Installing an office wall mural: Why now is the best time

For the vast majority of office workers, collaborative and fully optimised office set ups were very quickly replaced with cramped dining rooms, and face-to-face meetings were kicked aside by pixelated zoom calls.

As an employer, adapting to this seismic shift in how your employees operated day-to-day was a challenge. But now, possibly an even greater challenge lies ahead – attracting those employees back to the office once restrictions are lifted.

For many workers, outdated and bland offices will no longer be desirable working environments.

Instead, they’ll be craving a space that’s different. One that encourages free-thinking, collaborative working, and gives them a space to catch up with those colleagues that they haven’t ‘hung out’ with in almost a year.

Let’s see how you can do just that…

The importance of getting your employees back to the office

Working from home certainly has its benefits.

For many, the time spent commuting to and from the office has now been replaced with longer lie-ins and valuable family time, and those drawn-out lunch hours are now spent more productively – for some, that’s by going out on a walk to clear the mind, whilst for others it’s getting ahead with any household jobs.

But, despite a greater sense of flexibility and work-life balance, there are many aspects of office working that just can’t be matched when working from home.

A big problem for many workers is that their homes are simply not designed to facilitate home working, meaning they’ve had to create a makeshift workspace that is simply not ergonomically comfortable. For others, a huge negative of home working is the loss of social interaction, especially for those that do not live with family, partners, or friends.

As an employer, these conflicting home working experiences and preferences makes attracting your workforce back to the office in the coming months all the more important.

How a wall mural can help attract employees back to the office

Regardless of whether you are hoping to attract your entire workforce back full-time or choosing to adopt a hybrid approach, creating a fun and inviting space is essential.

Wall murals are one of the simplest and most effective ways for you to uplift a space without having to rework or redesign the layout, and, if done correctly, they can encourage creativity, collaboration, and positive mental health .

Here’s how…

Inspiring creativity, motivation, and productivity

Having spent the best part of 12 months staring at the same four walls, many of your employees will be yearning to get back to a space where they can feel motivated and inspired once again.

In a study conducted by the University of Exeter, participants in a commercial office took on a series of tasks in a bare and functional environment, as well as an enriched environment that was decorated with plants and pictures.

The results showed that people working in enriched spaces were 17% more productive than those in lean spaces. According to Dr Craig Knight, who conducted the research, “when people feel uncomfortable in their surroundings, they are less engaged – not only with the space but also with what they do in it.”

By adding vibrant colours and fun designs to your interior workspaces in the form of a wall mural, you can encourage a certain creativity and motivation within your team that simply couldn’t be achieved at home.

Encouraging collaboration and interaction

Effective remote collaboration is hard. In fact, in some creative industries, it’s almost impossible.

With many of your employees feeling frustrated with online collaboration over the likes of Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the idea of a custom-designed space for face-to-face interaction and collaboration is highly appealing – even to those that very much enjoy the perks of working from home.

The fantastic thing about wall murals is that they are completely versatile, and you can tailor your mural to encourage a particular thought or interaction…

Wanting to create a working space that encourages collaborative idea generation? Opt for a high intensity mix of colours like orange, blue, and yellow.

Wanting to convert a room into a place where employees can disconnect from work, unwind, and have a personal catch-up? Opt for a watercolour style mural made up of cool colours like blues and greens.

Creating a working environment where employees can collaborate and interact is at the core of any successful business, and the creative possibilities with a wall mural are truly endless.

Boosting positive mental wellbeing and reducing work-related stress

Did you know that, during the first lockdown, work based anxiety increased by 240%?

When offices do start to welcome employees back, many will be desperate to re-enter a space that lifts their mood and reminds them that they are a valued member of the team, something which can be easily forgotten when working in isolation.

Not only do wall murals give you a unique opportunity to increase mental energy and boost moods, but they can also serve as a reminder of the best parts of your company culture, such as…

• You encourage regular breaks
• You put your employees’ happiness above everything else
• You recognise that every employee is invaluable to the success of the business

Why is now the best time to add a wall mural?

Many companies are under the impression that they must remodel their entire office to improve the space, but this certainly isn’t the case. Instead, a simple ‘facelift’ in the form of a wall mural can have the same energising effect.

While many workspaces currently lay empty, there’s never been a better time to add a wall mural to your office ready to attract employees back. Whether you’re looking to add vibrancy to a collaborative workspace or convert an unused corner of the office into a relaxation zone, Wall Nuts can help.

We’re a team of designers, illustrators, and fine artists that share a real passion for commercial design and interior spaces, bringing the two together to transform spaces with beautiful and creative wall murals.

To discuss how we can help you welcome your employees back to the office with a bespoke wall mural, contact us and say hello today.  

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