Do you work in an open plan office? Do you like it?

This is the most common type of office design you’ll come across these days, mainly because it is a cheaper way to arrange your office, you can combine heating and lighting for several different people within one space, and communication and productivity are thought to be increased when everyone is able to collaborate closely and easily. 

Despite that, there’s no denying that open plan offices, particularly large ones, do have their potential downsides too.

Check out this infographic which highlights a few of the potential issues which might arise in a large, open plan office.

Source - ?https://www.womenonbusiness.com/5-disastrous-pitfalls-of-open-plan-offices/

So, do you think that working in a large office such as this would be a sociable experience or quite lonely?

You might think it’s a ridiculous question to ask, because how can you be lonely when you’re surrounded by that many people? The thing is, you cannot get along with every single person in that office and you might find difficulties in being so close to people that you just don’t gel with. As a result, you might start to alienate yourself.

Of course, we go to work and sit at our office desks for a reason - to do work and get paid for it. Large offices can be very distracting and that’s another reason why some people working in large offices such as this might choose to use privacy tools such as office screens, and then just knuckle down and get their work done, without socialising with those around them.

It’s a double-edged sword in many ways. On the one hand, a large, open plan office may be a very sociable and enjoyable place to work, but if you have any issues, it could quickly become quite difficult and even hostile. In many ways, it depends on the people working in there at their office chairs and how well they get along, how easy they find it to focus and concentrate, etc. 

So, how can you make it better?

How to Make Your Open Plan Office a Pleasant Place to Work

You can’t always look on the negative side when it comes to open plan offices however, as they do have many advantages too. All you need to do is be more mindful of how to design your office and the accessories and tools you can use to help make the space more pleasant and productive as a result. 

Here are a few ideas:

• Have quiet zones and collaborative zones - You can have separate zones for quiet and more vocal types of work, which will lower stress and ensures that everyone feels free to do what they need to do, without restrictions. Think about using large bench desks and tub chairs in your collaborative areas and perhaps booths or office screens in your quiet zone.
• Office screens and acoustic panels - Office screens are ideal for giving a sense of privacy, but you can also have the odd acoustic panel here and there to absorb noise and create a generally lower volume level. 
• Space dividers can create different areas - You can have movable space dividers too, and these will give you extra privacy when you need it and also help to absorb noise too. 
• Make sure employees have access to break areas - Sometimes, no matter how well you design your space, an open plan office can become overwhelming. In that case, make sure that you have break areas where your employees can go for a quick time out. 

Choosing the latest office furniture design for an open plan office also means being careful where you place your desks and chairs. You don’t want to cram too many inside one room and cause people to feel ‘penned in’, which could also cause a health and safety risk at the same time. Instead, be mindful of plentiful space between furniture to solve this problem and give people a little personal space at the same time.