Have you ever stared at the fluorescent lights, leaking drop ceiling, and gray walls of your cubicle and felt it was a little reminiscent of a scene from Office Space?
Or, even more awful, it felt like an actual padded jail cell?
Maybe your circumstances are not as dreary and you actually have a window, an office, or a nice space in your home, but it feels a little lackluster… And, quite frankly, your environment is not showing the brilliant and self-assured person that you are. Your Zoom background needs to reflect your true work persona, shouldn’t it?
You need some new office wall art ideas to make things feel a little more alive.
I’ve personally struggled with this since you want things on your wall that reflect you and your personality, but you don’t want the higher ups giving you a side eye over your old Dave Mattews poster or your kid’s latest drawing of an excavator construction truck.
Nope, you want something on your walls that makes you look chic, smart and promotable.
Read below for my favorite office wall art ideas that have worked for me and that won’t have anyone looking at you weird, but will still make you feel like your work space is put together.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, we may earn a commission. Thanks!! Featured image source: Solitude by NLS Design-Abstracts
Office Wall Art Ideas the Make You Look Chic and Smart
Original Artwork
Having original artwork hanging on your office wall is a great option. It looks like you know a thing or two about great style and are a fan of promoting the arts. Even if you’re not, it looks like you are, and that’s what counts.
The tricky thing with original art is that you don’t want anything offensive or that could be misconstrued.
That’s where my favorite art comes into play – the abstract landscape painting.
An abstract landscape painting is original, not offensive and is something without being something. While some abstract art can go out into left field and be a little too modern for some people’s liking, an abstract landscape is a little closer to people’s baseline, so they accept it. It is also updated enough to make you look like you know what you’re doing without trying too hard.
(Read my post 5 Easy Ways to Decorate with an Abstract Landscape Painting for more ideas.)
Clocks
You want to show that you’re punctual, right?
Being on time is never out of style, and what better way to show that you respect people’s time than by having a clock, or clocks on your wall.
You can choose to have one larger clock for a major impact, or a grouping of smaller clocks in different styles to make more of a gallery wall. If you are going with a larger clock, try to choose something that is streamlined, but also classic. More of a transitional style. If you are going with the clock gallery wall approach, choose clocks of varying sizes in a range of styles so it looks eclectic.
Mirrors
Mirrors are one of the most universal wall décor items that you can buy. They are classic yet modern and they serve a purpose.
The only thing to be a little careful with here is to know what your mirror will be reflecting if you have it in the background of your Zoom meeting. You don’t want your dirty kitchen or messy closet making an appearance inadvertently.
Shelves
If mirrors are the most universal wall décor, shelves are the workhorses.
Shelves can be decorative in and of themselves, but they can also pull double or triple duty. They can store your office supplies (neatly of course) and they can also display simple decorative items like candles or vases – or the many work achievements and trophies you most obviously have.
When choosing shelves, I would lean towards a more streamlined look instead of a chunkier farmhouse feel. You want the shelves to project a clean, professional look. Look for floating wood shelves or metal shelves that have a modern bracketing system.
Plants
Ah, the office plant… such a nice thought, but somehow seems slightly depressing.
Why not elevate the humble office plant and put it on your wall instead.
Wall planters are easy to find and can be nailed up if you are at home, or use removable wall strips if you are in an office or apartment where to can’t have nail holes in the wall.
(Read my post How to Hang Artwork Without Nails or Damaging Walls for more info.)
Dry Erase Board
Dry erase boards make you look like you are the master at group think tank style collaborative meetings.
Choose a large one that covers a majority of the wall for the most impact. You can leave the dry erase board clean if you don’t want to expose your to-dos too much, or you can make simple planning notes or ideas to give the impression you are brainstorming – because you most definitely are… All.The.Time.
Just remember to be careful with what you put up on the board. You obviously don’t want to put anything too personal on your board for the world to see. Your boss doesn’t want to know what bills you have to pay or that you plan on buying the gallon size bottle (or box – no judgement) of wine the second you leave work.
Calendar
When none of these office wall art ideas seems right, go with a calendar. A large, modern style calendar with no pictures is a full-proof option. You can put your due dates for all of your projects on the calendar so you look like the go-getter you obviously are.
We end up spending more time at work than we do at home, (which is a problem in and of itself) so why not make the most of your work environment as you can. By incorporating a few of these office wall art ideas into your space, you ca make yourself look like the chic, smart and ladder-climbing individual you are. Very deserving of a promotion indeed.
