The festive season is a time to add extra cheer to your office, with Christmas decorations creating a welcoming environment for employees and clients alike.
While making the workspace feel inviting is a must, striking the right balance between fun and professionalism is also crucial. No-one wants to be the office Grinch, but going overboard with Christmas glitz isn’t advisable.
A life-size singing Santa figurine and a row of dancing Christmas trees may have novelty value for around 30 seconds, but they won’t provide an appropriate climate for striking business deals.
We’ve compiled a list of office decorating dos and don’ts for the festive period to help you create a warm and welcoming environment, without turning your workspace into a circus.
Why have workplace decorations?
When we decorate the office for Christmas, it not only creates a festive atmosphere, but it also boosts employee morale at a time of year when it’s likely to be flagging. With 62% of workers finding the festive period “stressful”, including 42% who say it’s their most stressful time of year, anything to alleviate these emotions should be welcomed.
A massive 85% of employees want seasonal decorations in their office, according to research by Ambius, as it improves the atmosphere and creates a sense of community. This in turn makes them feel valued and has a positive impact on productivity.
It’s not just about making employees feel good, as seasonal decorations in the reception area are also a welcoming sight for visitors: a Christmas tree outside your premises can create a positive image for your brand as people walk past.
Christmas decorations dos
Decorating the office should be an enjoyable experience for everyone. You can even use it to create fun activities for team building at work with a little imagination. Always keep the workspace in mind and focus on desk accessories, windows and communal spaces.
Being based in a bespoke workplace, such as serviced offices, gives you more scope for flexibility. Encourage team involvement by asking everyone to help create a fun, inclusive atmosphere.
Ask their views on what they would like to see: vote on ideas and organise a team tree decorating event. Most offices can find a free corner, so organise a Secret Santa and put some presents around the tree, to be opened before the office party, or on the last day at work before the holiday.
The decorations should take into account the size and layout of your office. Aim for a festive but professional ambience: the rule of thumb is not to choose anything too large, glittery, tacky or garish!
Go for light coloured decorations, such as stars and snowflakes, rather than musical reindeer and singing elves. String classy fairy lights around the office walls, door frames, windows, or on the end of desks to add extra sparkle and place seasonal potted plants like crimson poinsettias among the usual office greenery.
Rather than having a regular meeting, organise some Christmas games in the office, such as a seasonal quiz, or turn the gathering into a festive awards ceremony to show team members how much they’re valued.
Having Christmas music at work is something 94% of workers say they enjoy, according to a survey by The Music Licence, but the key is not overdoing it. While playing music in the office can improve employee mood and reduce stress, it must be inclusive, taking into account the diversity of staff and their religious beliefs. Try drawing up a festive playlist and include everyone’s choices.
Provide snack food such as bowls of sweets, mince pies, or non-alcoholic punch, while the office is being decorated, showing staff how much you appreciate their hard work.
The festive season can be a great PR opportunity, as some businesses also choose to sponsor a Christmas tree for the local community to show their commitment.
Christmas decorations don’ts
“Don’t be like the Grinch at Christmas!” is the key to a happy festive period in the office, as employers who stick rigidly to the usual routine and hardly seem to notice it’s the season of goodwill won’t be popular.
Most people will be familiar with How the Grinch Stole Christmas. In the festive film starring Jim Carrey as a grumpy green inhabitant of the town of Whoville; as everyone around him prepares for Christmas, he plots to spoil it for other townsfolk, never having recovered from his traumatic childhood.
Humiliated by classmates during his school’s Christmas celebration, the Grinch developed a lifelong loathing of the festive period. However, his efforts to make everyone else feel miserable fail, after six-year-old Cindy determines to include him in celebrations.
The Grinch enjoys a complete transformation from a lonely outsider into someone who appreciates the spirit of Christmas. Finally, he feels part of the Whoville community, to such a degree that his heart grows three sizes and he personally carves the roast beef at the town’s feast, which he hosts in his home.
So when we say “don’t be like the Grinch”, once his transformation takes place, it’s perfectly okay to immerse yourself in Christmas goodwill in the same way! Having said this, don’t have too many office decorations: while we’ve already touched upon the right type of decorations, don’t make the office look cluttered and unprofessional by trying to squeeze too much in.
Finally, don’t forget the importance of health and safety in the workplace, so avoid tripping hazards, never block fire exits and don’t leave tangled cables from fairy lights and decorations snaking across the floor.
Statistics show 2.6 million Brits trip and fall during the festive period, the majority of them doing so while hanging up decorations. Don’t become one of the 80,000 people who end up in A&E each year – we’re sure you’d much rather enjoy the festive holiday.
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