace. So
[try] incorporating things that come from travels, such as artwork."
It's Easy Being
Green:
The Eco-Friendly Office
Perhaps you're a businesswoman who cares about the environment just as much as you are
concerned about the bottom line. Gidding says it's not difficult to keep your office green
while making the green. "There are a million ways of going about it. ... With lighting, there are
[fixtures] made from recyclable materials." He says you should even consider switching out your
personal office printer. "No laser printers. You want an inkjet, which uses 10 times less
electricity."
What are some of the ways to go green, when decorating your office? The TV host says the
type of paint you choose for your walls could make all the difference. "You want to go with
low or even no volatile organic compound paint," Gidding says. Low VOC paint gives off less gas
into the environment.
The color scheme in an eco-friendly office tends to be neutral and soft, he says. Why?
" Because things aren't being dyed, chemically processed and treated. So, you have all the brown,
the beiges and tans." He emphasizes that a green office will be a healthier place to work.
Project Runway: The Fashionista's Office
No, you don't have
to build a runway down the center of your office to prove you are fashion forward, though it would
be a great place to practice a catwalk strut. Gidding suggests a much simpler approach to
redesigning the office of a fashionista. "A lot of people have coat racks in their offices.
[But] a fashionista would approach a coat rack in an entirely different way. It's a design element,
" he says. Gidding says that for one such client, he ordered a custom-made, steel coat rack
with colored tabs that fold down - a vibrant piece for any office. "[It's] kind of a fun way
of introducing color to a coat rack and at the same time introducing some design."
Of course, every chic entrepreneur knows that keeping up with all the latest fashion trends
is a must. But surprisingly, Gidding says, when designing a fashionista's office, haute couture
doesn't have to be the only inspiration. "It's not just about the clothes. [Try] open magazine
racks. You can have the décor magazines on one level, the men's fashion on [the second]
level, the women's fashion, [and] the gossip magazines on top."
Gidding says a magazine rack is a nice way of implying that you are well versed in all
areas.
Last Word
Revamping your office can provide that workplace oasis you have been searching for.
But before making any changes, make sure to check the company rules and standards for
decorating. Stay away from items that might be hazardous, such as scented candles. Once
you've checked the company guidelines, start your office makeover.
Gidding insists decorating your office will help you feel more at home while at work. "You
need to enjoy the office so that you can feel good when you step into it and start your day."
John Gidding hosts Designed to Sell, which airs at 8 p.m. Thursdays on HGTV.
Gidding's new show, Drawn to Perfection, is also based in Atlanta and will premiere in April. Photo Credit: Josh Thomas/J. Thomas Designs
