My fella can’t believe how much I change my computer desktop (though he always comments on how lovely it is).  And I really do change it a lot.  Every day or so, or if I’m particularly restless, I might change it up twice a day.

Like covering my laptop in different skins to pretty it up, this is a way to change up the space that I work in oh-so-constantly.  I certainly can’t afford to change the paint or wallpaper in my “home office” (the little white rolltop desk at the end of our bed) all the time, but I can definitely put up inspirational quotes or pretty pictures on my desktop.  And all for free!

Let me show you how.

Change the Default Picture

Your computer comes with a default picture.  You can change this any time as often as you like, as many times as you like.  And both Macs and PCs come equipped with preinstalled images, but you can use your digital photos or use copyright free images found on the web.

If you’re a Mac user, use these instructions from Apple:

1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.

2. In the window, click Desktop & Screen Saver, then click the Desktop tab to display just the desktop preferences.

3. If you want to use a photo from your iPhoto Library, select Library in the left pane. Otherwise, select Choose Folder, navigate to and select the folder that contains your image, and click Choose.

4. In the right pane, click any thumbnail to place the image on the desktop.

5. Depending on the size of your chosen image, you can opt to tile or center it if it’s small. Note: Your image will look pixelated or have jagged edges if it’s too small. Or have the image fill the screen, or stretch to fill the screen. Just choose an item from the pop-up menu that appears above the thumbnails, the one next to the thumbnail of your current picture.

If you’re a PC user, do this:

1. From the Start Menu, click on Control Panel.

2.  Under Appearance and Personalization, click on Desktop Background.

3. You’ll see a bunch of options appear – you can choose your picture position as well as the number of locations to browse through.  Just place a checkmark beside the image you’d like displayed.  You can always check or uncheck the “shuffle” mode that allows you to view a number of different pictures and images.

(Note:  In Windows 7, you can right-click on any image and select Set As Desktop Background. So easy!)

If you ever stop by my place, you’ll see me working on a number of different assignments at my desk.  Be sure to ask to see my desktop – iIt’s sure to please and delight you.  I know it makes me smile.

Whether it’s a peaceful ocean view, the “Keep Calm and Carry On” motto or a photo of Mr. Brad Pitt (sometimes a lady just can’t help herself…), it’s lovely company for a girl working away alone at her laptop.

It’s made a difference to me.  Maybe it’ll make a difference to you too!

Stephanie Dickison is the author of the recent book, The 30-Second Commute: A Non-Fiction Comedy About Writing & Working From Home, which covers her career as book, music and restaurant critic.  She has been a journalist for over a decade and now spends much of her time writing about travel, food, beauty, style and celebrities for various publications and websites.

When she’s not writing, she’s eating, cooking, organizing, filing, making lists in sumptuous notebooks (you must use your beautiful journals) and colour-coding her ever evolving calendar.

She is one of the few writers still using technology AND paper.  But at least her paper is organized into pretty file folders…

http://www.stephaniedickison.com