Tired of seeing your employees arrive at the office and looking like they can’t wait to leave again? It might not have anything to do with your management or their role. Your office might just need a refresh. Few managers realise just how impactful and inspiring good interior design can be in the workplace. Even just small changes can make a big difference. Here are some tips to create a workspace your employees will actually love.

Establish Clear Work Zones

At home, even in open-plan spaces, we neatly arrange different zones: the living room, dining room, study, bedroom, etc. But in the workplace, things are often more fluid. Sure, there might be a separate break room, but when it’s not clear which areas are for collaboration and which are for focused work, or it’s difficult to find someone in another role to ask for something, you end up with a less effective workplace.

Equip Break Areas Well

Money may motivate people to show up each day and try, but it doesn’t ensure they’re at the top of their game. Being well-rested, healthy and unstressed does that, so equip your break areas accordingly. Plants, water features and fresh air are great for creating spaces where people can de-stress. You should also ensure there’s always fresh water for employees so that employees can stay hydrated, and perhaps some healthy snacks.

Embrace Ergonomics for the Long Run

Ergonomic furniture is central to modern office interior design, and not just because of its superior comfort. This matters, of course, as discomfort is a major source of distraction that diminishes the effectiveness of workers, but ergonomic chairs and desks are useful business tools in other ways, too. For instance, they encourage better blood circulation, which reduces fatigue and helps employees focus harder for longer.

Don’t Overlook Scent

Scent is arguably the most overlooked aspect of workplace design. It’s easy to form an idea of how you want your workplace to look, sound and even feel, but scent doesn’t come easily to mind. Yet it can have a significant impact on stress and mood. Consider investing in some scent diffusers to make the workplace more pleasant. Go easy, though, as even nice smells can become intrusive if they are too strong.

Measure Movement

The physical layout of your workspace has the biggest and most direct influence on productivity. Obviously, the longer it takes people or things to physically get where they need to be, the slower everything runs. So, it makes sense to measure movement around your workplace to see if improvements can be made. See how long it takes for deliveries, documents, visitors or anything else transiting through the space to get where it needs to be.

Conclusion

A high-functioning workplace is one that employees enjoy and which brings out their best. It goes far beyond being a merely functional space that meets the health and safety guidelines. Creating one can have a positive and direct impact on your business, and these tips have offered some easy ways to get started.

Photo by Marc Mueller: