With floating conference rooms, rooftop gardens, nap areas, fire pits and full time chefs, some of the best-known companies in the world go to great lengths to ensure their offices are ‘cool’ and employee-centred. And while not everyone’s office design ideas have Google’s budget or Kickstarter’s architect, many companies still go the extra mile to make employees feel more comfortable in their home away from home.
Improving Productivity in the Workplace
Studies show that productivity and performance is strongly linked to well-being, and that well-being is highly influenced by the physical workspace. In short, people who feel more relaxed and happy in a healthy office environment are more likely to produce better work, stay in their jobs for longer and generally have a better attitude towards the company.
This doesn’t have to mean implementing wild office décor ideas or bringing in a personal chef, as even the smallest shift in wellbeing has been seen to have a considerable impact on performance.
Sadly, a recent survey of 12 000 people saw UK employees describing their offices as uncomfortable, uninspiring and a place where they couldn’t concentrate very well, while 13% said their offices were ‘ugly’.
With the continued growth of co-working spaces and serviced offices in the UK, the majority of which put a strong emphasis on design, providing a unique and productive environment for their tenants, uninspiring offices should soon be a thing of the past.
The Happiness Factor
Considering the office is where we spend most of our time, a generic, uninspired space with no personality can work against a business, leading to employee stress, unhappiness and a general disinterest in work. On the other hand, one that’s relaxing, employee-focused and visually pleasing is more likely to motivate and inspire people, as well as attract talent.
For small companies, start-ups and individuals, one of the simplest ways to achieve harmony in their physical environment is by choosing a shared or flexible office space that’s already set up to cater to their needs. Shared spaces are often versatile in the sense that they cater to different individuals by providing multiple spaces within the office where people can concentrate, relax and let off steam.
The good news is that no matter what kind of office you work in, you don’t need a huge budget to turn the space into something you can be proud of. Here’s 5 quick, and temporary, fixes to make it a little more inspiring:
5 Temporary Tips to Trick out the Office
1. Bring the outdoors in
In an office environment where lighting is controlled, aircon dominates and people very rarely leave their desks to wander outside, plants can bring some much needed life to the atmosphere. Plants not only help remove pollutants in the air, help control humidity and increase the oxygen level in the office, but they’re also visually appealing helping to improve your general mood.
Three of the best plants for an office include:
- Spider Plant: An adaptable houseplant that’s easy to grow indoors.
- Peace Lily: Easy to care for and a great air cleaner.
- English Ivy: Practically grows itself and is great for combatting mould.
Image source: Plant Interscapes
2. Freshen up what’s already there
You may or may not be allowed to paint any of the walls in your office, but you can easily customise storage boxes and magazine holders to create interesting desk accessories.
By using blackboard paint to cover a storage box, for example, you can create a dual purpose item to neaten up your desk and a surface area for writing notes and dates. Studies show that personalisation of a workspace can reduce the effects of emotional exhaustion and burnout.
Image source: Pinterest
3. Alternative Lighting
Light plays a big part in our daily rhythms and patterns and is powerful enough to decrease or increase productivity. It also sets the ambient tone. Try to ensure desk spaces receive direct and indirect light by bringing in mini lamps, LED mason jars or other types of lamps.
Image source: Pinterest
4. Tidy up
Researchers have said that people think more clearly at messy desks because chaos forces them to simplify any tasks at hand. While there may be some truth to this, a messy office is certainly not a place you want to take clients and guests. A few simple office storage hacks can not only make the space look more organised, but a few small office decor details can make all the difference.
- Clipboard wall: Turn regular old office clipboards into colourful pin boards for the wall.
- Stacked jars: Stack and glue a few jars together for a useful storage space.
- Vertical storage: Create more space by using magazine holders as vertical storage on the walls.
Image source: Lifehack
5. Do a Post-It Art Project
A designer in San Francisco gave his drab office a make-over by using over 8000 Post-It notes to create floor-to-ceiling portraits of superheroes. Not just a fun project for the whole team to get involved in, but a simple way to spruce up a wall space in your office without having to permanently modify or paint anything.
Image source: Bored Panda
If you’ve run out of inspiration in your current office space, speak to a specialist about an alternative solution. With co-working and shared spaces kitted out with the latest design features and amenities, it’s easy to find a space that stimulates and inspires productivity.