Most working professionals, including yourself, likely spend the majority of their time during the week in the office. It is crucial to create a nice-looking workspace that not only leaves a positive impression on new recruits and clients but also boosts employee morale and makes workers feel comfortable. Let’s talk about office decor ideas.
When determining how to choose office decor ideas and structure your workspace, even small changes in office decor and setup can lead to significant improvements. By decorating and reorganizing office space, companies can strengthen employee relationships, foster creativity, and create a safe environment that promotes thinking and rejuvenation.
Before we delve further, it’s important to note that if you don’t own the property housing your office, you should review your lease or rental agreement to determine if you have the freedom to make changes such as painting, hanging items on walls, or modifying the flooring. Even if you are permitted to do so, you may be responsible for restoring the office to its original condition before moving out.
Now, let’s explore six simple ways to enhance your office’s appearance, professionalism, and welcoming atmosphere for employees, clients, and visitors.
1. Introduce Vibrant Colors
Color psychology is widely recognized for its impact on mood and the creation of environments that encourage specific behaviors. According to research, certain colors can influence everything from the perception of room temperature to inducing feelings of peace and calm (green) or emotionlessness or pureness(white), or motivation and enthusiasm (deep red).
While using colors in your office, keep the following points in mind:
- Paint your work areas green to foster a creative and innovative work environment associated with nature and growth.
- Blue creates a busy atmosphere and is generally pleasing to most people, while red is linked to decreased analytical thinking.
- Cultural perceptions of color vary, such as red symbolizing aggression in Western culture and good fortune in Eastern culture.
- Choose colors that resonate with your clients and employees rather than using typical corporate colors.
2. Incorporate Decorative Furniture and Lighting
After painting your walls with colors that boost productivity and confidence, it’s time to consider how to fill your space. Good lighting and appealing furniture can enhance otherwise mundane areas such as break rooms, conference rooms, and waiting areas. If your office walls and floors have neutral colors, bring in vibrant tables, chairs, and couches to add contrast and infuse energy into the space. Accentuate with patterned pillows and rugs to make a statement and convey an upbeat and lively atmosphere to visitors.
Key points to remember while using decorative furniture and lighting:
- Lighting is essential for setting the tone of a room or office and affects productivity.
- Choose natural, bright lighting whenever possible to create an energizing atmosphere.
- Prioritize incorporating natural light from windows to make the office feel more spacious and save on utility costs.
- Consider creative lighting options from vendors like Design Within Reach for added ambiance.
- Use suspended lighting for uniform coverage or indirect lighting to prevent glare and reflect light off matte-finished walls.
3. Create Varied Work Areas
It’s logical to think that companies should design workspaces that provide people with choices in how and where they generate ideas. This involves creating areas that allow employees to easily transition between open and private spaces.
You can create personalized and varied work areas in the following ways:
- Personalize workspaces with different seating options for varying personality types.
- Provide a mix and match of tables, chairs, and couches to accommodate different preferences.
- Consider open spaces for extroverts who thrive on activity and noise.
- Create private areas or quiet spaces for introverted employees to enhance focus and task performance.
- Open offices can potentially increase stress and negatively impact productivity.
4. Install Diverse Flooring and wallpapers
If your budget or lease terms permit, consider revamping your office flooring and walls. Imaginative flooring and wallpaper options with vibrant colors and interesting patterns can make a statement about your corporate culture, although they are sometimes overlooked.
Tips for installing flooring and wallpapers:
- Consider sustainable options for carpets and wallpapers, such as carpet tiles and dyeable carpet fiber made from post-consumer recycled and sustainable materials.
- Evaluate the functionality of different flooring and wallpaper types. Carpet and wallpaper provide better looks as well as insulation for warmth and comfort in colder climates, while hardwood floors are easier to clean in high-traffic areas.
- Keep in mind that choosing flooring is a long-term commitment compared to other design elements like wall colors or furniture placement.
5. Showcase Art That Reflects Your Taste
In addition to introducing new furniture, vibrant colors, and appealing flooring, breathe life into your workspace with custom artwork. There’s nothing quite like well-executed prints or reproductions of renowned artworks, such as Mondrian’s Compositions, adorning the office walls to ignite creativity and inspiration.
Key points while using art in the workspace:
- Decorate walls with stock art and custom prints for corporate clients.
- For creative agencies, studios, or artsy ventures, showcase employees’ and clients’ artwork to make a brand statement.
- Obtain permissions for displaying artwork that you or your company do not own the rights to.
- Consider painted logos and visual illustrations on the walls to promote teamwork and collaboration among your team.
6. Incorporate Greenery
There is an innate bond between humans and all other living things. So, when your employees are glued to their computer screens, remind them of the existence of natural elements by introducing a plant or two to the office.
Tips to use greenery in the office:
- Visit a local nursery or encourage employees to bring in plants for the office.
- Choose plant types based on factors such as size, water requirements, and sunlight levels.
- Consider low-maintenance plants like pothos for diligent employees and resilient succulents for a forgetful office.
- Prioritize considering potential allergies among employees before introducing plants to the office environment.
Remember, these office decor ideas are intended to help you create an inviting and productive workspace. Tailor them to suit the preferences of your employees and clientele, and consider seeking professional advice for specific design needs.