Hi everyone! I really need help making this windowless, government space into somewhere I feel cozy and want to work. The furniture in the pics that must stay is the desk, two drawer filing cabinet in the corner behind
the desk, the two chairs, and the brown cube organizer. I am not attached to any of the artwork except the floral folk art painting and am happy to start fresh if needed.
Please give me any advice you have on lighting arrangements, furniture arrangements, decor I can add, etc. The desk must stay against the wall as is, or tuned 90 degrees to face the door because of the cords (but I think I prefer where it is as it feels a little cozier? But open to opinions)
Not opposed to spending a little money to make it truly cozy and beautiful!!! I hate everything about it rn lol so thank you in advance 🙏
Consider getting an extension cord so you can rotate your desk to face the door. This puts you in the Feng Shui "command position," which boosts focus and makes you feel more secure. In front of the desk, you can set up a seating area with a sofa, coffee table, and another sofa or an accent armchair. Avoid overly matching sets so the room doesn't feel sterile or uniform; Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or local thrift shops are great for finding unique, affordable pieces.
The most crucial element for cozyness is lighting. Stick to warm toned bulbs, and ideally buy them from the same brand. Even when bulbs claim the same color temperature on paper, different brands almost always vary slightly in tint. Because of the low ceiling, opt for low profile furniture to create the illusion of taller walls. Avoid buying identical matching lamps unless you want the space feeling clinical. Finally, explore styles like Japandi, Organic Modern, or Boho to see what resonates with you.
Oooh great tip with buying bulbs from the same brand, the different tones with the same kelvin are driving me crazy! I might try rotating my desk toward the door, I just hate the cool tone clinical lighting in the hallway when my door is open 😣 i need to do more Feng Shui research for sure
Even better get all smart lights and you can set them to imitate the sun. Softer in the morning and evening, brightest at noon. All on an automated timer. Ikea smart lights are fine, hues are better.
Ah, I see. You can definitely leave the desk where it is, as long as you still have a clear view of the door. I also attached an AI mockup to help visualize what I mean.
Great start with the incandescent lighting. I'd grab a couple of pothos to soften the angles and provide oxygen. The art is a good touch, those walls are begging for some warm colors or deep jewel tones.
Best thing I've done, is swap my lamp bulbs to smart ones that I can configure to track the outside light patterns. Helps create an illusion to track the current lighting outside so you can't surprised by it suddenly raining outside etc.
Yeah the general consensus is I def need some snake plants and pothos in my life 🌱 I love the idea of a rug! Do you think rectangular or circular would be better?
Thank you! One thing at a time :) I don’t think I can paint bc it’s a government building, but I’ll try and make the lighting different heights to add some dimension!
If you don’t have any airflow, CO will build up and you will be poisoned. One of the most famous reddit posts is about a guy that thought someone was invading his house and leaving post its. Turns out his office was windowless and he was slowly dying of CO poisoning. Common symptoms are confusion and hallucination. He was the one leaving post its.
•
u/AutoModerator 5d ago
🛑 Rules/Wiki
💬 Join us on Discord (Work and Play)
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.