Feb
17

From Decluttering to Lighting: Office Design Hacks to Increase Productivity

In today’s business world, there seems to be a lot of attention focused towards the employees. Companies are finally recognizing the true importance of making sure that their employees are satisfied and comfortable in their working environments. Simply put, no matter where you’re working or how long your hours are unless your working environment can fully support you, chances are that you won’t be able to fully commit to the task at hand.

That’s why companies nowadays are constantly on a lookout for ways that will allow them to improve their office design and create a comfortable and inspiring working space. That said, here are a few design hacks that will enable you to design your office space to boost creativity, productivity, and motivation. Check them out.

Make sure the space is well-organized

The first things you need to do when trying to create a better working environment is declutter. Clutter can really affect the productivity of your employees in a negative way. When working in an office space that’s cluttered and that doesn’t look well-organized, your employees can quickly start feeling overwhelmed. The reason is that visual clutter creates mental clutter and causes exhaustion. Cluttered spaces also cause a downfall in productivity levels. So, to ensure that your employees are working in an environment that will allow them to reach their full potential, you must first get rid of any and all things that create clutter.

Have plenty of storage solutions

On a similar note, since you’ll probably be left with tons of paperwork and similar work-related documents that you simply can’t get rid of, you need to find a way to properly store them. Therefore, you should look into numerous different storage solutions that will enable you to store your files away from direct eyesight. This way, your office will always look nice and neatly organized. Besides all the benefits of using a storage unit, various filing cabinets, bookshelves, file drawers, and binder shelves can really help you create a cozy working environment. Of course, don’t forget about your employees’ desks and ensure that you get them stationery and office supplies organizers as well.

Pick the right type of furniture

Furthermore, aside from making sure that your office is nice and well-organized, you should also ensure that your employees are actually comfortable. There’s nothing worse than having to work at a desk that’s just too high or not high enough for you to sit at it comfortably. So, invest in ergonomic furniture to ensure that all of your employees are well supported. As a rule of thumb, the top of your employee’s monitor should be right at or somewhat below the eye-level. Moreover, office chairs should be able to allow your employees to somewhat recline them, to minimize lower back pain and pressure on the spine in general.

Make the space nice and bright

Next, you need to make sure that your office space is well-illuminated. Nothing can kill productivity faster than a gloomy, poorly-lit working environment. That’s why the majority of solid companies use verified LED lighting solutions in industrial production. For that reason, you need to make sure that your offices have plenty of illumination if you want to boost productivity and creativity. As mentioned, by installing a good LED lighting system you’ll provide your employees with a pleasant working environment. Aside from the artificial lighting solutions, make sure that you let plenty of natural sunlight in, if at all possible.

Mind the colors and balance it out

The colors you choose to implement in your office space will also make a huge difference. First of all, no matter how well you illuminate your office space, if your furniture and walls are super dark, space will still look kind of gloomy. In order to prevent that from happening, you should paint your office walls in a light color. If you do so, you can still implement darker furniture pieces without worrying that they’ll make a counter effect. White is usually the safest bet but avoid having your entire office be just stark white. Instead, add some color with subtle décor pieces and office furniture.

Ensure good indoor air quality

The quality of the indoor air your employees are exposed to is also very important. Some studies suggest that the indoor air is actually sometimes more polluted than the air outside. For that reason, you need to ensure that your office space features a good HVAC system that can also purify the air in your office space. Furthermore, you should also encourage your employees to air out their offices as frequently as possible. This will reduce the concentration of harmful particles that are responsible for indoor air pollution. Not only that, but it will also contribute to a generally healthier workforce, which will – in turn – lower the number of sick days your employees will need to take.

Play around with the layout

Your office layout can help promote productivity and engagement. For instance, you should create a common break area in your office where your employees can get together and mingle during their breaks. This area usually features a meal and coffee prep station as well. Aside from that, make sure that you section your office in smaller creativity hubs where your employees can get together and brainstorm ideas regarding their work. Also, if your office space features an open floor plan but you have a team of employees that require absolute peace and quiet in order to perform their jobs well, you need to account for them too. If possible, allocate them to a separate office. If not, on the other hand, use sound-blocking room dividers and section their part of the area off. For maximum efficiency, you can even equip them with noise-canceling headphones.

Bring nature indoors for a healthier environment

Finally, no office space can be considered complete without some greenery. There are so many ways you can incorporate nature in your office design, you will simply need to take your pick. No matter if you decide to create a living wall in your office, choose to assign a potted plant to each table or opt for a layered potted plants design, your office space will surely benefit from it. However, make sure that all the plants you choose for your office space are hypoallergenic and low-maintenance.

As you can see, positive office decor that will boost productivity and motivation is not difficult to achieve at all. However, it does require some careful planning and meticulous considerations in order to do it right. In the end, by following this guide, you’ll be able to create the perfect office setting all of your employees will truly enjoy.

By: Lilly Miller
Lilly is a graphic designer and a passionate writer. Loves everything about home decor, art history and baking. Shares home with two loving dogs and a gecko named Rodney. Based in Sydney, but world is her playground.