Four Ways to Make Workspaces More Functional
Is your office environment working to the best of its abilities? These changes can make a world of difference in creating a productive and successful environment.
Make Lighting Work
Light fixtures that cast a harsh, unfiltered glare on the desks and tables below may do the basic job of illuminating an interior space, but that doesn’t mean the job is getting done well. The rise of monitors, screens and projection surfaces in the workplace means that good lighting is more important than ever. Poorly designed light can impede team members’ views of their screens and even make their eyes fatigue more quickly, neither of which is a conducive context for a productive day. Depending on the space, positive changes in this area can include the introduction of natural light, directional lighting, diffused overhead lighting and custom light fixtures.
Provide Comfort for Employees
Old-school cost-cutting measures may have made C-suite members happy, but everyone else in the office can’t exactly be expected to feel excited to go to work in a stuffy, dark, uncomfortable office. The research that’s driving the office design revolution shows that making employees comfortable at work results in better output across the board. This can even mean providing lounge seating and other areas for relaxation. Though it seems counterintuitive, breaks can actually improve focus and stimulate creativity, making the introduction of comfortable spaces for both active work and brief relaxation important features in an effective office.
Reflect the Company Culture
From colors to artwork, the look and feel of an office environment can actually have an impact on worker productivity. Team members who really invest in a company’s mission tend to produce the most effective work, and decor can actually play a part in this. The aesthetic setting of a workplace can abstractly or overtly speak to what the company is all about, which in turn can set the right tone in the office and provide inspiration for employees, reminding them of all the things they love about their jobs.
Invest in Durability
Whether it’s a broken desk chair or threadbare carpet, worn-out and malfunctioning office furnishings do no favors for the workplace as a whole. It’s hard to concentrate when your chair is lopsided or when your neighbor’s broken desk wobbles and knocks your own work surface off kilter, but the impact isn’t always related to function. Offices that look dingy and outdated fail the comfort and culture tests that can make work more enjoyable and drive success for employees. Replacing broken old furnishings with newer, more durable options can provide long-lasting benefits.
