The fluorescent light that spends all day flickering on and off. The conference room that’s always too hot, or always too cold. The desk chair that never seems to be the right height. Where we work can have a profound effect on how we work. It’s why smart managers take pains to make your office design more efficient.
If you’re looking for a way to make your workspace a better place to work, you might want to consider incorporating a few of these office design ideas the next time you begin an office renovation.
1. Promote movement
Many workers are turned off by the idea of spending the entire day in their chairs, which explains the rise of the standing desk. People need to work, but they also want to be able to move around.
You can help meet this need by creating a floor plan that promotes movement. Instead of clumping all of your employees together, have desks and offices that are spread out, requiring workers to move around when they need to interact. These brief walks will get their blood flowing, which makes us more creative and productive.
2. Consider your colors
A little bit of color can go a long way toward giving your office a livelier feel. Changing walls from beige to bright or hanging new artwork can have a positive effect on your workers.
Color choice is important. Green and blue make people feel calm, while yellow is thought to boost productivity. Don’t feel like you have to stick to a single color scheme for the entire office. Mix and match until you find something that works for you and your workers.
3. Get rid of clutter
Your workplace might have been able to go mostly paperless, but that doesn’t mean you’re free from clutter. There’s still the tangle of wires from multiple electronic devices and phones, pens, coffee cups and water bottles and the countless personal items people keep at their desks.
Cut down on clutter by making sure everyone has a place to store their things and has enough time each day to organize. This is a great way to make your office design more efficient
4. Bring the outdoors indoors
People work better when they can see nature. There’s research to back this up: a study released in Great Britain in 2014 found that just seeing the natural world from your workplace can boost productivity by 15 percent.
That’s why so many lists of office design ideas recommend letting in natural light. It’s an attractive alternative to the harsh glare of overhead bulbs.
We recognize that not every workplace window offers a glimpse of greenery. In many parts of the country, you’re just as likely to look out and see a parking lot as you are a picturesque view.
If that’s the case at your office, consider adding some indoor plants. They’ll not only enhance productivity and add some visual interest, they’ll give you cleaner, healthier air and make your employees feel less stressed.
5. Encourage a healthy work environment
Many companies find that implementing healthy practices has made their team more productive. This can mean doing things like encouraging workers to take breaks where they can walk around or to use standing desks.
You can even go the extra mile by stocking your kitchen with healthy snacks or changing the menu at your company cafeteria.
Are you seeking additional office design ideas? Souder Brothers Construction can help. We have a broad range of experience with office fit outs, renovations and additions, with the goal of making your office space as comfortable and efficient as possible.
Check out our portfolio of previous office renovation work and get in touch with us to see how we can make your office design more efficient.