5 Ways to Fall in Love With Your Office Environment

Today, companies are focused on new ways to encourage creativity and productivity in the office while fostering a welcoming environment. With so many features being added to the office, it’s important to remember the strategies that truly appeal to workers. In this month’s design news aggregate, we highlight five stories that discuss design strategies for creating office environments loved by all. 

A clean office space supports employees’ need for a comfortable, low-stress space in which to do their work, and staff will love an office that supports healthy habits. A recent study shows that employees are less likely to over-indulge in unhealthy snacks when the office is free of clutter. Include adequate, attractive storage in your design to help stow away items in the office.

Fall in love with your office day after day with a beautiful reception space. As Jacqueline Barr, principal of Design at Ted Moudis Associates, says, the reception area is often the first exposure a potential customer or teammate has to your brand, so you want to craft the experience carefully. A well-designed reception area also instills employees with pride every time they pass through it.

Rather than label the spaces in your office – lobby, conference room, break room, etc. – focus on the experiences you want to curate. Removing the labels gives employees the freedom to choose how to use the space. According to this Huffington Post contributor, de-scripting the office is a future office design trend.

An outdoor workspace, like this idyllic setup with Emu Pattern Table and Chairs, gives employees choice of work environment and encourages wellbeing. Get planning ideas featuring the Emu Collection.

People will gravitate toward an office that is focused on wellbeing. When Interior Architects redesigned their Denver office space, they put the focus of their office design on wellness. One of the features of their new space is a private outdoor patio, complete with Emu Pattern furniture and a grill. The patio windows open to allow fresh air into the office, so staff can experience the outdoors even if they’re tied to their desks.

When your office design is all about the people it serves, people will love to spend time there. Offices that feel personal and human are more desirable locations for employees to work, says global workplace expert Despina Katsikakis. Incorporating craft into the space can provide employees with a human connection to their space.