Office Optimization: 5 Tips for Creating an Office Space That Inspires You

Everything alive is influenced by its environment, including our offices and workspaces. As with all things, that influence can be positive or negative.

If you wish to create an office that inspires productivity, creativity, and drive, the general design is a great place to start. Here are five ways you can use environmental design to turn your office into an innovation powerhouse:

• Embrace Outdoor Elements

Nothing keeps stiff thinking at bay like elements from the natural world. Get some pot plants or hang up a picture of a natural scene. Make use of decorations that are made of natural materials such as jute, bamboo, and hemp. This will help neutralize the intensity of the working environment and serve as a reminder of the outdoors to calm the mind and refresh the thoughts.

You can even make this work in serviced offices as you’re not making any fundamental changes to the building. You’re just adding an accessory or two – something you can pack up with you when you leave. 

• Compartmentalize

It may also be beneficial to have different sections of your office dedicated to different activities. Set apart an area for discussion, and allocate space for team members to enjoy quiet time.

The goal here is to establish order and minimize chaos. If everything happens in one place, distractions abound and minds can get clogged.

• Personalize Desks

We all have different sources of inspiration. So encourage employees to decorate their desks with items that inspire them. From pictures to figurines and even rugs, there are many ways to appease employee muses. However, moderation will go a long way in this regard. Too much stuff can prove to be more distracting than inspiring.

• Go for a Functional Design

You spend 30% of your day at the office, and to be honest, humans are not designed to sit at a desk from morning to sunset. This calls for a balance to be struck between comfort and support. Furniture should bolster up the back, and you want to prevent clutter from accumulating. As for the interior arrangement, it should be practical but inviting.

• Let There Be Light and Color

Light is a friend to productivity, so the more you embrace it, the more you can achieve. Natural light deprivation can lead to grumpiness. So ensure as much sunlight as possible is making its way into the office. Install skylights or sun tunnels, hang up mirrors and rearrange desks so they’re in reach of sunlight. 

The colors we’re regularly exposed to can also affect how we feel and think. From memory to creativity, our skills and talents can all be influenced by color. And from aesthetics to employee psychology, the benefits of color selection can be far-reaching. 

You’re not going to get much inspiration from colors like grey and black. Yes, darker colors can be elegant and sophisticated, but it’s the brighter shades that give a flowy feel. 

If you’re looking to fire up your team, consider something striking like red, orange, or yellow. If you prefer a calmer atmosphere, go for something soothing like blue, green, or turquoise. You can even have different colors to set the tone for different rooms. As long as you stick with shades that promote a positive mood, you’re good. 

An Invitation for Inspiration

That’s how you put together an inspirational office space. If you’re not in a position to implement all the tips at once, take it one at a time. As long as you’re making an effort to get the creative juices flowing, you’ll reap the rewards.