right colors, or topped with feathers, cartoon characters, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Of course most people have family photos on their desk, but why not print out 8x10 enlargements of your favorite vacation destinations on regular printer paper and pin them to your cubicle wall. You don't need frames, you can replace t

Whether you're in a spacious corner office or a cramped cubicle, sometimes a workspace can seem bland and uninspiring. From a neutral palette to cookie-cutter furniture, many offices -- particularly those not open to the public or to clients -- are designed for function over form.

The good news is that there are easy ways to brighten any office space. With a few simple touches, you can create a better environment in which to spend your 9 to 5.

- Color can play an important role in mood and productivity. Bland office spaces filled with shades of beige and gray, though low on distraction, are often mood dampeners. So why not add some pops of color to your office or cubicle?

Buy a great, brightly-colored calendar. Nature calendars are idea. Pages filled with birds, butterflies, and blooms can perk up any workspace.

Treat yourself to flowers. Gerbera daisies in bright orange, raspberry, and red are perfect mood lifters, and inexpensive carnations can last for weeks with the right care. Keep a vase ready at the office for when the mood strikes. Plus, flowers have the added benefit of smelling wonderful.

- Add personality. Sure you can use pencils from the supply cabinet, but for a small price (think Dollar Store!), you can fill your pencil holder with fun pencils. Buy them in bright colors, or topped with feathers, cartoon characters, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Of course most people have family photos on their desk, but why not print out 8x10 enlargements of your favorite vacation destinations on regular printer paper and pin them to your cubicle wall. You don't need frames, you can replace th

brighten any office space. With a few simple touches, you can create a better environment in which to spend your 9 to 5.

- Color can play an important role in mood and productivity. Bland office spaces filled with shades of beige and gray, though low on distraction, are often mood dampeners. So why not add some pops of color to your office or cubicle?

Buy a great, brightly-colored calendar. Nature calendars are idea. Pages filled with birds, butterflies, and blooms can perk up any workspace.

Treat yourself to flowers. Gerbera daisies in bright orange, raspberry, and red are perfect mood lifters, and inexpensive carnations can last for weeks with the right care. Keep a vase ready at the office for when the mood strikes. Plus, flowers have the added benefit of smelling wonderful.

- Add personality. Sure you can use pencils from the supply cabinet, but for a small price (think Dollar Store!), you can fill your pencil holder with fun pencils. Buy them in bright colors, or topped with feathers, cartoon characters, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Of course most people have family photos on their desk, but why not print out 8x10 enlargements of your favorite vacation destinations on regular printer paper and pin them to your cubicle wall. You don't need frames, you can replace t

or to your office or cubicle?

Buy a great, brightly-colored calendar. Nature calendars are idea. Pages filled with birds, butterflies, and blooms can perk up any workspace.

Treat yourself to flowers. Gerbera daisies in bright orange, raspberry, and red are perfect mood lifters, and inexpensive carnations can last for weeks with the right care. Keep a vase ready at the office for when the mood strikes. Plus, flowers have the added benefit of smelling wonderful.

- Add personality. Sure you can use pencils from the supply cabinet, but for a small price (think Dollar Store!), you can fill your pencil holder with fun pencils. Buy them in bright colors, or topped with feathers, cartoon characters, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Of course most people have family photos on their desk, but why not print out 8x10 enlargements of your favorite vacation destinations on regular printer paper and pin them to your cubicle wall. You don't need frames, you can replace t

weeks with the right care. Keep a vase ready at the office for when the mood strikes. Plus, flowers have the added benefit of smelling wonderful.

- Add personality. Sure you can use pencils from the supply cabinet, but for a small price (think Dollar Store!), you can fill your pencil holder with fun pencils. Buy them in bright colors, or topped with feathers, cartoon characters, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Of course most people have family photos on their desk, but why not print out 8x10 enlargements of your favorite vacation destinations on regular printer paper and pin them to your cubicle wall. You don't need frames, you can replace t

right colors, or topped with feathers, cartoon characters, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Of course most people have family photos on their desk, but why not print out 8x10 enlargements of your favorite vacation destinations on regular printer paper and pin them to your cubicle wall. You don't need frames, you can replace them as often as you like, and for a small price, you can add something both personal and neat enough for the office.

Even small things like buying your own, attractive mouse pad or a festive box of tissues can liven up your desk space.

- Change for the seasons. Decorate for the seasons as well as for the holidays. With management's permission, string colored lights at the holidays and add feather butterflies to cubicles in spring and summer. Changing your workspace for the seasons keeps things fresh and gives you something to look forward to on a regular basis.

- Don't forget about communal space. Most shared spaces are forgotten when trying to liven up an office, but it's a great team-building task to share responsibility for keeping the office as a whole bright and comfortable. Why not put an easy-to-care-for plant to the top of a filing cabinet?

Always check with your human resources department or members of the management staff if you're unsure what's appropriate under company rules. Just remember, your workplace can be professional and productive and still show personality and life. So go ahead. Decorate your workspace and make your 9 to 5 a little brighter.