People do their best work when their environment supports them. Their workspace should encourage creativity, focus, and productivity. When designing an office, learning how to incorporate those characteristics will help you get the most out of your employees, and keep them happy as well. 

Layout, light, acoustics, and furniture are all key factors, but ultimately it’s about aligning the space with how your people actually work on a day-to-day basis. When you get that right, it removes friction, supercharges productivity, and helps your business operate smoothly. 

Evidence-Based Design Choices

There are certain design choices that pop up repeatedly in high-performing offices. Things like natural light, low noise, clear pathways, readily available focus rooms and discussion areas, and ergonomic furniture. 

When these elements are missing, it interrupts people’s workflow. When they’re present, employees report higher satisfaction and complete tasks more efficiently. To translate these principles into a functional design, partner with a property stylist who has experience in office layouts. They can help you develop your concept into a polished plan.

Layout and Workflow 

During a typical workday, most teams need places for different types of discussions, tasks, and energy levels. For instance, you might want to include areas for deep focus, quick huddles, private calls, larger meetings, individual work, and collaboration. 

For work where employees need to get their heads down, provide quiet pods, desk space, or small rooms. You don’t necessarily need one focus seat per employee. If you operate with a hybrid system, you could have fewer seats and use a hotdesk booking system. For quick huddles, create small nooks. Phone booths or private rooms are ideal for taking phone calls and holding meetings. Aim for rooms of various sizes to accommodate team meeting  ok s, single users, one-on-one’s and board meetings. 

Light and Acoustics

The best practice when it comes to lighting is around 300 to 500 lux at the work surface. Artificial lighting is inevitable, but aim to make the best use of natural light where you can. Put the most used desks near windows and add sheer shades to control glare without blocking daylight. Use task lights at desks so people can tune the light as needed. 

Acoustics have a huge impact on productivity. To keep noise levels at a muted level, use soft furnishings where people gather. Ceiling tiles with a noise reduction coefficient of ~0.7 or higher help absorb sound waves. Wall panels in meeting rooms will reduce echoes so calls are clear. In open areas, use sound masking to help reduce audible distractions.  

Ergonomics and Movement 

Every workspace needs to be customizable to employee needs. One of the most important things to keep staff productivity levels up is seating. Chairs should be adjustable, with proper lumbar support and armrests. Teach your employees the three basics of a comfortable working position: feet flat, knees 90 degrees, and back supported. 

Provide standing desks so employees who prefer that style of workstation can use them throughout the day, but aren’t limited to their choice. When designing desks in general, the top of the monitor should be near eye level and around an arm’s length away. Make sure to provide setups that support dual screens for employees who prefer them. 

Biophilic Elevents Air, and Comfort 

People work better when the space feels fresh, healthy, and alive. The obvious way to achieve this is with plant life. Planters are a great way to define zones. Adding plenty of greenery in sight lines can improve people’s mood subconsciously. Another element that’s often overlooked is air quality. Your goal should be to keep CO₂ under 800 ppm. 

You can do this with MERV-13 filters. An HVAC specialist will guide you through your options. Temperature and humidity are another big one: aim for 20°C to 24°C and around 30 to 50% humidity. Give your employees localized control where it’s possible. When considering materials for your office decor, always use low-VOC paints and finishes. This helps reduce headaches and odors and is conducive to a healthier, happier work environment. 

Hybrid-Planning 

To maximize productivity for hybrid staff, you need a flexible design that removes operational friction. Key features include: 

• Video-ready rooms with cameras, mics, integrated speakers, wall-mounted screens, and user-friendly tech that makes joining meetings fast and simple. 
• Touchdown areas with easy-access power for employees on short office visits. 
• Lockers, so staff have a secure spot to secure their belongings if they don’t have a fixed desk. 
• Desk booking tools so time isn’t wasted searching for an appropriate workspace. 
• Smart cable management, adapters, and other elements to keep spaces neat and tidy and reduce delays in starting work. 

Wayfinding and Visual Cues 

Micro-delays can add up throughout the day and result in serious time lost. To remove them, make sure your office includes clear labeling and signage so even new employees can find the right rooms and zones. Use consistent icons to label areas. 

Color zoning is also a fantastic way to separate spaces. Use color bands or accent walls to make neighborhoods or pathways. Visual reminders of the expectations for different areas serve as a gentle reminder for employees. Post simple rules on walls that mark quiet zones or limitations as to time or activity (like “Phone calls only” or “Max 30 minutes.”)

Measure, Adjust, Repeat 

You’ll find the best productivity gains when you treat your office like a product: measure, refine, then measure again. It’s a continuous process, and you may need to change your setup as your business grows and needs evolve. The best way to go about this is with employee surveys, objective performance data, and observational metrics. 

For instance, you can track focus time, noise complaints, and employee satisfaction. Look at desk booking data to see which rooms are over- or under-used. Analyze operational data, like meeting start times, call drop rates, help-desk tickets for AV, error rates on tasks, and cycle times in core workflows. 

Finally, health signals are another area to keep an eye on. Monitor absenteeism and reported discomfort. Whether you’re doing a whole-office refurbishment, new build, or an area-by-area renovation, the key is to review data, keep what works, and tweak what doesn’t

Endnote

To create the ultimate productivity-boosting office, design it around the work your people do the most. Do this well, and you’ll see positive changes in productivity both out on the floor and reflected in your numbers.