How Office Design Increases Your Productivity

Design Increasing Productivity

There are a lot of things to consider when you're designing an office. It's an aesthetic decision of great importance since your employees will have to work in that environment for years. At the same time, it's more than just an aesthetic decision.

The design you choose will also affect the productivity of those who use the office. Small choices and tweaks in the design can help your employees make the most of their abilities and work in a smooth and organized way.

No more distractions

A modern office is a place filled with distractions. First of all, it's a busy place and it provides countless opportunities for employees to engage in other activities beyond work. The technology is something that can be used to make day-to-day communication easier, but it can also distract from important work.

There are ways to mitigate these issues with design changes. A minimalist approach to design will create an environment in which the employee can focus on what's important. That doesn't mean that you need to sacrifice any of the comforts that an office should provide.

Good Lighting

Natural Lighting

Work hours can get pretty long and the employees start to feel this after a while. It's something that can be made better with a few design changes, especially in the lighting department. Natural light is much better for intense work and you should try to find a building that has plenty of it.

Large office buildings usually can't provide this feature for everyone. The alternative is to make sure that each workstation has enough task lights that would allow the employees to write and use screens without worrying about getting tired or hurting their eyesight.

Privacy

For a while now, there's been a trend of using open-plan offices that appear to be more welcoming and more democratic, since they place all the employees in a single large room regardless of their status in the company. However, this setup has its downsides as well, since it doesn't allow for that much privacy.

It might be a good idea to provide a few design features that let the employees have a personal space for more introspective tasks. This can be accomplished by adding roller blinds and allowing the employees to decorate their own workspace.

Colors

The role of colors in creating an office environment that promotes productivity was much discussed in the last couple of years. There's a reason for it, since choosing the right colors to decorate the office can have a real impact on the productivity of the whole team.

For instance, red rooms work well for a physically demanding job because they'll keep the employees energized. At the same time, it's a wrong choice for contemplative and intellectual work. Green has a soothing effect and it's best used in the common and break rooms. Make sure that the decoration is also in sync with the paint job.

Get Comfortable

Physical comfort

Physical comfort is essential during the long work sessions. It's not only a matter of keeping your employees happy; it's also a health issue. Chairs and desks can have a devastating impact on your posture and therefore on your overall health and stamina especially if you sit for hours every day.

Invest in an ergonomic chair and a standing desk and your employees will soon find it to be the most useful feature of the office. It's also a good idea to consult with the employees and help them choose their own furniture since the goal is for it to be as comfortable as it can be.

Small design changes around the office can help a lot with overall productivity. These usually aren't that expensive but they mean a lot.


Guest Author

Diana Smith

Diana Smith is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in topics related to marketing and the latest business technologies. In her free time she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.