Carla Knight
Over the year, businesses have become more and more attuned to the ways that they can begin utilising architecture and interior design in order to get better work out of their employees. Research has begun to emerge, and it points towards an open, airey and natural architectural design structure. This is not only hugely beneficial for corporations – who will be able to encourage more sustainable and productive working mechanisms within their employees – but it is also great for workers themselves. Who doesn’t want to work in an environment that promotes happiness and psychological well being?
This article will explore some of the trends that are increasingly shown to promote wellness in employee behaviour. It will also give actionable tips on how you – whether you are a business owner, an employee or a home-worker – can begin to integrate these designs into your professional environment.
Open Spaces and Smiling Faces
Open spaces play a huge role in the promotion of happiness and relaxation. A cramped, overstuffed and messy office, for example, will have a symbolic effect on employees mindset. By incorporating an open plan, aerated system into your interior design, you can really help to increase worker happiness, managerial approachability and, of course, productivity.
Architectural techniques: Open space architectural design might include larger rooms or glass walls that give the illusion of more space. It may also include large, light-permitting windows and taller ceilings.
Interior design techniques: Obviously, changing the layout of a building is not possible for everyone, so changing up the interior of one that you already have may be the way forward. If you want to incorporate open living into your work environment then consider utilising the reflection of mirrors, lighter coloured walls and proper lighting. My Favourite Voucher Codes is a good place to start if you are a small business owner looking to open up the office and wake up those employees!
A Natural Approach
The natural world has amazing psychological benefits on human beings. We spend so much of our lives indoors in the modern world that we tend to forget the good that a bit of fresh air can do. But nature, the outdoors and oxygenation really is a miracle cure for anything (that includes for less productive employees!)
Architectural techniques: Integrating a natural approach into the design of buildings is a great way to enhance the quality of life of many workers. This can be done via larger windows, glass fittings, windowsill planters and even balconies and gardens/courtyards. Allowing workers the opportunity to really soak up the natural nutrients that daylight and oxygen have on offer will certainly produce a motivated concentration.
Interior design techniques: Sprucing up an already established working environment in order to symbolise the natural world is relatively simple. Plants are a great way to do this, as well as aeration systems, nature inspiring art and even just cracking the window a little. Mirrors and lighting again come into play here, and these can be acquired with Leekes discounts in order to reduce prices.
Keep it Clean to Keep Them Keen
Noone should have to work in mess. In fact, mess can reduce an employee’s productivity significantly. So keeping an environment clean and neutral is really important. This is a post-design feature that plays a part in the psychology of workers, and it is very easy to integrate.
Architectural techniques: Keeping the design simplistic, open and minimalist is just one of the ways that buildings can exude a sense of cleanliness.
Interior design techniques: Simply keeping an environment clean will help to promote productivity. This means clean walls, desks, windows, skirting boards and toilet facilities. Light colours, good lighting and dust control is imperative for promoting motivation and freshness.
The productivity of employees is down to many factors. But with bonuses, incentive schemes, promotions, commissions, communication, workload, flexibility and managerial understanding, comes the context of the offices. For architects, considering the psychological effects of their designs on workers can influence the work that actually unfolds in said location. For interior designers, their decisions can help to shape a working environment into a happy and hardworking place. It’s not just employees who must strive towards productivity, happiness and success, it is their office curators, interior designers and business managers game to play too.
