07.07.23
07.07.23
The work environment your staff spend hours a day in can really affect their motivation and productivity. It is therefore important to make it as appealing as possible to your staff.
Sometimes your office doesn’t need a complete refurbishment or redesign. Indeed, sometimes it just needs a bit of new life injected into it to make it inspiring and fresh.
Here are some ideas to consider when it comes to commercial interior design:
Thanks to our laptops, tablets, and phones, we now carry our work with us wherever we go.
There are already more than enough distractions to lower productivity. The workplace shouldn’t add to this.
Think about a clean and simple space that isn’t cluttered or over complicated. Nice views, daylight and simple written graphics or sculptures are great. They can aid creativity and lift the general mood. However, big TV screens, busy artwork or loud colours can often go the other way. Instead of improving productivity, you might end up acting as a blocker for inspiration and job satisfaction.
If possible, go about creating a mood board before you start your decoration. This will make sure it will work with the space.
What level of noise works for your company culture or for the people using your office?
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? It is worth considering the neurodiversity of your employees here as people will feel more comfortable working in different ways. Neurodiversity has been a major issue 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.
According to HR specialists ADR, diversity, equity and inclusion can be one of the most powerful business tools you have for moving the needle in your organisation. In fact, companies in the top quartile for diversity financially outperform those in the bottom quartile and those with a diverse workplace can experience 5.4X higher employee retention rates.
If you have a busy working environment, then working out what level of noise and distraction works best is essential. 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.
More and more offices 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 can open up existing office space. The days of harsh strip lighting, hermetically-sealed and dull surroundings are set to be a thing of the past.
You can provide tables in a more relaxed setting in small clusters or high stools and counters as an alternative. Also, why not consider standing pods for those who prefer to stand instead of sitting to do their work? Making people comfortable should be a priority. After all, time spent in the office shouldn't be wasted.
Standing up to work is becoming increasingly popular as the nation becomes more health-conscious. Therefore it’s always good to give people various options.
Nothing beats natural light, we all recognise this fact. However, you don’t always have the luxury of having it in abundance.
It is important to never skimp on artificial lighting. This can prove to have a big impact on employees’ health and motivation.
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 and airier than darks or vibrant bright colours. Remember what we said above about minimising distractions!
Need some more inspiration or feel more motivated? Visit our services page to see what we can offer.
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