Hunting for the best office chairs for women — or more specifically, the best fancy chair to buy for your office? Readers have had a ton of conversations over the years about this and I’m on the hunt myself, so I thought I’d comb through the comments to put everyone’s thoughts together. Is a Herman Miller Aeron worth the money? Is the brand Steelcase better for women? Let’s discuss.

To be clear: This article is for people who have decided they might want to invest in a fancy chair like Herman Miller or Steelcase but aren’t sure where to look first or what the differences are.

(I had, um, no idea… For example, the main one I’d heard of was the Herman Miller Aeron, but many readers have noted that they preferred other chairs much more for fit reasons.)

If you’re looking for a more affordable, comfortable office chair, we’ve rounded them up in the past. The chair I’ve had for almost 10 years is the Ikea Markus ($289) and I must say it’s been comfortable, cool, and quite adjustable. A number of readers also gave shoutouts to the classic balance ball chair, like this one from Amazon.

(I should also mention the super old-school classic, the kneeling chair, like this one. I have owned two of these over the years, and while I can see how they would be amazing for posture, I’ve never found them comfortable enough to sit in all day.)

Readers, have you gone on a hunt for the best office chair, either for your home office or to replace the one provided by your employer? (Do you have a “fancy” chair at the office, like an Aeron, and what do you think of it?) If you have a more affordable chair that you love, what is it?

The Best Office Chairs for Women

Table of Contents

• The Best Office Chair for Women Overall: Steelcase Leap – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair for Short Women: Herman Miller Sayl – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair If You’re Very Narrow: Steelcase Gesture – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair for People Who Fidget: Knoll by Generation – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair for a Splurge: Steelcase Gesture – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Affordable Office Chair for Women: Herman Miller Sayl – read our thoughts / see the product
• The Best Office Chair Available in a Lot of Colors: Steelcase Leap (34+) – read our thoughts / see the product

The Best Office Chair for Women Overall

Steelcase Leap

starts at $1006 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

The number-one name that kept coming up in the comments was the Steelcase Leap (followed by the Steelcase Gesture). A number of readers noted that they had bought it for their home office after comparing it to other office chairs their company provided, including Steelcase Think and Herman Miller Aeron.

People who were both short and tall seemed to like it, and a number noted how adjustable the chair was.

Like the Steelcase Gesture, the adjustable armrests was something commenters frequently called out, with one noting that you can move the entire armrest to a narrow settings vs. the more common “angling in the front of the armrest.”

One woman noted that she ordered hers from Amazon in basic black.

The Leap comes in 30+ different colors, and you can add a headrest, as well as choose different adjustable arms (4-way vs height only). The minimum dimensions for the chair are a height of 38.5″ H x 27″ W x 21.75″ D, with maximum dimensions of 43.5″ H by 27″ W by 24.75″ D. The seat depth range is 15.75″-18.75,” and the seat width is 19.25″; it has a weight limit of 400 lbs. The width between arms ranges from 12.75″-20″.

(Comparatively, the Gesture does have a wider range for width between arms: 10.25″-22.5″.)

The Best Office Chair for Petite Women

Herman Miller Sayl

starts at $735 at Design Within Reach

A lot of readers noted that the Herman Miller Aeron comes in different sizes, and that compared to the Aeron Size A, many preferred the Sayl.

One commenter noted, “If you are on the shorter side and have the budget, try the Herman Miller Sayl chair. Traditional office chairs are always too large for me and not ergonomic, even the fancy ones. This one actually fits me (5’4″), has a low profile so you basically don’t even see the chair when I’m sitting in a Zoom meeting, and the white looks great in my midcentury modern home office.”

Another 5’1″ woman noted that when she went to buy a nice chair, the salesperson didn’t have one on the floor for her to try, but told her to “Just come into the back office, all the women use these.”

This is also one of the best chairs under $1000. It comes in 15+ different color options and has minimum dimensions of 34.75″Hx24.5″Wx19.75″D (with maximum height of 39.25″). The seat height range is 16″-20″, the seat width is 18″, and it has a weight capacity of 350 lbs.

(Comparatively, the Herman Miller Aeron Size A ($1275) has dimensions of 38.5″Hx25.75″Wx16″D, a seat height range of 14.75″-19″, and a weight capacity of 300 lbs.)

