Category Archives: Office Space Design

6 Tips To Optimize Your Office Space Layout

If you work full time, you may be spending close to 40 hours in your office. Therefore, it is important to have an appealing office that motivates you to keep working and be productive. Optimizing the look of your office plays a big role in your productivity. If you have an organized office, you will have fewer distractions when you are working. It also improves your comfort and makes your office tidy. Your office space layout makes a statement about you and your company culture.

There is much more to optimizing your office layout than just using the space efficiently. Studies have shown that offices with poor designs have employees who are stressed and anxious and are not productive. There are higher chances of having rifts between different departments when your office layout is poor. When you improve your office space layout, you will have better cooperation between your employees and improve the output.

Plan for Future Growth

When improving your office layout, it is important to allow for expansion when the need arises. With time, your business will grow, and you may require space for more employees or equipment. Therefore, it is important to keep growth at the back of your mind when designing your office layout.

Some of the questions you need to ask yourself as you design your office include where you would fit new desks if you hired more employees. It is also important to think about how the common rooms and facilities will be affected if the human traffic increases. Having these points in mind will save you time and money that you could have spent redesigning your office when there are changes in the future.

Remove Uncomfortable Furniture From the Office

When organizing your furniture, it is important to think whether this furniture is currently in use. Furniture that you are not using is only taking up space in your office, and, therefore, it is better to get rid of it. Experts from Marvable Singapore advise that more comfortable furniture is good for your back, neck, heart, and lung health. Therefore, you need to invest in high-quality furniture so that you become more productive at work. This furniture might be costly, but it will save you a lot of money in the long run since it does not need a lot of maintenance.

Design Your Office For Collaboration

When choosing an office layout, consider the ease of communication between your employees. Design your office in a way that allows for interaction and collaboration between different departments. This will enable your employees to easily consult each other and it will improve the productivity of your business.

To do this, you can invest in touchdown spaces with temporary desks that allow your employees to have better communication. Some modern office layouts have collaborative spaces in the form of semi-circle spaces that can be around a fireplace, art display, or indoor fountain, and in addition to providing room for interaction amongst workers; they also motivate workers to be more productive in the appealing environment.

Use Natural Light in the Office

Lighting is an important requirement in any office. This light also needs to be regulated so that it is not too much or too little which can lower the productivity of workers. Natural light plays a role in the circadian rhythm that controls sleep and wake cycles.

When designing your office layout, keep furniture close to the windows so that you get as much natural light as possible. If your office does not have many windows or they are too small, you can use skylights to improve the lighting. Having plants in the office also gives it a naturally appealing look which motivates your workers.

Have Multipurpose Spaces

To save on money and space, you can use your space for many purposes. The meeting room can also have other uses like a place to relax. However, if you have a lot of office space, you can set aside a separate space for your employees to relax. These spaces help the employees to relax, become comfortable, and interact with their colleagues in productive ways.

The layout of your office plays a role in the productivity of the workers. Optimizing your office saves you in cost in the long run because it gives room for future growth to accommodate more workers or equipment. You can optimize your office space by removing the old, uncomfortable, and furniture that is not in use. Having natural light in your office and allowing space for collaboration are other ways of optimizing your office layout.

If you would like some help finding the right office space with a great working enviroment, contact us. It is what we do with our network of over 450 local tenant reps. All at no cost to you.

Creating the Perfect Working Environment

working enviroment design It’s important to feel comfortable and focused when you need to work, and this is why attention needs to be paid to your office décor. Dreary greys and dull, white tones, while usually to be expected, don’t inspire the best work ethic. These colors can feel cold and clinical, especially when paired with fluorescent lighting. Below are some useful decorating tips to help you create the perfect working environment, whether it’s at your office in the city center or your home.

Natural Light

Where possible, flood your office with natural light. It will help to make you feel more positive and productive during your day. Some rooms might not have the luxury of being positioned in the ideal spot for letting in light, and others simply don’t have enough windows for this to happen. However, if you’re setting up a home office consider whether you can make changes to the room to help let in more natural light during the day. Skylights or floor-to-ceiling windows are a good way to achieve this.

