How to use interior design to boost office productivity

Business owners all across the UK and throughout multiple industries are always looking for ways to make their staff more productive and efficient. But contrary to what most managers think, productivity isn’t about getting work from point A to point B as quickly as possible. What it’s actually about is getting jobs done efficiently whilst also maintaining a high level of employee engagement, wellbeing and happiness. Let’s take a look at how to make this happen.

Bring the outdoors in

Sometimes it really is the little things that can make all the difference. While it’s not exactly realistic to allow your employees to work al fresco – especially with the great British weather that we all know and love – there are elements of the outdoor world that have been proven to give productivity inside a much-needed boost.

We understand that your ability to physically change the office space around you may be limited, but try and encourage as much natural light to enter the room as possible. Installing new windows may not be an option, and in that case, consider changing your lightbulbs to natural white light rather than yellow, which will give things more of an outdoor feel and have a subtle yet significant impact.

Our next tip is to bring the outdoors in, quite literally. Adding plants, big or small, and other greenery to your space has been proven to boost office productivity by up to 15%. It was also found to increase satisfaction in the workplace and resulted in employees feeling more engaged with their work. That’s worth a little watering rota, don’t you think?

Allow for movement

Research has shown time and time again that working for hours and hours without a break may seem productive, but it can actually have the opposite effect. Taking regular mini breaks allows you to give your mind a rest and coupled with moving around the office and getting that blood flowing can also decrease stress levels and boost your overall health.

If you can afford it, and if your employees are open to the idea, consider investing some money in stand-to-sit desks that encourage staff to change position throughout the day. If that’s not an option for you, there are other ways you can get people on their feet. Place your printer or photocopiers at one end of the office, or have a water cooler in the centre of the room, that way people have no choice but to get moving.

Consider colours

Believe it or not, but the colours around you can actually have a very real impact on the moods and emotions that we feel. Although it may be tempting to opt for neutrals like white, beige and grey, we’d recommend avoiding if you can. While they may be bright and natural when the sunshine comes streaming in, these hues can actually induce feelings of sadness in your staff which, of course, will decrease productivity.

Instead, opt for brighter colours, particularly green and blue, as these are proven to make the workspace feel happier and more efficient. If you work in a creative industry and need to get those ideas flowing, consider yellow for inspiration.

Keep it clean

The phrase “tidy house, tidy mind” doesn’t just apply to home life. There are plenty of quotes and ‘facts’ out there that say an untidy and messy desk is the sign of a free and creative mind, but we believe that staying tidy is key to productivity. The truth is that mess can actually create far more problems than it solves, in the form of lost documents and misplaced items. Disorganisation could be having a huge impact on your productivity.

Encourage your staff to take just a few minutes at the end of each day to tidy up their workspace, and have a communal cupboard of cleaning supplies where people could give their desk a quick spray and wipe down. That way staff can come in at the beginning of each day to a fresh and tidy desk and get straight down to business.

Have personalised spaces

Keeping things organised is essential, but having personalised elements can help to increase a person’s emotional connection to their workplace. While desk space is valuable, encourage your staff to keep one or two personal momentos nearby can help to keep staff inspired and motivated. It can also give your mental health a much-needed boost when the afternoon slump starts to hit.