Well designed office spaces help keep employees satisfied and healthy which can have great benefits for team morale and productivity. If you welcome clients and customers into your office, it’s crucial that you’ve got a welcoming space that sends the right messages.
Cultivating positive experiences for both your employees and clients is a smart business move – and it often starts with setting up a conducive space.
If you’re planning to design a new office space, or renovate your existing one, keep these 5 things in mind to make the transformation successful.
1. Start with a good design
Like anything else, creating a great office space takes time and careful planning. Get a good design team on board and you’ll set yourself up for success.
Think about your goals for the office space. Do you want to encourage collaboration and teamwork? Is connection and mental health an important consideration for you? Do you want clients to feel welcomed and looked after when they enter your space?
Once you’ve got a good grasp on what you want from an office space, you can design accordingly.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Flow – the space should flow organically from area to area. Open plan offices are popular for the way they encourage this, but more traditional offices should also incorporate user friendly flow from room to room.
- Accessibility – make sure you have considered accessibility for your staff and clients, including wheelchair access and parking.
- Colour palette – the colour palette you choose can have a big impact on the office atmosphere. You can’t go wrong with calming neutrals, but be sure to keep it on brand.
- Mental health – think about having spaces where people can connect with others meaningfully or take a break if they need to. Promoting good mental health in the office can improve productivity and employee retention.
2. Plan for the future
If you’re making big changes to your office space now, make sure that they’ll go the distance with you in five or even 10 years time.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t embrace current trends and modern styles. Just make sure you can adapt your space as your business grows.
Investing in the right technologies can empower you to do work more effectively and efficiently. But don’t get technologies just because they’re trending – make sure you invest in what makes sense for your business and employees.
Here are some technologies to consider for your new office space:
- Automated control systems (so your appliances will switch off automatically overnight – a great power saver)
- Multi-factor security
- Electronic white boards
- Tablets and mobile devices
- Internet of Things (connecting everyday objects like keys and appliances to the internet)
- Customer check in devices
3. Invest in ergonomics
When it comes to choosing furniture for your office, go with options that are sustainable and sturdy. For workstations, invest in ergonomic equipment to improve employee health and productivity.
Ergonomic equipment to consider:
- Standing or adjustable desks
- Adjustable chairs with back support
- Balance chairs / balance balls
- Laptop stands
- Ergonomic mats and foot stools
- Ergonomic keyboards and mice
- Headsets for phone use
Your employees will have different needs and wants when it comes to their workstation. Be sure to speak with them about accommodations that will make the workplace safer and more productive for them.
For example, employees that find it hard to focus may need their workstation to face a wall or access to noise cancelling headphones. Employees with hearing impairments may require voice to text software or amplifying headsets.
4. Optimise your air conditioning
Having the right air conditioning system in your office is an important part of keeping your employees healthy and comfortable.
You’ll need to consider what type of system is going to best for the size and orientation of your space.
- Large, open plan offices will require ceiling cassette or ducted air conditioning to efficiently heat and cool the space.
- For smaller rooms, split system air conditioning will be the most effective and cost-efficient option.
To get the best system for your space, it’s important to consult a professional who can walk you through the options.
Consider also upgrading the insulation in the office to improve energy efficiency and temperature regulation. Also keep in mind that some employees may have heat or cold sensitivity and this should be factored into your planning.
If you are working with an existing air conditioning system in the space, be sure to have it serviced. Investing in air conditioning repairs in Mandurah before your office space opens will ensure it’s ready to go when you do.
5. Talk to your employees
No one knows what your employees need to make the space more productive than themselves. During your design and planning stages, be sure to speak with your employees about their needs and ideas.
When they’ve been involved in the planning processes, they’re likely to feel more ownership over the space. This can improve satisfaction, which is not only great for employee well being, it’s also great for productivity and motivation.
Fitting out an office can be a big process, but when you take the time to plan it out carefully and consider what your employees need, you’ll be in a great position to succeed.
Don’t be afraid to bring professionals on board. Doing things right from the outset can reap big benefits in the future.
