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If you’ve noticed something of a dowdy presence in your office, the concept of rejuvenating the entire environment can be an awkward thing to approach. After all, you’re there for work, so why go to so much trouble to make it all vibrant and fun? Well, it doesn’t always have to be about a complete transformation, and there are several things you can do pretty quickly to give the place a brand new vibe.
Apply your personality
The clean, open-plan offices we see in stock imagery are all well and good, but the best offices are about far more than just space. What is it that captures the true spirit of your company? An ethos? A unique product or service? Also, what about the people? A quirky, personal touch to your decor can really make the difference, even in a small, awkwardly-designed space – and lift the appeal of the office for all to see.
Have a spring clean
There’s plenty of research to suggest that a clean office is a productive office, largely because there is an increased degree of satisfaction throughout the workplace. Visually, the absence of clutter can encourage people to keep up this tidiness. Meanwhile, a simple cleaning rota, if not cleaning staff, could keep you on top of everything from piles of notes to build-ups of dust. The overall impact could be a more upbeat and visually appealing place to work for all.
Nurture the nature
Similarly, idyllic, wonderfully picaresque backdrops and vistas are also known to improve mood. NBC News published an in-depth article on the link between human beings’ productivity, and nature – a phenomenon known as ‘biophilia’. It is believed that seeing natural scenery can be far more positive than staring at something man-made, so consider natural scenery for new walls, large, inspiring images of nature, and even a few more plants or pink roses dotted throughout the office (almost literally ‘spruce’-ing up the workplace in the process!).
Ditch the partitions
At some point, long before the trend for vast, open-plan offices became ‘a thing’, someone had the bright idea of cordoning off every employee in a range of office environments. While this isn’t as common a practice now, there are still some workplaces that prefer a reception area, customer service area, sales area, etc. Try getting everyone in the same room, working together in more ways than one, and even inviting visitors straight into the office, rather than being briefly corralled in an uninspiring reception area while they wait.
Go all out for change
Finally, the one that will involve a little more time – you could opt for a complete change. Designer office refurbishment is now more popular than ever and could be the most effective way for you to genuinely transform the office environment. It could also be a great way for you to combine all of the above tips into one and sit down with the designer to create a unique space for your business. Packed with as much personality, nature, space and even partitions as you desire, if you have space and the cash, it could be a great investment for the future of your office.
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