A multitude of business owners are under the impression that office refurbishments are both costly and have few benefits. Interior design updates to the workplace are often viewed as simply superfluous. While this might be the general consensus, it’s not necessarily the case.
Boosting employee’s wellbeing and productivity
Affordable, practical and aesthetically pleasing office design is not solely for large corporations, the small business owner can now kit their workplace out with contemporary interiors that will boost employee’s wellbeing and productivity without breaking the bank.
It’s essential that all staff members have great ergonomic seating and desks. This will help to ensure good posture and prevent back and neck pain. It’s important to offer this to all workers and not only to members with pre-existing back/neck problems. In the long run this will not only help employees but will also lessen the chance of staff having to be absent because of health problems.
Why not go with a sit-stand desk? It encourages movement throughout the normally sedentary day. Research has also shown that a height adjustable desk improves concentration, productivity, reduces back pain and can even help to burn three times as many calories.
As this style of office furniture has gained more and more popularity, it has also become increasingly accessible. Century Office’s sit-stand desks all live up to the promise of being cost-effective without compromising on quality. A testament to this notion is Century Office’s sit-stand Liberty. With its electric height adjustment, the desk utilises the latest technology allowing the desk to be increased from 715mm to 1190mm at the touch of a button; giving users the power over their office workspace.
How to revamp your office on a budget
Though there are also other elements that can be introduced to revamp any office and here’s what to think of:
As spring and summer is approaching and the outside will turn green, why not get inspired and bring nature inside? This is called by many
biophilic design and has been proven to have multiple benefits for health and productivity. A
biophilic office environment can be achieved by trying to mimic natural elements with patterns, shapes and spaces and by incorporating plants into your office design. This will help to create an office space oozing with life.
Strongly consider injecting pops of vibrant colours, straying away from the overused neutral office environments and introducing stimulating spaces. This is yet another way to improve productivity and employee well-being. So let’s focus on the four primary colours. Blue helps to stimulate the mind and is key if your work requires deep thinking and high concentration levels. Choose red if it is productivity you want to achieve as it is more linked to physical labour. Yellow will be the colour of choice if you wish to heighten creativity while green is very calming, aiding to ease staff member’s minds.
Choosing an office colour isn’t always so straight-forward so it’s good to integrate a variety of colours to ensure stimulation of more than just one aspect of the work process. Mix and match the shades that you believe will suit you and your employees. Focus on space. Think outside of the traditional office box and go for open plan. Eliminate the claustrophobic cubicles of the 80/90s and open the office up. Not only will this make the space brighter and more inviting, it will also create a more sociable, collaborative and flexible office experience.
Create assigned office and lounge areas. Make sure that your employees have somewhere to go to unwind, which will lead to reduced stress levels and increased happiness and contentedness.
Go for a “domestic feel” by incorporating paintings, prints, wall art and decorative items that you could find in someone’s home. Why not achieve this by hanging staff photos on the walls? Make sure that the office atmosphere says ‘home away from home’, a place where workers feel comfortable and welcomed. After all it’s not only about the look but how the office makes you feel.
When decorating your new office keep variety in mind. Create a space that’s exciting and inviting, a space that encourages productivity and that always boosts staff well-being. With these key points you can’t go wrong.
Century Office are a leading UK office and contract furniture supplier, with over 40 years’ experience in the industry. They provide workplace solutions and offer a tailored approach for architects, interior designers & facility managers for small offices to large corporations as well as educational facilities.
Please visit the Century Office website at
www.century-office.co.uk or telephone 01206 844541 for more information. Century Office offers a complete service from survey and design through to supply and installation.
Leave a comment below