I rent a little writing office, and I recently acquired an office mate. She was all set to move in when I realized I was embarrassed to have anyone see my workspace, let alone share it. At the time, it was a barren closet packed with boxes and junk I'd dragged in from the car. Together we've been revamping, and slowly the storage closet is turning into a jewel box. Here's what I've learned about making an office into an inspiring space.

1. Take good care of yourself.

It's tough for an office to be inspiring if it's not physically comfortable, so start by taking care of your body. Get yourself: - a chair that doesn't cause you pain, - some good light, - and maybe a pitcher of water to keep you hydrated. There. That's better already.

2. Make yourself welcome.

Now that you're physically comfortable, consider how you feel when you walk in to your workspace. If you want to feel happier, start by removing junk and introducing a mood lifter. Extra stuff makes it harder to find things, and sucks up your productive energy. So get rid of: - everything you don't absolutely adore, and - anything you don't use regularly. Once you've cleared some space, treat yourself to something that sends a welcoming message: - fresh flowers or a plant, - some art, - a seating space for visitors.

3. Organize and personalize.

Now that your office is filled with essentials, you can figure out what you're missing and where you want everything to live. While you're investing in office and organizational supplies, remember everything in your space should be special to you. Invest in pens that feel good in your hand, a colorful stapler, or attractive labels. If you surround yourself with objects that are pretty and functional, you may find you need fewer useless gewgaws to make your space feel happy.

4. Make an inspiration board.

An inspiration board can take many forms, but the one of the simplest types is a bulletin board where you can tack things that inspire you. Your board can be specific to your goals, or it can be a rotating display of things that make you feel good. We're all attracted to novelty, so making a space in your office that's designed to change with you will help keep you feeling inspired when you walk in. Now go make something good.

Read more by Maggie Mason: 5 Super Useful Camera Accessories, Five Small Camera Bags for the Casual Photographer, Gift Guide for Geeks, 6 Unique Tools for Better Photos, Budget Tech Gifts Under $50, Mighty Girl's 2010 Resolution

What makes your workspace a place you want to be? Share your thoughts below. 

=========================================================================
Margaret Mason is the author of No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog, publisher of Mighty Mighty Media, and a Twitter power user (@Maggie). Her personal blog, Mighty Girl was recently nominated for a SxSW Lifetime Achievement Award, and she was named one of Silicon Valley's Top 50 Influencers by Now Public.