Creating A Productive Office Space: 4 Tips You Need to Use

Does your workspace or office lend itself to productivity? Even if it’s currently optimised, there’s always room for improvement. A poorly designed office can actually detract from our productivity and result in wasted time and energy throughout the working week.

While it is only natural for offices and workflows to change and adapt over time as the business evolves, neglecting to update the office to accommodate these changes and adaptations will put you at a severe disadvantage. But the good news is that you can turn your office into a productivity powerhouse with the right changes.

Let’s take a look at some productivity-boosting office design elements and changes you can make to help you make your office work for you, not make everyone work harder.

Personal Workspaces

The best place to start is to look at the employees’ personal workspace. What do they need in their immediate space to be functional? Do they need filing cabinets, access to charging points, or plug sockets? Do they need a privacy screen? Soundproofing and organisational aspects to keep things clutter-free and tidy? Consider the need for cabinets, shelves, footrests under desks, bins, stationery, and more within the personal space to help them reduce the need to constantly traverse the office looking for what they need.

Focus on Flow

The flow of the office is especially important, and you need to consider the law and interactions of each person using it to help you maximise productivity within the office. ‘Flow’ in office design refers to the efficient movement of people and resources within the workspace. Look where everything is currently located and how people move around. 

Identify areas where you can rearrange the layout to make sense of how the area as a whole is used. Do you need a central walkway for people to move from their desks to a break room? Are you considering a separate room for a canteen and equipment, so people can move to this space to complete tasks or take a break? Are there certain employees whose required actions cause disruption and need to be relocated somewhere else to minimise the disruption caused, i.e., constantly walking through the office space with clients? Talking to an office fit out company can help you plan your space better to maximise its productivity. Think about convenience.

Natural Light Is Paramount

When it comes to creating a productive working environment, you cannot overestimate the impact of copious amounts of natural light. A space that is illuminated primarily via artificial light can drain employees and cause health issues such as eye strain and headaches. However, introducing natural light via clear windows or light sources that mimic daylight can truly transform your office. It can boost people’s mood, improve alertness, and increase energy levels, leading to a more productive workforce.

In fact, the American Academy of Family Physicians states that effective lighting can decrease depression and improve mood, alertness and energy. So, if this is not a good enough reason to focus on natural light within your office, then what is it?

Nature

Again, like natural light, the presence of nature, either via windows exposing the outdoors or plants to employees or by bringing nature indoors, can be really effective in boosting people’s moods and making them feel better, which in turn leads to increased productivity. 

Plants on desks or floor planters with tall plants operating workspaces can be effective, as can using floral or woodland-themed art or wallpaper in spaces. For instance, you can consider placing a small potted plant on each desk or installing a living wall in a common area. The Flower Council of Holland found that 70% of respondents stated that plants improved the atmosphere at home and at work, while The University of Exeter found that people with plants in their offices were 15% more creative than those without. `

This is a collaborative post.