Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Last Updated on June 17, 2018 by Work In My Pajamas
Where a person works can greatly impact their work ethic and productivity. Therefore, the design of your office is of utmost importance, and is a significant step when starting your new business or simply refurbishing your existing office space. It is believed that a well-designed office can rise productivity by up to 20%, however, very few employers consider redesigning the office a sound and worthwhile investment.
Ignoring your office’s environment, though, can be hindering to your business’s success. If you want to improve your existing business, or need your start-up to hit the ground running, consider these following tips on who to design a productive office space.
In This Post:
Break Down the Walls: Open Spaces
Cubicles and separate offices are becoming a part of the past. Nowadays, open planned office spaces are generally favoured over separate compartments, as this encompasses a more social and breathable floorplan. The only issue with more open plan office spaces, is that cleaning responsibilities can be a bit neglected – in a separate cubicle, you know exactly what space you are responsible for, whereas it can be very different when the space is shared. The best way to maintain these kinds of spaces is to employ a professional cleaning group such as IdealCleaning.co.uk, who can provide janitorial services a few times a week. This will keep the space relatively tidy and will motivate employers to keep their space clean.
Improve Your Natural Light
Artificial lights reduce a person’s happiness and general wellbeing, let alone their productivity. Therefore, improving the retention and accumulation of natural light is vital to the health of your employees. If your office space doesn’t have a lot of windows, then hire a contractor to put a few more in. Of course, this can be expensive feat, however, you can visit sites such as betterfunds.com, and take out a small business loan, so your company can make such improvements.
Natural light improves mood, reduces stress levels, and workplaces with good natural light has a 3% – 40% increase in productivity and sales.
Invest in Physical Comfort
As an employer, your employee’s comfort and posture is your priority. If someone is suffering from a bad back, it is your responsibility to provide them with the appropriate tools to improve their posture and discomfort. However, you should nip this problem in the bud before it becomes an issue. Make sure you buy high-quality office chairs which fit nicely with the desks. Ensure computer monitors are at the correct eye-level (the top of the monitor should be below or at eye-level); if your employees are unaware of the best positioning, then take the time to show them.
To make your office even more comfortable, try to regulate your office’s temperature. Keep it from being too cold, or too warm, and see your employee’s productivity improve. You can regulate temperatures by investing in air conditioning units, moving desks away from windows and vents, and by investing in blinds, etc.
Add a Splash of Color
Freshly painted walls can change the ambiance of your office space almost instantly. Before you apply a coat of paint, however, ask your employees for their opinions. You won’t want to give them full-rein as this could become a lengthy discussion, but offer a few colors and ask them to vote for their favorite. Usually, the best colors to consider are red (power), yellow (confidence), blue (serenity and intellect) and green (harmony and peace). To keep your office’s color from being overwhelming, opt to have a feature wall while the rest are neutral.
Consider the Room’s Scent
It may seem strange, but a room’s scent can drastically affect our moods and mind-set. Although you’ll want to keep from overpowering the scent of your office, and you may have to ask if there’s any particular scents you should avoid, the smell of the office can improve a person’s focus and productivity. Pine can increase alertness, as well as any citrus scents, and lavender is great for relaxation.
