How To Get The Most Out Of Your Office Space

Enhancing productivity is the goal of any business owner, from the world’s leading brands to small start-ups. But it’s not just employee motivation that businesses need to rely on—it’s also the work environment that plays a role. Optimizing your office space to make it conducive to work and productivity could be one of the best investments you’ll make into your business, and it doesn’t have to require a full renovation to be successful.

White and beige might be neutral tones, but they don’t paint a picture of productivity. They’re bland and uninspiring, so if your office is a blank canvas, consider choosing brighter colors to get your team motivated. Yellow is considered to be an energizing color and boosts positivity, while blue and green are calming colors and can help to create a peaceful and relaxed environment. You don’t need to completely redecorate—consider painting just a few accent walls or add color with art and décor to bring more fun and vibrancy into your work environment.

Open plan offices can be great for some businesses, but they don’t necessarily work for everyone. Not every team member is going to be working on the same project or be productive in the same environment, so it can pay to create pockets of space for each type of work. For example, using office partitions you can create areas for collaboration and teamwork, as well as quieter spaces where employees can work alone or enjoy a more private area to work. Using partitions provides flexibility to your office, enabling you to move areas around when you need to.

Office temperature might seem like an irrelevant topic, but consider how distracting it can be to try and work when you’re too hot or if you’re so cold that you can’t focus properly. It’s an issue that can affect a lot of businesses, and while there’s no way to please everyone all of the time, having awareness of the temperature of your office can help you make better layout decisions. An air conditioning vent over an interior cubicle, for example, could result in a space that’s too cold while desks right by a large window with no shade could be incredibly uncomfortable during the summer.

Lighting can have a big impact on productivity, mood and the wellbeing of your staff, so it should be a focus when you’re optimizing an office space. Take note of the areas in your office where the lighting isn’t optimal – natural light is best, but it’s not always possible, so these areas should be your priority. Ceiling lights that imitate natural light are a great alternative, or you could invest in sunlight desk lamps which mimic natural light when it’s not possible to get the real thing, such as in cubicles.

Part of the goal of optimizing your office is to make it better suited to work and the needs of your staff. So, that means taking note of the technology requirements of each area of the building. Where will desks go, are devices like printers easy to access and will there be sufficient outlets for all the electronic devices needed? Where will Wi-Fi routers be placed, and will there be space for projectors, screens and storage? All of these decisions should be made before you start shifting desks and putting up partitions.

Ergonomics are crucial when it comes to productivity and the wellbeing of your staff, and poorly made, uncomfortable furniture can lead to back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and eye strain. All this can even result in an increase in absences. Look for ergonomic chairs, height-adjustable desks and lumbar support with padded materials that will be comfortable for employees and prevent days off from painful work injuries.

Sometimes it is easier to have a separate space for your work. A place that you know you can be productive in, but also walk away from at the end of the day. This can help you get the balance right between working life and home life. It might be that you are looking to build an outside building in your garden or even a conservatory extension on your home. Places like the Clear Amber Shop can help with materials for this sort of thing. If this is a permanent fixture in your life because of your own business or excelling in the workplace then it may be worth the investment to help improve your working life from home.

Offices can easily become bland and uninspiring places, but there’s so much opportunity to create an environment that is motivating and enjoyable to work in. From choosing the right colors and paying attention to the furniture you choose, to creating a layout that provides the right surroundings for individuals and teams alike, optimizing your office space is easier than it might initially appear.

This story was written by Sophia Anderson and originally appeared on Your Coffee Break.