The Best Office Chair If You’re Very Narrow or Small

Steelcase Gesture

starts at $1331 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

A number of Corporette readers who described themselves as “very narrow” said they loved the Steelcase Gesture, with many raving about the adjustable armrests. Sample comments:

“I thought I wanted HM for the style factor, but I am very narrow and couldn’t get one to fit my body after trying several Aerons and other styles. Instead I ended up with a Steelcase Gesture which is adjustable in just about every way and now I have armrests that actually function instead of being too far away for me to use.”

Another reader compared the Steelcase Gesture to the Steelcase Leap, noting, “The Leap arms were still just a little off for me but the Gesture is amazing. The arms felt much more substantial and customizable than the ones on the Leap. . . . The sales guy told me very small people tend to buy the Gesture, FWIW.”

Many agreed that the price is expensive, but worth it. One commenter said it was “worth every penny and I would buy another without question.” Another said it was “such a splurge but I’ve never regretted it.” A third one said she thought it helped with her neck and shoulder pain.

There are a number of customizations you can make to the product — many colors (30+), fabrics, frame colors — as well as adding a headrest, lumbar support, or wheels for carpet (vs. hardwood). The minimum dimensions for the chair are 39.25″ H x 22.375″ W x 21″ D, with maximum dimensions of 44.25″ H x 34.625″ W x 23.625″ D. The seat depth range is 15.75″-18.5,” and the seat width is 19.25″; it has a weight limit of 400 lbs. The width between arms ranges from 10.25″-22.5″.

The Best Office Chair for People Who Fidget

Knoll by Generation

$1331 at Design Within Reach

This one is a bit off book, because the recommendation comes from my brother, who got a Herman Miller Aeron chair but returned it because it made his back hurt. After more research, he decided to go with Knoll by Generation (a Herman Miller company), as he was swayed by reports he heard that it was more flexible and designed for people who fidget and move around a lot.

Here’s the product description from Design Within Reach:

Freedom and flexibility are the guiding principles behind the creation of Knoll’s newest ergonomic seating solution, the Generation Chair (2009). Recognizing that sitting upright and facing forward is just one of the many positions people take throughout the day, the design team behind the Generation Chair created a seat that moves with you, as you move. Providing both freedom of movement and continuous support, this ergonomic office chair is a groundbreaking example of elastic design – where a product rearranges itself in response to its user. The Generation Chair is manufactured by Knoll.

The general dimensions for the chair are 44.5″H x 28.5″ W x 26″ D; it is $1331 at Design Within Reach.

Along similar lines, one reader noted that she loved the Herman Miller Embody chair for the “bounce factor.”

The Best Office Chair for a Splurge

Steelcase Gesture

starts at $1331 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

Starting at $1331, this one isn’t cheap, but it’s one of the names that came up time and time again. As one reader noted, “It is obscenely expensive and worth every penny. I could not be happier with it.”

Other pricy options include the Steelcase Leap (starts at $1006), the Herman Miller Aeron (starts at $1270), and the Herman Miller Embody (starts at $2270).

The Best Affordable but Fancy Office Chair for Women

Herman Miller Sayl

starts at $735 at Design Within Reach

Of the chairs mentioned repeatedly, the Sayl was the most affordable, starting at $735.

A few people did call out the Steelcase Series 1 or 2 chairs. Series 1 starts at $450, and Series 2 starts at $588.

Of course, a number of readers have noted that if you’re looking for an affordable fancy office chair for women, you should check out used office furniture warehouses near you since so many companies are downsizing. Craigslist was another option that many people mentioned.

The Best Office Chair With Multiple Color Options

Steelcase Gesture

starts at $1331 at Steelcase

also at Amazon

All of these options come in a ton of colors, many with swatches available so you can carefully gauge the color and quality. Steelcase tops the list at 34+ colors (to Herman Miller’s 12ish).

There are four upholstery types available, including the soft Era, the “hard-working polyester blend” Cogent, the “velvety soft” Billiart Multi, and the Elmosoft leather. You can choose anything from a light blue “sea salt” or a very Tumblr pink (“rose quartz”). There are also richer colors like a deep red “lipstick/merlot” or the brighter-than-navy “blueprint.”

