How pleasant is your office space? You and your employees may be at work, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an awesome environment. After all, you’re spending a lot of time there.Â
Creating a pleasant office space isn’t always easy. You want to make smart upgrades that don’t just improve the aesthetic of your office, but also improve productivity and employee happiness.
We’re here to talk about some of our favorite office upgrades you can make this year. Read on to learn more.
Add a Relaxing Water Feature
The sound of running water is a great addition to any office. It may help with focus because it’s similar to white noise and it’s relaxing. On top of that, water features look great and automatically improve any indoor or outdoor space. They just look so elegant!
Water features come in all shapes and sizes, so find one that works best for the space you have. Perhaps your space is ideal for an indoor waterfall on the office wall or a flowing fountain near the entrance. You could also get mini flowing fountains that work well on desks.
The soothing sound of water is far better than the sound of typing or outside traffic. It may make your workdays (and your employees’ workdays) just a bit more pleasant.Â
Consider Flexible Seating
Flexible seating is a hot topic in the world of office design, and for a good reason. It’s great for employees and employers alike. It’s an alternative to traditional seating arrangements with cubicles and independent desks.
Flexible seating can improve office productivity. Employees are able to sit where they know they’ll be most productive. While some employers may worry that this will encourage them to “slack off,” this isn’t the case.
Some employees work better in groups even if they’re doing independent work. They enjoy talking while working and they may even bounce ideas off of each other. Flexible seating arrangements allow them to do this even with people in other departments who they’d otherwise never get to sit near.
Others prefer to work alone. Even being in a cubicle that’s too close to another one may not provide enough quiet and privacy. A solo seat far away from the other seats would be perfect for that employee and they’ll be able to get their work done in peace.
Flexible seating isn’t right for every office space, but it’s aesthetically pleasing and can create a better working environment for everyone.Â
Maximize Natural Light
According to the experts at Forbes, natural light is fantastic for workplace performance and productivity. Sunlight is great for mental health and alertness and many employees, if given the choice, would choose to work somewhere with large and bright windows.Â
So how can you maximize the natural light in your office space?
Most employers aren’t able to actually bring more natural light into their workplaces even if they’d like to. That would require major renovations to add or expand windows. However, there are a few changes you can make to take better advantage of the light you have.
Swap blinds and heavy window coverings for sheer curtains and optional shades. This way, employees still have light and they have the option to cover the window if they’d prefer to. Sometimes too much natural light can put an annoying glare on a computer screen or an employee may have a headache and prefer a dimmer space.Â
Make sure employees are as close to windows as possible. Don’t block windows with furniture. All employees who want to be able to see outside should be able to without having to adjust.Â
You can also strategically place mirrors to bounce light around. This will make the space feel like it has more natural light than it does (and make it feel larger).
Make Sure All Working Areas Are Ergonomic
Ergonomic workstations are crucial for pleasant offices. They help prevent workplace injuries and they keep employees happier and more productive.
In an ergonomic workstation, employees should be able to sit up straight with their feet flat on the ground and their elbows comfortably on the desk. They shouldn’t have to hunch over or look up to use their computers. Their chairs should have adequate back support and everything essential should be within arm’s reach.
These may seem like small adjustments, but they make a big difference.Â
Hang Art on the Walls
Hanging artwork is a great way to make any space more pleasant, and the office is no exception. Find some beautiful pieces and hang them up strategically around the office to totally revamp the space.Â
Generally, you want to opt for simple pieces that work well together. Modern artwork with bold lines and bright colors (that fit into your office’s color scheme, of course) works well for this.Â
You could even find a local artist to purchase artwork from. This way, you’re giving money back to the community and you’ll get something totally unique instead of picking a mass-produced piece from a major corporation.Â
Consider changing up the artwork seasonally so you can keep your office fresh and interesting. You could rotate through different local artists!
Provide a Pleasant Break Area
Where do your employees take their breaks? By improving the break area, you’ll be improving the entire office and making it a more pleasant place to work.Â
If your employees already have a designated break room, consider adding a small coffee and refreshments station to the actual office. This way, they don’t have to go far to get their coffee and snacks and they can stay on task.Â
A small coffee bar and a mini fridge will go a long way in making the office space nicer.Â
Create a Pleasant Office Space With These Tips
You and your employees deserve a pleasant office space. Use these tips to make it happen. Any upgrade, no matter how small, can make a substantial difference. Whether you’re hanging new artwork, adding a fancy new water feature, or creating a more flexible seating plan, you’ll be on your way to creating a better space!
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