Plant Life

Adding some greenery to your office is another great way to let nature in and to boost your mood. Studies have shown that spending more time in nature can help people to cope with feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. This isn’t surprising when you think about the calming effect nature has on us. While you might not be able to set up your office in the middle of a field or national park, adding some plant life to the room will help to make you feel more at ease.

Comfortable Furniture

You must make sure your office furniture is comfortable and good for your posture. Many people who work at desks can suffer from aches and pains because their desks and office chairs are not positioned properly or designed to give them support throughout the day. For the comfort of visitors or when you want to step away from your desk during your break, your office can have a comfortable couch to help make it feel more welcoming.

Color Scheme

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, dull color schemes don’t do much to inspire creativity or productivity. Certain colors are meant to help evoke certain feelings, for example, lavender tones are known for being relaxing. While you want to feel at ease in your office, you also want to feel motivated and focused. The colors that are thought to help inspire those feelings include reds, blues, yellows, and greens. Of course, you can also choose to paint the walls or introduce a splash of your favorite color through artwork or other items to make your office feel more personal.

Storage

Finally, make sure you have enough practical storage space in your office to keep it clean and tidy. It can be very distracting working in a messy office, and some people find it increases their levels of stress when they’re working in that kind of environment. To help keep your mind sharp and head clear, reduce the clutter with clever storage units and filing cabinets.

Make your workday as positive as possible by creating the perfect working environment with these top tips.

If you would like some help finding the right office space with a great working enviroment, contact us. It is what we do with our network of over 450 local tenant reps. All at no cost to you.

How to Design an Efficient Work Environment

Efficient Work Environment

We spend much of our waking hours at work and a well-designed work environment can make all the difference when it comes to our job satisfaction and efficiency. There are constantly changing trends when it comes to office layouts, from the tiny cubicles of the 1980s to the open idea sharing spaces of modern companies. As every business is different, there is no right or wrong way to design your office. It is important to identify your needs and goals and to create an efficient work environment that caters to achieving your goals.

To help out all the business owners who are looking to maximize their offices here is how to design an efficient work enviroment.

1. Create the Right Lighting

The first thing you need to do in order to design an efficient work environment is to focus on the lighting. Artificial lights such as the huge strip lights that are often found in offices can cause major problems for people such as migraines, fatigue and problems with vision. Natural light is always the best possible lighting solution and so you should try to let as much natural light into your office as possible. If your office has windows, leave them unblocked and simply put up strip blinds which can easily be opened. A properly lit space can dramatically change the mood of your employees and make them far more efficient.

2. Ventilate the Space

As well as natural light, proper ventilation is also extremely important for creating the right environment within the office. Far too many offices use air conditioners but this only helps to control the temperature and humidity. Wherever possible, open up windows to allow natural ventilation through your workspace. If it is too hot or cold during office hours to do this, then at least try and open them for a few hours before and after the working day is done to replenish the air in the room. If your office is on a high floor where there is no possibility of a break in, you can even leave the windows open overnight to really freshen the place up.

3. Organize the Furniture

Probably the most important aspect of your office when it comes to your employees’ comfort is the furniture. The experts at Vestra Workspace explain that it is not enough to just position the desks and chairs randomly throughout the space. Professional office design and layout teams can help you to maximize your space so that it is set up to be as efficient as possible. The right setup will depend on what kind of business you have and the duties of your employees. If they do a lot of individual work, then a more traditional layout may be the best way, whereas if there is a lot of group brainstorming then a communal style layout may be better.

4. Consider your Employees’ Happiness

Modern employees expect far more from their offices these days than just a kettle and a refrigerator. Whilst you don’t have to go all out like the big Silicon Valley tech companies and provide an ice rink and a bowling alley for your employees, you should still provide them with some amenities which shows them they are valued and which can help them to enjoy their working day. A fully loaded coffee machine which enables them to make all their favorite drinks is a really great addition to any office and is one which will make your employees very grateful. A happy workforce in an efficient work enviroment is an effective workforce, and so everyone’s a winner.

