Most business professionals don’t give much thought to the aesthetics of their office spaces. They tend to focus more on the space’s function and how it can be leveraged to maximize productivity. What they don’t realize is that improving the aesthetics of an office or workspace can offer a productivity boost, make people feel more creative, and improve their mood. Read on to find out how to get started.
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Start With a Furniture Makeover
There’s a big difference between working at an old, run-down desk and having access to high quality office furniture. It doesn’t matter whether the furniture is in a home office or a company’s corporate headquarters. Everyone deserves to have a comfortable chair and desk that compliments the space’s existing decor.
Start by measuring the space and the existing furniture to avoid winding up with pieces that are too large or small for the office. Beyond size, the most important factor is creating a cohesive look.
Bring the Outside In
Adding some greenery in the form of easy-to-care-for plants is a fantastic way to improve the aesthetics of both contemporary and traditionally styled offices. Depending on the size of the office, plants can be placed on desks, near windows, in the corners, or even hanging from the ceiling. Some people even opt to install small trees in large offices.
Adding plants to a workspace isn’t just about improving its aesthetics, either. Indoor plants can also reduce stress, boost mood, and improve concentration and productivity by up to 15 percent. Just be sure to choose plants that will thrive in an office environment by considering the amount of light they will get and how frequently they’ll be watered, pruned, and fed.
Brighten Up the Space
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a corner office with plenty of windows to let in natural light, but that doesn’t mean they can’t brighten up workspaces to add ambiance and make them more inviting. Something as simple as adding a desk lamp can make a noticeable difference.
Home offices generally offer more opportunities for experimenting with lighting than traditional ones. Remote employees should avoid the urge to go overboard, though. Adding some extra light can make a space look more inviting, but multicolored or overly dramatic lighting can have the opposite effect.
Eliminate Clutter and Stay Organized
Not everyone can add skylights to their office spaces or bring in an entire wall’s worth of potted plants, but here’s a tip for improving aesthetics that applies to everyone with a desk: keep clutter to a minimum and stay organized. The desktop should be kept free from clutter, although it’s fine to keep an inspirational photo, a potted plant, or another minor personal feature. Items both within and on top of the desk should be grouped like-with-like, and the use of sticky notes should be avoided at all costs.
Disorganization and clutter have a multitude of negative effects on workers’ productivity and prospects. Improving workplace aesthetics and reducing clutter can make people feel more confident at work.
Start Making Changes
Everyone’s work situation is a little different. Remote workers who use home offices have all the freedom in the world to alter them to suit their aesthetic preferences, while desk workers in traditional offices may have more limited options. Either way, following the tips above, can help to keep work spaces looking clean, organized, and aesthetically pleasing.
