How to Create an Efficient Office Space

There’s no reason offices can’t be inviting and exciting places where minds collide and produce amazing work. Unfortunately, too many offices today are still stuck in the past with monotonous designs that are more likely to put workers to sleep than encourage productivity and innovative ideas. 

If you’re wondering how to design an efficient office space that can inspire your team and revolutionize your workflow, you’ve come to the right place. 

We’ll be taking a deep dive into office space efficiency and examining things like floor plan priority, choosing between office furniture collections, and tech layout to ensure your office is operating at its peak level. So say goodbye to the drab designs and distracting arrangements—it’s time to modernize your office for the 21st century.

Inspire Collaboration

We can all appreciate a little alone time at the office, but that doesn’t mean our entire workday should be spent quarantined in our cubicles. Now more than ever, modern office designers are putting collaboration at the forefront of their floor plans by introducing new ways for teammates to interact with each other. Designing a collaborative office space is essential to the modern office environment.

When building a truly efficient office space, consider the following options to bring your team together in the spirit of collaboration:

• Cut out the cubicles – These former staples of office spaces are now an antiquated part of a former era. Yes, cubicles might allow every worker to have their own space, but they quite literally put up walls that eliminate the possibility of collaboration and communication between team members.

• Keep the doors open – Sometimes, the simplest option is the best. You can invite new voices to share their ideas and bridge the gaps between various employees by simply implementing an open door policy. No investments are needed—just encourage your team to keep their doors open and be ready for the next great idea to walk in. However if sound levels are an issue, you can always combat them with these triangle acoustic panels.
  

• Remake your meeting rooms – While most offices offer a standard conference room for team members to gather and meet, they can be fairly lackluster spaces. A meeting room should be a place team members are excited to gather in. By modernizing the meeting space and updating the conference table or decor, you may find more employees eager to use the space to work together.

Implement Useful Tech

Tech is a natural part of most business activities. Whether communicating with our fellow coworkers, exchanging project plans, or using digital tools, tech is typically a standard part of every individual office worker’s day.

Still, the tech aimed at maximizing office efficiency is often lacking or misused. If you’re attempting to reorient your office in a more productive direction, take a look at what tech is useful and what tech might be holding you back:

• Screens – While screens can be essential for completing daily tasks, oftentimes, offices can go a little overboard. Too many screens can lead to further distractions for team members. If a screen doesn’t have a direct purpose, there’s no reason for it to be cluttering up your office. Instead of providing privacy above the work surface when you opt for a more open office floor plan, provide the privacy below the work surface with desk modesty panels.

• Digital communication – Today, office workers don’t need to leave their desks to engage with their team. Through digital chat channels, voice, and video calling, virtual communication solutions have changed how we interact. It’s important for anyone attempting to build an orderly office environment to keep digital communication tech in mind and examine what tools are most beneficial for their team.

• Hands-on tech tools – To improve your office’s capabilities, it may be time to upgrade your in-office tools. Digital whiteboards, 3d printers, projectors, and other gadgets can inspire your team and offer new ways to enhance your business.

Reconsider Your Layout

Typically, the first thing you notice when walking into an office is the layout—how every commercial office desks are arranged, where the printers are located, and how the space flows from one end to the other.

Take a look at how your own layout benefits your team. The placement of every office appliance and piece of furniture should be purposeful. If you’re uncertain about where to begin when reorienting your layout to have a more flexible office space, consider the following:

• Floor plan – Too many floor plans ignore the need for purposeful movement, open spaces, and easy access. If your team is forced to take confusing paths to get from one end of the office to the other, it’s time to rethink your layout. A multipurpose table that folds and rolls is useful for testing out floor plans or creating collaborative evolving spaces.

• Personalization – Just because you’re designing an office for efficiency doesn’t mean it should be soulless. It’s no surprise that most individuals work best in environments that are thoughtfully decorated and inviting. That means you can infuse the ethos of your business into your office layout by including furnishing and decor that say something about your company culture and values.

• Minimalism – Office products, papers, and digital devices become cluttered when not properly organized. Learn how to organize an office space to prevent any chaos at the workplace. Too many offices have “dead zones” where all the workplace junk seems to end up. Purging your office of all those unused odds and ends can lead to a clearer workspace and clearer minds for your whole team.

Efficiency, Quality, Juniper

Before implementing any massive changes to your office space, it can be helpful to get your team’s perspective. Office space efficiency comes down to what works best for every individual in the office, whether that means a new layout, a tech refresh, or a new way of in-office communication.

Of course, every employee still needs a desk, which is why Juniper has spent 100 years perfecting office furniture. But we do more than design desks and meeting tables—we craft personalized solutions to help you create an office environment that best represents your business. Visit Juniper today to learn about our offerings and start your journey to a better office space.

Sources: 

Forbes. Six Tips For A More Inviting, Productive Office. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeschicagocouncil/2018/09/13/six-tips-for-a-more-inviting-productive-office/?sh=5f4ecf306572 

Business News Daily. How to Create a Workspace That Improves Productivity. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/7456-workspace-design-productivity.html