Office Makeover Fails: 2014 Edition

Here at OfficeAnything.com, we love to fill our blogs with photos of stunning offices and loads of advice on keeping it that way. But for every pretty post, we know there's an ugly office out there in desperate need of a facelift. For those of you who know the horror of paper avalanches, graveyards of decaying furniture, and the post-it note apocalypse, this article can help! Today, we're highlighting common office disasters, along with great tips on preventing them. Hunker down, and enjoy!

Not In Kansas Anymore...

Paper tornadoes are some of the most common natural disasters to plague an unsuspecting office. In places like medical facilities, where keeping old files on clients is mandatory for at least a few years, papers can stack up fast. Without organization, many people are left with a whirlwind that's enough to make them question whether they're in the office or in Oz. For this, we recommend file cabinets for organization and storage. Available in lateral or vertical cabinet options, file shelves provide a neat, designated space for old records too important to lose in a computer crash.

Bonus tip: Investing in a scanner to go paperless is also effective - just don't forget to "trash bin" the unnecessary stuff every few months to keep the hard drive clear.

Cyber Cyclone

Sometimes the messiest offices can actually look squeaky clean. Desks are clear, furniture's current, everything seems in its place - just don't sit down at that computer, or you may never get up again! Not only can built-up files, unwanted cookies, and never-ending programs slow your system to a crawl, but it can also slow response time to a virus should your computer get infected by a hacker or an unsafe webpage. Regular maintenance is mandatory for a clean, fast-running office. Taking time to delete old files, perform disk cleanups, run security scans, uninstall unwanted programs, and update software can save time and money. Don't forget to shut down your computer when not in use.

Bonus Tip: An external hard drive provides more space for backups of your files. If a disaster, such as a hacker or virus crashes your computer, the drive will have backups of everything. Adding space saving ergo products like CPU holders will keep the drives out of the way, so you don't have to sacrifice visual appeal for practicality!

Walls of Shame

Cluttered walls are pretty easy to come by, especially if you look down. In an office, wires and cables are necessary for most computers, hard drives, and lighting. Without organization, however, the floor of your office can start to resemble the snake pit from Indiana Jones. To save yourself from this predicament, be sure to unplug any wires or cables you don't use regularly and store them away. Wrapping up excess cording with a rubber band helps keep things neat. Many desks, like the desks from Global Total Office or Mayline offer modesty panels, grommets, and other useful features specifically for taming tangles of unruly cables.

Bonus Tip: Not sure which cable to unplug? Bread ties can help you keep track! Write the name of your device on the bread tie and hook them to the right cables so you always know what's what.

Zombie Furniture

"Vintage" is a style choice, not "decrepit." If you like the look of old, classic office furniture from the 40s and 50s, that's great! We love it too... but not enough suffer potential injury. If your desk or cool retro office chairs are falling apart, it's probably time to upgrade - or at least perform a makeover. There are plenty cool retro office chairs out there for sale if you know your furniture can't be fixed. If it can though, there are also tons of great DIY restoration blogs for old furniture!

Bonus Tip: The oldest furniture benefits most from a little TLC. Breaking out the tool box to tighten screws, oil hinges, and pick the gunk out of wheel casters every month or so goes a long way to making furniture last!

The Crumb-Pocalypse

According to a study by British Microbiologist James Francis, a dirty keyboard can have levels of germs five times higher than a public toilet seat - gross! Most people don't realize that the little crumbs from snacking at a desk build up quickly in unseen places like keyboard keys, door handles, and drawer bottoms. These unattended crumbs decay, attracting pests like mice and bugs who leave even more unwanted germs on your office equipment by night. For this, we recommend regular cleaning to thwart the crumb-pocalypse. Hand sanitizer, sanitation wipes, and compressed air dusters can help kill germs, and flush unwanted dirt and debris from those hard-to-reach places!

Bonus Tip: Using retractable keyboard trays can help keep keyboards out of the way when not in use. Rolling them under the desk saves them from the falling dust, debris, and snack crumbs that attract pests.

5 Popular Office Office Makeover Themes For The Fall

There's no mistaking it. With gentle breezes in the air and Halloween decorations already stocking the shelves of stores all over the nation, Fall is just around the corner. Autumn always brings with it some fun activities, like leaf jumping, scented candle hunting, and caramel apples - all of which are great for the company Fall Festival. But if there's one thing an office worker enjoys most of all, it's fall decorations! In today's article, we'll be showcasing our favorite fall makeover themes for the office. Hope you find them inspiring!

Fall Festival

Fall festival is an excellent seasonal decor theme for an office environment. As a relatively harmless secular holiday, it's doubtful that anyone will find a few harmless vegetables offensive. In fact, if your boss is a smart cookie, you may even be able to convince him to actually hold a fall festival! All the kids and parents that come looking for fun will undoubtedly raise awareness about your business, helping to show that the well-being and enjoyment of clients comes first for you.

