Are you looking to set up the perfect office space in Wellington? Here are 10 tips to make your office space a more inspiring place to be. 1. Open-plan Open-plan offices give you a wide range of benefits.
Are you looking to set up the perfect office space in Wellington? Here are 10 tips to make your office space a more inspiring place to be.
1. Open-plan
Open-plan offices give you a wide range of benefits. There’s something a lot more inclusive about an open-plan setting that you don’t get with big cubicles or individual offices. Firstly, there is the communication aspect. People can collaborate, build relationships and work together better when there aren’t walls separating them.
Secondly, open-plan offices are generally more comfortable to work in. You can move around more freely, talk to others and you’re not constantly tripping over chairs and other furniture. Depending on the nature of your business, you may need some privacy too, but you can consider alternatives such as meeting rooms, quiet zones and even small desk partitions that don’t make people feel too caged in.
2. Colour choices
Colour is a very personal choice, and what works for one business may not work for another. But the important thing to remember is that you don’t have to stick to plain white walls. Add some colour in, even if it’s a couple of feature walls that are brighter than the rest.
Working with an interior designer is a great idea when it comes to colour because you can ensure that everything ties in well together, including walls, carpet and even furniture.
3. Furniture style
The style of furniture you choose can make or break people’s inspiration levels. Everywhere from the lunchroom to individual desks, comfort is the key. For workstations, choose ergonomic furniture that supports a healthy workforce. For other parts of the office, you may want to include some couches or even other types of comfortable seating like beanbags.
4. Create co-working areas
Co-working spaces are becoming more common these days, even inside a standard office. With hybrid workforces meaning that not everybody spends all their time in the office, you’ve got some room to play around with seating. Also known as hot-desking, people can switch places each day if they want to mix things up a little, and it’s also great for collaboration when certain staff members are working together on projects. Plus, you can even save some money on office space by using a co-working or hot-desking model.
5. Add some indoor plants
It’s a bit of an old cliché, but plants in an office really do create a more inspiring and relaxed environment. Spread a few large indoor plants around the office, and you’ll see the results instantly. From a design point of view alone, plants look great. But they also improve the air quality in an office, so you can get plenty of benefits from a few pot plants.
6. Use appropriate light
The right type of light is incredibly important for productivity. Glare from the sun can be irritating for those working near the windows, which is why natural light isn’t always the answer. If you can include natural light without things getting too bright, that’s great. But it’s more important to provide the proper level of light. Too much light can cause headaches, while not enough light can make it difficult to work and make people lose motivation.
If you don’t have a lot of windows in your office space or you can’t let bright sunlight in all day, you can invest in natural light bulbs or other lights that aren’t too bright. It’s also crucial to ensure any lights you install are in good working order and not flickering.
7. Make the break room comfortable
You don’t want to forget about the break room when designing the perfect office space. This is where people come to disconnect from work for a little bit. They chat with colleagues, relax, and have something to eat. The environment should be inviting, relaxed and comfortable. Get creative with furniture and make sure people can chill out when they need to.
8. Think outside the box
If you want your office to be a great, fun, inspiring place to work, then you may need to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to try something different. Whether you change the office layout, bring in some vending machines with healthy snacks, invest in a new coffee machine or set up a collaboration space, trying something new keeps the office vibrant.
9. Inspiring decorations
We talked about the colour scheme you use in the office, but you should also ensure there is some decoration. Solid colour walls are great, but you need to break up the colour with some inspiring artwork or decorations. What you choose is totally up to you, and it should suit the general vibe that your business is going for. If you’re a fresh, modern start-up, consider some catchy slogans using wall decals or some funky abstract art.
You can also use your decorating skills elsewhere in the office, but just make sure that anything you display, such as sculptures or other forms of art doesn’t pose an occupational health risk.
10. Don’t forget your meeting rooms
Finally, remember that meeting rooms and other spaces designated for collaboration should also be inspiring. Perhaps even more so than the rest of the office, because this is where the brainstorming happens! With all of the principles you’ve applied when designing the rest of your office, make sure it transfers into your meeting rooms so that they don’t feel dull by comparison.
If you’re looking for inspiring office space, come in and take a tour today or get in touch. We’d love to see you create your specisl space with us here at Urban Hub.
