The design of your office can enhance the company culture of your business. Having a space that your employees enjoy working in can really improve productivity and employee motivation. However, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and any redesign will require careful planning.
There are several steps to follow to avoid making any costly mistakes. If you’re planning on making a change, read on to learn how to create an ideal office for your organization.
Have a Clear Plan
No matter whether you are planning to redesign an existing space or move into a new one, the layout and equipment choices can play a massive role in a successful project. You should ask yourself what you want to achieve by changing the office layout.
Removing walls and going open-plan is great in fast-paced, collaborative environments, but it might not work in places where you require your staff to maintain a high level of focus throughout the day.
Make the Place Feel Like Home
One of the most significant developments of recent years has been the complete change of what an office should look like. Businesses have been moving away from sparely furnished, sterile office spaces to more colorful, open, and homely areas.
It is common to see sofas and nice kitchen areas in offices these days. These additions give employees nice spots to have some downtime and relax, which means they come back refreshed after break times.
Add Some Color and Nature
The colors of the office can have a massive impact on your employees’ mood and productivity. Blues can help to keep people calm and focused, while yellows and reds can stimulate creativity. In all cases, you should aim to strike a balance with colors, as too much of one color can end up having a negative effect.
Plants and flowers can help to keep the air in the office feeling light and fresh. Certain plants help to remove toxins, chemicals, and dust from the air. The cleaner air will help keep your employees energized throughout the day, especially if you maximize the natural light that floods through the office.
Future-Proof Your Workspace
Things change quickly in the globalized business world, so you need to make sure that you future-proof your investment. Developments in furniture and technology mean that it is a lot more adaptable than in the past.
Modular furniture, movable desks, and benches, as well as foldable conference tables, allow you to easily change the look and feel of a room, as well as allowing different tasks to be completed as the demands of the business change.
Get Your Employees Involved
Following the crowd is not always the best strategy for businesses, as what works for one company might not be ideal for the needs of your employees.
Before going ahead with any plans for offices, take the time to understand the needs of your employees and ask them what they need to perform at the highest possible level. If they need privacy, then making the whole office an open plan could cause problems. Likewise, if your employees collaborate a lot, there must be areas to meet and plenty of room to move around.
