March 28, 2022

How to make an office interior design

Modern office spaces range in different sizes and is usually entirely dependent on what you can pay for. The post-pandemic return to the office is getting closer and closer for numerous companies and the need to attract and retain employees is becoming more important.

Modern day offices are changing and evolving to meet the post-pandemic working demands which include hybrid and flexible workspaces with a wellbeing-focused design, and community-inspired spaces are taking storm in 2021 with no evidence of slowing down in 2022.

Activity based working – what is it?

Activity based working is a new term coined for office design, this design offers your staff a much-needed change of scenery or fresh perspective throughout the workday. It’s no secret that spending all day in the same spot, sat on the same chair, and looking at the same screen can cause you to become tired and restless.

Activity based design enables companies to diversify the workplace with different sections, enabling people to boost their morale and productivity throughout the day.

Implementing sit-stand desks, privacy booths, shared desks and collaboration rooms means your employees can move throughout the office depending on the mind frame they’re in.

For instance, if an employee needs to concentrate on a project or piece of work, they can move to an isolated and quiet area to avoid distractions.

On the other hand, if they need to collaborate on a piece of work or idea then your employees can move to a collaboration room, shared desk or conference room to openly communicate and interact.

The most common: minimalist

Most people understand the concept of minimalism which involves stripping things down to their most basic form, minimalism can be applied to anything from art and lifestyles to different types of architecture and interior design ideas.

Minimalist design involves using the bare minimum to create a simple and uncluttered space to keep your mind free.

In an office environment this design usually combines an open floor plan, with lots of light and functional furniture, whilst focusing on the shape, colour and texture of just a handful of essential elements. The reason minimalist interior design is so popular is because it has been proven to boost employee productivity, promotes communication and community, attracts news talent, and gives you room to grow.

Not to mention, when done right, minimalist design can really give that wow factor.

Creating somewhere inspiring

Being in the same building for 8 hours a day can make you feel especially tired and unmotivated, by the end of the day you’re looking forward to walking out the doors for a change of scenery. If you can make an office space that is inspiring then you can reap the benefits of increasing the productivity within the office, as well as encouraging innovation from your employees and collaboration.

The advantages of comfortable and healthy office furniture interior

Sitting in the same chair for 5 days a week, can result in an increasing number of work injury complaints and a sharp decrease in employee wellness and workplace happiness. One of the most important things companies can do is invest in ergonomic furniture, choosing to invest in this furniture will help minimise the risk of these injuries.

Ergonomic office furniture is furniture that supports good posture and employee well being through its innovative design and comfort.

Ergonomic furniture has the following benefits:

Reduces pain – when employees are sitting correctly, they can experience a reduction in pain.
Boost productivity – employees who are in good health will have fewer distractions to keep them from performing at their best and creating high-quality work.
Improves employee wellness – if you invest in your employee’s wellness through ergonomic office furniture, then you’re sending your employees a message that you care about them.

Storage is important

Storage is another huge factor that contributes to successful office interior design, by ensuring the desks and spaces are clear of clutter means that your employees can get to work quickly. Your office storage systems need to be efficient to keep the office organised which will help increase productivity in the workplace.

Too much time can be wasted in an office trying to find documents or files all because they weren’t stored correctly in the first place. Good office storage is essential to securely retain and locate valuable files and document.

Adding plants

Plants have been proven to help reduce the stress levels which are found in an office, giving your employees an opportunity to reconnect with nature by bringing the outdoors in. This have been proven to keep stress levels down in the office. A study found that daily interaction with plants help to reduce psychological and physiological stress.

Another benefit of having plants in your office is that they enable your office to have quieter environments. The acoustics in an open-plan office can lead to high volumes of noise and a lack of private areas for confidential conversations, adding some plants into the space can help create different ‘zones’ where employees can escape to a quieter part of the office to concentrate.

Plants have also been proven to prevent and decrease sickness within the office, indoor air can become polluted and stale, but plants will help remove some of these toxins – resulting in cleaner air reducing employee sickness as people will be working in a healthier environment.

Crown are here to give you a helping hand

How you decide to design your office space will be entirely dependent on your company values, branding and way of working. Although all the studies suggest activity-based working and minimalism design improve productivity, you might find that for your company something else is better suited.

There are numerous ways an office can be designed, be it a much more complicated commercial office fit out or a simple office design and refurbishment. And with climate change becoming more important for people all over the globe we can help you create a sustainable interior design and fit out, give us a call at 0208 976 2100.