Bryony Shaw, Marketing Executive at Spectrum Interior discusses, strategic interior design not only looks good, but it also affects an employee’s wellbeing and productivity at the workplace.

The modern office has gone through significant changes over the past 20 years. In the past decade, workplaces have seen a decline in cubicles and the rise of creative ideas on the office floor. While the trends keep on changing, the one thing that will remain permanent is the impact of the environment on the performance of an employee.

Companies have now realized the significance of office workplace design and are aware that design is more than just fabric and furniture placed in a room. By identifying the right office refurbishment service provider, you can give your workplace a much-needed makeover. This helps in enhancing the employee experience and overall productivity.

Since employees spend almost 50% of their time working in an office space, they must stay in an environment that fosters productivity and encourages engagement.

Here are some examples of strategic interior designs and the role they play in promoting employee productivity at the workplace.

1. Promotes Human Interaction

Humans are social animals, so it is natural for us to follow our instincts and interact with our fellow colleagues. Interaction leads to a sense of community as we work towards finding a solution to the same problem.

Meaningful interactions in the workplace allow us to work better and accomplish more. Spaces that are designed to encourage productivity are also spaces that encourage interactions.

By placing the coffee machine strategically, you can encourage interactions between the workers. Central bathroom spaces and staircases cleverly help in creating an environment that promotes organic interactions.

Steve Jobs, for example, placed bathrooms on the middle floor of the Pixar headquarters in the hope of creating as many interactions between the employees as possible. A Norwegian telecommunications company by the name of Telenor saw an increase of 20% in sales after they changed the placement of the coffee machine.

Replace the old coffee machines with a new one and keep the amount limited. The fewer the coffee machines, the more the interaction between the employees.

2.Facilitates Space Planning

When discussing the interior design with an office fit-out company, you need to keep in mind the relationships between the various departments.

Keep all co-dependent departments together. The departments that require a lot of silence and minimal interactions, such as accounting and finance, should be placed at a distance from the noisy marketing departments.

The development of cloud computing in recent times means that telecommuting is gaining importance in the current times. This means that the demand for open and flexible spaces to ensure the mobility of data and interaction of ideas has risen sharply.

While the changing trends affect the interior designs, you cannot undermine the significance of walking for collaboration. Creative environments cannot progress if the employees sit down and slog for eight hours a day. While movement helps in fostering the relationships between employees, it also helps in assisting the posture development of the employees.

You can also work with an office refurbishment service provider for the creation of breakout zones, which include a café, gym, or a pantry. This will help the employees in unwinding during a tough time while also allowing them to interact with their fellow employees.

Workplaces today are following the current trend of creating breakout zones for collaboration and interaction, as it helps employees in fitting it with the work environment.

3.Makes Room for Lighting

Another aspect of strategic design that affects the wellbeing of the workers is lighting in the workplace. Natural light plays a pivotal role in enhancing the ambiance of the office. It also ends up affecting our mood and reduces the symptoms of depression.

Since most of the employees spend almost 80% of their time indoors, it is imperative to make use of the natural sources of lighting. While the office fit-out company cannot direct the movement of the sun, they can take measures that make the most of what the sun offers.

Ambiance lighting is known for adding to the energy levels at the workplace. Blue light, for example, is renowned for adding to the standards of energy and alertness of the user.

Interior designers and managers make the mistake of choosing the lighting of the workplace based on the design elements and how it complements the room. The vision enhances the level of comfort that a person operates in, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.

Since better lighting increases the productivity of employees, you should give it a serious thought if you are considering enhancing the well-being of your workers.

The points mentioned above are great examples of how the work environment and interior design affects productivity in the workplace. The design you choose and the aura you create profoundly influences the productivity and the wellbeing of your employees.

Owners of today need to create an environment that is creative and engaging for the workforce. The subsequent increase in productivity and wellbeing can lead to the success of an organization.

