We’ve all returned to our offices by now. With a hybrid model of work in place, the office will be less crowded than it was before the pandemic. This is an excellent opportunity to update the office and make better use of the available space in order to increase efficiency and reorganize the office layout for maximum productivity.
Open space is not the only solution, variety is
For a while now, open space was regarded as the perfect solution for corporate offices. Sadly, that is not the case as research has confirmed that open offices aren’t as good for productivity levels. So, if you want to turn your disrupted open space productivity levels into a high-efficiency zone, offer a variety. If you can’t move. Every open office can be altered to offer closed space for those who need calm and keep a portion of the open layout.
Do your research to identify which work activities can be conducted in an open space and which require a closed office. You can even use glass partitions to section your open space and give people room for leisure, a high-efficiency office, brainstorming offices and even silent offices. This strategy will help you increase productivity and remove the stress caused by a high traffic open space.
Add more light
Lack of natural light and too much artificial light can make people sleepy, agitated, and that’s something that affects productivity levels. Try to increase the amount of natural light by using modern window furnishing like translucent roller blinds. If there’s too much light, people can easily block it with blinds. If there isn’t too much light, make sure to brighten the space with sources of indirect lighting. An option to dim the lights based on preferences is also a great way to give your employees a chance to control the amount of light.
Comfortable seating
Comfortable and practical office furniture is imperative for productive and efficient offices. If you haven’t updated your office decor and seating options in a while, this is your time to shine. The best way to approach this and give everyone a choice to choose is to buy three different chairs. Each employee gets a chance to test try each chair and choose one that is the most comfortable. This is a nice morale boost because you’ll give your employees a chance to choose what works best for them.
Versatile desks
People who sit a lot during their office hours are advised to stand up every hour and be active for 15 minutes. Or at least, stand for fifteen minutes. The goal here is to change the position to reduce the strain on muscles engaged during sitting. At the same time, you’ll activate other muscles to cancel the negative effect of sitting. To help reduce the strain caused by sitting all day, offer a versatile desk option. These desks can be easily adjusted to fit someone standing or sitting, depending on their preference.
Revamp the bathrooms
The office bathroom can be one of the quiet places at the entire office where people go out of necessity and to getaway. Therefore, you should also opt to turn your bathroom from typical to exceptional. For starters, make sure to have enough stalls for everyone, so people won’t have to wait for their turn in front of the bathroom. Equip it with hand dryers, smart toilet seats available at Bidets Online, and hygiene products.
Tap into the benefit of color psychology
Red can boost motivation in offices that have to be fast-paced and attentive. Blue is known to increase people’s focus because it has a calming effect. A light shade of purple is said to boost productivity by increasing the sense of calm. Yellow details can get the creativity going, while green is soothing and calming. If your office paint is cold, uninspiring and bland, add color to your decor. At least one of the colors we’ve mentioned is suitable for your office style and vibe.
Reduce noise levels
While some people thrive in a loud environment, others may feel that noise is taking a toll on their productivity levels. We’re all different so we cannot force people to either be quiet or to withstand the noise. It’s best to give people the room to hold lively chats and to work in quiet. Dedicate an office for silent work. Write the rules of conduct and put them on the door.
Thus, whoever decides to work from a silent office has to follow the rules. If they can’t, they should return to the open office space where they are not bound to be quiet. Also, make sure to provide your employees with noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds. Each desk should be equipped with a pair. These also work as a not-disturb sign, so whoever works with headphones surely won’t be troubled by others.
Lastly, incorporate natural elements into the office. Plants that survive in the office environment will boost motivation. Wooden elements add warmth, while stone elements like counters increase the natural vibe of the office.