Other Chair Company Names Mentioned (or Not) By Readers

• Autonomous: One reader noted that she got the ErgoPro from Autonomous and “absolutely loved it.”
• Branch: One reader noted she had gotten the Branch Daily chair and really liked it.
• Haworth: There were no recent mentions from readers (only one in 2011).
• Humanscale: Readers mentioned the Freedom, Liberty, and Cinto chairs, but only a few times.
• Knoll: not too many mentions for the chairs, but rather the desks

Affordable Ergonomic Chairs for Women

As we noted above: If you’re looking for a more affordable, comfortable office chair, we’ve rounded them up in the past. (As I mentioned, I really like my Ikea Markus ($289).) A number of readers also gave shoutouts to the classic balance ball chair, like this one from Amazon.

Other Resources: Where to Research the Best Office Chairs for Women

The subreddit r/OfficeChairs has a ton of great information, but from what I could find there isn’t a lot that was specific to women.

The post The Best Office Chairs for Women appeared first on Corporette.com.

We’ve recently started a series on how to bring specific design inspirations to your office decor… First we looked at ways to have preppy-inspired decor. Today, let’s take a look at how to add Art Deco style to your office!

Readers, do you enjoy Art Deco style? Do you have any elements of it in your home or office?

{related: how to make your office more comfortable}

What Is Art Deco Style?

First, I thought it might be helpful to have a general inspiration board — all images come from Wikipedia.

I absolutely adore Art Deco style, so this was a lot of fun. I realized that some things I thought were Art Deco, like Tiffany lamps and curved chaises, are actually Art Nouveau. (In fact, Art Deco was a response to Art Nouveau — compare the Paris Métro entrances, with swooping curves, to the geometric lines and sharp angles of, say, the Chrysler Building.)

I’ve seen some places on the web that characterize Frank Lloyd Wright as Art Deco, but according to the better sources it looks like his early work grew out of the Arts and Crafts movement (before it became the Prairie School). This article on the Saatchi website compares and contrasts Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Arts & Crafts.

This post from TheArtStory gives a great history of the style; you can also check out these other Art Deco guides from Architectural Digest, The Spruce, and Apartment Therapy. In general I think of Art Deco as having straight lines, geometric shapes, and a fairly dark color scheme with lots of gilded details and saturated jewel tones.

(I’m obviously not an expert here, but if you are an expert I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!)

Next, here’s our general vision board:

I should note that I’m not suggesting you put all of these pieces in one office — but these are all inspirational-type pieces that you might choose a few of to place in your cubicle, private office, or home office.

{related: the logistics of decorating your office}

How to Add Art Deco Style To Your Cubicle or Other Shared Office Space

You may feel like you’re limited here because so many Art Deco pieces are BIG — pieces of furniture! crazy wallpaper patterns! But there are a bunch of small things you can do to bring an Art Deco style to your cubicle.

Some easy things: file folders and file holders. Pencil cups. Bookends. There are a ton of affordable Art Deco artworks you can find at Etsy and Society 6 if you have some wall space. If you wanted to go really big, you could cover any bulletin boards with an Art Deco wallpaper or poster, and then use them as you regularly would.

Another fun idea: If you’re the type of person who prints labels for folders, binders, and other items, you could always download some Art Deco fonts. This pack from Etsy is only $7. Prefer free? Google fonts Limelight and Poiret One both have some Art Deco elements.

A few of the pieces I saw that would add Art Deco style to a cubicle:

{related: how to decorate your workspace}

How to Add Art Deco Style to Your Private Office

If Your Office Already Has Dark Wood Furniture

If you have a basic corporate office with dark wood furniture, you’re already on your way — I tend to think of Art Deco as having a very heavy, dark style a lot of the time. In that instance I’d work to bring in gold pieces to brighten the space up, such as with a sunburst mirror or other wall decor.

On your side of the desk I’d go with an Art Deco inspired lamp, pencil cup, file folders, file holders, maybe even labels in a specialty font as noted above. On the visitor’s side I’d add some throw pillows or a throw blanket with geometric patterns, bookends or picture frames, and maybe even an acrylic tray. (If you’re someone who keeps alcohol in your office, there are a ton of beautiful Art Deco decanters out there.)