Every square footage matters in a tiny home. Therefore, it is wise to use techniques that create the illusion of extended space. Follow our suggestions to maximise space in your living room

We tell you how to make the most of your living room. Photo courtesy: Deepak Aggarwal/ Sanjyt Syngh

Live in a small home and are tired of the small square footage? Before you think of breaking your bank to invest in a bigger home, we suggest you hit pause. Are there ways to maximise space in your small dwelling? The answer is, yes. All you need is some clever ideas.

Let’s begin with the living room. “Scale and proportion should be carefully strategised to craft the sense of space in design. One of the most important aspects of ‘making space’ is by decluttering,” say Rakhee Bedi and Shobhit Kumar of RSDA. Here are some specific ways to make the most of available space.

Consider an Open Floor Plan

If you are in the middle of redesigning your home or have the budget to make some structural changes, we suggest you knock down a few walls and open up areas. An ideal open floor plan should be between the living room, dining and kitchen. The absence of walls creates a sense of openness. In case major structural changes are not possible, doors between these spaces can be removed too. “Dividing spaces by functionality, rather than solid partitions is essential to augment the volume,” says Vivek Singh Rathore of Salient.

An open floor plan makes a home seem larger and airer. Photo courtesy: Shamanth Patil, Rays and Greys/ Whitespace

Choose a Light Colour Palette

Use subdued colours for the living room walls as they reflect light and make the space seem large and breezy. Replace your dark greys and blues with colours like white, beige and cream to give an illusion of bigger space. Try shades of the same base colour. For a pop of hue, go in for bright accessories or plants. “Light colours on walls blur the boundaries between the wall and ceiling, essentially making the ceiling seem higher. This is valid for flooring as well. Use light tiles or wood to maximise the effect,” says Pankaj Poddar of Hipcouch.

White walls reflect maximum light, making the space seem large. Photo courtesy: Gokul Rao Kadam/ Essajees Atelier

Bring in Sunlight

Lighting affects the perception of each area. Avoid dim lights, dark corners and low-level lighting. Go in for a combination of pendant lights, recessed lamps and floor lighting and ensure that the light is focused on the central areas of the space. Natural light is also a space-enhancer. If your home is blessed with broad or corner windows then it is recommended to take advantage of the incoming natural light (choose simple blinds or sheer curtains for your windows). “Wall sconces help by evenly spreading light and saving floor space while adding to the aesthetics,” add Bedi and Kumar.

Allow plenty of nature light to flood your home. Photo courtesy: The Orange Lane

Use the Magic of Mirrors

A large mirror at the entrance of the living room or right opposite the front door works wonders as it reflects natural and artificial light and creates an illusion of space. It can be strategically placed across a window for optimum results to give an illusion of depth. Mirrors with artistic, vintage frames or even plain wood frames create an elegant look. “Using mirror-panelled walls also curates a sense of a larger space by adding volume,” adds Singh Rathore.

Opt for Multipurpose Furniture Pieces

In a small home, each piece of furniture should work extra hard to earn its place. This is why, choosing pieces that serve more than one purpose is ideal. Consider console tables with book shelves, nested tables and ottomans that offer many uses. Furniture with raised legs brings in a feeling of openness. Always remember to match the colour of the furniture with the scheme of the walls to create more depth and a feeling of space.

Furnish With Light Upholstery

Choose light and breezy fabrics while decorating your living room. Avoid heavy rugs and drapes that tend to make the room look boxy. Go in for cottons in cool colours as opposed to dark colours. “Full length curtains or even sheers can be used to make the space look airy and light. Half-length window curtains inadvertently make your space look smaller,” adds Poddar.

Choose light upholstery. Photo courtesy: Sebastian Zachariah/ Gaurav Kharkar & Associates

Keep it Simple

In general, small spaces can be made to look elegant by avoiding anything over-the-top or grandiose. For instance, opt for simple art pieces rather than elaborate pieces that clutter the wall. Avoid complicated colour palettes, patterns and prints. Refrain from unnecessary purchases, declutter and organise on a regular basis. A minimalistic approach can go a long way in making you