4 Reasons Why Good Office Design Matters

If you had to choose between working in a dark, boxy office or a bright, functional one for your corporate office interior design, the choice is simple. Good office space designs can spur productivity, raise work quality, and improve employee satisfaction.

But creating a comfortable yet productive, welcoming yet focused environment involves more than adding a few plants and raising the blinds a little higher.

If you have some questions about the power of office design, or what it entails, keep on reading for four reasons why investing in your workspace pays dividends. From windows to wellness rooms, we are breaking down the how and the why of workplace design that inspires. To help you settle on a corporate office design idea, here are some things to consider:

#1 Natural Light Decreases Stress

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that exposure to natural lighting is necessary for controlling stress and improving mood, which is partly why the open office concept became popular. And as many employees spend the large majority of daylight hours at the workplace, office design should allow those precious rays to reach them.

A study found that workers who could bask in natural light during the workweek—by sitting near large windows—tended to be more physically active and reported more hours of sleep than those who worked without windows.

Office architects and interior designers ensure a building allows for sufficient daylight exposure by:

• Prioritizing large windows over artificial light
• Placing workstations near windows
• Installing skylights
• Offering fully outdoor areas
• Using lighter colors like white, as well as mirrors, to reflect light

And for those spaces that still need an extra lighting boost, dimmable LED lights are preferable to fluorescent lighting, as the latter can cause employees to experience eye strain and headaches.

#2 Flexible Layouts Accommodate Various Working Styles

A flexible office layout gives workers the freedom to choose how and where they work, and plays into a good work environment. Open spaces are important for teamwork, but so are quiet areas for focused productivity. Both have their merits, such as:

• Open, shared areas foster collaboration and reinforce company and team identity.
• Quiet, secluded areas provide privacy crucial to professional conversations (e.g., on video conferences and phone calls) and cut out potential distractions. They’ve also been shown to increase employee satisfaction and reduce productivity barriers (e.g., fewer sick days taken).

Instead of committing to one or the other, combine the two options with a flexible office layout. Including both public and private spaces allows employees to choose between:

• Collaboration spaces
• Conference rooms
• Private offices
• High-walled cubicles
• Silent coworking spaces

When office design takes into account that each employee has a personal working style, they will find that employees perform better overall. Giving employees the power to choose where and how to work while in the office can give them a feeling of autonomy and flexibility, generating good feelings between them and their company.

#3 Encouraging Breaks Increases Productivity

Modern office space designs aren’t complete without dedicated spaces for employees to take care of their physical and mental well-being. Interesting spaces encourage employees to spend their breaks away from their desks and come back recharged.

Whether it’s through a meditation room, fitness center, or game room, Forbes magazine touts the following benefits of incentivizing regular breaks through office design:

Increased productivity – When an employee steps away from their work for a while, shifting their focus to a different task—such as a friendly game of ping pong with a coworker—they’re more likely to come back to work feeling refreshed. Break or game rooms are just one of many tips to increase work productivity.

Decreased stress – Whether it’s providing access to an outdoor patio or a simple meditation room, these spaces can help employees recharge and detach from their work for a bit.

Increased creativity – When you look at the same thing all day, at some point, you hit a creative wall. Incentivizing employees to spend their break in the game room instead of at their desks, sneaking glances at their assignment between sandwich bites, can help raise their creativity.

Time for Healthy Habits – The choice of a company to install something as simple as a fitness center or bike rack can encourage employees to spend breaks engaging in movement.

#4 Color Can Boost Productivity and Mood

Gone are the days of beige and gray offices. Companies have realized this is not the wisest color scheme if they want to keep office well being high, as colors are powerful enough to affect our moods and emotions. The best office colors can inspire productivity and brighten the office interior.

You won’t need to paint an explosion of color on your walls to keep employees from falling asleep either. Whether it’s the lobby or the main working area, design office spaces with a color scheme that mixes neutrals with pops of color to achieve an engaging but not overstimulating result.

Rethink Your Office’s Design with Juniper Office

So, how to design an office? Designing your office with your employees’ well-being in mind is the first step toward a successful business. Uncomfortable, outdated furniture can distract employees from reaching their full potential and cause your employees to feel stuck in the 20th century.

Whether you’re looking to redesign a breakout room, modernize your workstations, or are starting from square one, Juniper Office is your one-stop-shop for all things office design. From adjustable ergonomic chairs to sleek private pods and phone booths, we have everything you need to start building the office of your dreams.

If you’re looking for some extra guidance in designing your office, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Design Services to see how you can create a workspace that is pleasant and productive for all with Juniper Office.

Sources:

1. Psychology Today. Natural Light, Good Light. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/people-places-and-things/201907/natural-light-good-light
2. PubMed. Impact of windows and daylight exposure on overall health and sleep quality of office workers: a case-control pilot study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24932139/
3. PubMed. A tint to reduce eye-strain from fluorescent lighting? Preliminary observations. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2062542/
4. Houston Chronicle. What Are Advantages & Disadvantages of an Open-Plan Office Space? https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-openplan-office-space-80288.html
5. London Image Institute. Color Psychology: How Do Colors Affect Mood & Emotions? https://londonimageinstitute.com/how-to-empower-yourself-with-color-psychology/