If you really want to get fancy, you could bring in a special desk chair or visitor’s chair, or even go for an Art Deco couch or chaise. If you’re the kind of person whose office furniture needs to allow you to occasionally take a nap on it, I’d go for an LC4-inspired chaise instead of a couch — they just look more comfortable.

Another thought: you could add curtains or window film in an Art Deco-inspired pattern — the window film is pictured in the inspiration photo, but there are a ton of choices.

Some pieces that would work if you have a dark office:

{related: office decor: how nice is too nice?}

If Your Office Is Corporate White or Gray

If your office isn’t already in dark colors and you’re working with corporate white or gray, I’d stick to some of the advice above for the cubicle. You might also want to bring in some Hollywood Regency inspiration along with your Art Deco — think silver instead of gold, fuchsia/sapphire instead of emerald/rust, and so forth. (These are just a few ideas…)

{related: decorating office walls: 3 ways to jazz it up}

How to Add Art Deco Style to Your Home Office

As always, you can have a lot more fun with your home office. Wallpaper! Geometric wainscoting! Furniture! Architectural features like columns! You can do it!

If you’re making big office furniture purchases, you can absolutely go for one of the amazing Art Deco desks out there. (The pictured one is from Anthropologie and is $1698.)

Another idea: You could modify or upcycle some older furniture to add inlay (such as this one from Etsy) or painted features (this article from Upcycle has some great Art Deco-inspired DIY ideas), or just go for dark colored furniture in general. (Estate sales are a great place to find a dark desk… unless you want a keyboard tray.)

You can also add a chaise or chair, or go for a barrel chair or the more bench-like chaise. (The one we’re picturing has STORAGE, too!!) Another easy hack: adding a throw blanket or some pillows that have Art Deco elements.

You can have a lot of fun with lighting elements, also, from sconces to flush mounts and more.

Some general ideas for an Art Deco-inspired home office:

{related: livening up your office walls}

Further reading on Art Deco-Inspired Office Style

• How to Add Art Deco Style to Any Room {Apartment Therapy}
• Art Deco Interior Design: Everything You Need to Know About This Opulent Style [Architectural Digest]
• An Art Deco Interior Design Guide [The Spruce]
• 9 Art Deco Office Décor Ideas to Revamp Your Office [Autonomous]
• A Look at the Art Deco Office [Le Deco Style]
• How To Blend The Art Deco Movement In Your Office’s Interior [LDB Design]

The post How to Add Art Deco Style to Your Office appeared first on Corporette.com.

I thought I’d try a new series: how to design an office, in different decorating styles. First up: how to design a preppy-inspired office.

Do you have (or want) a preppy-inspired office? If you have a very preppy style yourself, how do you think that personality shows in your office? Whether you’re hybrid, remote, or in-office full time, how have you designed your space?

I had a lot of fun putting together this inspiration board, which admittedly leans heavily on some Lilly Pulitzer stuff.

All of the products are linked below the image!

How to Get a Preppy-Inspired Office If You Work In a Cubicle or Shared Space

I think the trick is going to be picking a few pieces that make you happy but don’t overwhelm the space. For me this would mean maybe getting one of the custom, Lilly-inspired mouse mats, some blingy gold office supplies, and maybe some fun pushpins for your office bulletin board.

How to Get a Preppy Inspired Office If You Work in a Law Firm Or Other Conservative Space

Your biggest hurdle here is going to be overcoming the “executive brown” furniture that you likely have in your office. I would start by making the space as light and airy as possible as possible, with as much white or beige as you can bring in — a white desk mat, an ivory or beige throw blanket on your visitor’s chair(s), maybe even a white (ergonomic) chair for yourself if you can swing it. I might also try to stick to white-only binders where possible, all labeled with a consistent label, sticker, or font.

After you achieve a nice white or beige base, THEN you can add accents like a pillow with fun colors, a joyful picture frame or two, a beautiful flower vase (with real flowers, of COURSE).

On your side of the desk, you can get into more twee, fun things like colorful pushpins and more.

