How to Design a Great Work Office

The environment you are in plays a key role in your mood and your productivity. If you want to work well, you need to be in a place that doesn’t just inspire you, but physically supports your health. Light levels, the right furniture, and even the break room all make an impact on how you and your employees will work in the space that you have rented out.

When you feel safe and supported, you thrive. It applies to the home, and it should apply to your office. You want your employees to love being at their desk, not wishing they were anywhere but. Combine practicality with creativity, and you will have the winning combination that supports the health and ambitions of all who work there.

Choose Great Bones for Your Office

Where your office is located is probably one of the most essential elements to consider. If you haven’t already, search for one that is well within your budget, has decent connections for your employees, and above all else is bright and spacious. You can do a lot with such a blank canvas, and the possibility is far more important than the status of having an office more central.

Work with an Office Designer

Work with an office furniture supplier and designer like THE OFS to help you take advantage of the space you have, with your exact needs in mind. You want the practical elements in play before you worry about design because almost any space can be made to look good after the fact.

How to Save Money

There are a few places where you can save money without a problem, so you can stick to your budget and still enjoy a nice office environment.

Two straightforward, effective ways to save is to skip the new furniture and instead work with remanufactured and used pieces for your office. Remanufactured, in particular, is a great way to save big and enjoy custom, beautiful pieces for your office. Remanufacturing means reupholstering seats, painting furniture, and switching out old components for new ones. If you already have a set of office furniture you want to use, then remanufacturing services will help transform them into a top-class office space.

Key Areas to Focus On

When looking to design and invest in your office, the key areas to focus on include:

The Break Room

Breaks have been categorically proven to boost productivity. The human mind was not designed for non-stop problem solving, especially if it’s only working on one problem at a time. We simply burn out, and no amount of sheer will can ever replicate a worker experiencing a good day.

Ideally should encourage a short break every 90 minutes and then a more extended lunch break. Make it easy for your employees to stay healthy by kitting out the break room with everything they need to store, prepare, and reheat healthy meals from home. Offer healthy snacks and drinks for free. You could even have a rewards program for those who eat well, so everybody gets on board.

This is just one example of how a space can actually be used for policymaking.

Natural Light

We evolved around the sun. We are more awake in daylight, more productive, and overall, just happier. A lot of natural light will make people feel better and work better, but if your winters are dark and dreary, no amount of glass can fix that.

That is why you should also look into getting blue-white therapy lights. These lights replicate the blue-white light of day and can help boost moods and energy levels in your employees during the winters.

Organization

Your office should have a straightforward but effective organization system. Label everything in the storeroom, create a map of your office, and where items are stored. Eventually, everyone will know where supplies are, but that map will still be essential to keep organization in check.

Safety

Safety and health are your responsibility. Check regularly for areas of damage and have a simple reporting system in place for areas you cannot always check. Your employees should feel safe and supported physically and emotionally. Only when they can relax, can their energy be put to better use and help your business succeed.

Health

Proper office equipment needs to support a healthy posture. The right height of desks, ergonomic chairs, wrist supporters – the whole nine yards. The body can take quite a beating from working in the same position hour after hour, so anything you can provide that will support their skeletal health is appreciated.

If possible, even consider setting up alternative places to work. Couches, picnic-style tables, and even bean bag chairs are all great options. It will give your employees the chance to move about, get their blood flowing, and support their health.

Why Decor and Design Matters

Your office aesthetic will also play a significant role. Art engages the mind and helps ignite it with ideas.

Color Theory

A neutral office is often the best, but patches of color can add that inspirational streak that employees need to feel better and more creative. If your office is high profile and stressful, use soothing colors to help counteract the

Art

Art is expression. Just like color, it can impact mood and inspiration. Add art on the walls and use decor to really spruce the place up and make it feel welcome and inviting. Allow your employees to customize their spaces as well for maximum impact.

Personalization

Every employee should have access to the same tools, but other than that, they should be free to personalize their space as they wish. Have a process they need to go through for more interactive elements (like personal space heaters, as they can be health and safety issue) but beyond that encourage them to decorate it as they please. Give them the reigns to really make the space their own, so that they feel like they are coming home again when they are coming in to work.