Companies are trying all sorts of ways to shake up the traditional office space in order to make their employees happier and more productive. Many are embracing on site gyms, open concept office spaces and roaming desks. But these changes may not be practical for many organizations due to budget, the existing layout of your space and resistance to any sort of change.
Fortunately, there are small changes that you can implement at your office to improve your office space. Here are our favourite 5.
Offer Alternatives to Seating
Are you familiar with the research on sitting? A well-known research study found that sitting for over 8 hours a day increases a person’s chance of death by 15 percent over four years. Getting your staff up from their seats also helps with energy levels and productivity, so everyone benefits.
Some options you can offer to help get staff off their feet include:
- Higher desks so employees can stand while working
- Kneeling chairs
- Yoga balls
- Treadmill desks if you have some money to spend!
Paint Goes a Long Way
Painted walls are another option for improving your office space. Instead of boring white walls, a touch of colour can go a long way. You shouldn’t opt for bright tones but rather more neutral ones. Some colours you should consider include:
- Red, a powerful colour that can work well if your business is heavily involved in sales
- Yellow, which is a creativity stimulator and helps people think clearly
- Blue-green, a calming colour favoured by many writers
- Orange, an ideal selection for your social spaces
You don’t have to paint your entire office the same colour either. Choose the best colour depending on how a particular space is being used.
Reduce the Noise Level
Offices can be a noisy place. Between the sales staff on the phone and the shuffling of office equipment, a lot of people struggle to do work with such distractions. A few options you can use include rearranging staff seating so that people on the phone have their own seperate space, moving office equipment to a separate room, and carpeting and ceiling panels to absorb sound.
Embrace Ergonomic Design
Ergonomics is about making your employees as comfortable as possible while doing their job. Make sure that your work stations embrace the principles of ergonomic design such as keyboard trays, footstools and proper lighting. This will help your employees feel comfortable and remain productive while at their desks.
Create Small Spaces for Brainstorming
Sometimes people need a change of scenery and some peace and quiet to accomplish their best thinking. You don’t even need private phone rooms to do so. All you need to do is rearrange some furniture to create spaces removed from the hustle and bustle of the office.