8 Office Design Tips for Productivity

Environment obviously has a big impact on workers' performance, so even the most ideal of office spaces can detract from productivity if designed improperly. Following these tips will help you create an environment that will help your employees be more productive during the day.

1. Create Space for Collaboration

When workers find it easy to collaborate, managers can delegate more easily, and peers can exchange ideas that help projects reach completion more efficiently. Open floor plans allow workers to speak freely with one another throughout the day. You can also encourage collaboration by creating breakout zones where smaller teams can meet. These spaces can include conference rooms as well as less formal living room-type seating areas.

2. Offer Distraction-Free Zones

For all of their benefits, open office spaces can make it difficult to complete tasks that require focus or privacy. Establish quiet zones where employees can move to as needed and shared offices for making sensitive phone calls, employee reviews, coaching sessions and more.

3. Keep the Climate Under Control

Employees will find it difficult to focus on their daily tasks when the temperature is uncomfortable. Most offices tend to keep conditions between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit; however, studies have found that slightly warmer temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit are more conducive to productivity. Installing a smart thermostat can help to ensure that conditions are ideal when workers are in the office.

4. Maximize Natural Light

Lighting affects productivity from both practical and emotional standpoints. With ample light, employees can see more clearly and are less likely to experience eye strain. Bright offices also keep workers energized during the day. Design your office to allow as much natural light as possible to enter work areas that are used daily. Try to keep window-less rooms reserved for use as conference rooms, break rooms and breakout areas.

5. Add Some Plants

Like lighting, plants provide more than one benefits for employees. By bringing nature into the office, plants can positively impact morale. Plus, plants release oxygen and take in carbon dioxide, improving air quality. This is highly beneficial for companies, as OSHA estimates that poor air quality costs American companies more than $15 billion per year due to sick time and reduced productivity.

6. Liven Up the Walls

While you don't want the decor to become a distraction, bland decor can make offices feel like cold, institutional settings rather than inviting places that inspire productivity. Add pops of vibrant color to liven up the space. You can also hang chalkboards and white boards around the office to give employees places to jot down notes and even unwind by creating some artwork.

7. Provide Adjustable Furnishings

There's no such thing as one size fits all office furniture. Choose chairs that offer multiple points of adjustment. Sit-stand desks have also been shown to boost productivity by allowing employees to change positions during the day.

8. Provide Opportunities for Movement

Although it may seem counterintuitive, an office layout that requires employees to walk to use equipment, visit the restroom or hit the break-room has been shown to increase productivity. That's because taking more steps during the day keeps employees' energy levels high.