Office Design Tips that Inspire Productivity

The design, layout and decor in your work space may be affecting your productivity in more ways than one. Recent studies* have shown how individuals and teams get affected by simple decor patterns including elements as basic as a potted plant. Infact over 33% of those interviewed across 16 countries said that office decor would unequivocally determine if they were to join a prospective company or not. This means that it's time you, as an employer or employee look up from that screen and take in what's around you.

1. A method to the madness

The quicker you find things around the office, the further you will go with the work at hand. Invest in folders, filing cabinets and bring out that OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) where it really counts. Not only will it make life much easier for all involved, organisation leads to decluttering and subliminally promotes tidiness as a part of your office culture too.

2. Color me blue

Colors around us affect our moods and demeanor everywhere, so why should the office space be any different? While choosing the right color and its connotation is important, remember too much of it and your space could look cramped. Each color also comes with its own attributes, so for instance Orange is great for the kitchen and evokes hunger, but may not be a good idea to have your team always grabbing lunch! Blue on the other hand has a direct link to productivity and hence a great shade to add to the walls. If you can't make too many changes to your walls, color accents that inspire you in different ways are also a great way to perk up your work place.

3. White noise or no noise

Ever put on music to concentrate on that important presentation? You may have to rethink that one. Researchers have found that music, city sounds and office chatter; leads to a decrease in performance. Infact the biggest culprit here is intermittent sound which happens when you hear parts of a conversation in the background. This tuning in and out of the brain is what maybe throwing you off your game.

4. Personal touches

With design trends going minimalistic, modern day offices can often feel soul less. Company logos, photos and print ads double up as great posters to encourage a sense of belonging in employees. Also encourage staff and yourself to bring along a part of their after-office life. Quirky mugs, family photos or even musical instruments add that bit of character and warmth that may be amiss now.

5. If it smells like a Rose

The next obvious element is that of smell. Pine, Cinnamon, Lavender and Citrus are meant to have a positive effect on stress and general lifting of spirits. However, most people around the office may not share your enthusiasm on changing the office fragrance and that's where travel size essential oils in your drawer will come in handy. Any time you need to relax or improve focus, just dab a bit onto your temple or wrist.

6. To Picasso or not

Koi Painting by Deise Dias

Great visuals are known to have inspired and consequently unlocked creative potential for thousands of years. An essential element in modern day offices, we love how well curated art can be a great conversation starter; for employees and clients alike. You can also achieve the right Feng Shui for your working environment by using art that promotes a certain effect. Koi fish paintings for instance are very popular for the prosperity and success they signify.  Use bamboo themed art to activate positive Feng Shui Wealth chi, that brings in positive chi and financial growth.

7. It starts with YOU!

It's easy to look around your office and blame the lack lustre environment on your management. Good energy starts with you and where you work aka your desk. Understandably it is tough to manage piling paperwork on an extremely busy day, but keep in mind that an uncluttered space invites better flow of energy and creativity. This does not mean going Kiasu on your organisation skills or bringing alphabetical order to your contact cards all day long. A small change like planning sections on your desk based on when and why you may need them is extremely helpful too.

For more information or consultation on how to pick art for your office, visit Deise Dias. She has a wide variety of framed and unframed paintings ranging from SGD100 to a few thousand. All her paintings may be viewed at in her home studio or on her website. For appointments/ viewings drop her an email at [email protected].