5 Tips For Office Design Success

Whilst we're not a fairy Godmother with a magic wand, we are Reading office design specialists with a wealth of experience; our client portfolio includes well-known organisations such as Mercedes-Benz and Channel 4. So if you need an office design solution in Reading or any of the nearby areas, the Active Workplace Solutions team is here to help.

Tips For Office Design Success

  • Optimise The Layout. The space and furniture within your office environment are exceptionally important. After all this is the physical space in which your employees will be working, so it's essential that the layout is optimised in order to minimise any hindrance t oproductivity.
Optimising the layout also provides a valuable opportunity to attract new talented employees from younger generations. It is believed that the digital natives of Generation Z value flexible working styles. Perhaps because they grew up in a world where it is easy to order groceries from your sofa at 10 pm. However, optimising your workspace for flexible working isn't just advantageous with regards to attracting the digital natives of Generation Z, it's also a great opportunity for older generations such as Millennials, whom may be starting families of their own as flexible working can be a great way for members of older generations to find a good work/home balance. Additionally according to the International Stress Management Association (ISMA), flexible working conditions can significantly reduce employee stress and make for a much healthier and happier workforce.

However, whilst big steps such as flexible working are important to consider, optimising the office layout also includes the simple things like ensuring that the workplace is kept clean and well maintained. At the office design stage, this includes things such as making sure there is enough storage space and the storage areas are easily accessible to staff,that way you minimise the amount of clutter being left on and around employee desks.

  • Prioritise Employee Wellbeing. Comfort plays a large role in creating a productive working environment. Comfortable office chairs, high quality computer peripherals and comfortable furniture in the break room are just three examples of how you can increase comfort in the workplace. However, sedentary behaviour not only diminishes levels of productivity but can also increase the risk of serious health issues such as depression, obesity, heart disease and diabetes, as well as the potential for musculo skeletal disorders.
It's essential that you provide modern office furniture that meets the needs of your employees. After all, as inflexible furniture can cause long-term back, neck, and shoulder injuries; employees could need time off to recover,and if this issue isn't resolved, your valuable employees could start seeking employment elsewhere. If you would like to know more about furnishings and seating,you could learn more by reading out blog titled, “The perfect ergonomic office chair".
  • Include A Breakout Area. Comfort and wellbeing isn't just about your employee's desk space, it's also important to consider comfort and wellbeing in the break room. By investing in comfort,you can provide your current employees and your future employees with a comfortable workplace experience where they can relax, concentrate and collaborate. Don't just settle for a few chairs and a vending machine; give your employees a space where they have a productive break.
For example, an office design is the ideal time to transform the break room with a kitchen space, equipped with a toaster or a microwave so that they can enjoy a warm lunch during the winter time. On the other hand, if you're looking to boost employee camaraderie, you could include a games room, perhaps with a pool table or a ping pong table? This could be a great talking point for client meetings as you could invite them to share a game with you.
  • Integrate Nature Into Your Office. An office plant isn't just a piece of decoration. It's a powerful tool for both office productivity & wellbeing so consider all the different ways that you can integrate nature into your office design. After all, “workers in offices that offered green or natural features had a 15% higher sense of wellbeing and were 6% more productive"? If you would like to learn more about the relation between office plants and productivity, this was discussed in more detail in our blog titled Biophilic office design: A growing trend.
However, plants aren't the only way that you can include more natural elements in your office design, for example natural light. Whilst there are many interesting and exiting types of artificial lighting, if you're relying on artificial lights alone, this could be impacting the productivity of your employees. According to a study discussed in Psychology Today, “exposure to natural light improves workplace performance. As such, it is essential that your office design includes as much natural light into the workplace as possible.
  • Consider Sound & Smell. Did you know that 75% of the emotions we generatedaily are affected by smell? Office design isn't just about creating aworkplace that looks good to work in; it has to feel good to work in. Whilstsight is indeed and important sense, it's important to remember that it is onlyone of the senses, so don't neglect other senses such as smell and touch. Ifyou would like to learn more about scent in your office environment, you canread our blog titled, “Scentin the Workplace: Creating a five-star experience".

With over 15 years of industry experience,our expert office design team have all the knowledge and skills requires to make your office design project a success.

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