Offices are, above all, a place to work. Good interior design can minimize distractions and increase productivity. There are key areas that need to be addressed when it comes to creating a stimulating and enriching environment for your team.

If you find that you or your employees aren’t happy in the workplace, here are a few key things to look at adjusting:

Lighting
Effective lighting depends on providing your employees with adequate light to do their job, but not having it so bright that they end up with eyestrain. The key here is finding the right balance. Natural light is always best, so large windows and skylights are worth investing in. Windows help to stop your employees feeling isolated from the outside world. Artificial lights should be set up to provide light in a natural way. Allowing your employees some level of control over the lighting they work in will allow them choose what is best for them.

Color
The color of your office will affect your employees’ moods way more than you think. The color you choose should reflect the nature of work your employees have to do. Blue is best for improving productivity and concentration, orange increases creativity and green has a calming effect. What is also important is the level of color saturation. Brighter colors are more motivating, whereas paler colors are more soothing. Painting your office in the right color will help your employees to concentrate on their work and be more productive.

Layout
Most modern offices are open plan. This increases communication between workers and can lead to a greater sense of teamwork. However, this may not be the best way to go for your business. A combination of open plan and cubicles may allow employees to choose the type of setting that is best for them.

Noise
This can be one of the main things that distracts an employee from their work. Complete silence can be as difficult to work in as a loud environment though. Finding a balance is key. Carpeting wooden flooring and tiling walls with acoustic panels can help to keep your office noise levels down if they are too high. If levels are too low, fans and air conditioning units can be used to add some background noise.

By following the tips in this guide, your office will become not just a more productive environment, but also a healthier environment for your staff.

This piece was written by Mark Enright, a writer for Evans Easy Space, office space providers.