Whether you are just getting started with a new office space or you intend to breathe in new life into the old one, furnishing is one of the most important steps you have to take. Your office is much more than a public image of your company (even though this is one of its most important functions). It is a place where all the work is done, so it should have a positive impact on productivity and creativity. Creating a representative workplace is not nearly as difficult as it sounds. We will help you by giving you a few tips.
Table of Contents
First Impression Starts Outside
Before we move on to the very inside of the office, it is important to realize that everything that is surrounding your workspace is already its representative. The appearance of the building itself should be coherent with the inside of the office (very old building and modernly designed office are not a good idea). The hallway and the space in front of your door should be clean and clutter-free. The name of the company must be clearly marked on the door.
Make the Reception Area Inviting
The reception area is what makes a lasting impression of your company. The very heart of designing it must be the functionality. The second quality it has to have is comfortableness. The sitting area should be spacious enough. One or two coat racks (depending on how many clients are you expecting) are a must. You should also provide appropriate diversions (small work areas where visitors can plug in their laptops, magazines and relevant publications, etc).
Choosing a Color Scheme
Color scheme can really brighten up the space and add positive changes. It should be chosen with lot of consideration of its impact to both clients and employees. The colors in the reception area should be soothing (to minimize the waiting stress) and in the working area stimulating (more intense, to encourage productivity). First, decide of the appearance of the walls and then incorporate colors of the furniture in the whole picture.
Incorporating Furniture
The furniture should reflect the overall design and the personality of your company. If your business is all about digital technologies and modern ideas, decorate with contemporary designer timber furniture if you want the space to appear warmer and more inviting, advise the people behind company Robert Plumb. Incorporate the logo of your company to further highlight your name. Furniture you choose must look professional and it has to be comfortable and designed for everyday use.
Create a Storage Space
Keeping all the properties, documents and files of the company inside the office is making the space look untidy and cluttered. That is never a good image for first impression or a good motivation for workers. Make sure you have a proper file system or a closet which will be far from sight of the customers, yet easily available to workers. Plenty of shelving and enough drawers are great ways to organize the items well. Having a meeting room with no additional storage at all is a must for every serious office.
Shed Some Light
Good lighting design in the office is the one that results with increased workers’ productivity and reduced bills for the owner. Choose energy efficient light bulbs and opt for indirect lighting. Direct parabolic lighting has negative influence on employees focus. Natural light is not only free, but it is more pleasant, too, so try to create a good balance between it and artificial sources.
In the end, add some personality to the space with accessories, paintings and other artwork. Try not to go overboard and keep everything simple and stylish. The most important impression you should make are your organizational skills.
