Have you ever found yourself forming opinions of your coworkers based on the items found in their office or cubicle? If you have, you are not alone. In fact, a recent study published in Psychology Today identified the common clues we give by the state of our workspace, and which of the “Big Five” personality traits are associated with them. Interested in what signals you may be giving? Read more.

Why should workers care so much about what their workspace might say about them? Well, for one, your boss is likely taking cues from what he or she sees during their morning stroll through the office. How you choose to decorate and/or maintain your work environment speaks volumes about your personality.

An article from Entrepreuner.com sheds light on the research findings by Sam Gosling, Ph.D., and what some of the things found in your office say about you. According to the article, office décor can reflect the following “Big Five” personality traits:

• Open to new experience. 
  Someone who's open will have things that indicate a broad range of values and interests, such as a wide variety of books; icons and objects that suggest travel to new places; or a collection of CDs indicating wide-ranging musical tastes. These offices are very distinctive and often contain unusual or stylish décor.
• Conscientious. 
  A conscientious person's office has signs that they're efficient and self-disciplined, that they focus on work, and that they think before they act. This person has a clean, neat desk; their books are arranged in order, maybe by height or alphabetically; their pencils are sharp; and their calendar is filled in. They also tend to have appealing, professional-looking spaces; however, they don't always make particularly good use of their space.
• Extroverted. 
  These offices come across as very inviting because they tend to be crafted to try and foster interaction. A person who's extraverted may have a variety of magazines lying around or a bowl of candy sitting on the edge of their desk. Their offices also tend to be colorfully decorated and "full." If their office is large enough, they may have a comfortable sofa and arrange their space so it feels roomy and there's no barriers between the desk and the people who come in.
• Agreeable. 
  Someone who's agreeable will generally have clues of sentimentality, such as a pebble from the beach where they had their first kiss or a postcard from an old friend hanging on the wall. These are all self-directed identity claims and thought-and-feeling regulators designed to remind the office owner of loved ones and happy memories. These offices also tend to have a wide variety of magazines or CDs displayed.
• Emotional stability. 
  Gosling warns that this is the most difficult trait to identify: The study found there was no standard way to identify a person's mental well-being. An office that's decorated, comfortable and formal will usually indicate an emotionally stable person, however.

Other personality clues Gosling says you may be giving your coworkers include:

• Family photos.
  Displaying pictures of your family shows others what you value in life. Where are the photos facing? If they're facing toward you, that suggests more of a thought-and-feeling regulator that indicates you're probably agreeable. If they're facing outward, you're probably more extroverted because you're telling other people what's important to you, or even using the photos as a status symbol.
• Plants. 
  An office that contains plants suggests you're trying to create an agreeable environment for yourself and others. It's also a behavioral residue, indicating you plan to stick around for awhile.
• Calendars and clocks. 
  A person who has an orderly, filled-in calendar is organized and ready to work. Having a visible clock also shows you're meticulous and hardworking.

If you want to learn more about Gosling's research, including what your Web site says about you, visit his Web site to read additional findings.