Upon entering, you first notice a pleasing aroma that’s not too intense, but distinct enough to make you wonder about the fragrance. The floor to ceiling windows allows plenty of natural light in, which is scattered by half-open wooden blinds that give the room a homey look to it. A few earth-tone sofas, a rocking chair, and even a loveseat are arranged around a rounded front desk. You almost forget that you’re walking into the new law firm in town where you just got hired on as a clerk when the receptionist wishes you a good morning.
It’s possible that you imagined this was not a work environment, but rather a spa or just somewhere people go to relax. Would you believe it if you were told that this type of setting is more conducive to a better work ethic? Continue reading to see how a workplace’s environment can impact the overall performance of employees.
Office Accents
You might think that the color scheme of a room serves no real purpose, but you’d be neglecting one piece of the puzzle: haven’t you ever hung a painting, or bought the green towel instead of the white one, or maybe even gotten all white furniture for one of the rooms in your home? Bottom line is, design, whether it’s on your shoe or your floor mat, makes us feel things.
Whatever those things are, they’ve been known to spark positive change in the workplace. The experts at vestraworkspace.com.au say that kickstarting your workforce one color scheme at a time is a good way to start. Don’t underestimate the power of a pop of color on a decorative pillow.
The accessories and furniture, and the colors of each, can all work in tandem to evoke a certain emotion within whoever walks in. If you want people to feel inspired and ambitious, then grey, black, and royal blue tend to work well together. Black sofas trimmed in steel with grey pillows, and a bright blue carpet sends a “we mean business and we look good doing it” kind of sensation. This can make employees feel motivated and proud to be a part of the team every time they walk through the lobby as they enter.
Strategic Placement
There are many communal areas and shared items that should be included in an office. For example, a coffee pot might be where some of the best conversations are had amongst coworkers. And these days, cubicles are frowned upon not only because they make offices feel like prisons, but they don’t encourage interaction between colleagues and stifle creativity. If there’s no place in your office where people can exchange words, then clear out a corner and put some chairs and a coffee table there. People will naturally gravitate there.
Lighting
In all literary works of fiction, and also film, music, and other forms of art, light is a leading character in all of them. Stage and set lighting in theater and film are vital roles that people have made careers out of. Many writers will describe the lighting in their books and stories—a little trick to set the mood. However, this is no trick at all and there are actually studies that prove how much lighting can impact a person’s mood.
Fluorescent lights can make people feel alert and on guard. Dim lights can put people at ease and are more suitable for a lobby than fluorescent lights, which often remind people of hospitals. The lighting you have in the lobby doesn’t have to be the same as the lighting in the back offices. You may not necessarily want fluorescent lights, but you definitely don’t want people falling asleep in conferences either. Natural light has a tendency to make people feel both happy and alert, and it’s a great option as opposed to the typical bright lights you often see in offices.
Art
Hanging a painting or placing a sculpture in an office doesn’t just add to the aesthetic appeal of the room. It sends the message that the company or organization values creativity and is a safe space for employees to experiment with new ideas. At some point, you may completely disregard the painting hanging on the wall, but it’s likely that you’d notice if it was taken down, leaving just a blank space.
Adding office accents and accessories to a workplace is another way of telling employees that they’re valued. By creating an environment that inspires creativity and social interaction, a company is bound to see a distinct difference in productivity and inner connectedness between colleagues. If a roundtable can bring knights and kings together and allow them to communicate better, then imagine what a few minor changes to spacing and lighting can do.
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