Employee comfort and happiness is one of the most important things you need to consider when setting up a new office space, or when renovating your current one. Why? Because a happy and comfortable employee is an infinitely more productive employee!
Look at it from your own point of view - would you rather work somewhere which is bright, cool, colourful, somewhere which has all the things you need with easy reach, somewhere comfortable, and basically quite fun, or would you rather work somewhere dark, uncomfortable, difficult, and basically quite uninspiring?
We know which option we would go for!
Happy employees are more likely to put in that extra effort and go the extra mile, and that all adds up to greater output for a company. This converts to brilliant hard profits and plenty of cash!
In order to make your employees feel valued and happy, you need to do many things:
• Involve them in decision making
• Encourage ideas and listen to them
• Provide constant learning opportunities and training
• Give extra responsibility where necessary
• Talk to them as human beings, not numbers
• Encourage teamwork
• Create a comfortable space for them to work in, which is safe, bright, and easy to work in
• Provide the basics which humans need, e.g. water, heat, light, etc
In this chat, we’re going to focus on the work space, so to that aim, exactly how can you create a cool and funky office space, one which everyone wants to work in?
Consider Different Working Methods
Many workplaces are incorporating several different working methods within their organisation, including home working, distance working, freelancing, hot-desking, and activity-based working. These all allow versatility and flexibility, and can help employees fit their general life requirements around their work.
For instance, working at home for part of the week can suit a certain employee very well, and can reduce the demands on their time from other places, e.g. if they have small children, etc. Technology has allowed us to incorporate these working methods, so this is certainly something to look at, if it works with your particular company and staff.
This might not be a way to create a fun office per se, but it certainly boosts the feel and atmosphere in the office, and that is a box you need to tick.
Consider Breakout Spaces
A breakout space is a great addition to any workplace, and allows staff to have breaks when they need them, whilst also collaborating and discussing work with other employees, away from their desk and general office environment. Many of us find that we come up with ideas when we’re not ‘in the moment’, e.g. you’re trying to think of the name of something you’ve forgotten, and you remember it four hours later when you’re at home, not even thinking about it. The same can be said for collaborative ideas and suggestions, which is where breakout spaces come in very handy indeed!
Decorating a breakout space isn’t difficult, but you do need to think about the type of seating and the general vibe you’re trying to create, in terms of bespoke office furniture. Think fun, colourful, comfortable, and you won’t go far wrong. Your breakout space can be in a corner of the office, or it can be in a totally different room - the choice is yours.
In addition to this, don’t forget about the design of your other workplace spaces, such as the canteen and bathrooms. These places need to fit in with your overall design too! Think about funky canteen tables and chairs, as well as the design of the walls.
Think About Lighting
As humans, we are basically trained to seek out natural light, and artificial light can be quite mood-lowering over a long period of time. Ensure that you have as much natural light as your room will allow, making sure that windows are large, unblocked, and open as much as possible. In addition, make sure that your current lighting isn’t glaring on any one’s computer screen, and that it isn’t giving anyone headaches or difficulties. If it is, it’s time to change it up a little. Office bench desks facing large windows, opening out onto a view if possible, is a great addition to any office, and one which will certainly boost productivity and make staff feel much more up-beat at the same time.
Nature is Key
Not everyone has a beautiful green view to look out over, as many offices are located in the middle of large cities, but that doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate a spot of nature here and there! Plants are a great addition to any office space, and there are many studies which have gone into exactly why. The extra oxygen which plants bring into the space will also boost focus and concentration, and above everything else, they look pretty good too!
You could also add artwork of nature on the walls too, such as pictures of beaches, fields, large open vistas, anything which fits in with the theme of your office and workplace, but has a natural feel to it.
Always Incorporate Colour
We’re trying to create a cool and funky office space, so it stands to reason that there should be some colour in there too! Funky office chairs don’t have to be neutral colours, they can be bright too! If the theme of your workplace allows (depending on the type of work you do) go for brighter shades on the walls, or artwork which has splashes of colour here and there. Your office furniture can be funky in this way, or you can go for standard colours of office furniture, e.g. desk and chairs, and funk it up with bright partitions and screens (more on that shortly!).
If you work in a more somber type of business, there is no reason why monochrome designs can’t be fun and funky too, with geometric patterns looking not only chic and fashionable, but quite inspiring too. Remember, colour has a direct impact on mood, so do some research into this and pick a colour scheme which boosts focus and concentration, such as cool blues or greens, for instance. If you want to add fire and passion, go for reds and yellows!
Check Your Ventilation
During the warmer months, you want your staff to be comfortable in their workspace, and not sticky and irritable. Similarly during the cooler months, you want them to be warm too. Figure out a way you can hit these two targets, such as opening windows, having fans, perhaps air conditioning or heating, depending upon the circumstances.
A hot and sticky office is not fun to work in, and a freezing cold space is similarly not the greatest spot either. Find the best piece of middle ground.
Privacy is Key
Office screens and partitions are a great way to increase comfort levels, because they allow employees to separate themselves and have peace and quiet when they need it, for more in-depths tasks. These office screens can be added or taken away whenever they are needed, or you could create a quiet space, such as a quiet zone, which is dedicated entirely to tasks which require concentration.
Of course, on the flip side, you could also create a collaboration zone, where staff can go when they need to discuss, brainstorm, and throw ideas around. This means that staff who are concentrating on tasks can do so, without being interrupted by group conversations, but the teamwork can still continue, without disruption. Planning out your office space in this regard is key and you’ll find many London office furniture choices online which will help you do just that!
Create a Learning Zone
How about a space within your office, either inside the four walls or in a separate space, where staff can go to learn? You can have interactive learning modules set up on computers, or you can simply leave them to surf the internet, to find up-to-date industry information and new findings. Encouraging your staff to continue with lifelong learning is a great way to help them feel more treasured as part of the workforce, because it shows you’re invested in their future development. This space is also a great spot for getting away from the office space during breaks or allotted learning times, and can help to refocus the mind. Of course, learning is always a good thing anyway!
Creating a cool and funky office space isn’t difficult, but you do need to think outside of the box a little. Think about colours, comfort, and think about the type of space you’d like to work in yourself. Dark and dismal isn’t inspiring, bright and airy is!
Do you work in an office which could do with an overhaul? If so, what is your space like? Do you have any ideas to add to our chat, to help everyone create that perfect funky space? Let us know your comments!