Problems in office design can lead to problems for the company and its workers. As a company grows and changes over the years, so should its workspace. An outdated workspace can reflect poorly on the company’s image, leading people to believe that the company itself is outdated and unwilling to embrace change. Poor office design can also cause workers stress, decrease their productivity, and lower their morale. It can stunt your company’s growth by failing to attract new talent and struggling to facilitate innovation.
But you don’t need to renovate your entire office to fix some of its design problems.
Noise Masking
Carpet and acoustic paneling are common ways to reduce noise pollution. But have you considered adding more noise to solve the problem? It may seem counterintuitive but adding more noise by using sound masking systems can actually make your office seem quieter.
Sound masking systems create an ambient uniform sound and muffle conversations from many feet away. By reducing the comprehensibility of otherwise distracting noise, sound masking systems allow workers to focus and be more productive. Not only do sound masking systems reduce noise distractions, but they can also keep private conversations from being overheard.
Indoor Navigation
Sometimes walking through the office can feel like a maze, especially for new employees, visitors, and clients. It can be easy to get lost. To fix this problem, you can install an indoor navigation system. Like outdoor GPS, indoor navigation systems help to get you to where you need to be and give you a time estimate on how long the journey will take. And with less time spent navigating, workers will have more time to be productive.
Indoor navigation systems use computer-aided drawings to create a digital map of your workspace. This map can then be presented through various platforms such as kiosks, web browsers, and digital applications.
Installing a navigation system in your office can not only help people feel less frustrated with finding their way, but it can also help increase safety in the building. Indoor navigation systems have the ability to send out alerts to the people in suddenly unsafe areas and show them the best route to safety.
Writing Space
Some things just need to be written out by hand on paper, especially when you are trying to solve a problem or brainstorm a new idea. But using a lot of paper can be bad for the environment.
To solve this problem and increase writing space, you can cover a wall with a chalkboard or whiteboard. These spaces make office walls interactive, connecting workers more closely to the physical space they work in. Whiteboards and chalkboards can be used again and again, making them environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
If wall space is limited, encourage worker to write on the glass windows or panels using removable ink or paint. With more space, ideas can more easily realize their potential.
Paint and Lighting
Two of the easiest ways you can improve your workspace is to add a fresh coat of paint and let the outdoor light in. If there isn’t enough natural light to illuminate your workspace, be sure to opt for energy-efficient light bulbs.
When painting, choose a color that will add to the room, not detract. Some dark colors can make a room feel smaller, while some bright colors can cause anxiety. The psychology of color can help you choose the shade of paint that will best serve your business.
