Cramped offices lined with cubicles are quickly becoming a thing of the past. These days, many companies strive to provide a more comfortable and stimulating environment for their employees and their clients. A better workplace leads to higher employee retention. A more welcoming work environment attracts a greater number of dedicated clients.
Make the Best of Your Space
The layout of your office space will make a big difference in aesthetics and productivity. Spend a few days shadowing your employees to determine if the layout of your office makes sense. What areas of the space are being efficiently used? What areas would be better used for other things? Are there any spaces that are cramped with unnecessary equipment? What areas of the space can be freed up to create a more open atmosphere? By determining what areas of the building help or hinder the aesthetics of the space and the productivity of your employees, you will be able to avoid inefficient organization and create a much more welcoming environment.
Ambiance
Think about how you feel when you step into a public building that plays elevator music (or Muzac), has generic paintings on the wall, and does not offer any unique characteristics at all. While some people may appreciate this uniformity, many people prefer a place with at least a little bit of its own character. If you aren’t an interior designer yourself, it may be difficult to determine where to begin with your office space. Hiring an interior designer may be your best option and is likely to pay off in the long run. If you don’t have the budget for an interior designer just yet, you’ll be able to get plenty of ideas online from interior designer websites. Simple changes such as installing logo fountains will add character to your space. You don’t have to spend a fortune to create a unique space that your employees and clients will be happy to spend time in.
Lighting
The best way to light your office is with natural light from the sun. Of course, this isn’t always possible, and the amount of natural sunlight in your office will depend on the location of the windows in your building. Whether or not you have sufficient natural light from windows, you’ll also need to consider internal light sources. For this purpose, you may be thinking that any light source will do. However, there are many different types of lights, and the type you choose can make a big difference in the quality of your space.
These days, many people are spending a little extra on full spectrum lights that are designed to show the full wavelength of light (infrared to near-ultraviolet). Full spectrum light is the next best thing to natural sunlight, and has the added benefit of being available day or night, whenever you turn on the light switch. In contrast, many types of harsh indoor lighting tend to overwork the eyes causing eye fatigue and headaches. With a more natural light, workers will be more productive and feel more energized throughout the day.
Office Chairs
Even if you only run a small business with a few employees, you know how expensive office chairs can be. However, skimping out on office chairs can be a big mistake and may cost you more in the long run. You can actually reduce the number of sick days that your employees take by purchasing quality, ergonomic office chairs that are designed to prevent low back pain and other types of discomfort while sitting for long periods of time. Quality office chairs that are ergonomically designed will also stimulate worker productivity.
Polly Godwin is the owner of FountainSigns.com, a company specializing in logo fountains and design. Learn how you can replace your boring business design with a fountain sign!