5. Add Some Greenery

Adding some greenery to your work environment is an uneasy way to create a better atmosphere in the office and to make it seem more homely. Plants produce oxygen and help to purify the air in the office and also add some much-needed life to space. Offices can be very clinical places, full of functional furniture and grey suits. Plants bring a level of comfort that would otherwise be missing and also create a feeling of peacefulness. Some big ferns or other robust, easy to maintain plants are ideal for offices and will really help to improve efficiency.

Creating an efficient work environment is all about maximizing your space and using it to achieve your business’s goals. The most important asset of any company is it’s employees so designing an office where they will be happy and productive should be your number one priority. Follow this easy guide and you will be able to create a workspace that is pleasant and productive.

If you would like some help finding the right office space, contact us. It is what we do with our network of over 450 local tenant reps.

Choosing The Right Carpet For Your Office

Right Carpet For Your Office

Aside from making sure that your business offers the best products and services, how your office looks can also affect its success. It’ll be challenging for you to convince your customers and suppliers that you’re a credible business if your office is poorly maintained. How do you think you can impress the public with an office that looks like this?

Carpets can improve the overall appearance and ambiance of your office, making them one of the best investments any entrepreneur can make. Carpets can also improve the safety in your office because these can prevent slip and fall accidents on hard floorings.

If you’re convinced that carpets are great pieces to have in your office, make sure that you choose the right type from a carpet tile company by taking note of these tips:

Consider The Colors

Another thing to think about when choosing the right carpet for your office is the color of your room. Your office won’t be appealing if your carpet is in contrast with the overall color of the room or if the carpet looks very out of place.

If your office is painted in light colors, then, you’ll want a carpet that also comes in light colors. On the other hand, if you’re working in an office with a lot of darker colors, you may want a carpet that’s in a darker shade of brown or gray.

Moreover, you also want to think about the room’s decor and make sure it matches the carpet. For example, if your office has a very formal environment, then, you’d want to choose a carpet with a black or dark-colored base for it to complement the ambiance of the room. However, if your office has a more laid-back aura, then, you should go for a carpet that’s in a lighter shade of color.
Assess The Material Of The Carpet

Carpets are very beneficial, but these will also require maintenance on your part. For you to continually enjoy the benefits of your carpet, you need to exert time and effort in cleaning it. And, you can easily determine the maintenance requirement of the carpet based on its material.

In general, wool is a great choice for carpets if you want to keep your office as dry as possible as this material is easy to clean and maintain. Some people will go with carpets made from cotton as these are comfortable and soft. You can also opt for upholstery for your office carpet. This material is usually cheaper and gives your office a little extra style. However, if you do choose upholstery for your office carpet, make sure that you’ll have the time to regularly clean your carpet as this type can easily get stained from a spill.
Check The Durability

One of the most important tips to consider when choosing the right carpet for your office is to make sure that it’s durable. You don’t want your carpet to get damaged because it got spilled on or it got worn out after several years of use, right? This would be a waste of money and time, not to mention the inconvenience it will cause your employees whenever your carpets are being replaced or repaired.

For you to end up buying durable carpets, do some research on the products you’ve shortlisted. Read reviews from customers as this will give you an idea whether or not a specific carpet can last for years.
Ask For A Quotation

Your business needs to pay attention to its expenses to ensure that it continues to operate. This is especially true if you’re still a novice in the business arena. If you don’t want to lose a lot of money just because you’re installing new carpets to your office, make sure to ask quotations from at least three suppliers.

Getting a price quote on your new office carpets can help you find the best deal, as well as assess which suppliers can meet your budget. Carpet prices vary depending on the type of material they’re made from and their size. So, if you know the dimensions of your office and what you want in a carpet, then you can easily find one that suits your taste and budget.

Choose Carefully

There are many carpets available in the market today, which is why choosing one can be tough. This is especially true if this is your first time to buy and use carpets in your office.

For you to save time and effort in finding the right carpet, let the tips from this article become your guide. You won’t have any problems narrowing down your options if you know what to consider when shopping for carpets!

