Does your cubicle need a little brightening up? Most offices are not against a plant being brought in or even a small fish tank if properly maintained and cared for. Find out, then check out these ideas for refurbishing your cubicle space to be a little more interesting. Each item should be suited to cubicle life and non-offensive to others.

Plants

• Dracaena marginata, often called the “Dragon tree”, is a spiky plant that will put up with a lot of abuse. It’s a winner if you have an office full of black thumbs – even the occasional dose of coffee tipped sneakily in the pot probably won’t kill this hardy plant.
• Sansevieria, also known as “Snake plant” has lovely green and white leaves that grow vertically, and it flowers inoffensively before producing little berries. No allergies, normally, making it an attractive choice.
• The long suffering ficus is another prime example of the ideal office plant, You will have to clean up a leaf or two once in a while, but a nicely maintained ficus is a delight.
• Philodendrons have a wide variety of plants for you to choose form, and have the added advantage of being bred for ornamental indoor use. Some people are sensitive, so check first.
• Finally, Bromelaids are the go-to when all else fails. Typically featuring green stiff leaves and colorful, waxy flowers, they are inoffensive and easy to care for.

Fish

If you decide on a fish tank, consider the cost of maintenance – someone will have to maintain the tank and fish or they will die a nasty death, even if they are hardy stock. Fish that do well ion tiny spaces are best for small cubicles, if you can’t get the whole office to go in on a stylish seawater tank!

• Betta fish are the darling of small space enthusiasts, but the tiny bowl showcasing them in pet stores is not a very nice environment. Expect at least a 3 gallon tank, with 5 gallons being better, and only have one male or 2-3 females at a time (males will fight.)
• Guppies are fun just to rest the mind, with their tendency to school and swim back and forth all day. They beat goldfish hands down for attractiveness and won’t grow as big as a goldie will.
• Multies are another good choice; these fish are 1-2 inches long and are fun to watch as they form their own pecking order.
• For the intermediate, an angelfish might be an option – just make sure the tank is big enough, and as with Bettas just have one. They are aggressive!

Either a plant or a fish could brighten your space and make your cubicle life a little more homey!