An office’s interior design can have a massive impact on how a business operates. The right setting can allow employees to be more productive, less stressed and give greater job satisfaction. It can also show clients who you are as a business and be the best ambassador for company culture and branding.
Here are some steps that all businesses should consider to make their office a more attractive and productive place.
Make space
An airy, spacious office is one of the best ways to promote a healthy and productive office environment. You could consider having a thorough office declutter and recycle any equipment or furnishings that are no longer used.
More space will empower your employees to be more creative, productive and generally happier at work. If you are doing an entire office remodel, you could even consider raising the ceilings to promote the benefits of space.
Choose the right colours
The colour scheme you choose matters. Different colours have different impacts on our minds and mood. You could consider choosing different colours for different sections of the office. For instance, blues are better for promoting relaxation, so you could select this colour for the breakroom. Brighter colours can add energy, so these could be ideal for meeting rooms.
It may help to ensure that none of the colours clash or are too bright. While bright colours have their place, you should generally avoid anything over bright as it may contribute to eye strain and be distracting.
Add some nature
Adding greenery to your office is a great way to add some character and style to the space. Nature is an excellent stress buster and can help elevate the mood of the entire office. There are many ways that you could add nature to your office environment.
Some businesses have found success in bringing a significant amount of plant life into the office. For instance, using living wall dividers of climbing plants. You don’t need to start too big if you are unsure – even the addition of a handful of plants around the office can make a big difference both to employee mood and the office aesthetic.
Keep branding and culture in mind
You should consider interior design in line with your culture and branding. This doesn’t mean that you have to deck the office out in your company’s colours, but that your office should be representative of your company’s tone and ethos.
For instance, if your business’s brand focuses on fun and spontaneity, then you could consider adding elements of this to your office. This could be in the form of a ping-pong table, whimsical wall art or beanbag chairs for the meeting rooms.
Consider different types of lighting
Lighting can affect mood, productivity and creativity. Lights that are too bright can make it harder to work and create a clinical, sterile environment. You could consider using multiple light sources depending on the room and activity. Warm lights can be great for creating a welcoming atmosphere, while cool lighting can energise. It may help to get lamps in different light tones that mean you can switch up the lighting depending on what you require.
Ideally, your office will have plenty of natural light, which will give you and your employees a much-needed boost of vitamin D all year round. If you have an office that doesn’t benefit from much natural light, you could use mirrors to reflect natural light into the rest of your office.
Improve the breakroom and kitchen
Key to a productive workforce is employee satisfaction. Where possible, it is a good idea for an employer to go above and beyond to ensure that their employees are happy and healthy. This can lead to increased loyalty and retention among your team.
An excellent way to improve your employees’ job satisfaction is to go the extra mile with their breakroom and kitchen. You could consider making the breakroom a completely removed space from the rest of the office both in colour scheme and furnishings. This will help your employees switch off during their break and return to work refreshed.
It may help to ask your employees for suggestions on how you can improve the breakroom and kitchen. Taking your employees’ suggestions into account will show them that you care about their comfort and happiness at work.
Bring flexibility to the workplace
The traditional office set-up is becoming obsolete in 2021. Allowing employees greater flexibility around the office will help them to be more productive and dynamic.
You could consider investing in standing desks, introducing hot-desking and different environments that your employees could work within. These options give employees the power to decide how and where they work, which has been proven to improve productivity and efficiency.
Introduce artwork
Artwork is an excellent way to add character to your office space. Artwork can also improve your image in the eyes of clients. It can be hard to know where to start when selecting art for your office, so you could consider attending some local gallery openings and events to inspire you.
If you are wary of the cost of purchasing artwork, then you might consider prints as an alternative. You should ensure that these are of high resolution and quality that will look beautiful on your office walls.
Encourage personal touches
Your employees will spend a large portion of their daily lives in the office. As a result, it is vital that they feel comfortable and happy to be as productive and creative as possible. It may help to allow your team to decorate their desks as they would like with personal items such as family photos, desk trinkets and other personal touches.
Final thoughts
Creating the ideal office environment can take some thought, planning and investment. The elements you decide you use will ultimately depend on the tone and nature of your business. You could consider starting with your company culture and see how you can incorporate this into your office décor.
Photograph by Smartworks