3 Keys to Creating a Workspace You Love

Look around at the space you inhabit right now. The walls, the lighting, the openness or cave-ness, the clutter or minimalist ideal, the ceiling height and materials, the desk, textures, the constant hum of traffic, ambient melodic grooves or whisper silence, the vibe...

How does this environment make you feel? Energized? Calm? Distracted? Confined, supported, held or exposed?

Now imagine your ideal creative workspace. What do you see? High ceilings or cozy nooks? Sunlight streaming in or soft mood lighting? Surrounded by nature or high-speed WiFi?

Our physical spaces shape our reality, the way we feel, work and create, in ways we often overlook. After two years of video calls in makeshift home offices, many of us feel a disconnect between our environment and our emerging needs. We’re working differently, collaborating differently, communicating and creating differently. And we want our spaces to accommodate both who we’ve become and how we now find ourselves working.?

As organizations call people back to office spaces, buildings, cities, open plans and cubicles, many are feeling a certain reluctance. Or, as a solopreneur crafting your own workspace, you may feel stagnant and uninspired.

We’ve all come to realize how important our work environment is to our ability to not only do your best work, but also feel great doing it. Question is, how can we transform our space to spark creativity, productivity, and joy as we move into a new, changed season of work and life?

In a recent conversation with longtime friend and fellow creator Jadah Sellner , we dove deep into this timely dilemma. We explored how to reimagine and design workspaces to help you thrive in this next chapter.

What does your ideal environment look and feel like? What spaces spark your best work? How might your current workspace be limiting your potential?

Here are 3 key insights to help you design spaces that spark creativity:

Get Clear on Your Needs

When Jadah felt confined writing her recent book in a tiny home office, she knew it was time for a change. But instead of browsing random listings, she got clear on her ideal workspace needs. She envisioned a space with natural light, room for gatherings up to 50 people, open areas to dance and play music, and a private office for focused work.

Defining your needs helps you recognize the perfect space when it appears. Make a list of must-have features. Do you need walls of windows, lots of wall space for whiteboards, a podcast studio, or room for collaborators? Don't limit your vision—this is your dream workspace!

Tune into the Vibe (yes, for real)

Every space has a certain energy or vibe. Some of that comes from people and culture, but some also comes from the physical qualities of a space. So, imagine how you want the space to feel, and make YOU feel. What vibe or energy do you want it to have? Consider the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and energies that would help you feel focused, inspired, and supported.?

Do you want an open loft flooded with natural light or a cozy hideaway? Minimalist Scandinavian design or colorful bohemian textures? The buzz of creativity or peaceful tranquility? Consider how elements like lighting, layout, colors, textures, and ambiance affect your energy. For Jadah’s new workspace, she envisioned a mix of structure to support a certain baseline productivity and flow to support a more freestyle creativity.?

Imagine Multi-functional Sub-spaces

Envision how your ideal workspace might morph throughout the day or week. Jadah wanted space for coaching calls, workshops, music lessons, and gatherings. She had to think through how her environment supported her portfolio of use-cases. I envisioned a space that could support writing and meetings, in-person workshops, an art studio, a visual recording set, and a podcast recording studio.

Make a list of all the activities you want to do—collaborating, reading, recording, creating. Then brainstorm layouts and furniture that allow the space to shapeshift. Look for multipurpose furniture and flexible open floor plans. How could you recreate your space in a few minutes to accommodate different tasks?

As Jadah wisely said, we must repot ourselves into larger containers to support our growth. Your current environment may have served you in the past—but will it nourish your next chapter? What space will hold you in this season of expansion?

For more insights on designing inspiring workspaces, check out my full conversation with Jadah Sellner on the SPARKED podcast. Wishing you creativity and joy as you shape spaces as remarkable as your dreams. #creativity #officelife #workspacedesign

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