An analysis performed recently by the World Green Building Council determined that there is “powerful evidence” that links the design of an office with the wellness and productivity of it. In short, the productive office space is what makes a company reach a good point.

But this is not something new for anyone right? We all already have an idea, and there have also been many pieces of evidence where it has been proved that we need ways to improve your office environment for growing the productivity. And from personal experience, we know that the productivity level drops when a person feels uncomfortable in the office. This can be from anything – the temperature, the atmosphere, the noise levels since everyone needs a comfortable and relaxed environment to work at their best.

And since we know this, it is vital to have a productive office space with the right office design set up for the best imaginable working environment. This is to make the employees relaxed, comfortable, and productive that would eventually grow the business. For the productive office space, you would need to use the best ideas to improve workplace activities. Let us understand this better:

Closed cubicles vs open plan

This is another very big debate for which office space is better – open plan or closed cubicles? Regrettably, this does not have any clear answer as each office is unique in its aims, role, and size. But before we can move with the decor and the colors of a productive office space, it is vital to consider the cons and pros of all the layout options. You can then choose the one that suits you the best.

Closed cubicles

The word closed cubicle has become a synonym for a productive office space. The irony in this is that this design of a closed cubicle was made to save the person from the open office plans. Open Office plan – desks lined up facing the same direction like a classroom.

It was in the 1960s where a designer named Robert Propst concluded that a productive office space where the works have independence and autonomy is the best. Hence, he offered a three-walled and flexible design that would be reshaped for any need. But then, many businesses began to cram people into a smaller cubicle space and with this employees began to hate their boxed-office life.

Open plan

Recently, the open office environment has become a trend. The logic behind this was that the employees would be happier and productive even if they work together instead of getting isolated behind the walls of the office. Since productive office space is important, the open office plan permits social interaction and doesn’t let a person feel isolated. It can also allow involuntary interjections and assists to improve creativity.

Moreover, it is significantly beneficial for the less experienced and interns of the team to rub their shoulders with the people who are highly experienced, making it one of the best ideas to improve workplace activities.

Which is better?

Now the main question – which of these is better? There was a report in 2013, which showed employees unhappy in the open plan environment where they had complained about a “major lack of privacy.” Unlike the idea where it should have been better, this idea didn’t produce a productive office space causing dissatisfaction at work for the employees. Other than this, the employees also had troubles with increased distraction and noise levels.

However, we wouldn’t just believe in this as well. There was another Survey for Wasting Time, and about 89% of employees admitted to wasting their time every day. This means that they are not giving their 100% with a closed cubicle. The main thing behind the “lack of privacy” issue is that the employees feel that they would be watched and cannot have frequent visits to Facebook due to it.

The main complaint is about the immense amount of noise in an office that creates a lot of distraction that affects each and everyone regardless of the office layout or design. All-in-all, it is vital to make a productive office space with the right size by keeping in mind the roles of the employees. In case, the employees spend most of the time on the phone; the open plan would not be one of the best ways to improve your office environment.

But, if the employees are a part of a creative group and the team has to constantly work together as they bounce off ideas over each other, the open plan would do good to create a productive office space.

The psychology of color

Various colors have psychological effects that vary and can affect the thinking of a person or how the person feels on a subconscious level. And that is why you have to choose the right color ideas to improve workplace activities.

• White: White color has a completely modern appeal. However, a lot of the monochromatic look may get the employees to begins reflecting on their own thoughts due to the lack of stimulation.
• Pink: Pink has always been known to have a calming effect which is also one reason why many prisons have pink colored walls to diffuse the aggressive behavior. It is a great choice for the boardrooms where conversations can get heated.
  
• Brown: Brown is usually associated with laziness and the feeling of wanting to be unnoticed. Hence, it is not a good color for the work environment. Other meanings of brown include practicality and seriousness.
  
• Blue: Blue is taken as the most productive office space color and is also the favorite color for many around the world. The reason is that blue is calming and helps us stay stable and at peace. But the bad thing here is that blue can made us feel cold as well.
  
