The environment your staff work in has a big impact on their mood and productivity. Lincolnshire-based commercial design and fit out company APSS looks at four ways to make the office as appealing as possible.
Here are some ideas to consider when it comes to your office design:
Keep things simple
Technology means we now carry our work with us wherever we go, via laptops, tablets and mobile phones. With so many distractions already lowering productivity, companies don’t want to add to this. Keeping it simple is a good way to reduce distraction.
Take time to declutter the office, a clean environment helps promote productivity. Make sure you have enough storage solutions for everything.
Nice views, daylight and simple written graphics or sculptures are great. They aid creativity and lift the general mood. However, big TV screens, busy artwork or loud colours often go the other way.
Flexible noise
Different people work better with different noise levels. Consider what’s right for your office and your staff.
Is it appropriate to play music? Do people have the need for headphones or do people need silence at certain points of their working day? Consider the neurodiversity of your employees.
Neurodiversity is a topic that has seen more attention lately and with good reason. If people have certain triggers within an environment, every step needs to be taken to address this from an employer’s perspective.
Creating a certain mood within a working space is integral to motivating employees. For business owners, it can increase employee productivity. Glass walls or partitions can be a great addition to an office space. Installing them creates a natural divide to give people privacy and quiet. However, they still give the feel of an open space.
Modern ways to work
Staff want comfort in their workplace now, having spent so many months at home during the pandemic changed the way people saw the workplace. Many businesses are moving away from the traditional work surface of desk and chair. The aim is to create a more relaxed environment to aid creativity and teamwork.
Sofas and lounge furniture are great for rest breaks, relaxation or brainstorm areas. However, they might not necessarily be good for long hours of work. They can have comfort and health implications if used for too long.
Biophilic design is also important, the process of bringing the outdoors inside has had a proven calming effect on employees. It can be as simple as providing more natural light, investing in diverse plant life or creating outdoor spaces that opens up existing office space. The days of harsh strip lighting and dull surroundings are set to be a thing of the past.
Standing up at work is becoming increasingly popular as the nation becomes more health-conscious. Therefore it’s always good to give people various options.
A question of light
Maximising natural light in the workplace is known to boost morale and in turn productivity. When it is not possible to have windows close to the workspace, there are other ways to make best use of what is available.
LED lights are proving to be very popular in modern offices as they have many health benefits. Lamps can also be fun and functional in an office space where certain areas need more lighting than others.
Try to keep wall colours light and fresh. This will make the overall space seem lighter, airier and larger than darks or vibrant bright colours.
For office design inspiration, APSS has more than 25 years’ experience providing exceptional workspaces across the East Midlands.
