When you apply the psychology of interior design to the style of your office, you will notice your employees are more comfortable, happier, and even more productive. A small change like adding a pop of color, for example, is known to show a significant impact. Color can add personality to a space, making it feel more inviting.
For example, yellow makes people feel more creative because it stimulates our egos and makes us feel more optimistic. Green, on the other hand, helps people to feel more balanced and reassured, helping to create an environment where productivity is boosted. Red is good for boosting physical productivity because of how stimulating it is.
You can throw in some pops of color by painting or even purchasing accent chairs. But color isn’t the only design element you should consider while trying to implement a certain mood in your office.
The layout of the furniture, the lighting, plants, and shapes used can have positive effects on mood. Keep reading for some cozy tips and ideas for decorating an office.
Tips for Decorating an Office
Maybe you’re a person who prefers a window seat or maybe you favor a specific type of lighting over others. You may not notice, but these small preferences are indicators of our psychological need to be in a place that creates a certain type of mood.
Because people spend a large number of their waking hours at work, it’s always nice to consider mood while decorating. Here are some tips you can use if you want the mood in your office to feel homey while increasing your employees’ productivity.
Personalization Makes a Difference
This particular tip should make you think about your own home. You probably have things like personal photos, plants, and maybe even a special mug that connects you with the things you care about and make you feel more at ease.
If you allow your employees the ability to decorate their personal space, whether it’s an office or cubicle, in the same way, your office will instantly feel homier. If your budget allows, you should consider giving each employee a small decorating stipend.
Don’t forget to think about more public places like conference rooms, the restrooms, or the breakroom, during your renovation. You can employ some design elements such as plants and cozy chairs in these areas to make everyone feel more at home.
Play Off the Natural Lighting
Some office spaces have minimal windows while others have quite a few. With that said, the majority that don’t use the windows or the natural light they provide should find a way of making the space feel warmer and more open.
Instead of using traditional drabby blinds, consider hanging curtains made of lighter flowing fabrics in your office. This will bring in more natural light, automatically making the atmosphere feel more relaxed.
If there aren’t many windows in your building, you can do other things to improve the natural lighting and bring nature into the office. Purchase some plants (fake ones are great if you don’t have a green thumb), paintings or photos of beautiful landscapes, and light fixtures that aren’t as harsh as the terribly bright fluorescent lights found in most offices and public spaces.
Rearrange Your Furniture
The way your furniture is presented and organized has a lot to do with the way people interact in a space. For instance, if the furniture is curved or rounded, you are creating an environment that encourages positivity.
Positive emotions are known to benefit a person’s creative process and levels of productivity. During one 2011 study, undergrads looked at photos of the interiors of rooms. They rated the ones that were filled with rounded furniture as being more inviting.
A more recent study showed that people thought curvier environments were more beautiful than those with straight edges. The curvier designs also triggered more brain activity in the areas that are associated with reward.
Additionally, sitting in circles makes people feel more creative. While sitting in a straight line triggers feelings of individuality. That’s something to keep in mind if you want your team to work together instead of alone.
Don’t Stress Employees to Become More Organized
Have you ever read this Einstein quote: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
A University of Minnesota study found that people who tested in a room with a desk covered with papers were able to find more imaginative uses for a ping-pong ball that those who tested in a cleaner, more organized room. This suggests that if an employee keeps a messier desk, it might align with their creative thinking and productivity in a positive way.
As long as an employee’s disorderly workspace doesn’t violate any regulations like HIPPA, for example, the disorderly eyesore might not be as bad as you thought.
Conference Rooms Should Be Interactive
Stuffy, overly formal conference rooms don’t make people feel anything outside of the anxiety of being called to the principal’s office as a child. If your conference room is updated with more interactive features like whiteboards or plexiglass on the walls, you are creating an open atmosphere where employees are able to quickly and easily express their ideas.
When these tools are included in a collaborative workspace, your employees can solve problems quicker than they were able to before. Plus the openness will even help break more quiet workers out of their shells and improve communication.
Know Where to Shop
Your office should be full of stylish, high-quality furniture and accessories that really stand out. Whether you’re in the market for a full makeover or you just want a couple of accent pieces, the place you shop makes all the difference.
Check out The Maya Company for some great options.
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