The workplace
It’s a place to work, to get your head down and to leave again, so the design’s not important, right? Wrong, says Bethany Walker, head of interior design at Styled. The way you design your office has a huge impact on a range of factors, including your staff’s wellbeing and productivity. On average, we spend eight hours a day at work – that’s a third of the day (if you include sleeping). However, we take far less care and consideration when it comes to our office environments than we do with our homes. Too often, we see working spaces that are drab, cramped and simply uninspiring. But why? Research has shown that employees regard their workplace as a symbol of whether they are valued by their employer or not; while a majority of millennials aged 18 – 34 feel an office aesthetic influences their impression of a company. With all this data we have that directly correlates productivity and wellbeing with good design, how can employers expect the best from their employees if they are still faced with unengaging environments? Furthermore, what does poor design say about your brand? Here are just some of the ways in which office design can have a measurable impact on your team, your clients, and your business.
All work and no play
You want your office to be conducive to work. However, that doesn’t have to mean white walls and sterile cubicles! Whilst you don’t want your team to be spending every minute of the day chatting, social interaction across the course of the day can help to boost creativity, morale and ultimately build team relationships. Consider creating break-out areas where employees can spend time together away from their desks, for lunch, or for brainstorming. For a canteen area you might want to create a space where your staff feel relaxed, whereas a brainstorming area you might want to be more fun and creative. However, equally important is to ensure there is access to quieter spaces for staff members who might need some time out or get away from any workplace distractions. When it comes to layout, really take the time to understand how your staff work and how different departments interact. For example, sales and customer facing roles tend to make more phone calls, which can be disruptive to other staff, so think about where you place them. The most important factor to consider is accessibility and inclusion for all your members of staff. Does anyone use a wheelchair or have limited mobility? Do you have any staff who require a quiet and private space to pray during the day? Knowing and fully understanding the needs of each member of your team and how they will use a space is essential to a great design.
Creating a good impression
In many industries, clients will visit your offices and so you need to consider them in your design too. Despite what you might think, first impressions really do count! Take yourself through a guest’s journey into your office. What are they first greeted with when they walk through the door? Again, accessibility is an important factor to consider to ensure that your office is accessible for anyone who enters. Will there be somewhere for guests to sit when they arrive, or do you have a dedicated meeting space for them? Does the office look neat and tidy? It doesn’t need to be sterile – unless you work in a lab – but a cluttered, messy office won’t give the best impression. Invest in quality storage, which will help with your team’s productivity and organization, as well as making the place looks more professional. You can also make clever décor choices to help signal what your brand is all about by using colour theory, along with wall décor that contains your company ethos and values. This can really help your clients form a positive impression of your company.
Pennies in your pocket
Office design not only impacts the people who work there; it can also have an impact on your bottom line. Plenty of natural light is not only good for productivity and morale, but it also keeps your electricity bills down. Same goes for windows that open, which can allow fresh air to circulate as a natural cooling system – but make sure you’ve got blinds too for sunny days! With more and more of us returning to the office after Covid, the environment you create can play a major part in how your staff feel and perform – so it needs to be right!
