Follow these strategies to make your office space more inviting

With the average Brit spending more than 3,500 full days at work over the course of their lifetimes, it’s vital that you create a welcoming and inviting place where they can perform at their best.

Award-winning office designs may go in heavy on aesthetics, but it’s often an investment that pays dividends. Indeed, a fifth of millennial workers say that they’d reject a potential employer because of poorly-designed office space, whilst another report suggests less than a quarter of all employees work in an environment that’s “optimal” for productivity.

Although good workplace design involves collaboration and listening to your employees’ needs and requirements, there are some basics that you can get right without their help. Below, we’ve put together some strategies to make your office environment more inviting… 

Invest in ergonomic furniture

Perhaps one of the most important elements to get right when redesigning your office is to invest in good-quality ergonomic furniture. According to Staples Business Resource Center, 71% of office workers say that their chair has caused them back pain, and we all know that high absenteeism rates increase costs. Although ergonomic chairs and desks may be more expensive than their cheaper basic counterparts, they’ll save your business time and money as you grow, and demonstrate to your team that you care about their comfort and wellbeing.

Let the light into your office space

According to a report from the World Green Building Council, workers with outside views are on average 25% more productive and answer calls 12% faster than those without views. It’s not always possible to position every member of your staff by a window, but exposing them to natural light can increase productivity by as much as 18%, with better lightning in general pushing up productivity by as much as 23%. Instead of reserving your lightest and brightest spaces for meeting rooms, allow staff to sit in the brightest areas, and create social spaces in your atriums to foster collaboration. If your environment doesn’t allow for staff to sit by the window, invest in daylight sensors that synchronise internal ambient and external lighting, and consider the benefits of daylight lamps which can reduce Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Consider office plants

Low-maintenance houseplants are a great way to inject some colour and vibrancy into your office environment, with many thriving in lower light and even offering health benefits. A 2010 study from the United States found that there was a 37% fall in anxiety and a 38% drop in fatigue when houseplants were added to office space, whilst the University of Exeter found that employees’ productivity jumped by 15% when their offices were filled with houseplants. From the humble cacti to air plants, pothos, jade plants, ZZ plants, spider plants, aloe vera, peace lilies, bamboo, succulents, and snake plants, there are many options to consider. Get your team involved and allow each staff member to choose their own plant for the office.

Banish clutter

Removing clutter can set the tone for your office and help people relax. Introduce policies to encourage organisation, invest in filing cabinets, reduce printing and push document storing to the cloud where possible, and invest in an all-in-one printer-scanner-fax machine rather than having three on the table. Donating or recycling freebies or unwanted merchandise is a good idea, and having a review of box files and documents every few months will ensure that you’re not holding onto anything that you don’t need. Getting your team involved in a decluttering mission one Friday afternoon is good for team building, will boost morale, and help you to create a streamlined working environment where everything has its place.

Inject some personality

According to a 2019 study, 74% of workers said that their dated or uninspiring office had a negative impact on their productivity. Perhaps even more alarming was the revelation that 37% of workers found their working environment had a negative impact on their mental health, demonstrating the vital importance of creating a fun, engaging workplace where your staff can feel valued, inspired, and ready to work. You don’t need to spend thousands of pounds on fancy artwork and standing desks, but you should try to inject some colour and personality into your space. Your office should be a reflection of your business and values, so choose a colour palette, add some vinyl artwork to the walls, and let your staff have their say. You could encourage them to bring personal items such as mascots or photos to place on their desks, and get them involved in creating a mural that celebrates the whole team.

Don’t scrimp on cleaning

Finally, if you want to create an environment where employees feel valued, you cannot scrimp on cleaning. As the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us, it’s no longer a nice-to-have to use a professional cleaning company to assist with day-to-day maintenance: it’s essential. Have a clear policy in place, schedule daily cleans (preferably on a morning or evening to avoid disruption to your teams) and review your protocols every couple of months to ensure your office stays looking at its best. You might also want to invest in new hand dryers, bins, and recycling stations to do your bit for the environment, and publicise your cleaning regime with logs in the toilets, explaining when they were last cleaned and how to report any issues.

Need assistance in creating a more welcoming and inviting office space? You can depend on Precision Facilities Management for quality workplace design. Call us on 0116 366 6508 to find out more.