Enhancing productivity is the goal of any business owner, from the world’s leading brands to small start-ups. But it’s not just employee motivation that businesses need to rely on – it’s also the work environment that plays a role. Optimising your office space to make it conducive to work and productivity could be one of the best investments you’ll make into your business, and it doesn’t have to require a full renovation to be successful.
Pick the right shades
White and beige might be neutral tones, but they don’t paint a picture of productivity. They’re bland and uninspiring, so if your office is a blank canvas, consider choosing brighter colours to get your team motivated. Yellow is considered to be an energising colour and boosts positivity, while blue and green are calming colours and can help to create a peaceful and relaxed environment. You don’t need to completely redecorate – consider painting just a few accent walls or add colour with art and décor to bring more fun and vibrancy into your work environment.
Create pockets of space
Open plan offices can be great for some businesses, but they don’t necessarily work for everyone. Not every team member is going to be working on the same project or be productive in the same environment, so it can pay to create pockets of space for each type of work. For example, using office partitions you can create areas for collaboration and team work, as well as quieter spaces where employees can work alone or enjoy a more private area to work. Using partitions provides flexibility to your office, enabling you to move areas around when you need to.
Keep temperature in mind
Office temperature might seem like an irrelevant topic, but consider how distracting it can be to try and work when you’re too hot or if you’re so cold that you can’t focus properly. It’s an issue that can affect a lot of businesses, and while there’s no way to please everyone all of the time, having awareness of the temperature of your office can help you make better layout decisions. An air conditioning vent over an interior cubicle, for example, could result in a space that’s too cold while desks right by a large window with no shade could be incredibly uncomfortable during the summer. If you want to have the right room temperature in your office, make sure that you schedule emergency HVAC consultation at least twice a year to keep your commercial hvac systems working perfectly.
Get the light right
Lighting can have a big impact on productivity, mood and the wellbeing of your staff, so it should be a focus when you’re optimising an office space. Take note of the areas in your office where the lighting isn’t optimal – natural light is best, but it’s not always possible, so these areas should be your priority. Ceiling lights that imitate natural light are a great alternative, or you could invest in sunlight desk lamps which mimic natural light when it’s not possible to get the real thing, such as in cubicles.
Consider tech needs
Part of the goal of optimising your office is to make it better suited to work and the needs of your staff. So, that means taking note of the technology requirements of each area of the building. Where will desks go, are devices like printers easy to access and will there be sufficient outlets for all the electronic devices needed? Will you be able to contact a commercial copier repair technician right away if technical issues with your printers and copiers arise? Where will Wi-Fi routers be placed, and will there be space for projectors, screens and storage? All of these decisions should be made before you start shifting desks and putting up partitions.
Replace uncomfortable furniture
Ergonomics are crucial when it comes to productivity and the wellbeing of your staff, and poorly made, uncomfortable furniture can lead to back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and eye strain. All this can even result in an increase in absences. Look for ergonomic chairs, height-adjustable desks and lumbar support with padded materials that will be comfortable for employees and prevent days off from painful work injuries.
Final thoughts
Offices can easily become bland and uninspiring places, but there’s so much opportunity to create an environment that is motivating and enjoyable to work in. From choosing the right colours and paying attention to the furniture you choose, to creating a layout that provides the right surroundings for individuals and teams alike, optimising your office space is easier than it might initially appear.
