There have been a lot of developments in the working world in recent times. Perhaps the most instantly noticeable difference has been in the design and function of the company office. Whereas offices used to be pretty, well, drab and functional, today they’re designed to help solidify branding, empower the employees, and all-around benefit the business. If you think your offices could do with a bit of a touch-up, then take a look below, where we outline some tried and tested tips for making your space more enjoyable and productive.

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Rethink the Space

The first thing you’ll want to do is to take a look at your existing office, and see what’s possible. People tend to play things pretty safe when they’re putting together their space, but it’s always worth getting creative and taking a look at what’s possible. During the design process, take a look at some examples from offices around the world for inspiration. They might just help you to put together an office that really works for your employees and your company as a whole.

Add the Colour

The traditional office is one that’s uniform and colourless. The walls are grey, the floors are grey, the furniture is grey. This can create a clean look, sure, but it’s not very inspiring. If your office is lacking a little pizazz, then take a look at adding some touches of colour throughout the premises. You can do this by adding art to the walls, for example, or filling the place with plants — these won’t just add colour, they’ll also help to improve the overall ambiance of the office. You can even encourage your staff to add colourful additions to their desk — it doesn’t really matter where the colour comes from, providing that it’s there.

Comfortable Furniture

There are many things that can nudge your employee’s concentration off balance. One such example is their comfort levels. Essentially, if they’re feeling comfortable, then they’ll be able to work longer and better. We all know how distracting it can be to sit on an uncomfortable chair. You can’t sit and watch a two-hour film when you’re uncomfortable, so how would you focus on work for eight hours? It’s not possible! To improve things for your employees, look at upgrading the chairs and desks, so that they’re more comfortable.

Relaxing Zones

At some point over the past couple of decades, companies realised that their employees were not, in fact, robots. It just isn’t possible for a human to work hour after hour to a high-standard: our brains just aren’t cut out for that type of prolonged thinking. Studies have shown that staff work much better when they can take small, regular breaks throughout the day. If you’re revamping your office, why not look at setting up a place where they can relax? It doesn’t have to be anything overly fancy — even a place with comfortable seating, soft lighting, and nothing work-related will do the trick.

Limit the Distractions

We all know how satisfying it can be to get “in the zone” when you’re working. It’s at these points where we really feel at one with what we’re doing, and when we produce our best work. But part of the magic of entering this state is that it’s fragile — all you can do is put yourself in the right position for it to happen, and hope that it does. But actually, many offices are not set up for “the zone.” There are too many distractions. If your office is too noisy, for instance, then your workers won’t be able to enter the zone. So be sure to do something about it. You can work with a company such as Rockfon Ceilings, and soundproof your office. You may also set up a dedicated collaboration room, so employees aren’t distracted when other people are working on their group projects.

Improve the Decor

Your decor might have looked the part once upon a time, but it’s not going to stay watertight forever. It’ll eventually look out of fashion, or it’ll begin to fade a little. Don’t underestimate just how big a difference a lick of paint can make. It can give your space that new and modern feeling, and it’ll only take less than a weekend to do.

Ask Your Staff

You’ll have some ideas about what you can do to improve your office, but you’re not going to have all the answers. After all, you’re only one person of many that works there. As such, it’s important that you’re getting the opinions and input of your staff members. They’ll have thoughts and ideas that you hadn’t thought of. Ultimately, if you take this approach then you’ll end up with an office that your employees love — and that can only be good for business. Studies have shown that people work better when they work in a space that they love.

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In Sync With Branding

Another factor you’ll need to think about is how your office reflects your branding. We tend to think of branding as something that the public sees, but actually, it should be at the core of everything you do, and that includes your office! If you’re a young and hip company, then your office should be young and hip. If you’re traditional, then it should be more sophisticated and refined. Your office is going to tell your visitors and employees a lot about the ethos of your company. Make sure that it’s sending the right message!

Aim High 

Finally, our last piece of advice is: aim high! Too many companies stay in the safe middle lane when it comes to their offices, but there’s no reason too. If you push the boat out a little, you’ll end up with a workspace that works for your business on multiple levels — your staff will be more engaged, your company’s branding will be more solid, and you’ll be portraying a professional image. So take the shackles off, and begin thinking about the grand potential of your office.