Are you disappointed in how long it takes your employees to complete tasks? Well, you’re not alone. In fact, the average employee is only productive for 2 hours and 53 minutes out of an 8-hour workday!
So, if they’re not working, what are they doing? Studies show that the most common activities are reading the news online and checking social media. Now, you may be tempted to start blocking websites to force your employees to be more productive, but this rarely works.
Instead, you can use some office space design ideas to create a workplace that encourages productivity. That’s right—the wrong environment can stifle creativity, cause distractions, and even lower mood, all of which leads to decreased productivity.
Do you want to know how you can create the ultimate office to help ensure your employees are working hard? Then keep reading to discover our top office design tips.
Invest in Ergonomic Chairs
Are you constantly adjusting in your seat? Do you experience back pain by the end of the day? Chances are, you’re not alone.
Poor posture caused by improperly sitting can leave you and your employees feeling uncomfortable throughout the day. When you can’t get comfortable (or if you experience pain), you have a harder time focusing on your work.
So, help your employees remain comfortable by providing ergonomic chairs. These should have adjustable heights, backrests (including the angle), and armrests. If you want to take this to the next level, you can also offer foot and wrist rests.
Make sure you discuss these new chairs with your employees and encourage them to adjust each part, so they provide the proper support and comfort. If your monitors have adjustable heights, instruct your employees to ensure the top of the monitor is at or below eye level to reduce neck strain from constantly looking down.
Create Different Workspaces
Some employees work best in a team while others work best alone. However, your office is probably only designed to meet the needs of one of these groups.
The best way to ensure your office works for all your employees and every type of project is to create different workspaces.
Include some cubicles for those who like to work alone and open areas for those who like to be around others. Of course, you’ll also want some meeting rooms for employees who are working on projects together.
Instead of sticking to the traditional meeting room layout, consider making this more laid back. Include couches and fun colors to help inspire creativity and conversation. You can also use these custom films to block outside distractions.
Bring in More Natural Light
A dimly-lit office can cause eyestrain, poor mood, and fatigue. Luckily, it’s easy to combat these by brightening your office up.
While you can just use brighter light bulbs or add a few floor lamps, it’s better to increase natural light if possible. Natural light creates a more welcoming atmosphere and actually boosts productivity.
If you already have plenty of windows, make sure you don’t have any heavy curtains blocking out the light. If your office is lacking windows, consider installing some to make your workspace appear bright, open, and welcoming.
Decorate with Plants
One of the easiest (and most surprising) ways to boost productivity is to decorate your office with plants. Believe it or not, plants actually have a calming effect on people, so adding a few large plants will help your employees relax and focus on the task at hand.
However, this only works when your employees can actually see the plants from their workspace. Strategically place plants in spots where several employees can see them so you enjoy their benefits without making your office look like a jungle.
Add a Splash of Color
Color psychology is real, and choosing the right color for your office can make a huge impact. While most offices are white, this isn’t the ideal color to choose.
Instead, blue is said to be the best color to increase productivity. Of course, you don’t want to go overboard with color.
Instead, consider adding pops of blue around the office. You can do this by creating a blue accent wall, hanging artwork with plenty of blue in it, or including funky blue chairs in the break-room or lounge area.
Offer Free and Healthy Snacks
It can be hard to focus when your stomach is grumbling or you’re low on energy. The good news is that you can solve both of these problems by offering free and healthy snacks in your office.
Not only will these snacks help satisfy your employees’ hunger until lunchtime, but certain foods can boost mood and energy levels without causing a crash later on. Consider offering snacks like fruit, yogurt, nuts, and dark chocolate.
Stay Organized
Being unproductive isn’t always your employees’ fault. Let’s say one of your workers went into the supply closet, but it was so disorganized that it took them 15 minutes just to find what they were looking for.
This is why it’s vital that you keep your office clean and organized. By spending just a few minutes every week organizing your supply close and printer station, you can prevent a disorganized mess and save your employees a lot of time.
Best Office Space Design Ideas to Increase Productive
Don’t settle for employees who are only productive for a few hours each day. Instead, follow the office space design ideas above to create an office that will inspire productivity. From investing in ergonomic chairs to keeping your office organized, there are many different ways you can help your employees (and yourself) be as productive as possible.
Are you always looking for ways to improve your company? Then check out the rest of our blog today for more tips and tricks.