How to Get a Preppy-Inspired Home Office

The sky is the limit here, of course! I’ve seen a lot of offices painted with bold wall colors like hot pink, lime, bright yellow, or some combination thereof. You could also check out Spoonflower — there’s such a wide selection of wallpapers there that there are definitely some preppy-ish designs. (For example!) (I believe Lilly Pulitzer previously made wallpapers, also, if you feel like doing a hunt.)

That said, now is the time you may want to check out Core Prepsters like Tory Burch, Martha Stewart, and Reese Witherspoon — I feel like a lot of their offices are still mostly neutral, light colors like white or beige, with fun, bright pops of color as accents. Bonus points, of course, if you can mix and match different prints (toile! stripes! floral!) on chairs, walls, and other designs.

(If you want some examples of interior designs with really sophisticated mixing and matching of different prints, Summer Thornton’s Instagram is full of them — such as this, this, or this. Reese Witherspoon’s designer, Mark Sikes, is also an expert at mixing and matching patterns — check out this, this, or this.)

Readers, what are your thoughts? Do you have (or want) a preppy-inspired office? If you personally have a very preppy style, how do you think that personality shows in your office?

Further reading:

• Martha Stewart On Organizing Your Home Office [YouTube/CBS Sunday Morning]
• Step Inside Tory Burch’s Refined Manhattan Office [Architectural Digest]
• Inside Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Offices [Domino]
• Go Inside Martha’s Home Office Renovation [MarthaStewart.com]

The post How to Design a Preppy-Inspired Office appeared first on Corporette.com.

A friend was saying how much she loved this lamp for her desk, and since it was only $60, I ordered it. We’re really happy with it also, but there are three relatively important things to note:

1) it is HUGE — it’s shown in the picture over two monitors. It’s almost twice the length of the keyboard. So, note that going into it! Its all shipped in one big long box and then you have to do a bit of easy assembly (yes, screwdriver required, but not much else).

2) It clamps! I somehow failed to notice that, so it was a bit of a surprise. So this may not work if you’re working with a dining room table (unless you’re at the edge), nor will it work with a secretary desk, desk with a hutch, or a built in — but if you have a free-standing desk with a free edge, this is awesome.

3) Just FYI, it doesn’t have any charging cables or things like that for your phone — so, note that going in if charging is something that’s important to you.

We put this one above my son’s desktop computer, and we’re really liking it. It has a soft light over the monitor, and has five different color modes. It’s excellent if you’re the type of person who finds yourself sitting in a dark room lit only by the computer monitor.

It’s available in black and white for $59 at Amazon. Readers, what are your favorite desk lamps or other lighting solutions for your office?

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Workwear sales of note for 11.28.23

Our favorites are in bold!

• Nordstrom – Black Friday deals have started! 1,800+ sale items! Shop designer, get bonus notes up to $1200. Markdowns include big deals on UGG, Natori, Barefoot Dreams, Marc Fisher LTD, Vionic and more!
• Anine Bing – Sale, extra 20% off! Many blazers down around $250
• Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your purchase
• Banana Republic – 40% off your purchase, including cashmere; up to 60% off sale styles
• Banana Republic Factory – 60% off everything & extra 20% off purchase
• ba&sh – Up to 50% off Fall/Winter styles
• Bergdorf Goodman – Extra 30% off select sale, save up to 70% off
• Club Monaco – 25% off almost everything
• Cole Haan – Up to 60% off almost everything plus extra 10% off (ends tonight 11/29)
• Express – 40% off everything
• Her Room – Up to 50% off 1000s of items
• Hugo Boss – Up to 40% off women’s & exclusives
• J.Crew – 50% off everything + free shipping
• Kule – Up to 40% off, $50 off when you spend $250
• Lands’ End – 50% off sitewide (readers love the cashmere)
• Loft – Free shipping, 60% off 2+ styles or 50% off 1
• Lo & Sons – Up to 70% off; spend $100, get an extra 10% off wallets – reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
• Ministry of Supply – 25% off sitewide with code (ends 11/29)
• Summersalt – 30% off everything plus extra $10 off sweaters with code; up to 60% off (this reader favorite sweater blazer is down to $75)
• Talbots – 50% off all markdowns and 30% off entire site — readers love this cashmere boatneck and this cashmere cardigan, as well as their sweater blazers in general
• Theory – Cold weather essentials up to 40% off
• Theory Outlet – up to 80% off sweaters and outerwear – readers love this t-shirt
• Uniqlo – Limited time deals starting at $14.90 (ends 11/30)
• Universal Standard – Enjoy 30% off everything (as a minimum) + extra 10% off
• White House Black Market – Up to 60% off sale styles
• Zappos – Early Black Friday sale! Save BIG on footwear, clothing, bags and more. Daily Deals 50% off, and check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.

