Bland, corporate offices are things of the past; the increased interest in making office spaces more comfortable, productive and inspirational for the modern worker is shaping office design and influencing the kinds of emerging trends we’re seeing.
Whether you want to incorporate modern office lighting to create a more inviting ambience in your workplace or embrace more sustainable office design features, there are plenty of ways to turn tired offices into attractive places where people want to work. These ideas are also applicable to home offices.
Office Lighting that Makes a Statement
One of the best places to start in an office makeover is with the lighting. Ensuring employees are working in the correct levels of light is not only a health and safety consideration but will also influence workers’ moods for the better.
Stylish lights can also be particularly effective in pulling your design together and showing off your organisation’s personality. Large pendant lights or industrial-inspired light shades add effortless charm to your space; they can embody a sense of sleek professionalism as well as infuse the space with style and creativity.
Incorporate Plants & Greenery
Adding a plethora of different houseplants to your office is a great way to refresh the space with little hassle or additional budget.
Being close to nature can be a fantastic mood booster, improving employee wellbeing and even increasing productivity. Plants can easily be incorporated by allowing employees to decorate their desks with houseplants or placing them in communal spaces for everyone to enjoy them.
Living walls displaying plants are becoming increasingly popular features in modern offices.
Image Source: Unsplash
Comfortable Furnishings
Capture the comfortable work from home feeling by adding a couple of home comforts into your office space, livening it up and creating a more personal feel.
This could include bringing in cosy armchairs and beanbags, antique or secondhand furniture that adds characterful style, rugs and meaningful wall art. Ask your employees for input about what design elements they need to feel comfortable and inspired.
Play with Colour
Giving your walls a fresh lick of paint is a quick way to transform your space and give it a different feel. Feature walls allow you to play with bright brand colours without risking space offices becoming too overwhelmed.
Matching wall colours to smaller details like chairs or dividers is a good way to create a feeling of cohesion. There are lots of ways to have fun with colour, like perhaps colour-blocking certain areas of the office or using pale pastels for a super calming effect.
Smart Storage Solutions
Whether you’re designing a home or commercial office, making the most of your storage space is essential. Most people are far less productive when surrounded by clutter, so having places to neatly tuck away equipment or supplies is invaluable.
Making the most of your vertical space with arctic shelves or cabinets is always a good idea. Desks with in-built wire management and storage space will also help keep your office looking sleek, pristine and clutter-free.
Hopefully, some of these ideas will inspire you to give drab offices a much-needed boost.
