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It is estimated that those of us that are based in offices will spend up to 90% of our time inside. Therefore, it is essential that the time spent indoors is in a room that is thought out and planned, so that employee productivity is not effected. It is vitally important to get the most out of the space you are working in.
With the invention of offices you can sleep in, will employees soon be doing 24 hour shifts, or sleeping at work? Resembling something of a post nuclear war bunker, the pod is fully equipped with everything you could possibly need for a day (and night) at the office. It does look like a bit of a torture chamber, and some people would argue that it is one. Designing a small office to look bigger is not as difficult as you might think. Using a few choice techniques, you can create the office of your dreams.
- Storage space
Keeping the office tidy is essential, especially if you are in a small workspace, because clutter is one thing that ends up taking up a huge amount of room. When considering the design of your new office, make sure you incorporate a good amount of storage. Think about places to put paper if you need to, lockers and cupboards are also a good option so your employees have somewhere to store their valuables if needed.
- Mirrors
Almost everyone knows this trick – put in mirrors and a room instantly looks twice as big. However, put in too many mirrors in the office and it can end up looking like some sort of tacky, alien spaceship, or like a dressing room. Some conveniently placed reflective sheets can makes this appear less boxed in, but less is certainly more with this idea.
- Natural light
This is one of the most important factors on the list. An office space that incorporates the light is vital for many reasons. Employees feel better when they have access the natural light, UV lighting and other fake bulbs can give people headaches and make them feel unwell. Keeping as much natural influence as possible (daylight and fresh air) can make your office space seem a lot more airy, and bigger than it actually is. Natural light is an important benefit that needs to be considered in office design. There is evidence that it increases productivity, reduces eye fatigue, and a good sized window can do wonders for making your office appear bigger.
- Buy sensible furniture
Buy sensible furniture that also doubles as storage space. Use shapes that are easily stacked, so they can be easily moved out of the way if you need the room, or for team building exercises. Show that you care about your team by investing in new chairs, or want to protect their belongings in lockers.
- Avoid boxed in space like cubicles
Once the favourite of many offices, now the cubicle space is being removed from offices around the world. Dubbed “cubicell” by many long suffering workers because they are smaller than a prison cell and just as stressful, cubicle walls have been a force for evil that drives employees up the wall. And they make any office look a lot smaller and more boxed in than they actually are. Dividing the space up into squares is not a good idea, open plan is definitely the way to go.
- Utilise glass
Like mirror, glass also has the added benefit of making a room look larger. Having a large window and a view of the world means that employees feel less boxed in and are more likely to feel positive about their work experience. Glass is elegant and can add a touch of class to even the smallest office.
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