Enhance Workplace Creativity With Smart Office Planning

indoff blog post

It was Vincent Van Gogh who said, “Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together.” This is especially true in the work environment. Whether you realize it or not, creativity is the driving force behind a company’s success. That is if you want yours to continue evolving.

How we work has a lot to do with fostering creativity. For example, does your office allow workers to move about when they need to change focus or need a space to mentally prepare for another project? The arrangement of your office furniture could be what’s helping or hindering creativity.

If you’re looking for ways to enhance creativity, we have tips on how to revamp your office in small but impactful ways!  

Have a Communal Space for Brainstorming

office space planning

Meetings are always a hit or miss. You either walk away feeling great about the progress made or you leave wondering how the last hour could have been more productive if everything was condensed to a three-sentence email. The formal setting of a meeting can turn people off and deter people from contributing just based on the setup of the room. That’s why we recommend creating a communal space that brings people together rather than physically separating them.

What does this look like? First, consider a circular table or one where everyone present has a place at the table. This creates togetherness. Everyone should have a view of one another so when a person is speaking, everyone can hear and see (if they’re presenting). You also want to have whiteboards nearby so if an idea sparks it can be sketched out right away. The more open and airy the room feels, the more people will feel at ease and ready to think. Consider adding some plants and good lighting. If you can have natural lighting, even better.  

Create a Space for Alone Time

working at desk

Sometimes employees need to be in their mind before they can share their ideas or project. For that reason, we recommend creating a room or space where people can go for some much-needed alone time. The room should have a desk with a computer and plenty of writing utensils. You should also consider adding a shelf with books. When people are looking for new ideas or want to be inspired, they turn to books. Fill a shelf with books related to your company’s line of work. For example, if you’re a marketing firm, invest in the best marketing material around.

This space will also be useful for preparing presentations or working on projects requiring some level of privacy. Again, make sure it feels open and is well-ventilated. You’ll be surprised at what people can accomplish when they take some time to gather their own thoughts.

Make Everything Moveable — The Power of Wheels

teamwork

Innovation is all about change. When your team has the ease of moving things around, they’ll be able to collaborate with everyone and everything. The functionality of a meeting desk, chair, computer, and supplies makes it possible to go from a 10 person meeting to a three-person conversation. Feeling confined can also confine the mind. Have you ever noticed how uplifting it feels to walk out of a room when you need a mental break? Give your team the ease of moving around. All it takes is adding wheels to desks and arranging the office in a way that allows for movement.

Create Your Ideal Work Environment With Indoff Commercial Interiors

Creativity and productivity are vital to any and all workplaces. Enhancing them is what we here at Indoff Commerical Interiors aims to help you with. It’s not always possible to pinpoint what is or isn’t working. That’s why we offer office space planning services for companies here in the Sun City. We focus on creating the best atmosphere for your team’s needs. Everything from the colors of the room to the placement of desks, we take it all into consideration.

Connect with us today to learn how we can help your office!   

Office Design: How to Keep Your Team Safe

Take a look around your building. What do you notice? Perhaps there are a couple of messy desks. A stack of papers you’ve been meaning to get rid of? How do your workers look?

We’re all guilty of getting into the rhythm of things that we block out or fail to notice our surroundings. We arrive at work and immediately begin tackling the day’s tasks. Even as a business owner it’s not unusual for you to get caught up in your own work that you don’t realize the setup and overall environment is in need of your attention. Indeed, it could be harming your team or certain areas could be a complete safety hazard.

Take a look at how these various aspects of the office could be negatively impacting your employees and what changes need to be made.

Bacteria, Germs, and Viruses — They’re All Around. What Can You Do?

office work

From a blasting heater or AC to the countless hours you and your team spend inside, germs and bacteria are prone to spread. And they spread quickly! This is especially true in open-floor plans or areas where equipment is consistently shared where it be telephones or tools. All it takes is one person coming in sick and the rest of the bunch will be infected. To help minimize this common office problem, be sure to have your office thoroughly cleaned and keep disinfecting dispensers around where employees can pump a dose into their hands before grabbing equipment.

