5 Tips for Office Furniture MakeoverThere is nothing more satisfying than adding a lick of paint or introducing new furnishingsinto a room, and witnessing the impact it has on others, especially if it is a positive one. Yetwhat about the workplace?

Can giving your office a makeover really make a difference to morale, productivity andemployee engagement?

Yes it can…

All leading interior designers agree that even the simplest of office furniture makeovers canimmediately boost the spirits and self-esteem of employees, as it shows them that they arevalued and most importantly, that their needs are a priority to the company.

Essentially by addressing their physical, mental and emotional needs, you can reinforce yourcommitment to your team, and strengthen trust and communication.

Where to start

Luckily, giving your office a makeover doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are our top 5tips for creating a workspace that your employees can thrive in:

1. Create Distinct Zones – like any great city there are zones dedicated to relaxation,work and play, and this same principal should be applied to your office. You need tocreate distinct areas where employees know they can concentrate, collaborate,socialise, create and even play. You need to offer privacy, whilst allowing forwelcomed interaction between employees. So what can you do?

First you need to assess the type of work your team is dealing with on a daily basis.Are you a small team? Do you all work in one room, or are departments segregated?Is there a lot of department collaboration and team meetings, or do your employeesall work independently? All of these questions are essential to ensuring that youmeet everyone’s needs.

For instance, in an environment where you spend the majority of the day working onyour own, it can be incredibly lonely and isolating. And the more isolated you feel,the more detached you’ll become to your colleagues and ultimately your work. If thisis the case, it is vital that you create an environment where they can freely engage inconversation with others and relax.

Similarly, if you house a lot of team meetings, you’ll need a space where youremployees can comfortably work for hours at a time, without suffering frombackache or rigid seating.

Bearing all of this in mind, it is important that you tailor your office furniture andsupplies to match each zone to ensure maximum comfort. Good examples includeoffering headphones for private areas, and couches and comfortable seating for restareas/team meeting rooms.

Above everything else, you need to incorporate elements of fun, so your employeesknow that the office isn’t all work and no play. Refuse to give your employees spaceto laugh, have fun and forget about work for a while, and they will become unhappyand experience a drop in productivity. To combat this, you need to keep themengaged, so whilst designing your office, make sure you add something fun thatthey’ll all enjoy and incorporate it into one of your dedicated zones.

2. Treat your Office Like a Busy Restaurant - there should always be an element ofhospitality to an office, where employees and guests alike, feel welcome. Byintroducing a hospitality area into your office, this reassures your employees thatyou care about their wellbeing, but also gives them a space to escape to. Werecommend opting for an open station where they can easily access an assortmentof amenities as well as some comfortable seating (armchairs) where they can take abreather.

Now this station needs to stock more than your average tea and coffee supplies.Although both are important for keeping your team functional (especially coffee),there is nothing special to this. However, keep it stocked with snacks, mints and evenpainkillers to treat headaches, and immediately it shows that you care and willinspire them to work harder.

3. Encourage Personalisation of Workspaces – people work best when they are able tobe themselves. When they are able to let their creative juices flow withoutrestriction and the rigidity of a sterile, dull workspace.

One of the easiest ways to inspire loyalty and make your employees feel part of thecompany ‘family’ is to encourage them to personalise their space with photos,decorations and iconic items, as well as give them the flexibility to select music thatcan be played out loud.

Such freedoms help employees to feel engaged with the company and its decisions,whilst subtly creating a ‘homey’ feel.

Naturally, you need to be careful that these personalised items don’t detract fromthe professional image you want to portray to clients (particularly if you like to giveclients tours of the office); however it is possible to achieve a balance.

Simply ensure on days where there will be guests, that the music remains off duringthe visit and that their desks are tidy.

4. Make Wise Furniture Choices – trends may say that you need to adopt sleek,minimalist furnishings in order to attract clients and look professional; however ifyour employees are unsupported both in body and in mind, then this will reflect intheir work. So instead of latching onto the latest interior design trends, first makesure that you invest in quality office furniture that matches the work habits of yourstaff.

The reality is, most of us spend hours every day working at a desk and following asedentary lifestyle. Now without the right back support and seating, this can lead tolong term damage e.g. sore limbs, back ache etc. that can affect them outside ofwork.

With this in mind, make sure you buy furniture that is capable of supporting thedifferent postural positions of your employees, so you can ensure they remaincomfortable throughout the day. By doing so, you’ll immediately notice animprovement in their performance, motivation and wellness.

5. Add Plenty of Colour – all too often colour is absent from offices, but this is a bigmistake. Colour can in fact have a surprising effect on the mood and temperament ofyour employers. For instance, blue is reputed to ease stress and encourage feelingsof calm, trust and productivity; whilst red is great for tasks that require focus and agreater attention to detail, as it is believed to stimulate and raise your heart rate.

For this reason we suggest painting one or two of your walls in a bright colour, oradding colourful accents throughout the office. This will revitalise staff and enhancethe culture of your company, especially if you opt for the colours used in your logo.

Other colours to consider include:

Green – a soothing, restful and natural colour, green can instil a sense of balance andcalm

Yellow – fresh, cheerful and warm, yellow is believed to inspire optimism and energy Purple – a Royal colour, purple has been linked to creativity and is also considered

luxurious Vibrant colours – can invigorate, inspire and energise Pastel colours – produce feelings of calm, whilst encouraging increased

concentration

Sparking the interests and creativity of your employees doesn’t have to be a hard task.Simply employ some of the above ideas into your office furniture makeover and you canreap the immediate benefits of a fully motivated, happy and productive staff.

Author’s Bio

Maria’s company specialises in helping businesses to optimise their workplace throughoffice space planning. From supplying and installing quality office furniture (chairs, executivefurniture and storage items); their extensive experience in office planning Birmingham canensure employees maintain efficiency and work to the highest standards.

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