Office Renovation Ideas That Will Increase Your Productivity

When done properly, an office renovation can breath new life and increased productivity into your staff. This is because the new design goes beyond aesthetics to create more functional and useful spaces for everyone to take advantage of and to even enjoy. The following office renovation ideas are sure to inspire.

Idea #1: Create a Better Flow

The layout of the space is vital to employee comfort and productivity. When designing office space layouts, consider the most intuitive use of the space.

Generally, you want to maximize natural light. For this reason, open office plans work well when combined with tall windows or even skylights. This way low dividers can be used where privacy is needed in an office, while still allowing light to flow over the entire space.

Next, include some open spaces in the design. Work groups or office groupings punctuated by wide halls and open lounge spaces are more relaxing and they encourage more productive time working as a team.

Idea #2: Paint it Productive

Skip the plain white walls when choosing a paint color for your renovation. The problem with white is that it can look sterile, and the effect of fluorescent lighting against white is industrial at best.

Instead, consider the best paint color for office productivity – a soft neutral tone. Grays, taupes, and other earth tones in muted shades provide the spacious feeling of white without the institutional feel. This leads to more productivity along with less eye fatigue.

The result? More work and more staff satisfaction without the mid-afternoon eye strain and general weariness.

Pops of color can also prove useful, but keep them either calming or energizing. Pale greens and yellows work well for creating a sense of calm, which means they work well in stressful work environments. For areas where you want to increase energy and staff excitement, opt for brighter yellows, true reds, or even oranges. Just use them sparingly as accents so they don't become overwhelming.

Idea #3: Plan for Down Time

Downtime is important if you want you staff to remain as productive as possible. This means providing suitable areas for a break.

Consider adding a patio area for an outdoor break time. Simply sitting outside in the sunshine for a few minutes can replenish energy levels and increase productivity once work resumes.

Break rooms shouldn't be an afterthought. Natural light, the same neutral and calm colors, and comfortable furniture should be provided.

Other than the main break room, consider peppering a few lounge areas throughout your office space. A comfortable couch or chair set at regular intervals encourages staff members to sit down and brainstorm or work together, instead of toiling away less productively on their own.

Idea #4: Contain the Clutter

Finally, plan your office space renovation to combat standard office clutter. Clutter can be a major drain on productivity because the atmosphere itself becomes tiring.

Include plenty of storage space in each office or work station. This storage needs to be under cover – instead of open shelves, provide units with opaque doors. Opt for matching storage units throughout the entire space, since matching units blend seamlessly into the décor and create less visual clutter.

Central areas, such as the print station, copy room, or file room, should also be designed with productivity and cleanliness in mind. Use well labeled cabinets to store supplies and make sure that there are plenty of work tables with proper tool organizers present so the room doesn't look like a war zone by the end of the day.

Other forms of clutter to avoid are décor clutter. Hanging too many pieces of artwork or using sharply contrasting or busy artwork is another form of visual clutter that can affect productivity. Instead, use a minimal amount of art and opt for complementary pieces that use simple lines and lots of space in the design.

Increasing productivity in the office with a properly executed renovation allows you to get more value for the design changes. Not only will the office look better, but your staff will perform better. This leads to a happier staff, less turnover, and increased productivity and profits.