Part of the: Office Fitout Collection

Did you know that where you ask your employees to work in your office space plays a major factor in their ability to remain focused and productive? Studies done on workplace productivity have indicated that the determining factor is their ability to focus in the physical environment around them.

That means if you’re planning on moving into a new office space or simply want to mix things up, you’ll have to give it considerable thought.

There are so many business owners that don’t consider their office design a good business investment, despite it undoubtedly hurting their bottom line.

We’ve put together a list of the things that you can do to your office design to ensure that your employees are working efficiently.

Ensure that your office space has good lighting

This should be a no-brainer, but there’s nothing worse than working in a poorly lit office. Make sure that your employees don’t have to strain their eyes for a full-working day. 

If you can, try to get in as much natural light as possible. A recent study at Cornell showed workers exposed to natural light experienced an 84% drop in issues such as headaches, eyestrain, and blurred vision.

Lighting professionals use a light meter (also called an illuminance meter or lux meter) to measure the amount of light in a space/on a particular work surface. The light meter has a sensor that measures the light falling on it and provides the user with a measurable illuminance reading.

Get adjustable tables & chairs

We all come in different shapes and sizes, which means that a standardised office furniture solution isn’t your best option.

Providing staff with an ergonomic chair and table has astronomical health benefits to your staff, who spend the majority of their day at your business. Studies have even shown that there’s a direct correlation between ergonomic office furniture and staff taking fewer sick days, or suffering from long term health issues.

Less is more

A cluttered space will affect the productivity of your staff. Try to get rid of any unnecessary files and ensure that there isn’t too much clutter on your employees' workspaces.

However, we do understand that this can be hard to maintain, so spend some time every week with your team doing a clean up to help things remain clutter-free.

Colour Matters

The colours around us all have an effect on our moods and brain function. It evokes both a physical and emotional response. Picking the right colours for your workspace has the ability to affect your employees' productivity.

For example, studies have indicated that the colour blue increases productivity. However, we’re not asking you to paint your walls blue! Too much colour can also have an adverse effect on focus.

Bring in little items to boost the colour of your workplace, such as decor, plants & more.

Air quality

Poor quality of air in your office space can cause your employees to get sick and take more leave days. Make sure your office space is properly ventilated by keeping your windows open throughout the day or think about installing air filters to purify the air on a daily basis.

Plants are great at filtering the air and providing clean, purified oxygen, so be sure to add a few to your workplace. Here are ten native Aussie flora that will purify the air in your home or office:

• Black bean tree (Castanospermum austral)
• Broad-leaved palm lily (Cordyline petiolaris)
• Kentia palm (Howea forsteriana)
• Coraline narrow-leaved palm lily (Coraline stricta)
• Davidson's plum (Davidsonia pruriens)
• Walking stick palm (Linospadix monostachya)
• Rough maidenhair fern (Adiantum hispidulum)
• Native Ginger (Alpinia caerula)
• Native orchids (Dendrobium kingianum)
• Small leaved lilly pilly (Syzygium luehmannii)

Employee productivity and comfort are heavily influenced by office design, layout, and space usage. Whether your company is redesigning your workplace or relocating, proper planning and attention to detail can help you create a more efficient, successful workplace with happy employees.