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If you’re worried about your workforce’s productivity & how this could be affecting your bottom line, we’ve shared our top 5 office décor tips.
The UK is facing a work-based disengagement crisis, with just 35% of employees rating their productivity as strong.
A lack of productivity and motivation within the workplace can mean immense financial losses to a business. In fact, it’s estimated that disengaged employees are costing the UK economy £340 billion every year in lost training and recruitment costs, sick days, and reduced output.
If you’re worried about your workforce’s productivity and how this could be affecting your bottom line, we’ve gathered our top 5 simple office décor tips to help you re-engage your employees.
Rethinking your workplace décor doesn’t have to mean drastic layout changes or large-scale redecoration. Sometimes, the smallest changes are the most effective.
Office décor tip 1: Bring the outdoors in
Take office plants, for example. These not only make for a bolder and more colourful workspace, but they pack a powerful health punch too.
Thanks to their filter toxins, having potted plants and flowers around the office has been shown to improve air quality, which in turn can increase attention spans, improve creativity, lower stress, and stabilise your employees’ moods.
They can also help to reduce the chances of workers developing coughs and colds, which can mean fewer staff members away from their desks during the cold winter months.
So, the next time you’re passing a garden centre or plant shop, be sure to look out for plants such as Peace Lilies, Devil’s Ivy, and Spider Plants, which are all common air purifying plants.
Office décor tip 2: Office art for the win
Did you know that 50% of desk-based Brits say there is no artwork in their workplace?
As sad as this may seem, Dr Craig Knight, who has studied the psychology of working environments for many years, believes that this is likely down to an old-fashioned employer tendency. He believes that many business owners opt for sanitised and lean workspaces in the hope of encouraging their staff to get on with their work and avoid distraction.
But distraction isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, distraction in the form of art can spark imagination, lower stress, and boost productivity by as much as 17%.
This figure can even jump up as far as 32% when the artwork has been arranged or even designed by the employees themselves. Empowering employees to design their workspace is a great way to remind them that they are empowered to make decisions within the business too.
Office plants and small-scale art pieces can work wonders if you’re looking for that quick-fire productivity boost. But what if you’re after something bigger? Something that shows you’re willing to go above and beyond for your staff?
If so, then it’s all about dedicated workspaces.
Office décor tip 3: Collaboration stations
As the age-old saying goes, ‘two heads are better than one’, and that’s why specially designed and carefully considered collaborative spaces are a must-have for any business.
Having people from different teams, fields, and backgrounds all work together can bring fresh perspectives to a project and reminds employees that they are striving towards common goals and objectives, making for a more productive business overall.
When designing your collaborative space, think beyond conference rooms which can feel restrictive and hierarchical. Instead:
Office décor tip 4: A space for deep concentration
A change in the type of work you’re carrying out demands a change in scenery too.
Therefore, for every collaborative workspace that encourages open communication and brainstorming, it’s crucial that you also have individual, private spaces for deep focus.
When people think of private workspaces, they tend to picture the bland and uninspiring high-walled cubicles that took over the corporate landscape in the 80s. But isolated doesn’t have to mean disconnected and dull.
To ensure you find the right balance, try some of the following:
Office décor tip 5: Somewhere to recharge
Ever wondered why your most creative and innovative ideas often come when in the shower or on a walk? As contradictory as it may seem, sometimes the most productive thing you and your employees can do is relax.
Employees gain focus and energy after stepping away from their desks, which means they will most likely return feeling re-engaged and ready for a productive afternoon. Yet, in a recent study covered by Forbes, almost 40% of people worried their bosses wouldn’t think they were hard-working if they took regular lunch breaks.
To show your staff just how seriously you take regular breaks, ensure that your office has a designated space for employees to relax and recharge their batteries.
When designing this space, be sure to opt for comfortable seating for both eating and resting and an inviting colour scheme as an absolute minimum. And if you’re looking to go that extra mile, think about including interactive games, books, and free snacks too!
Here at Wall Nuts, we believe there is far more to a beautiful working environment than purely aesthetics.
Interiors affect our emotions, productivity levels, and buying decisions, and we enjoy tapping into this psychology to help businesses design murals that result in a happier and more effective team.
If you’re struggling to encourage creativity, innovation, and productivity in your existing office space, we can help.
Contact our friendly team to find out more.
