While nap rooms, in-house masseuses, and improv classes are some of the legendary perks of startups, their office design is often just as impressive.
As companies begin to break away from traditional business methods, they’re choosing modern office decor that reflects the same kind of flexible, free-thinking attitude.
But design touches such as open-plan workspaces, plush sofas, and wall murals go way beyond aesthetics. Comfortable and inspiring office decor can do wonders for employee morale and productivity.
So, whether you’re launching a new company or considering an expansion, remember that startup office design is an integral part of your business’ success.
Check out these seven interior design tips to set your office space decor apart.
1. Provide a Variety of Work Areas
Flexibility is key for today’s employees, who value the possibility of choosing their own breaks, working hours, and even their own pay schedule. As such, rows of designated desks have no place in a modern office interior.
Instead, your open-plan office environment should include a range of different work stations. These could include sofas, bench seating, communal tables, and standing desks. It’s also possible to get cool office furniture that you can move and adjust to fit your specific needs.
Providing your employees with a variety of working environments means they can enjoy a change of scenery from time to time. And, as a result, you’re sure to see an increase in productivity and creativity.
2. Select Inspiring Decor
Another way to boost creativity is by selecting inspiring interior decor. After all, not everything in the office has to have a practical purpose.
Beautiful pieces and design touches can make a house a home. Likewise, it’s worth considering how improving them visual appeal of your office space could help to create a working environment that is both welcoming and motivating.
Well-placed plants are great for bringing life to your office. Sculptural pieces and hanging artwork add decorative interest and can help encourage creativity. The same goes for one-off vintage pieces, such as a refurbished chest or a chaise lounge in the seating area.
3. Create Comfort
According to recent statistics, 5.2 percent of US workers now work from home. As such, it’s worth considering how to create a comfortable working environment for your employees that feels more like a home from home.
Cool office furniture is all well and good, but comfort needs to be a priority. That means offering ergonomic office chairs and adjustable desks.
Of course, some employees may prefer to kick back on the couch while they work, so plush sofas are a must. And added extras such as footstools and lap trays can also help your employees feel more comfortable while they work.
For relaxation areas, you could even consider beanbags and hammocks. Rugs can also help to create a warm and welcoming homely atmosphere, as well as adding visual interest to your seating area.
4. Layer Your Lighting
Lighting also has a huge bearing on how your employees respond to their surroundings.
While you might think that bright lights will keep your workers awake and focused, that’s not always the case. Staring at a screen all day can cause eye strain and fatigue. Because of this, offering your workers the chance to take a break from the brightness is often necessary.
Layered lighting combines bright ambient light, accent lights for relaxation areas, and task lighting for focused work. Having a choice of lighting options helps to align the design and functionality of your office space. And it also ensures the continued comfort of your employees.
5. Incorporate Multi-Use Spaces
Collaboration and communication are at the heart of any successful startup. And, office space can be a precious commodity when you’re starting out as a new company. For these reasons, it makes sense to have multi-use areas within your office.
For example, an in-office dining table encourages your workers to chat during breaks. This helps foster a more harmonious working environment and increases productivity. Then, rather than having a separate meeting room, that dining area could also double up as a meeting space.
Likewise, communal tables, sofas, and bench seating work well for relaxation or solo-working. But they would also be ideal for smaller meetings, training, and project collaboration.
6. Reflect Your Brand Through Design
A great way to set your office apart is to use your brand focus or company mission as inspiration for some seriously cool office decor.
For example, a travel insurance company could use vintage suitcases and globes as table bases. Or, if you’re an inclusive beauty brand, you could incorporate diversity and gender fluidity into your office artwork.
If you’re finding it hard to reflect your brand in your office design, visit these experts for some interior inspiration.
7. Consider Your Colors
Color is another crucial factor consideration for your office space. Rather than the sterile grey offices of the past, modern office décor uses a complementary range of colors to motivate and inspire workers.
Warm tones like mustard and the 2019 color of the year, living coral evoke energy and communication. As such, they’re ideal tones for meeting spaces as a way to encourage the free-flow of ideas.
In contrast, cooler shades like cornflower blue, teal, and mint green help to calm and relax. This makes these hues perfect for casual seating areas within the office.
Interior Design Tips for Your Startup Office
As these interior design tips show, there are a lot of considerations to make when it comes to decorating your startup office.
While offices used to be one-size-fits-all, the bland cubicles and headache-inducing strip lighting of the past are all out. Instead, today’s businesses understand that comfortable and inspiring workspaces mean happy, productive employees.
Cluttered workplaces full of outdated equipment and old files are also a no-no for the office of a successful business. Check out these tips to find out how to simplify your officeenvironment today.
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