Working Hard or Hardly Working:

Simple Office Design Tips

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American
employee (age 25-54) spends about 8.8 hours a day working or
performing work-related activities. That’s over a third of your day!

With so much time spent at the office, investing in good workspace

design is more important than ever. Here are some simple design tips to
help your small business improve efficiency, productivity, and comfort.
 1
Invest in ergonomic furniture.
Spending more upfront on ergonomic furniture will
save you in the long-term. Good furniture:

Improves
Stimulates worker
productivity satisfaction

Reduces the
number of sick
days
(caused by lower back pain and general discomfort)
 Splurge on:

Movable
computer Adjustable
monitor arms desks

Chairs that conform

to your shape and
promote good posture
2 Let there be light
Natural light has an immense impact
on mood, health, and productivity. It
offers a wider color spectrum, allowing
workers to notice finer details and
perform basic tasks better.

Natural light also reduces

headaches, migraines, and eye
fatigue brought on by looking at
a computer screen for hours.
 To increase natural light, consider
creating a more open floor plan by:

Knocking down Using glass walls

interior walls for private offices
and conference rooms

Investing in community desks

instead of cubicles and more
closed off workstations
 3 Create buzz

Open plans also cultivate

office buzz.

Buzz, or background noise, is created by the various conversations happening all at

once. This background noise builds a sense of privacy that encourages everyone to
talk, interact, and come up with new ideas freely, adding more to the buzz.
4 Forget one desk per person
Thanks to wireless
technology, workers don’t
need to stay chained to a
desk all day.

Create breakout spaces that give workers a

change of scenery and a communal area for
impromptu meetings. Establishing alternate
work spaces also saves you money on desks.
 5 Keep it clean
Above all, make sure you have plenty
of storage, whether it’s built-in
drawers, wall-mounted shelves, or
mobile racks.
An unkempt office breeds
disorganization, saps energy, and
reflects poorly on you. Take a few
minutes every day to declutter your
stacks of documents, file your folders,
and organize your office debris.
 6 Let your employees choose
Allow workers to bring in:
Photos

Pets Personal
items

It costs you nothing but garners a world of benefits, brightening up your

office while giving your employees the opportunity to act more naturally.
7 Brand your space
Set your office apart from the rest with branding that aligns
with your business. This includes:

Iconic
objects
Record
Your logo
Company

A unique
color palette

Company
culture
 For furniture and professional workspace planning,
visit San Diego Office & Modular Design
www.sd-office.com
Resources:
http://www.bls.gov/tus/charts/
http://mashable.com/2011/08/01/office-design-tips
http://www.inc.com/ss/jessica-stillman/10-office-design-tips-foster-creativity
http://www.allbusiness.com/8-office-decorating-tips/15617190.html
http://epiclaunch.com/10-tips-for-setting-up-your-small-business%E2%80%99s-office/