Is Your Team Constantly Feeling Sick? It Could Be the Building

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)

Ever heard of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)? It’s a growing condition that affects workers based on their time inside of a building. Although it’s not widely recognized as a legitimate reason for feeling sick, it is often used to describe common feelings of nausea. Workers will collectively say they have headaches, feel dizzy, have difficulty concentrating, or have symptoms of being sick such as a runny nose and irritated eyes. A couple of ways your office impacts these symptoms is the lighting, the HVAC system, and the equipment used day in and day out. If the lighting is too dim or too bright, your workers’ eyes will suffer, often causing headaches. If your building’s filters haven’t been changed, employees could be breathing in harmful air. And if the equipment they’re using needs maintenance, they could be hurting themselves physically.      

If a Fire Were to Break Out, Is Your Team Prepared to Safely Exit the Building?

fire exit

When’s the last time your office had a fire drill? Do new employees know how to exit the building in the event of a fire? Even if a fire seems like a far-fetched scenario, being prepared in the event that there is a fire is extremely important. Having a quarterly fire drill can bring to light any barriers or hazards that would make exiting the building difficult. The goal is to get out quickly and as safe as possible. You might realize that the building needs to be reorganized in order to make it safe for everyone to exit.  

And Lastly, Are Your Workstations Meeting Real Ergonomics Needs?

ergonomics

Ergonomics focuses on the importance of workspaces and the way people use them in relation to their bodies. For example, if a chair isn’t able to comfortably support someone, he or she may need a different chair—one that is able to sustain their weight and other physical needs. Ergonomics also examines how workers use the equipment. Take for example the telephone. Do you remember the days of holding a phone between your ear and shoulder then altering it out to your hand? This isn’t good for the body! That’s why handsfree headsets were created. Similarly, desks need to be at a good height for employees so they don’t hunch over or lean their arms up in an awkward and hurtful position. Find out what feels comfortable for your team. Ask them questions about how they feel about their workstation. Many times employees are too fearful to raise these concerns. But when it’s brought up, it gives them an opportunity to discuss.       

Provide the Safetest Workspace Possible With the Help of Indoff Commercial Interiors

office space planning

We know you want to make your team comfortable and happy. That’s why at Indoff Commercial Interior, we work with you to find office furniture solutions. Whether it’s planning the layout of the office or switching out old equipment for more modern and more comfortable options, we can help you achieve a safe working environment. Connect with us today to get started!

New Year, New Setup: Planning Your Office Makeover

office space planning

Today, approximately 70% of offices across the nation use open-floor plans. There are several pros and cons to this type of workspace—distractions being a con and accessibility being a pro. If there’s one thing that’s certain, having an open floor plan means exposure to all areas of the office. You might pass by someone’s desk and see candy wrappers scattered throughout or you’ll quickly gain insight into your employee’s interest with their choice of decor. A lot can be revealed with this type of floor plan. But if you’re feeling like you could make better use of space or want the office to feel more “open” or “bright” then it may be time to consider office space planning.

Maximizing the Space You Have

office space planning

If one of your current dilemmas is figuring out how to maximize the space you currently have, there are a couple of things you can do. When you hire an office design expert, they will take a look into a couple of items including:

  • The total number of employees
  • The projected total number of employees within the next five years
  • What your average foot traffic looks like
  • Which departments need to be within proximity of each other
  • What tools or equipment are necessary to perform certain tasks
  • Where are meetings, break areas, and other common spaces located

Those are a couple of the factors that an office space planner will first examine in order to determine the moving pieces. The goal is to make use of every area of your office. By placing desks in a fashion that enhances productivity, it will ultimately limit distractions and maximize your space, no matter how big or small it may be.

Working With a Professional

An office design expert sees your office from a different perspective. They take into consideration your business operates. This includes finding a way to maximize productivity for various departments and creating a setup that’s comfortable and welcoming. Your furniture, color schemes, and the dimensions of your office will all be strategically considered in order to best match choices that will enhance the work environment. On the surface, it may not seem like something as minimal as the color of your walls will affect your employees’ work behavior but indeed it will! Colors evoke moods and can create positive emotions as well as negative ones.

Our design expert, Kim Gregory has years of experience in professional office design and can certainly help you create your desired workspace. Connect with us today to learn more!