87% of workers would like their employer to offer workspace benefits, and part of creating a productive workplace is providing a pleasant working atmosphere.
Is your office design conducive to comfort and productivity?
Keep reading as we help you understand productive office design philosophy and how you can accommodate your employees’ needs more effectively in the workplace.
Emphasising Colour
Color plays a vital role in promoting productivity, and using bright office design colors can create a more fun, unique office space. Typically, darker colors are associated with drowsiness. On the other hand, lighter, fresher, and more vibrant colors are associated with focus and mental clarity.
Choosing your office color wisely can help you to have some control over how your employees feel in the space. If you have limited sunlight in the space, dark colors can make your workplace feel darker, which is less optimal for productivity. If you have small windows, use lighter colors to open the space and create a fresh, light office atmosphere.
Using Smart Desk Technology For Hybrid Workspaces
When operating a hybrid workspace, it’s essential to implement technologies that facilitate hybrid working. Smart desk technology is the ideal solution to ensure that all your employees have access to desk space in the office.
Smart desk management software allows your employees to reserve desk space when they plan to use the office or even book meeting rooms. The tool will show them a user-friendly interface, displaying the office floorplan and available and reserved desks. They can see who has booked each desk, allowing them to sit in teams as needed or simply sit with their friends.
This tool saves a lot of wasted time. Should your employees show up to the office and not have access to a desk, they will need to return home - significantly impacting their productivity. Incorporating this element into your office design facilitates a productive hybrid work environment.
Balancing Private And Public Office Space
When it comes to your office space, you must decide how much to devote to private and public office space. In a hybrid work scheme, most employees will travel to the office for collaboration, so you should prioritize public office space. However, in a traditional office setting, you will likely need to allocate private space for staff members who must host one-to-one meetings and handle sensitive information.
Personalization
You can allow personalization to make your employees feel more comfortable in their working environment. Your employees will feel more at home in their surroundings if they can place decorative and personal items on their desks or use a pillow they like to support their back in their office chairs.
Allowing for personalization empowers your employees and gives them a greater sense of control in their working environment.
Clear Definitions For Coworking Spaces
Designing an office layout with clear boundaries is essential in a coworking space. Your employees may need to sit together to collaborate on projects, and having a clear divide between areas and different businesses makes this more possible.
Color-coded furniture and decorative dividers can make the coworking space more manageable, helping both companies to understand the boundaries. Without clear boundaries, disagreements and discomfort can happen. This is why creating curated communal spaces is so important in office design.
Movement Opportunities
When employees sit at their desks all day, the body and mind enter a dormant state. Creating movement opportunities in your office is a good idea to ensure your employees do not feel back pain, brain fog, and lethargy.
One of the best ways to create movement opportunities in your office is to implement standing desks. Your employees can shift between standing and seated desks to create more variety in their workday and promote movement.
Offer More Amenities
Keeping your employees happy in the office is always conducive to productivity. This is why offering amenities can help you to increase productivity and job satisfaction. Here are a few ideas of the amenities you could offer:
Gym facilities
A snack bar
A break area
Outdoor space
By adding amenities that your employees will look forward to, you can make your office a more attractive environment - which is especially important for employee retention with the rise of remote working.
Office in Dubai for an international IT company by ZIKZAK Architects. Image © Yasser Ibrahim
Add Plants
Plants are an excellent addition to your office space. Incorporating plants into your office design can create more clean air. Studies have also shown that plants benefit productivity, mood, and mental health. Not to mention, plants produce a more serene and welcoming office environment! You can create plant walls to get creative or invest in potted plants to scatter around the office.
Summary
Office design is fundamental in the modern climate. You must create a pleasant working atmosphere to combat employees’ desire for remote work. Certain design elements can positively impact productivity, and others are essential to prevent wasted time and unclear boundaries. Consider the design elements listed above and whether your office would benefit from more emphasis on office design.
