Unlike an empty, cookie-cutter cubicle office with little or no charm, a well-utilized office space can provide much more than a comfortable working area. In addition to the appealing and effective layout, the details including your storage and lighting can provide motivation, inspiration and productivity for you and your co-workers alike.
Let’s take a look at a few affordable and practical strategies to make the most of your office space while at the same time preserving and enriching its unique charm that will help you look forward to every moment of work.
1. Minimalism at its best
From the smallest offices all the way to corporate buildings that appear to have no end, work areas are perfect for piling up contracts, invoices, proposals, mail and various promotional materials such as brochures and flyers. And therein lies the beauty of going digital!
Enforcing a paperless office will not only help you create a much more efficient, operational system, but it will also help keep your office as environmentally friendly as possible. Add to that, you will remove all the unnecessary clutter, you’ll be only a few clicks away from everything you’re looking for, and you can always keep recyclable paper copies of the most significant items such as invoices.
2. Lighten up!
Getting rid of clutter and excess furniture can help you with creating a clean-looking environment, but no amount of open space can help if there isn’t enough natural light. In addition to windows and soft, bright colours that should be the very foundation of your office décor, using quality LED and CFL lighting can enhance your productivity, motivation and create a pleasant working atmosphere.
Working in a well-lit office space is crucial for maintaining alertness, staying in a good mood and boosting your creative output. Plenty of light also has a soothing effect, which means that stress levels in your office will be brought down to a minimum.
3. Be smart with details
Once you have the major elements of your office down, using the right details will elevate your work area into a sleek, authentically decorated space. Instead of sticking to a mundane colour palette, you can use your imagination to pick one or two accent shades to give your office a unique charm. Go a step further and add greenery because that will bring your office to life and inspire a surprising 15% increase in productivity.
Introducing branded promotional products that carry your company name and logo, such as stylish pens, notebooks and flash-drives to be used in your office can inspire greater loyalty and camaraderie among your colleagues. A few carefully selected personal items and artwork should also be allowed, as they will add charisma and further instil trust, happiness and the feeling of belonging.
4. Keep it neat
While keeping clutter at bay is certainly a significant aspect of cleanliness for an office, basic hygiene and a refreshing fragrance can do wonders with any work area. However, if you do share your space with a large group of people, it might take some time to find a subtle aroma that will be suitable for everyone.
On the other hand, a messy desktop and a chaotic brainstorming session might be a necessary evil to inspire some creative souls, but a certain level of desk tidiness should be maintained at all times. Developing a company culture based on individual neatness will lower your chances of making mistakes, being late and it will allow you to have a more efficient day.
5. Make it human-friendly
Although an ideal office would be pet-friendly as well, perhaps your initial investment should be aimed towards making it as human-friendly as possible. This includes considering where you will spend your lunch break, if there are available healthy snacks and plenty of water and other refreshments, as well as some stimulating fun activities to encourage spontaneous team-building sessions.
Since you will spend most of your time at the office, turning it into a comfortable home away from home will certainly increase your desire to contribute and stay productive. When you’re able to share a cup of tea and sit in a well-lit lounge with you colleagues or play a friendly game of foosball, you’re likely going to preserve your energy and stay motivated and productive.