Kid- and Family-Related Sales

• BabyJogger – 25% off 3 items
• Crate & Kids – Up to 50% off everything plus free shipping sitewide; save 10% off full price items
• J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off everything + free shipping
• ErgoBaby – 40% off Omni Breeze Carrier, 25% off Evolve 3-in-1 bouncer, $100 off Metro+Stroller
• Graco – Up to 30% off car seats
• Nordstrom – Big deals on CRANE BABY, Petunia Pickle Bottom, TWELVElittle and Posh Peanut
• Strolleria – 25% off Wonderfold wagons, and additional deals on dadada, Cybex, and Peg Perego
• Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!

The post Coffee Break: LED Desk Lamp appeared first on Corporette.com.

Here’s something we haven’t talked about in a while: How do you decorate your workspace, whether it’s at home or at the office? (What have you learned about decorating your home office in the past year — and how do you think that will translate if/when you head back to the office?)

My home office area has a navy, white, and hot pink theme (hmmmn, wonder why), so I’m mostly on the hunt for fun hot pink accessories. (It’s also the only space in Casa Griffin that I feel comfortable being thoroughly girly.) The bright pink accessories remind me not to take things TOO seriously and are also a bit of fun and color, which I feel like also helps regulate my mood a bit.

(I’m also rather, um, messy, and in addition to piles of papers I have 13 post-its taped to various monitors and surfaces… and various bottles of vitamins, multiple pairs of glasses, clipboards, etc. out…)

Things that I think are important to me in decorating my workspace:

• bright colors
• inspirational art/quotes — At the moment I just have a framed poster-size version of “just put your favorite lipstick on and deal with it,” but I’d also love a nicer version of the “creative process” meme and the creativity/canyon idea*.
• functionality — I like to know where everything is and know that it’s here, so I have things like pink scissors and a pink ruler that I know must always return to my office.
• at least one styled space that feels like it’s styled but also authentic — For me that’s a ladder bookcase I have that has some binders on it but also important books, kid art, and various white vases and hot pink paperweights, air plants, etc. (I have another white bookcase that’s also relatively neat and the various fashion books, blogging books, career books, and writing books all have their own little space.)
• other little accents that make me happy: A large faux pink orchid peeking out from behind my second monitor, a large gold starburst mirror on one wall that shows up in my Zoom calls
• ergonomics — I love my split keyboard and the little stepstool I keep beneath my desk. I think I’m due for a new chair and keep meaning to go into the comment archives to see what everyone recommends (beyond the reader favorite Steelcase Leap, of course, although I should just bite the bullet and get it after I find a place to actually sit in a model).
• separation — Because mine is a home office I want a bit of separation from the rest of our living space. It’s more than just privacy while working; it’s almost like I need a completely separate space where I’m allowed to feel differently than I do in other rooms (where, for example, bedroom would be refuge/sanctuary, kitchen is family-focused, etc.).

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

{related: how to make a bookshelf look pretty}

Comparing that to the three main offices I worked in previously, I’d take these lessons forward:

• in a shared cubicle: I’d probably pick a color theme and try to have my space feel like MINE, a unified whole
• in a BigLaw office with dark wood and visitor chairs (you can see my old office here): I always distinguished between “my view” (facing the visitor’s chair) and “the visitor’s view” (facing my desk) and I’d definitely keep that separation, with all the fun, bright colors and inspiration in my view, and less personalized accents behind me, sort of like the styled bookshelf I’m talking about above — faux plants, paperweights, more abstract photos — and somehow leave space nearest me for my mess, such as in a drawer or something. I would also make better use of natural light if I could, maybe by having decorative mirrors on the wall opposite the window(s)…
• in a hodgepodge office where there may be sort of junky bookcases and various metal desks (sort of like my old nonprofit office): I think I’d focus on making the space feel unified, probably again with one color theme — maybe by taking a large, colorful piece (rug, framed artwork, simple-to-hang curtains) and picking one color from that. I’d probably also try to avoid using fluorescent lights above, and bring in a standing lamp or other lamp instead.

