7 Scientific Ways to Organize Your Workspace for Creativity

Soon I will be moving in to a new home and one of my favourite parts about it is that I will have a whole room as my workspace.

As a researcher researching creativity I am especially interested in creating a workspace for me that will increase my creativity, because I have learned how truly important creativity is.

Creativity is a thought process that leads to new and useful ideas and our environment is a great influencer on this thought process. So my question is, how can I best organize my new workspace to support and increase my creativity?

I have looked at what has been researched in this field and according to research there are several things you can do with your environment to increase your creativity and I want to share with you what I have learned.

1. Have plants in your workspace

Previous studies indicate that plants can improve your creativity. Having plants close to you when you work can also improve your mood and productivity. Improved mood is also very good for creativity because previous research suggests that when our brain is positive, our creativity rises. That’s not all, when we are happy the brain will also perform significantly better than when neutral or negative; our intelligence rises, energy level rises, and in fact every single business outcome improves.

Stress can be negative for your creativity but several studies indicate that being in natural environment or just looking at nature can promote recovery from stress.

Because of this I intend to put beautiful plants in my workspace as well as a big and beautiful picture of nature on one of the walls in this room.

Even though plants can have those great affects on us it is important to not fill your workspace with plants because that can reduce your creativity and that leads to the next point.

2. Have low complexity

As mentioned before, creativity is a thought process and space can help us think more creatively. Research indicates that rooms that people feel are spacious can enhance your creativity.

Because of this I will not clutter my office and pay close attention to how many plants are too many and how much furniture I will include in this room.

It is also important to decide how you will organize things and choose a way that suits your work style and personal preferences. Does it suit you to use color binders for your documents, scan them all to store digitally or use a drawer for them?

3. Have sufficient light

Sufficient light can increase your creativity according to research. I plan to have my Lumie desk lamp to have sufficient light and it can also lift mood and boost concentration and energy levels according to the manufacturer.

4. Choose rounded furniture

Rounded furniture seems to be linked with positive emotions and positive emotions have been linked with creativity. Rounded environment has also been rated more beautiful than straight-edged rectilinear environments and it triggered more activity in participants brain regions which are associated with aesthetic appreciation and reward.

I don’t have many rounded furnitures but I plan to put round vases for my flowers and I will also have my small, green and rounded trampoline in the room, which seems to be very beneficial for more than the reason that it is round and I will get to that.

5. Exercise

Previous researches indicate that exercising can increase our happiness and once again, happiness is good for our creativity :) That is also why my trampoline will be useful in this room. I love to put on good music and jump and dance when I take short breaks :) Which leads me to the next point about music.

6. Listen to music

Research has indicated that music can enhance our cognitive performance and have an impact on our emotional state. Just like with the colors, it is important for you to be aware of how different types of music make you feel and choose the type of music that makes you feel happy when you listen to it, because happiness can increase your creativity. I will find a good place in the room for speakers so I can listen to music that inspires me.

I also like to choose a song for each project I start and I listen to it before I start working on that project and whenever I need more motivation to work on that project.

7. Choose appropriate colors

It has been researched what colors seem to enhance creativity and the color blue and green are likely to bring up an approach-based, exploratory motivational state, which can support your creativity.

My trampoline has the color green so it seems it can be very beneficial for my creativity ;) and as mentioned above I will also include a picture of a green nature. However, it is important to be mindful and notice the meanings you have learned to associate with different colors and find the color that fits your goals the best because research indicates that different colors might be beneficial depending on the nature of the task. For example, the color red has been associated with increased productivity which is great for implementing your creative idea.

What suits you?

I am so excited about organizing this room so it will support and enhance my creativity. This is all good advice, but what I think is most important is to pay close attention to how different rooms, colors, music, furniture and other things make you feel. Be mindful about the whole room. Where do you feel your desk should be? Do you feel better when you can see the door from your desk? Do you like to have a window view?

Choose what suits you personally and makes you happy, because a happy brain is a more creative brain :)