How Does Office Design Affect Productivity?

If you are not very productive when your office is disorganized, guess what? You are not the only one who feels like this. Most people can barely focus on their assignments and daily duties if their work spaces are messy, and their environments chaotic. In order to be effective and give out the best results, you’ll need to design your office accordingly.

Whether you are working in a company office, or you are a remote worker in search of a perfect mobile office design, we got you! Here are some tips on how to boost your productivity by structuring your workplace.

Make it Soundproof

OK, maybe I’m being a little bit unrealistic here, but the truth is a quiet working space makes you ten times more productive. Even if you cannot make your office completely soundproof, you can still try to choose a peaceful place to work. Here are some noise-reducing tips that might help you:

• Use sound masking
• Create a specific noise-area in the office where people do not have to keep quiet
• Customize your furniture according to your preferences, preferably a type that contributes to noise reduction
• Use carpets or floating wood floors

Quietness is essential, so purchase all the necessary tools to make your office comfortable! If everything fails (or you simply don’t have the budget to do it), buy really good noise-cancelling headphones.

Design a Relaxing Area

It’s been proved that in order to stay productive, one must take regular breaks. The most efficient method is: work for 50 minutes, take a 10-minute break, and so on and so forth. That is why everybody needs a relaxing area within their office!

Relaxing doesn’t mean scrolling down on your News Feed or posting a new picture on Instagram. Relaxing means reading a good book, meditating, doing some yoga, or simply closing your eyes and listening to some classical music. Design a special place for that in your office. Make sure you separate it from your “working area,” so you don’t become too lazy and relax all the time!

Use Natural Light

Let’s face it: you are going to spend so much time in that office! You’d better make it comfortable, cozy, and friendly. Besides that, you’d better use natural light. According to a study at Cornell University:

• Natural light translates into an increased alertness in employees
• It enhances performance
• It creates a better indoor experience
• Helps workers stay healthy and productive

Don’t be dummy, choose a place with good natural light. It’s good for your productivity and the environment in the same time! Use artificial light only when you have to, save power!

Personalize It!

If you want to be even more productive (is that even possible?!), you should definitely personalize your office. Adding unique artwork or distinctive quotes to it will increase your determination and willpower.

“Since I’ve redecorated my working place, I feel so much more confident. Whenever I procrastinate, I raise my head and read my favorite motivational quote. I hanged it on my wall, right above from my desk. After I read it, I get back to work in an instant,” admits Sarah Cornfield, website designer at SuperiorPapers.

Invest in Your Office’s Needs

If your office needs better technology, start buying more effective computers, tablets, or iPads. If your office needs more interaction among employees, invest in designing programs that will help them interact. If your office needs better Wi-Fi, invest in better Wi-Fi!

Take an objective look at your office, design surveys, listen to employees’ feedback, and take the necessary steps to creating a more comfortable working place for both you and your colleagues.

Wrapping Up

An office will easily influence any worker’s productivity. Make sure you boost your performance by investing in soundproof mechanisms, designing a relaxing area within the office, using natural light instead of artificial, personalizing your office, and investing in better technology and equipment.

Author Bio

Silvia Woolard is a young passionate writer and private tutor from Phoenix. In a free time she writes and works in a field of popular psychology. Feel free to contact Silvia at Twitter.