How to Give Your Office Reception the Wow Factor

Your office reception area will provide your guests with a first impression of your business. If it is dull, unloved, and uncomfortable, they might be tempted to walk straight back out the door.

To convince a client you’re worth their time and money or prove to a talented candidate that they will join a flourishing business, you may need to make improvements to your waiting area. Read these tips on how to give your office reception the wow factor.

Comfortable Yet Stylish Furniture

Comfortable, stylish furniture cannot only transform a reception’s interior design, but it will prove to visitors that you’re a caring company. Rather than invest in cheap, worn seats, you must invest in stylish sofas, tables, and chairs that will impress clients, job applicants, and other visitors.

You also don’t need to worry about paying expensive prices for furniture, either. If you look for your sofa online, you could take your pick from various retailers who offer stunning designs for reasonable prices.

A Splash of Color

Bright white walls can appear cold and clinical, which could make your visitors feel as if they’re waiting for a dental exam or doctor’s appointment. Add some warmth and vibrancy into your reception by adding a splash of color onto your walls.

For example, you could decorate the walls and accessories in your brand’s synonymous color scheme. It is, however, important to remember that the color you choose can set a mood. To help your visitors to feel relaxed and at ease, decorate your reception in a serene shade, such as pale blue, light gray, or sage green.

Add Useful Amenities

Prove to visitors you’re the type of company that goes above and beyond by providing fantastic amenities in the reception area. For example, a client, customer, or job seeker might appreciate a cup of joe from a coffee machine or a glass of water from a fountain.

You also could add sweets into a bowl on the reception desk or near the sofas and provide fresh newspapers and a stack of magazines for them to read while they wait. It’s a sure-fire way to impress your visitors.

Install Impressive Light Fixtures

Wow a visitor from the moment they step inside the building by installing an impressive light fixture in your reception area. The statement lighting must grab their eye and should match your brand’s image. Choose the right shape and size for the room and height of the ceiling, which will help a client, business associate, or potential employee to form a great first impression of your company.

Incorporate Your Logo

Adding the brand logo onto the reception wall will not only inform a visitor that they’ve arrived at the correct office, but it will prove you operate a thriving business that has great attention to detail. It is for this reason why you must update the signage if you rebrand your business. It is a small addition that can have a huge impact on your visitors once they arrive at your office for a meeting or job interview.

And if these tips can’t do the trick, contact us to find the right office space at the best price.

How to Fund Your COVID-19 Office Improvements

Office Improvements

Figuring out what to do to protect your employees as they come back to work from time off due to COVID-19 health risks is a challenge every business owner has to deal with. It is not going to be cheap. So how do you fund your COVID-19 office improvements?

Many business owners have applied for SBA disaster relief loans, but what if you are one of the many whose loans don’t come through or don’t come through soon enough to get the office improvements done in time for the return of employees? How do you fill the gap?

Different Loan Options for Office Improvements

Office improvements are expensive and costly, and using your business cash flow to fund the improvements may not be an option. Applying for a loan is the next best option that you have. There are different loan options that you can use to finance your office improvements. Check the following list below and see what loan option best fits you.

Traditional Term loan

The traditional term loan is what you think it is. You apply for a lump sum of cash, and once approved, you will receive the amount in full. It is under the condition that you need to repay the whole amount together with the total interest and fees included over a specific period. Your repayment schedule condition depends on the lender, but you can choose to have it done on a weekly or monthly basis.

To qualify for a traditional term loan, you need to have a good credit score, outstanding business transaction records, and an increasing business revenue over the years. However, if this seems to be overwhelming, there are still other options, like short-term loans, that you can apply for.

Short-term loan

Many lenders offer short-term loans to startup business owners that are looking for additional funds in handling their business expenses. One of these expenses includes renting an office space for their business operations including office improvements.

Short-term loans don’t need many requirements to get approved. Having a fair to good credit score should get you the approval you need. Also, short-term loans work best for startup business owners as they are still getting the hang of running their business. Handling the repayments for a short-term loan wouldn’t be too much of a burden to a recovering business.