Readers, how about you — what have you learned about decorating your workspace, and what will you take with you back to the office?

(For those of you who are better at corralling clutter and mess, what are your best tips?)

Stock photo via Stencil.

* Re the creativity/canyon idea — I can’t find this on the internet, although it may be expressed by Godin’s book The Dip: the idea is that creative projects are like a canyon, in that you can see clearly where you want to go when you set out, but once you’re in the canyon (in the middle of the project) you’ve lost sight of where you’re going and where you came from — so you need to start out with a clear sense of the path in front of you. (I haven’t read the book so I don’t know where I heard the idea, but I love it!)

The post How to Decorate Your Workspace appeared first on Corporette.com.

Here’s a question that I ponder from time to time: What are the best faux flowers for home and office?

Real flowers are lovely, of course, but they require a bit of care — you have to cut them and arrange them and refresh the water and then trash them and wash the relatively gross yet hard to clean vase. (Tiny violin, I know.)

When I was younger I remember thinking that fake flowers were suuuper cheesy — I think primarily because my primary exposure to them was that wall at the crafting store. The older I get the more I realize that there’s a HUGE difference in quality in faux flowers, and that the more expensive faux flowers actually look quite lovely and sophisticated.

I’d love to hear from those of you who have Opinions about this — which brands are best for faux flowers for home and office? Do you have many kinds of faux flowers that you rotate seasonally? Do you find that there are any kinds of faux flowers that are better for upkeep, i.e. not getting noticeably dusty and/or being hard to dust?

{related: they also are a great addition if you’re trying to make a bookcase look pretty!}

In any event, color me in love with these faux calla lilies from Pottery Barn — they look fancy but minimalist. I could see them looking absolutely fabulous in a sleek apartment in mostly whites and grays. They’re $250 at Pottery Barn.

Workwear sales of note for 11.28.23

Our favorites are in bold!

• Nordstrom – Black Friday deals have started! 1,800+ sale items! Shop designer, get bonus notes up to $1200. Markdowns include big deals on UGG, Natori, Barefoot Dreams, Marc Fisher LTD, Vionic and more!
• Anine Bing – Sale, extra 20% off! Many blazers down around $250
• Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your purchase
• Banana Republic – 40% off your purchase, including cashmere; up to 60% off sale styles
• Banana Republic Factory – 60% off everything & extra 20% off purchase
• ba&sh – Up to 50% off Fall/Winter styles
• Bergdorf Goodman – Extra 30% off select sale, save up to 70% off
• Club Monaco – 25% off almost everything
• Cole Haan – Up to 60% off almost everything plus extra 10% off (ends tonight 11/29)
• Express – 40% off everything
• Her Room – Up to 50% off 1000s of items
• Hugo Boss – Up to 40% off women’s & exclusives
• J.Crew – 50% off everything + free shipping
• Kule – Up to 40% off, $50 off when you spend $250
• Lands’ End – 50% off sitewide (readers love the cashmere)
• Loft – Free shipping, 60% off 2+ styles or 50% off 1
• Lo & Sons – Up to 70% off; spend $100, get an extra 10% off wallets – reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
• Ministry of Supply – 25% off sitewide with code (ends 11/29)
• Summersalt – 30% off everything plus extra $10 off sweaters with code; up to 60% off (this reader favorite sweater blazer is down to $75)
• Talbots – 50% off all markdowns and 30% off entire site — readers love this cashmere boatneck and this cashmere cardigan, as well as their sweater blazers in general
• Theory – Cold weather essentials up to 40% off
• Theory Outlet – up to 80% off sweaters and outerwear – readers love this t-shirt
• Uniqlo – Limited time deals starting at $14.90 (ends 11/30)
• Universal Standard – Enjoy 30% off everything (as a minimum) + extra 10% off
• White House Black Market – Up to 60% off sale styles
• Zappos – Early Black Friday sale! Save BIG on footwear, clothing, bags and more. Daily Deals 50% off, and check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.

