Smart companies understand the power of effective office design in creating a more productive environment for their employees. Studies show that simple things like wall decorations and plants can have a significant impact on employee happiness and productivity.
We will list some of the most important factors in office space planning and effective office design. With these simple tips, it’s easy to turn your office into a space of motivation and inspiration.
Lighting
Lighting is one of the strongest factors in creating an optimal office environment. Lighting affects many aspects of working life, from productivity, mental health to workplace safety. Natural light is extremely important for a person’s functioning – it improves mood, stimulates the synthesis of vitamin D, and disinfects the space. Warm light can be calming and more inviting, while cooler light can reduce fatigue and encourage cooperation.
Employees prefer natural light in office spaces as well as a view of plants and green areas, which improves their mood and can contribute to a higher level of energy and a better ability to deal with stressful situations.
Workspaces where people spend the most time should certainly have priority in ensuring there is sufficient natural lighting. In the absence of areas with natural lighting, it is a good idea to place the meeting rooms into the inside area of the space and bring daylight to them indirectly, through smart arrangement of glass walls. In rooms located in a part of the space where there is no natural light source, white walls and several types of indirect lighting can help increase the feeling of spaciousness and brightness.
Plants
Plants are an important factor in office space design. Not only do they provide a mental boost by improving air quality, but they can also contribute to lowering blood pressure and the level of stress hormones in people who spend long periods of time in office spaces. In the office environment, green areas and plants can be organized into vertical gardens, which also serves as wall decoration; another option is to hang up potted plants on wall or ceiling supports, freeing up work surfaces; placing large pots with tall plants that occupy the space as an autonomous piece of furniture is another attractive option.
Nature is inherent to human beings and there is growing evidence that adding plants to office spaces contributes to the happiness and health of employees. By incorporating biophilic design into the workplace, plants become an integral part of its function and can help employees work creatively and productively.
Materials
Although they are often something we don’t actively perceive, materials are an inevitable part of our environment. They receive and emit light and sound, absorb or release odors, get dirty or clean, persist or decay. The comprehensive effect that materials have on our experience of the space around us is a strong argument for considering them in a significant way when designing a workspace. Many materials such as glass, mortar, plaster, or plastic are silent and will come to life only when we paint them or put stickers or wallpaper on them.
Other materials, such as wood or fabric, are vivid and intrigue our senses. The tactile quality of these materials means that they should be used harmoniously, with meaning and in moderation.
An abundance of wood in a space creates an elegant and rich look, and it affects the acoustics of a room, its fragrance, and fuels the imagination. Furniture with wood elements evokes humanity and orientation to nature.
Textiles are inherent to furniture, but also to floors in an office environment, where they play an irreplaceable role in reducing noise in the space. In addition to practical use, textiles can make employees feel at home in the office. Textile curtains, carpets, and furniture with a large proportion of textiles will make the office quiet and give it a homely atmosphere. Employees often perceive such spaces as “their own”, which is great, but at the same time they require constant care and maintenance.
Metal is a strong and sovereign material in the modern office. Figuratively and intuitively, it suggests stability and durability. Thanks to its static properties, it is often possible to achieve elegant contours with metal elements in the space, but it is necessary to combine it with different colors, treatment techniques, and other materials in order to reduce its cold character.
Colors
Meaningful use of color can have significant benefits. In addition to influencing the mood, colors can stimulate different physical reactions, but also act as a psychological indicator of how to use the space. Soft, muted colors have a different effect than bright, energetic ones. Natural colors like green and blue can improve efficiency and focus, while warmer colors can encourage innovative thinking and creativity.
Different colors can have different psychological effects and they can affect the way people think or feel on a subconscious level. With this in mind, it is necessary to use colors responsibly and purposefully when creating a space in which people will work.
If you are thinking about choosing and/or designing an office space and you find it important that your employees feel good at their workplace and in their working environment, the DC&T expert team can help you choose and adjust the office space according to the needs and wishes of your employees.
