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Last Updated on October 14, 2017 by Work In My Pajamas
For a lot of people, an office is a dreary place where they spend 8 to 10 hours bent over their desks working. Evidently, this is not the way to get the maximum productivity from employees. Luckily, things have changed, and research confirms that there is a strong correlation between the atmosphere and environment at the workplace and the level of employees’ productivity.
In the past, the usual office layout was divided into cubicles, predominantly in grey colour and with neon lighting. Nowadays, fortunately, things are looking much brighter. Offices have open floor plans, a flexible layout with movable furniture and designated spots and nooks for various needs, big windows, tons of natural light, and a lot of attention is given to details, such as plants, paintings, wall colours and Feng Shui principles.
An office design should be pleasant, comfortable and inspiring, as it is a place where we want to produce great results and get the work done. Here are some ideas on how to achieve the best possible effect.
Office layout
It is no longer necessary to have people sitting at their desks all the time in order to get the work done. Today, it is all about the movement, flexibility and flow. It is essential to enable workers to communicate freely and collaborate openly. Offices with an open floor plan offer this opportunity as there are no physical barriers to separate the workers. A lot of ideas are born by chance encounters on the staircases, in halls or simply walking from one desk to another.
Even though open spaces give a lot of freedom of movement, there is always a need for some privacy, silence and focus. Some people handle noise and disruptions without any problems, but for others, it only adds stress and strain. Therefore, private areas such as nooks and booths are excellent solutions for when the employees need to make a lot of phone calls or have private sessions and consultations.
Another great addition to the space is having a designated place for relaxation. A lot of employees claim they express themselves better and feel more productive if they have a place to unwind, rest, re-energise and just take a step back before they continue with their assignments.
Office furniture and lighting
Another move from the traditional office is creating agile workplaces. This simply means that employees do not necessarily have to be tied only to their desks all day, but can opt to move around during the day and still get the work done. This means that by incorporating different pieces of furniture, such as benches, stand-up desks or big, soft armchairs in the corners, employees will feel more comfortable but also more active since they willl have more control and power over the choice of their designated work spot.
Employees are the biggest asset of any company and their health must come first. Therefore, consider the choice of office furniture. Too much sitting is harmful to one’s health but that doesn not mean that comfort needs to be sacrificed. This problem can be easily solved by choosing adjustable, ergonomic chairs. Also, you can find a great variety of office desks in Sydney, which will certainly help you find models that are adjustable, comfortable, and will help your employees maintain a healthy posture.
Additionally, a clever choice of wall colours can aid the existing lighting. Opinions on the colour choice differ, but most people agree that the best solution is having a neutral, calm and soothing colour as the base and a pop of strong, vibrant colours here and there, which creates a space that is inspiring and creative. This can also be achieved by adding some artwork to the walls, motivational posters and a couple of big office plants in the corners for a splash of greenery.
Lighting is definitely a key element in the overall comfort feel. A bad choice of lights can cause eye strain, headaches and irritations. The best advice is to let in as much natural light as possible and accompany it with layered lighting: ceiling fixtures, floor and desk lamps.
Office clutter
Office clutter can create distractions and make everything seem overwhelming. For an efficient environment without impediments, all excess papers, files and wires should be moved out of sight, and workstations should be well organised, neat and with lots of storage. Decluttering helps people focus on what is important, and that boosts productivity.
Conclusion
The key is finding the right balance of elements but change is not to be feared. Getting out of the comfort zone and changing the office design will result in happier employees, better work quality and increased productivity.
