World events, weather, and certain social interactions can influence our moods. This is why gloomy weather can make us melancholic and lethargic, while sunny days can bring out the best in us. While we cannot control many of these factors, we can shape our surroundings to be as positive and bright as possible.
Concepts of interior design, such as colour, light, and shape, can add an emotional touch to a room. Cool colours calm us down, while natural light can enhance productivity. It may seem like interior design is key to motivating your employees to do their best at finishing tasks. Still, the company’s culture is as important as decorations and furniture.
If you already excel in that department, it might be time to make some changes in the office and watch your employees evolve. Let’s discuss furniture.
The aesthetic importance of furniture
Furniture seems pretty practical, as it helps us solve our tasks every day and remain somewhat comfortable. Still, different layouts have various impacts. Remember the dreaded office cubicles? Exactly.
Good-looking furniture makes the workspace inviting enough for people not to hate their jobs as much. If you’re confused about what that means, check out https://vepa.co.uk/ for amazing office furniture projects that make regular spaces unique workstations. Everything is designed together with the client, so the co-creation objects include the company’s brand image and the latest furniture trends.
The ergonomic aspect of furniture
Of course, being pretty is not every company’s ideal. Given that humans use furniture to work, it should be comfortable and firm so as not to contribute to health problems or hinder productivity. Vepa products, for example, incorporate proper desk and chair alignment with adequate design in mind. Proper furniture can also make it easy to control clutter.
Ideally, ergonomic furniture pieces support employees’ lower backs when working at the desk, alleviating pressure and avoiding discomfort. Adjustable monitors are also essential to assess the proper viewing distance to avoid eye-related issues.
The role of furniture in productivity
A dynamic workplace can instill a culture of productivity by encouraging movement. Sitting for prolonged hours is surely not healthy, as it doesn’t promote a balanced lifestyle. Besides, furniture placement can have a massive role in how people collaborate and communicate, which is why open spaces are increasing in popularity.
Open layouts help people interact and share ideas spontaneously, which is especially important during the development of a new project. Employees should feel like they belong to that space, so choosing layouts focused on the room center instead of scattering workstations around might make everyone feel included.
The impact of colour
The furniture colour is the most critical element in influencing people’s moods and behaviours. Given colour psychology, different schemes will address various feelings in the office. Choosing white, blue, and green tones is best if the goal is to bring more calmness into the office. On the other hand, brining more dynamism and energy requires shades of red, yellow and orange.
There’s no thumb rule around what type of tones or shades work better for the same effects because colour combination theories will most likely offer the desired result. Of course, brighter tones might give off a more relaxed environment than darker ones, but the company culture will impact the workplace more.
The contribution of light
Light always makes us feel better, especially if it comes from natural sources or at least mimics sunlight. LED bulbs are usually the best at providing light that doesn’t scratch people’s eyes.
However, besides the type of light, layering should also be considered necessary. Light products that highlight certain work supplies or artwork will beautifully blend the workplace’s elements.
Still, it’s best to move to a workspace that ensures proper natural light. This can contribute to people’s productivity throughout the day. A dark space can have the reverse effect, lowering productivity and only making people sleepy.
Some great examples of office layouts
Traditional offices are not that boring, but they can surely be customised and updated to make the most of the available space. For example, a team-based layout includes open spaces organised in clusters or workstations, helping small teams easily get on their projects.
On the other hand, an activity-based office is pretty flexible and can include collaborative zones with whiteboards, private cubicles for meetings, and fun social zones. There’s also the option for an open-plan office that has minimal barriers between employees. This trend is called “hot desking” and encourages people not to stick to one office station forever but to move across the office.
Final tips on creating the best office ever
Establishing a plan for a productive office may be challenging, even with the ideas previously provided, so we’ve gathered a few ideas on how to develop such office space. For example, employees could have a varied array of workspace and seating options so they can change the scenery from time to time when feeling uninspired.
At the same time, establishing a quiet area for entering the deep work state is as important as allowing employees to roam free around the office. Ensuring a designated area for the most important tasks, with low noise levels and fewer distractions, will surely stimulate their creativity.
Natural elements also play a vital role in introducing comfort and relaxation in the office. Among all the concrete around us, offices with a lot of plants inside or wood-based furniture will feel less trapped and more productive. Other natural-based elements to introduce would include stone counters or exposed bricks.
What do you think about interior design in office spaces?
Interior design is one of the most essential factors in deciding the workplace’s culture. Comfortable offices have lots of natural elements and bright colours that nurture creativity and fun. In contrast, more serious workplaces with blank tones and simple furniture might give off a sentiment of gravity.
Depending on the chosen vibe and design, employees can be more or less creative, driven, and motivated. That’s why it’s best to invest in interior design features to increase productivity and support workers’ well-being.
