There are some workplaces that will make employees count down the minutes until it’s time to go home, and there are others that will motivate staff members instead. Planned carefully, working environments can prove to inspire creativity and to encourage an improved work ethic among the team.
Creating that all important office from scratch isn’t easy, but there are some quick wins that can be used. One of the most important is regarding the décor of the walls, because they surround the employees throughout the day. Therefore, they should be so much more than receptacles for
a couple of gallons of magnolia paint.
Make those walls stand out for everyone
Some of the more go-ahead companies employ local artists to create large murals instead, and their impact is often a remarkable one. They help to engender a spirit of creativity, and to remind staff members that they work in a kind of alternative environment, one which is completely different from the world outside.
Most companies offer their workers a kitchen in which tea and coffee can be made, and perhaps meals can be heated up. But those organisations which make a little more effort in creating a better environment will often turn them into break-out areas, with funky furniture and an innovative use of mirrors to make these areas appear more spacious.
A little TV, a little music – what’s not to love?
Any office that features banks of computers lined up for employees to use may also consider installing a large screen TV or two to break up the panorama. All-day music channels prove very popular these days, and can provide a welcome distraction to employees. The constant repetition of advertisements can prove to be a negative, however.
Another way of fostering a sense of ‘otherness’ is to furnish the offices and meeting rooms with a carefully selected range of ornaments and other accoutrements. Quirky items such as futuristic robot models and glass jars with realistic but artificial flying butterflies help to make a great atmosphere within the workplace.
Meeting rooms and communal areas always look better with a little subtle lighting. Plain old fluorescent tubes can be somewhat harsh although may be necessary in the main working sectors, but elsewhere there’s plenty of scope for doing something a little different. Unusual colours and uniquely styled fittings can make a genuine statement about the company and the way it wants to be seen by employees and visitors.

David Rice helps companies to find offices to rent throughout the south-east of England. He regularly sits in conference rooms that contain Lego-inspired sweetie jars and thinks they are uber-cool.

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