Your office might be your home from home. Like lots of people, you may feel as though you’re hardly away from the place! This is why it’s so important to get the best out of your working space. Also, by being savvy when it comes to office design, you can boost productivity and, importantly, your bottom line.
Below are some top tips to help you achieve the best results when it comes to office design.
1) Stick to a budget
First and foremost, make sure you decide on a budget and stick to it. There are so many fabulous products out there these days that it’s easy to go wild and splash far too much cash. You won’t be able to enjoy your plush new surroundings for long if your spending spree causes you to go bankrupt!
2) Comfort is key
Of course, you’ll want your office to look good, and it’s important that it does. That said, looks aren’t everything when it comes to office furniture. As well as getting products that have real aesthetic appeal, make sure the items are functional too.
Back and neck problems caused by poor posture are a major problem among UK workers, but by getting suitable seating and workstations, you can minimise the risk that your personnel will suffer these difficulties.
3) Pipe down
While you might not want your office to be totally silent, there’s a limit to the amount of noise that you – and your staff members – can put up with. One of the major scourges of modern, open plan offices is the volume levels within them. With multiple conversations taking place, phones ringing, photocopiers whirring and so on, it can be difficult to hear yourself think.
To reduce noise, you can invest in special screens. There are lots of different versions to choose from and the beauty of these solutions lies in their flexibility. You can shift them from place to place with hardly any effort whatsoever.
4) Get creative
Office design is evolving and if you don’t want to get left behind, it’s worth thinking about creating different zones within your working space. For example, you could have formal desk areas for solitary work and more relaxed, sociable spaces where staff members can brainstorm.
5) Hot desking
Hot desking is something else to consider. You stand to save space and therefore cash by allowing your employees to work remotely sometimes. This could be a particular advantage if your office feels crowded.
6) A splash of colour
After getting the basics of your office nailed, it pays off to invest in some accessories. For instance, plants and wall prints can add a real splash of colour to your workspace, and the best thing is you hardly need to spend anything at all to achieve impressive results.
7) The importance of storage
When it’s done well, storage tends to blend into offices and, at first glimpse, you might hardly notice it. However, when it is done badly (or not at all), things are quite different! Offices that lack suitable shelving, cabinets, bookshelves and so on are chaotic and unsightly at best. At worst, they’re downright dangerous.
By getting the right storage, you can help to keep your working area tidy and you stand to boost productivity among your personnel.
8) Say no to clutter
On a related note, encourage your staff members to keep their desks free of clutter. To help them achieve this, make it easy for them to recycle or otherwise dispose of documents they no longer need. Desk organisers can be useful too.
9) Is it just me, or is it hot in here?
The British weather might be unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean your office temperature should be. Effective heating and cooling systems are a must in any working space.
Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg is certainly aware of the impact temperature can have on productivity. However, his approach to this issue is perhaps a little radical for our tastes. The internet mogul likes to keep the temperature of his offices down to a chilly 15 degrees, whereas somewhere in between 19 and 23 degrees is much better!
10) Looking after your staff
Office design can also help to ensure that workers feel looked after. For example, by simply adding water machines, fruit bowls and other similar provisions, you can really boost morale among your staff members.
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