A business line of credit

Any business can apply for a business line of credit. The good thing about having a business line of credit is that you can have a higher credit limit compared to other loan options. If you have excellent business revenue, a clean credit history, and other essential factors, you can avail of a high credit limit that you can use for your office improvements.

Another notable distinction of getting a business line of credit as a loan option is that it offers flexible payment options. Funds can also be used for different business-related purposes, and borrowers have access to cash on demand. Handling the payment for a business line of credit is much like paying for a credit card. You only need to pay for the interest of the funds you used.

Credit Card

It is very seldom that business owners rely on the use of their personal credit cards to finance any business-related expenses. The truth is, utilizing your credit card is a good financial option to fund your business. If the ideal, rentable office space you found can be settled by paying through your credit card, then you have a good deal.

However, make sure that you don’t overspend your credit limit. You don’t want to be burdened with monthly repayments and interest accumulation.

Pro-tip: In any business, it is inevitable to have a slow period during the COVID-19 crisis. The slow period might be one of the reasons why many business owners struggle to pay off their debts on time. If caught on a tight end in repaying your loan, you can do a balance transfer loan. A balance transfer loan can give you leeway as it allows you to transfer or move your debt to a different financial institution that has a zero or lower interest.

Before you perform a balance transfer loan, make sure to check the company’s terms of service. Credit card companies offer different terms, and some of them might not appeal to your preference. Find one with a very low-interest rate, no balance transfer fee, high credit limit to cover previous balances, and a long introductory period before proceeding to have a transfer done.

Image Source

8 Minimalist Computer Desk Setups for Your Home Office

In this time of crisis many people are setting up a home office. Using a minimalist desk design can help to fuel productivity and to set you up for success! Find inspiration from these home office setups!

There are a lot of considerations that come with setting up your home office. You want to strike a balance between professional and comfortable. You want your home office to fuel productivity without being too stuffy and claustrophobic.

A minimalist desk design might be the answer for you. They keep your space open and comfortable, while encouraging you to work your hardest. Keep reading for the best minimalist computer desk setups.

A Wall Mounted Desk

If you want something modern and minimal, consider a wall-mounted desk.

A wall-mounted, or floating desk is little more than a slab of desk that juts out from the wall. There are no underhanging storage compartments or legs, it’s 100% desk. This gives you plenty of room to roll from one end to the other without worrying about smashing your knees into the desk’s frame.

Wall-mounted desks are sleek and solid. You can get them in plenty of designs and materials. They look great in a room with big windows, adorned with other modern furnishings.

Because of the lack of storage space, you may want to get a large wall-mounted desk. You could even install it between a few shelving units to store anything you might need.

Swish Console Desk

A swish console desk is a truly unique minimalist desk.

It looks like a normal desk, only all the storage is within the main desk area. You simply conceal it by sliding a portion of the desk like a matchbook. This gives you plenty of storage space without the underhanging clutter of most other desks.

You can set up your computer, a lamp, and maybe an accessory or two on top of the desk, then put anything you only occasionally need inside the swish desk. When you need it, swish the concealer over and reach in. It’s like having a hiding space for all your stuff.

A Bureau Desk

Bureau desks fold up when not in use, effectively turning them into a sideboard.

This is an especially great choice if your home office is also your living room. When you’re not working, you can fold the desk in and put your work to the side. This lets you be more productive when in work mode, and more focused on yourself outside of work mode.

Bureau desks often have a good amount of side-adjusted storage space that hides away when you fold the desk in. They also have a top space for decorations. Try decorating it with a nice plant, an oil diffuser, or some photographs.

An Alcove Desk

For the unaware, and alcove is a recess in a room’s wall. It could be built into the home, or could be a space where a closet once was.

For a good minimalist look, set your desk up inside an alcove. Doing this creates a space specifically for your desk. Depending on the size of the alcove, you can install storage space around the desk, or even a lamp in the ceiling.

You can even go the extra step and install a sliding door at the alcove’s entryway. That way when your desk isn’t in use, you can hide it away with the door. This is a great way to get your head into work mode when the door opens up.

