Create an efficient office space

Smart establishments know that their most important goal is to provide their employees with tools at the workplace to spark their imagination, stimulate communication in order to increase their productivity. You don’t have to make multiple changes to make offices more employee-friendly, all you need is to create an environment that helps employees to put their best foot forward.

Colour coded
Keeping in mind the millennial workforce, many offices are now making an extra effort to accentuate the professional environment with vibrant, flexible and innovative ideas to help the overall development of employees. Minor changes too can create a big difference in efficiency and positivity, mentions interior expert Mugdha Bhagchandka, creative lead at design studio. She says, “High octane colours like pink or yellow work well with fast and active places and can aid you to energise employees toward a goal or stimulate physical activity. Low octane colours like light blue or green are ideal for meeting rooms and can increase productivity, increase thinking capacity and offer an overall sense of attention and focus. A palette with diverse shades of white, brown and grey can help offices convey moderation, belief, and accountability. Natural light considerably increases energy and inspiration. Add plants to your space since they aid concentration, and lift staff wellbeing at work. Provide employees with diverse spaces for different tasks by creating a clear difference between open spaces with more private areas.”

Macro and Micro management
With the expanding cities, growing population, increasing demand for employment opportunities there is a subsequent increase in the need for vibrant and well-functioning office spaces. The level of productivity, involvement, creative thinking, etc., are all interlinked with the workplace environment. Design modifications and measures, as simple as maintaining one’s office desk area, lighting design and using a vibrant colour palette have proven to be beneficial in improving workspaces and increasing productivity.

Architect Nilanjan Bhowal of a design firm, highlights that an employee’s environmental satisfaction focuses on, ambient factors, noise, privacy, and design-related factors. He adds, “At the macro level, the quality of light has a huge role to play in affecting the health, focus, and mood in any space. Poor lighting conditions, dim or harsh, can cause eye strain, stress, and fatigue. In terms of interior and spatial design, colours like blue and green are known to stimulate a sense of calm. Red is a powerful colour, it’s energising and warming qualities can help increase performance in detailed tasks. Over-concentration of any particular colour can cause distractions. For instance, yellow is a vibrant and optimistic colour, however, the wrong tone can make a person feel anxious. Similarly, grey is a psychologically neutral colour, but overuse of the same can foster a lack of confidence and create a depressing environment, and hence grey must be used in combination with a brighter colour.”

 At the micro-level, the workstations or desks in an office space must be set up ergonomically. “The standard desk height, the positioning of the screen and the keyboard and the standard sitting height are the most important factors which affect the efficiency of work and moreover the health of the user. Organising the desk can help employees have better control of the tasks and the overall day, by reducing immediate distractions. Keeping things which are to be used daily within reach, and storing the rest of the desk can help one achieve a level of desk organisation. Personalisation of desks must be kept minimal in order to avoid distractions. Clearing the clutter at the end of the workday can help boost motivation and help with a fresh start the next day,” simplifies Nilanjan Bhowal.

Let there be light
Incorporating elements of natural greenery in terms of green walls, indoor plants or overlooking natural greenery from the office window along with temperature and sound also affect the mood of the employees. Interior designer and Architect Sumessh Menon, informs, “Ergonomics and sufficient lighting plays a key role to improve efficiency. Try enhancing natural daylight into office spaces as much possible. Plenty of ambient lighting, creative interactive spaces and lots of greens lead to openness, which helps people interact better and be more productive. This helps reduce lethargy within office spaces. Prime importance must be given to stimulating design elements like varying colours, angles, shapes, direction, texture etc. in the layout. Different colours with varying psychological impacts can be mixed together to create stimulating and vibrant yet cozy and calm spaces.”