An office is not just a company’s place of work, it’s also a space to encourage productivity, boost employee morale, and promote the business’s image. Therefore, when designing an office, businesses should not just think about its fundamental practicality, but also how to encourage its additional qualities to help in its future growth and success.
Having an office that uses the space efficiently and aesthetically can help to improve employee morale, encourage work efficiency and performance, whilst also projecting a good image for the company. There are many different factors to consider when designing an office, and numerous different ways in which to create a great environment within this space.
When designing an office, if you have previously worked with exhibition stands at business shows and events that have worked successfully, you can start formulating the design ideas for your business by using your exhibition stand success as a template (find out more).
Space and storage
It is vital to consider the amount of space and storage needed to accommodate for a business’s workforce and its equipment. Having enough space can be vital in promoting productivity, not only by ensuring that there is enough space for a business’s team to work comfortably, but also for aesthetic purposes.
Having open spaces within an office can help to give the workspace, and therefore the business, a communal feel. This can help to make a workforce feel more connected and thereby promote employee morale. Having open spaces within the office can also create a nice environment for the business to work in, which has often been listed as an important factor for employees in their working lives.
Office layout
The way in which an office is laid out can have significant impacts on workforce productivity. By ensuring that the office layout is not only appealing on the eyes, but also set up in a way optimised for long periods of work can help to promote productivity and further the growth of a company.
Designing areas for socialising and relaxing during breaks, and having these separate from the designated working areas can help to encourage the working environment within these spaces, further promoting employee productivity and performance. Additionally, as previously mentioned, having an attractive environment to work in can help to boost a workforce’s morale and further this productivity and performance at work.
Of course, if you don’t own the office premises or if the terms of your lease (in cases where you are renting) do not allow it, you may be limited in what you can actually do to the layout of the office in question. For example, if you are working out of a serviced office (more information), you may not have the right or permission to affect true changes, particularly to the structure and layout of fixtures and fittings.
Office lighting
Lighting is another factor that can help to improve the aesthetics of an office, and thereby the wellbeing of employees. Having lots of natural light and minimising the amount of artificial light used throughout the workplace can help to make it a more attractive place to work, and help employees to enjoy spending time in the space.
Lighting can also be used to improve employee productivity in more ways than one. It has been claimed that different types of light can affect a person’s melatonin levels. These melatonin levels can affect how awake a person feels, and can therefore alter how focused a person is. Studies have shown that those exposed to natural light felt more focused and awake than those who were exposed to artificial light.
Therefore, increasing natural light and minimising artificial light in an office can help a workforce to feel more alert, improving their productivity.
Furniture quality and design
The quality and design of the furniture in an office is also another important consideration to take into account. Picking good quality furniture will not only help with its longevity, but can also help to improve the office environment, making it more attractive. This can all lead to boosts in inspiration, productivity, and the wellbeing of a business’s workforce.
Additionally, having good quality furniture designed for the typical office worker can further help to improve employee health, wellbeing and performance at work. Good quality office furniture will typically be designed to help promote work performance. Therefore, by providing the optimum chairs and desks for a working environment, an office can use its furniture to ensure comfort, and help employees to stay in their working stations for longer periods of time.
Cleanliness of the premises
Cleanliness is another important consideration to take into account in the design of an office. Whilst not the first thing people would consider when thinking of an office’s design, the cleanliness of a workplace can have a considerable impact on both the efficiency of a workforce and the business’s image.
Designing an office that looks tidy and is easy to clean can help to promote a neat and organised atmosphere around the workplace. Many businesses also actively encourage cleanliness in the office. This can be done by making sure bins are placed in convenient locations around the workplace, and cleaning schedules are implemented for the workforce to stick to. You can also improve cleanliness by upgrading to stainless steel toilet partitions.
Encouraging cleanliness through the design of an office can help to improve the professional, organised atmosphere to it, whilst potentially helping a business to cut down on cleaning expenses.
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