The Chalkboard Wall

A cluttered desk is the bane of all home office workers.

If you take a lot of notes while on the job, try setting up a chalkboard wall above and behind your desk. That way when you need to take notes you can jot them down on the chalkboard. It’ll always be in the background of your computer, meaning you only need to glance to see your notes.

You can also try this with whiteboard or corkboard material. It’ll seriously cut down on desk clutter like notebooks and pens.

Try contrasting the black of the chalkboard with a clean white desk.

The Centered Desk

Most people put their desk against a wall. But there’s no rule that says you have to do this.

For a unique home office look, try putting your desk right in the middle of the room. Keep it simple. Put as few objects as possible on the desk, maybe your computer, a coaster for coffee, and a plant or bobble of choice.

Doing this really lets you go crazy with the rest of the room. You can set up a lounge in one corner, or a bookshelf in another. You could put a sound system, a record player, or a few plants.

Make sure you use a MacBook camera cover if you’re doing this. You never know what someone might see from the center of the room.

The Corner Desk

Corner desks provide you with plenty of space to breathe.

These desks usually come in an L shape. They fit snuggly into the corner of your room. You can set your computer up in the corner, then leave the sides open for decoration and note taking.

You can set up a few shelves on the walls above the desk, or set it up near some windows for a truly beautiful look. You might even be able to set up two monitors on the surface to double your productivity.

The Folding Desk

A folding desk does exactly that. The legs fold into the bottom of the surface like nothing. That means you can take the desk out when needed, and put it away when not.

These desks are minimal, and they mean you can make your home office anywhere. If you want to move closer to the window, move closer. If you want to work in another room altogether, go for it.

If you work on a laptop, this is perfect. That means it’s just you and your laptop anywhere you want.

Change the Way You Work With a Minimalist Desk Design

A minimalist desk design will change the way you work. It’ll help keep your mind focused on work, and keep your surface clutter-free. Plus, it’ll look just plain beautiful.

If you’re looking for office space or need to make changes in how much office space you need, let us know and see what OfficeFinder can do for you.

Understanding Your HVAC System to Ensure Comfort in Your Office

If you want to stay comfortable in your office, you should have the right HVAC system. Learn how to understand your HVAC system and remain comfy.

HVAC System Thermostat

The comfort level in your office space directly affects productivity. After all, nobody likes working all day in an office that’s either too hot or too cold.

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These systems work to regulate the temperature in a building on a daily basis.

If you’ve moved into a new office building in your area, understanding your HVAC system is important if you want to keep things cozy. That’s why we’re going over the basics of how an HVAC system works.

The Heating System

HVAC heating systems can work in several different ways. Traditional systems include a furnace that heats the air and sends it through the ductwork of a building.

A furnace requires regular maintenance to ensure it can keep up with heating demands. If you live in a region that experiences long, cold winters, you’ll need to stay on top of tune-ups.

Some office buildings now use radiant floors. These systems work by heating pipes filled with water installed under the flooring. This provides a more energy-efficient solution and distributes heat evenly throughout the space.

The Air Conditioning System

A commercial air conditioner must be able to cool a large area filled with employees and office equipment, which both generate heat.

Office AC units get installed on the roof of the building. They work by cooling warm air outside and sending it into the building through ducts.

This outside air gets sent through a filter, which removes allergens and other pollutants. These systems require routine hvac service so the condenser and evaporator coils continue to cool the air.

Ventilation

In order to regulate temperature and ensure healthy air quality, proper ventilation is required. Your HVAC system helps with this process.

By filtering the air sent into your building, your system improves ventilation and controls moisture levels. It can even help cut down on bad odors. This is why it’s so important to change your air filter regularly.

You may also want to have the ducts in your office checked and cleaned. This cuts down on air blockage and prevents dust from getting into the ventilation system. You can also help improve ventilation in your office by using ceiling or desk fans.

The Thermostat

Maintaining control of your office thermostat is crucial when keeping the space comfortable. Luckily, most modern thermostats are programmable and highly efficient.