Kid- and Family-Related Sales

• BabyJogger – 25% off 3 items
• Crate & Kids – Up to 50% off everything plus free shipping sitewide; save 10% off full price items
• J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off everything + free shipping
• ErgoBaby – 40% off Omni Breeze Carrier, 25% off Evolve 3-in-1 bouncer, $100 off Metro+Stroller
• Graco – Up to 30% off car seats
• Nordstrom – Big deals on CRANE BABY, Petunia Pickle Bottom, TWELVElittle and Posh Peanut
• Strolleria – 25% off Wonderfold wagons, and additional deals on dadada, Cybex, and Peg Perego
• Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!

Workwear sales of note for 11.28.23

Our favorites are in bold!

• Nordstrom – Black Friday deals have started! 1,800+ sale items! Shop designer, get bonus notes up to $1200. Markdowns include big deals on UGG, Natori, Barefoot Dreams, Marc Fisher LTD, Vionic and more!
• Anine Bing – Sale, extra 20% off! Many blazers down around $250
• Ann Taylor – Up to 40% off your purchase
• Banana Republic – 40% off your purchase, including cashmere; up to 60% off sale styles
• Banana Republic Factory – 60% off everything & extra 20% off purchase
• ba&sh – Up to 50% off Fall/Winter styles
• Bergdorf Goodman – Extra 30% off select sale, save up to 70% off
• Club Monaco – 25% off almost everything
• Cole Haan – Up to 60% off almost everything plus extra 10% off (ends tonight 11/29)
• Express – 40% off everything
• Her Room – Up to 50% off 1000s of items
• Hugo Boss – Up to 40% off women’s & exclusives
• J.Crew – 50% off everything + free shipping
• Kule – Up to 40% off, $50 off when you spend $250
• Lands’ End – 50% off sitewide (readers love the cashmere)
• Loft – Free shipping, 60% off 2+ styles or 50% off 1
• Lo & Sons – Up to 70% off; spend $100, get an extra 10% off wallets – reader favorites include this laptop tote, this backpack, and this crossbody
• Ministry of Supply – 25% off sitewide with code (ends 11/29)
• Summersalt – 30% off everything plus extra $10 off sweaters with code; up to 60% off (this reader favorite sweater blazer is down to $75)
• Talbots – 50% off all markdowns and 30% off entire site — readers love this cashmere boatneck and this cashmere cardigan, as well as their sweater blazers in general
• Theory – Cold weather essentials up to 40% off
• Theory Outlet – up to 80% off sweaters and outerwear – readers love this t-shirt
• Uniqlo – Limited time deals starting at $14.90 (ends 11/30)
• Universal Standard – Enjoy 30% off everything (as a minimum) + extra 10% off
• White House Black Market – Up to 60% off sale styles
• Zappos – Early Black Friday sale! Save BIG on footwear, clothing, bags and more. Daily Deals 50% off, and check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kid shoe brands on sale.

Kid- and Family-Related Sales

• BabyJogger – 25% off 3 items
• Crate & Kids – Up to 50% off everything plus free shipping sitewide; save 10% off full price items
• J.Crew Crewcuts – 50% off everything + free shipping
• ErgoBaby – 40% off Omni Breeze Carrier, 25% off Evolve 3-in-1 bouncer, $100 off Metro+Stroller
• Graco – Up to 30% off car seats
• Nordstrom – Big deals on CRANE BABY, Petunia Pickle Bottom, TWELVElittle and Posh Peanut
• Strolleria – 25% off Wonderfold wagons, and additional deals on dadada, Cybex, and Peg Perego
• Walmart – Savings on Maxi-Cosi car seats, adventure wagons, rocker recliners, security cameras and more!

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

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• I’ve got a nasty case of tech neck…
• What’s a good place for a relaxing solo escape?
• What’s the best commuter backpack?
• I’m early 40s and worry my career arc is ending…
• I canNOT figure out the proportions in this current season of fashion…
• How is everyone wearing scarves in 2023?
• What shoes are people wearing to work between boot and sandal season?
• What’s a good place for a relaxing solo escape?
• What are some of your go-to outfits that feel current?
• I need more activities that are social, easy to learn and don’t involve extreme running/jumping/etc.

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