If you're a business owner, you know what a difference the little things can make. Showing your employees appreciation for their effort, for example, has been shown to have a positive impact on their work and productivity.
With that being the case, it should come as no surprise to learn that something as simple as your office layout design can make a huge difference in terms of employee productivity.
If you look through some professionally designed office spaces like Phoenix office spaces for lease, you can see many examples of prominent exterior and contemporary design that provide an inspirational and innovative working environment that caters to your business growth. Having an inspiring and energizing environment is the company’s guarantee of success.
With the right office design, you can take your business to a whole new level. To learn about a few office layout ideas that you can use to improve both your employees' productivity and your own, just keep reading.
1. Encourage Movement
We all know that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but how many of us actually get the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week? When you work in an office, it can be exceptionally difficult to get the amount of activity we need to feel our best.
Now, as a business owner, you might be thinking, how does this affect me? Well, if your employees are feeling lethargic and uninspired from six hours straight of sitting in one place, it's going to reflect in their work.
Happy, energetic employees make productive employees, which is why a modern office layout design almost always encourages movement.
One idea is to have a dedicated fitness area or a walking track around your office. But if you don't want to go that far, you could simply install stand-to-sit desks for your employees or leave enough space to hold walking meetings.
2. Choose the Right Colors
Believe it or not, the color scheme of your office can have a significant effect on how you and your employees feel within it. Certain colors inspire creativity and a positive attitude, while others are more subduing.
When choosing colors for your office, keep the psychology of color in mind. The primary color of your walls can be a simple grey, but don't be afraid to make your accents bold.
Blue, red, yellow, and orange are all excellent options for office accents. Each one inspires a positive emotion, whether that be happiness, mental stimulation, or energy. It's better to stay away from white and black, as these can be both overpowering and uninspiring.
3. Let the Light in
Like physical activity, natural light, and the nutrients it provides, are absolutely essential to happiness and productivity. Natural light is so powerful that increasing it in your office can not only improve your employees' performance at work but their overall quality of life as well.
Ideally, your office should have plenty of windows and doors that allow natural light to flow through the space. If you have room in your budget, create a window and sliding doors plan that allows you to bring light into every area of your office.
That said, not everyone has the budget or the capability to completely overhaul their space, and that's okay. If that's the case, mirrors and reflective furniture can do the trick. Mirrors reflect both space and light, making them useful in amplifying whatever amount of natural light you have to work with.
4. Incorporate Zones Into Your Design
A common mistake made by business owners is using their entire office space for one purpose - solo quiet work. A much better approach is to incorporate a variety of types of office layouts within your space.
No two people are the same, and what one person sees as an ideal workspace might be a nightmare for another. Keep this in mind when designing your office!
Sure, it's a good idea to have private zones where people can get their work done in peace and quiet, but you should also have areas designed for collaboration, fun, even rest. Your employees will thrive with the ability to choose their ideal workspace and move throughout the day as needed.
5. Don't Neglect Decor
No one wants to work in a boring, sterile environment that doesn't spark anything but a desire for a nap. Even if your goal is to create a simple office layout design, you still need a splash of personality here and there.
One of the best decor pieces you can add to your office space is greenery. Indoor plants work wonders on both our physical and mental health by improving air quality, reducing stress, and boosting creativity.
Don't worry if you don't have a green thumb. There are countless indoor plants that require virtually no maintenance, so all you have to do to reap the benefits is set them out in your office.
Another decor essential for increasing office productivity is artwork. Art improves the work environment while enhancing both creativity and productivity.
Adding artwork to your office also provides a great opportunity to get your employees involved in the decorating process. Invite them to personalize their workspaces with their favorite pieces or photos, as long as they're office-appropriate.
Increase Productivity With These Office Layout Design Tips
As you can see, creating an office layout design that promotes productivity isn't as difficult as you might have thought. The key is to keep individuality in mind when building your design.
Give your employees room to move and be themselves, and everyone will thrive. If you are unsure, don't be afraid to ask your employees what they would want in an ideal workspace and go from there.
Interested in learning more about making your business workplace the best it can be? Take a look at our biz blog to learn more about office layout design and decor.