It’s important your HVAC thermostat is in a place that doesn’t get unusually cool or hot. This will help with temperature regulation.

You should also schedule your thermostat so it’s not running overnight. This will help increase the lifespan of your HVAC unit and decrease your energy bills.

Understanding Your HVAC System for Maximum Comfort

Maintaining a comfortable office climate will make for a more pleasurable and productive work experience. Your HVAC system is an integral part of helping this happen.

By understanding your HVAC system, you’ll know how to use it better and when to have it serviced. This will result in a cozy office all year.

We hope you found this article informative. Feel free to check out our site for more information on office buildings and business tips.

Improve Productivity! 8 Tips for Designing an Organized Office Space

Do you want a workplace that encourages your employees to be more productive? Here 8 creative tips for designing an organized office space.

office Productivity Tips

Do your employees have low productivity? Or do you believe that there’s still room to improve? Redesigning your office might be the key.

Office design affects the productivity level of employees. However, this doesn’t only pertain to the aesthetics of the office. If it looks good yet is disorganized, employees can still suffer from low productivity.

To produce more and better output, your employees need a good environment. You can provide this by having an organized office space with the following tips.

Purging Junk and Files

The first step to organizing the workspace is purging all the unused equipment and old files. Throw out anything you or your employees don’t use anymore.

It could be a printer that’s always broken Or even that old seat cushion for the office chair. You might as well throw it out to gain more space for other items — like a new printer that works.

The best way to go about this is to purge one area at a time. Take the time to go into your file room, too. Anything you can digitize, do it now so you can throw them out later.

There’s a way to keep the filing room neat and organized, but we’ll get to that later.

More Defined Spaces, Less Open Space

The idea of an open working plan is to encourage collaboration and creativity. It became the mark of a modern office that breaks the traditional walls.

However, studies show it’s not bringing the results it’s meant to bring. The employees in this kind of workspace atmosphere have lower satisfaction and productivity.

Instead of going this route, create and define different spaces in your office. Allot a space for collaboration, and then design it in a way that will encourage that interaction. You can also use smaller spaces for individuals who need some quiet, or you may also give them a space for bonding.

If you’re concerned with going modern for your office design, having spaces without desks is a nice compromise.

Optimizing the Office Layout

The next step for an organized office is a great floor plan. Employees should have easy access to all rooms and spaces. The more often they have to use a space, the closer it should be.

If it takes them 10 minutes to go to the bathroom because they have to pass by several rooms, that’s a bad layout. It decreases productivity because it wastes their time.

In shorter terms, your employees should not have to go through a maze to get to places.

Considering the Equipment Placement

While figuring out a good layout for your office, think about the proximity of your equipment to your employees. Are they able to use the printer in only a few steps? What about the suppliers they use daily?

Keep these things in mind while designing your office, not only the rooms. Anything essential to their work should always be within reach.

As for the supplies, keep them well-organized but well within range, as well. Keep the papers close to the copying machines, for example. Likewise, the filing folders should be near the cabinets.

For things employees don’t use often, it’s okay to put these in a room or a cabinet farther from the desks.

Creating Movement Opportunities

This might contradict the previous point, but this tip keeps your employees healthy and, by extension, productive.

It prevents them from being stagnant at their desk. Research suggests that for every 20 minutes you’re sitting, you must stand for 8 minutes and then move for 2 minutes.

In that regard, placing the machines far enough (but not too far) to get your employees moving will do the trick.

The five-minute trip to the bathroom, for example, can refresh their minds. This can help them overcome a wall and regain their momentum.

A short break spent in the water cooler has the same effect, and even the short walk to the filing room can do wonders.

Creating an Organized Filing System

Speaking of files, it’s time you take a trip to your filing rooms and realize the chaos. It’s not unusual, but if you want more productive employees, don’t let them stress out over your filing system.

Reorganize the room to include more cabinets, shred the unimportant files, and develop a filing system that will ensure the files will be easy to locate afterward. Keep all your client files in one corner, for example, and then your employee files in the other.

