People spend more of their waking hours in the office than in their homes. Although we may not want to acknowledge this, it is a reality. There is no doubt the workplace is like a second home to employees.
The task is to capitalize on this reality and maximize the productivity of each employee. Companies look for numerous ways to improve the morale of the employees and achieve better productivity. Their plan may include various aspects of their benefits package among other things.
But one vital factor that is often overlooked is how a great office atmosphere and furniture can increase productivity. In current office design concepts, it's becoming a vital factor to provide a comfortable working space to boost employee satisfaction and productivity.
Every piece of furniture in the office can be intentionally selected to increase the mood and boost productivity. So the furniture selection, office design, and placement of each item of furniture will be vital for employee effectiveness. Below are several ways that office furniture can greatly improve productivity in the workspace.
1. Increase comfort with ergonomic furniture
Increased comfort sharpens focus and a sharpened focus boosts productivity. Comfortable seating that is ergonomically contoured is the best approach for seating in the office.
Ergonomically designed furniture is not a temporary fad in the office space industry. Rather, this is a vital part of effective office design.
Lower back pain is a major cause of missed work and low productivity. Missed work days not only affect that particular employee, but it also impacts others who are linked and collaborate with this person on vital tasks.
When days are missed by one employee, an entire team can be impacted negatively. But by providing comfortable seating, you can increase the chances of better health and increased productivity.
2. Improve morale with clean and modern furniture
Employee perception is vital. There is no substitute for increased morale for a better working environment for everybody in the office. As they spend 40 or more hours in the office, it is vital that they feel valued in that space.
Of course you value your employees. But how will they know? Words are only one way to communicate that, but how often can you keep repeating those same words? But we know that actions speak louder than words. When the furniture they sit on and work on has an updated look, they will feel that you value them. This is an important message that you are communicating to your employees.
3. Colors impact the brain
When walls and furniture present colors that stimulate the brain, every employee is impacted. Of course, the color itself won't make the employees more productive, but it will create stimulation in their brain and help them to be alert and effective in what they do.
Psychologists who have studied the effects of colors affirm that blue and green are great colors that impact the mind for creativity and innovation. This of course is the very thing you would want from your office workers. By adding the right colors to your walls and office furniture, you can significantly have an influence on their productivity.
4. Balance private and open spaces
Both types of office spaces have their own functions. Open spaces are great for communication, teamwork and collaboration. An effective amount of such open areas are the key to great team work for your employees.
Private spaces are different. They stimulate concentration and clarity. When focused and intense work needs to be accomplished independently, private spaces are a must.
Make sure to design your office with an appropriate blend of furniture that facilitate both types of work. When you expect teamwork most of the time, your office space and furniture should be designed for a more open environment. When focus and intensity is required, private space will be most efficient.
5. Placement of furniture and lighting improves satisfaction
A properly lit working environment is a given these days. But the placement of the furniture needs to be planned in conjunction with the lighting. Dim and harsh lighting are terrible for the mood of office workers. Their morale will be low and production will be impacted.
Adequate and properly placed lighting is of great value. And natural lighting is an added benefit. Large windows let in plenty of natural light and create a mood of happiness and stimulation. There is no substitute for great lighting within the office to increase productivity.
6. Planning, selection, and placement geared for productivity
Of course, the planning should be according to the nature of work in your office. If the work is geared toward more focused, individualized output, the furniture needs to reflect that. Private spaces should be given more priority with some meeting rooms for occasional meetings and collaboration. But the emphasis may be towards more individual work.
If the work is geared toward collaboration and teamwork, your selection must reflect that clearly. More open spaces and better visibility are musts. The entire work space might be somewhat like a large meeting area where individual work is augmented with collaboration.
Selection of furniture needs to reflect your values and practicality. Selecting comfortable, ergonomically designed chairs show that you clearly value the health of each employee. If they are required to select from any old chair that is available and has been circulating around the office for years, that also sends a clear message that they are not valued.
Placement of the furniture takes into consideration numerous factors that are vital to your values. If you value collaboration and teamwork, furniture will be placed according to that value. But if your work is geared toward more focus and individualized tasks, you would arrange the furniture to reflect this with more private spaces rather than open spaces. This is something that will help boost productivity according to your values.
The two types of placements are opposites, but both accomplish the desired results of each work environment. It just depends on what you value and what your aim is. There is no doubt that office furniture affects productivity in the workplace.
Not sure how your office furniture stacks up?