• Red: Emotionally intense is attached to the color red, where people see the color red, and their reactions get faster, and they gain some boost. However, this is for a short time where eventually red reduces the analytical thinking.Red also stimulates appetite, which is why it is there in many fast food chains and restaurants. And if used a lot in a productive office space, it would become distracting. It should be used more in kitchens, common places for socializing, etc.
  
• Green: Green has always been linked to broader thinking, and creative thoughts as well. Since it is the color of nature, green is associated with feelings of balance and growth. Hence, for your employees to be more productive, this is the best color choice. 

While you decide the ways to improve your office environment and turn it into a productive office space, it is obvious choice in colors would be your brand colors. Though it is better to keep in mind the psychological effects of those colors and helps the employees be more productive.

Windows and lighting

Customarily, various investigations have proclaimed on the influence of lighting and illumination on the wellness and productivity. But it is still something that is not given a thought to in many offices for making a productive office space. One reason is that it is taken as a problematic factor to change.

Moreover, there was a study conducted to see how workers’ productivity is affected with and without windows. And the result of this is that the daylight exposure that influences office workers is extraordinary. A day shift workers sleep and quality of life might be developed through stress on lighting levels and light exposure in their offices.

Heightened levels of natural light further boost the condition of the office plants. And this has proved to reduce the stress levels and raise productivity in an office making it a productive office space.

Look for natural lighting

When you go out to look for office space, search for a productive office space that would have a lot of natural light coming in, or if there is any way to increase it. One of the other ways to improve your office environment is to position the desks so that it can get enough of natural light.

In case you have to set up an office space that is windowless, or that gets little natural lighting, there are many other ways to increase the light. That is where the artificial lighting ideas to improve workplace can be of use. To mimic the natural light, utilize full-spectrum bulbs for warm and soft lighting. Spotlights would be great here!

Using the elements that are natural to decorate the office would even help neutralize the lack of natural light. Spider plants and ferns can handle low light. Hence, they would be great choices. Other than this, you can also use the reflective type of office furniture to make it a productive office space that reflects light and gives an airy feel.

Should your boss mix or be kept separate?

Having a boss sit in the same open space is a good idea. It does not really restrict you from talking about your weekend or anything if your boss is cool. If you are a cool boss who feels that happy employees are productive, then you can avoid making a separate room for yourself.

Depending on the type of work and the nature of the office, create a workplace that is friendly and open. Since productive office space is somewhere, where everyone feels comfortable and can easily communicate with each other on topics related to work or even otherwise, at times.

Moreover, the productivity of a company grows when the employees can easily approach their boss and speak openly about the work-related issues. And when the issues are solved or taken care immediately, there is a happier space in the work and makes it a much more productive office space.

But this is not the best design as everything in life has some cons as well. In this setup, a boss can get distracted and frustrated because of it. Moreover, the meetings would not be completely private and he would have to get up to go to the conference room for every small meeting with either a client or employee.

Creative, cool office design? Or just plain childish?

The design of the office has become a novelty where many businesses seem to compete with each other for the most playful, creative, unique and innovative workplaces. But what are they missing for creating a productive office space?

There are some businesses that have decided to make their meetings cools by having them held in the slides and ball-pit instead of the stairs. But would these adults find these places cool for holding a meeting? Would you see a person wearing coats and going down the slide ready for a meeting?

Even though the idea of playful and productive office space is dominating and good, replacing an office chair with a bean bag is not the right thing to do. It is vital not to get too carried away in the process to end up doing something that would cost you a fortune. Practical and productive office space is essential for your brand to grow your company and brand.

And this is also since the customers and clients would not take you seriously if you have a playground or a club-like feel in your office. But again, it depends on the business type that you have. All-in-all, you need to ask if you are sending the right message with the productive office space that you have created.

You would want ways to improve your office environment and make it a productive office space by inspiring them so that your employees feel comfortable and productive. And you just need to match your business needs with the many ideas out in the world to make sure you are displaying the right message with your office space.

What do you think? If you have decided on this, and want to start a business sooner, contact us at IncParadise to begin the process of owning a great company.