If your office is no longer inspiring you and your staff to do your best, then one thing is clear, it is time for a change. Don’t worry because you don’t have to spend a lot of money to renovate. By making a few simple design changes, you can make your gloomy-looking office look more professional. Turn it into a unique, appealing one that is still ergonomic and functional.
From rearranging the furniture right down to hanging a lovely floral oil painting, there are genuinely numerous methods to make your office environment more enticing. You have to pay close attention to this because studies indicate that the environment plays a significant role in terms of employee effectiveness. The happier they are, the more productive they will become, which helps improve your company’s bottom line. Consider the following easy design fixes below to help you spruce up your office.
Prioritize Storage Space
If you are sick of seeing stacks of papers and boxes that are all piled up, you need to provide storage spaces for all your employees so that your office look more professional and organized. Add cabinets and shelves so that things can be stored properly. Utilize your overhead space so that you can clear more floor area. Consider dual-function furniture such as tables or chairs that have hidden storage. Remember, an office that has less clutter looks more professional and inviting, which also inspires confidence in your clients.
Make a Nice Reception Area
One of the first things that your clients see is your reception area. As the saying goes, “first impressions last!” Thus, you must make your best effort to impress your clients by making sure that your reception is presentable. Spruce it up with a beautiful floral oil painting, add a plant, and make sure all brochures promoting your company are well-organized. Most of all, you have to train your staff to always welcome people, whoever it is, with a broad smile. Everyone will walk through this reception so the first thing and the last thing they must see should be something positive. You also want to make an excellent lasting impression to make your office look more professional.
Put in the Right Furniture
The table and chair you choose for your staff have the power to affect their entire experience while in the workplace. You have to make sure that their chairs are comfortable, or they will suffer from back pain and neck pain. Aside from that, you can give them dividers so they can also protect their privacy. This divider serves as a dual purpose so they can customize it to make their areas more personal and less gloomy. This is an active, happy office and not a prison cell. Give your employees the freedom to be themselves, too.
Check the Lay Out
The workflow within your office must be sufficient to boost work efficiency. For instance, you don’t want the printer to be in the other room, far away from where the action is. You may need to re-examine the flow of people in your office to come up with the most optimal layout. Remove any clutter that impedes the movement.
Add Plants
Apart from looking pretty, plants clear the air from toxins and provide fresh air for you and your staff to breathe. Studies indicate that plants also have calming properties that help you de-stress and relax. The color green is very calming. Make sure that big potted plants are situated in strategic spots within your office so that everyone can benefit from its beauty. You can choose colored blooms to add a more vibrant glow in your space.
Improve the Light Fixtures
Change your light bulbs and add attractive light fixtures to spruce up your office. This approach is not expensive. Most of all, adding light boosts the productivity of your employees. Offices that have ample light are known to have more positive employees that generate better output.
Use the Power of Scent
Add a dehumidifier and an air mist in your office. Pick a calming scent like eucalyptus and citrus to tickle the olfactory nerves of everyone who goes into your office. Many scientists say that what you smell influences your performance. Typically, people underperform when they smell something terrible. In contrast, they are motivated to work well when they smell good things.
Bottom Line
Improving the design of your office doesn’t have to decimate your pocket. You can make simple changes to create a better environment that will motivate everyone to perform better. Since most people spend one-third of their life inside an office, you have to do everything in your power to make it less stressful. A happy, comfortable work environment will generate more profits.
Guest post by Alice Johnson