Don’t forget to hold a meeting to teach your employees how to use the new system.

Improving the Lighting

Natural light makes for a healthy work environment, and it may be the best perk you can give them. Having no access to natural light can make your employees gloomy, lacking motivation, and prone to illness.

Installing large windows to let as much light as possible is ideal. If your office can’t have windows, however, consider a smart lighting system.

This can sync with and mimic natural light outside. In particular, it mimics the color of natural light throughout the day. Daylight is bluish-white, while the afternoon light is more orange.

Controlling the Noise Level

Noise has a lot of negative effects on your employees. Aside from less productivity, they also have lower job satisfaction and more stress. This may be one of the reasons why open floor plans aren’t successful.

For a positive work environment, control the noise using noise. You can hide speech, computer sounds, and more by distributing white noise through your speaker systems.

You can also reduce the noise levels by moving the machines creating a lot of noise. Printers and copiers should go where noise won’t be an issue. Having a separate room for them is ideal.

Get an Organized Office

Having an organized office space will not only boost productivity. It will also boost your employees’ happiness. If you need help, don’t hesitate to contact a professional office designer to help you with designing a good working space.

For more tips, feel free to check out more of our guides. You can discover more tips and tricks with our library of helpful posts today!

Is Office Space an Employee Benefit?

Office space is an Employee Benefit

Actually, yes. Your office space should be considered an employee benefit. To do so you need to make sure you have developed a good workplace strategy that will allow the office space to shine. Employees do take office space into consideration when deciding where to work. If you treat it like an employee benefit, your employees will be happier and more productive. Your office space is a major resource for your business. It does so much for you. It gives your employees a place to work, and to meet with customers, but really, it does so much more. Your office space has a huge impact on your employees and their work. What can you do to improve your office space for your employees?

Office Location

The first thing that you should consider is how close your office space is to your employees. If your office is far away from any large communities, your employees probably have to drive long distances, while if you’re in the middle of a city, it’s probably just a few minutes, or even a short walk. Long commutes will lead to tired employees, but a short commute every morning will give you energetic employees that are ready to work.

General feel and design

The general feel of the office is actually very important. In addition to being attractive to clients, your employees will greatly appreciate an office with a happy feel. They’ll show this, whether or not they realize it, through working harder and more efficiently, as well as a more positive attitude in general.

Since most office workers spend a considerable amount of time in the office, it is important that you a work environment where employees will be happy and productive. With a little effort you can upgrade an existing office taking a few of these ideas to implementation.

Colors

The color scheme is more important than you might think. Studies have shown that different colors can create different moods. As examples, various shades of blues have a more relaxing effect and makes workers more productive. Green is easier on the eyes and make people feel healthier. There are lots of studies in this area you can investigate

Office Layout

The trend for many companies is in utilizing a more open office layout. One of the most popular ideas is to have a few desks or tables located in the center of the office with quiet rooms located throughout the rest of the office. Open floor plans seem to increase teamwork but can become distractions for some workers so having the quiet rooms is important.

Standing Opportunity

Sitting all day is not healthy. Employees who work in offices can often feel the negative effects of sitting all day. Many offices today are providing opportunities to work while standing. Adjustable desks that can accommodate workers different heights are popular. Some have even provided table in break rooms where people can stand and have their coffee.

Art

Art work selection can be tricky. It is important that any artwork put in an office be chosen carefully. Many offices have success with featuring pictures of company events. Also pictures of nearby landmarks or places of notoriety are also effective. In some cases many companies have benefited utilizing the services of an art consultant.

Floor Coverings

Choose floor coverings to improve the look of their office. This is cost effective and can have a positive effect on the work environment. Many companies like to get as many employees as possible involved with the floor covering choices.

Add features

Make additions to your office for your employees. A good start is a quality coffee maker or small kitchen if you don’t already have one. Once you have the basics, start making your office unique. Make your break room special or add a gym or library. Adding features that employees can’t get anywhere else can do wonders for employee retention.

Looking for more ways to improve your office space, or a new space all together? Contact us. We can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.