Are you thinking about making a major change to your office layout? If so, you know that you want to make it feel modern and fresh. After all, the design in your offices can influence your employees’ well-being in surprising ways, so you need to prioritize a layout that encompasses the latest design trends.
For more information on the top trends of 2022, this breakdown will give you everything your office truly needs.
Comfort and Function
One of the leading trends for the year is the incorporation of more comfortable elements into the office. Seating should be comfortable and functional, but many places of business are getting away from the standard cubicle and office chair.
Instead, they may have modular sofas in their common workspaces. Look for pieces that make your office feel more like a home with a relaxed atmosphere rather than a sterile office space.
Simple to Clean
With the pandemic still in mind, many office layouts are trending toward surfaces that can easily be sanitized. This might mean chairs that can be wiped down with disinfectant, less carpet on the floor, and even swapping out touch points such as:
- Door knobs
- Elevator buttons
- Directional signs or office signs
- Light switches
All of this serves to make it easier to clean the office, making it less likely that your staff will be calling in sick.
Natural Lighting
Offices are trending more toward natural light, but don’t worry if you lack windows in your space. You can get a similar effect with diffused lights designed to imitate natural light indoors. If the windows you have shine too brightly, you can minimize the glare by planting shrubs or trees just outside the glass.
A More Modern Feel
Many offices want to keep the same items they have relied on for years. With this new trend, you might be able to do just that without sacrificing style. Interior designers are mixing things up by including both old and new elements into a given office space. Keep those antiques but add a table with clean lines made of natural wood.
Upgrade Your Office Today
When you are ready to upgrade your office, you need to head to a one-stop shopping experience like that offered by Office Furniture Direct. We have everything you need from workstations to accessories. Contact the team at Office Furniture Direct to schedule an appointment with our experts!
Workstation Layouts That Enhance Productivity
Ensuring optimal levels of productivity within a workspace is no easy task. There are an incredible number of factors involved, some of which are beyond your control. If an employee is having problems at home that occupy their thoughts, you can’t do much more than give them a personal day to try to rectify the situation.
However, there are plenty of areas where you can take steps to improve productivity on a daily basis, starting with the office environment you create. The right workstation layout can have a major impact on productivity, and there are several ways you can plan for a layout conducive to enhancing efficiency and performance.
Adequate Work Space
Understanding what your employees do and how they utilize work space is essential to creating proper workstation layout, whether you’re measuring the square footage needed for each cubicle or desk area or you’re considering the optimal size of desk you’ll need and how equipment should be arranged. The work area and furniture assigned to each employee should be adequate to accommodate the work they must do.
Organizational Tools
Clutter can be a productivity killer, so you want to make sure each workstation is outfitted with the organizational tools needed to ensure organization and efficiency. This could include furniture like shelving and filing cabinets, or desktop and drawer organizers that coral cables, contain pens and pencils, and house loose papers until they can be addressed or filed away.
Ergonomic Solutions
Productivity can be hampered by discomfort, which is why ergonomic solutions have become an essential part of the office layout. Ergonomic keyboards can help to eliminate repetitive motion injuries, for example, while ergonomic chairs and adjustable desks can reduce instances of back and neck pain, which are among the most common complaints from desk jockeys. With the right ergonomic office solutions, you’ll create a work environment conducive to greater comfort and productivity.
Ample Lighting
Technically, this has little to do with the actual layout of the workspace, unless it centers on desktop task lighting, but having abundant natural lighting is one of the most important factors when it comes to increasing productivity, so it bears mentioning. Our circadian rhythms are based on cycles of light and darkness, so when we find ourselves in a poorly lit environment, it’s only natural that we start to feel sleepy.
However you arrange your workstations and work surfaces, you need to find ways to imbue your space with natural light, as well as artificial lighting that mimics the sun. When paired with suitable workstation layouts, this element could significantly boost productivity.
Design & Layout
When you are looking to reconfigure your office’s layout and overall design, things can become overwhelming rather quickly. With so many design options and layouts to choose from, it can be hard to narrow things down and to choose the best options for your specific workspace. While all workspaces are different and all require different design elements to thrive, here are a few tips to consider when reconfiguring your office’s design and layout:
Utilize Natural Light
Natural light is much better for the human eye than fluorescent light. The latter can cause headaches and eye strains. Additionally, natural light helps to control your melatonin levels. This affects how focused and alert one feels. The more your employees are exposed to natural light, the more alert they will feel; this, in turn, will boost productivity.
Be Spacious
Be conscious about how you use the space in your office. Employees should be able to move about freely and furniture should be situated in a way where, if an emergency arises, people can exit the office in a safe and quick manner.
Prioritize Storage
For many, storage is often the last thing that is considered when they are redesigning an office. However, storage should be prioritized. By ensuring your office has ample storage, clutter will be reduced. This will allow employees to work in a more efficient manner.
Don’t Skimp
While it can be tempting to purchase furniture based on cost, make sure that the furniture you purchase for your office is of good quality. With cheap furniture, you get what you pay for. Not only will this make your office look subpar, but poor-quality furniture can affect the health of your employees negatively. Ergonomic office chairs, for example, have been proven to increase productivity and reduce the number of sick days that employees take. Additionally, higher-quality furniture lasts longer than poorly made furniture; this will save you money in the long run.
Use Your Lobby
Your lobby is the first thing customers and clients see when they step into your office. It is important that your lobby reflects your business and what your business offers. It should have comfortable seating and should be an extension of your business.
Reconfiguring your office does not have to be an overwhelming experience. By using these tips when designing your new office, you will be able to create a space that reflects the values of your business and that stimulates pride in the people that work there.
Contact the Experts at OFD today or Schedule an Appointment for a Free Consultation.