However, if you'd rather keep the event small, organize a potluck with a few games to keep things affordable. Trashbin basketball, racing on sturdy office task chairs, and other staple office activities will fit in just fine. Don't be afraid to get creative though! A ring toss, cubicle decorating contest, or an office scavenger hunt will help to make this year's office fall festival one to remember!

Educational

As one of nature's cycles, school teachers are always using the changing seasons to educate students on the ways of the biological world. Why not take a tip from them? An office where clients know all about the features and services your business offers gives everyone the opportunity to reach their full potential. Don't be afraid to use the fall season to educate visiting customers on your company's many benefits. A simple fall themed centerpiece in with the contemporary reception furniture can draw the eye towards company coffee tables, where you can set informational pamphlets and employee cards. Laminated fall leaves with tips, facts, and questions on them will help remind customers of things to ask. It keeps them informed, and in the spirit of the season!

Halloween

As the poster-holiday of the fall season, nothing says "autumn" like Halloween! The best part about this office decor theme is that decorations are virtually endless. After clearing it with the boss and coworkers to make sure this holiday is work-safe, employees can go all-out with fun and easy Halloween decorations. Laminated fall leaves with magnets, candy bowls, seasonal vegetables, tiny paper ghosts, and fake vampire-teeth clips make super useful decor for this holiday. Have a contest with coworkers to see who can transform computer monitor arms into the scariest monsters. Finally, a simple Sharpie and a few small pumpkins will make beautiful jack-o-lanterns to scare away the monday blues. Get the whole office together on the big holiday itself to dress up and surprise all the visitors. Trick or treat!

Thanksgiving

Another fun fall holiday that nobody ever likes to pass up. Thanksgiving is a holiday to symbolize family, friends, and thankfulness for what we have, and it's got enough attachments associated with it to make decorating a snap. Dress up the office with grandiose centerpieces atop office reception furniture and conference tables to draw a customer's eye. Paper turkeys, cornucopias, feathers, fall leaves, flowers, and wreathes all make dazzling ways to shout Thanksgiving to visitors. For everyone else, a few cookies and crisp apples in the breakroom help keep us in the Thanksgiving spirit.

Keep It Simple

One thing that's true about autumn is that it's a diverse season. With all the falling leaves in different shapes, bright colors, and sizes, there are a hundred ways to decorate. Flamboyant pumpkins, ghostly ghouls, and feathered turkeys can get a little old, especially after the holiday has passed, which is one reason why some like to keep it simple. A few stray strands of hay, baby pumpkins, and magnetic fall leaves to double as office accessories are sometimes all we need to stay in the autumn attitude. Spice things up with scented candles to give the office that extra air of seasonal charm and you're golden!

Happy Holidays!

What's New: e5 Series Desk Sets by Mayline

Whether you're looking to decorate your home or business in modern executive style, it's always hard to top the e5 Collection by Mayline. This furniture series boasts versatility and modular design for convenience as well as beauty, and they have skyrocketed in popularity too. Because of this, Mayline has decided to expand the e5 Series with amazing modern desk layouts. Compact and affordable, here's a few under $1500 to jazz up your office!

Featuring fabulous modern style at a price that won't break your bank, the e5K1 Computer Furniture Layout by Mayline is always an excellent choice for the everyday office. Great in homes and businesses alike, this three piece furniture set includes a desk, a wall mounted hutch, and a mobile desk pedestal. Altogether, it offers plenty of storage and workspace for most, and can be easily reconfigured to fit in just about any office.

Another stunning choice from the popular e5 Modular Furniture Collection by Mayline would have to be the e5K6 layout. This four piece furniture set includes a pretty 60" table desk, an open storage cabinet, and two convenient wall mounted hutches for additional storage. With sets like this at their current affordable prices, it's no wonder competitors find it so hard to keep up with this great brand!

The e5K7 Series Modular Desk Layout by Mayline is a simple three piece set that looks beautiful in both home and business offices alike. With a gorgeous table desk and open storage cabinet, it offers excellent storage for any office. A lateral file cabinet is even included to bring an extra bit of organization and storage in for office executives. Clothed in a stunning white laminate with silver legs, this desk easily paints any office in sophisticated modern tones!

Given all the discount furniture series offered by Mayline, it's not surprising to see configurations like the e5K11 offered at affordable prices to However, with both amazing contemporary appeal and versatile storage components included, it's still a bit hard to believe. But Mayline's legendary commitment to quality furniture at low prices does not go unfounded, which is partly why the Mayline e5K11 Executive Furniture Suite makes such a great addition to offices everywhere. Users gain all the benefits of fabulous looks and plentiful storage in the form of a wall mounted hutch and open cabinet.

Similarly, the Mayline e5K14 Furniture Layout for Executives also includes a useful wall mounted hutch for storage. In addition, it also adds in a mobile desk pedestal and lateral file for organized storage of documents and other necessities. Best of all, it still boasts all the good looks the e5 Series is known for, and all at the excellent discount prices that have made Mayline one of the most popular office furniture brands in the industry!