5 office interior design ideas you need to know to boost collaboration
5 office interior design ideas you need to know to boost collaboration
There are many simple office interior design ideas that you can follow to encourage collaboration in your workplace. And in most cases, implementing some of the ideas we are going to mention is fairly easy.
We can all learn a thing or two from workplaces that focus on collaboration. In traditional workplaces, collaboration was sometimes seen as employees wasting time. But armed with information, we’ve learned that this isn’t the case at all. In fact, collaboration is extremely beneficial and helps promote a more productive workplace.
You see, it all comes down to the idea of people sharing ideas and improving. It’s actually beneficial to your company when your employees discuss projects they are working on with their coworkers. By sharing ideas, they may identify flaws, brainstorm new ideas, and come to a new and better conclusion.
This is a huge bonus for any business and a major reason why you need to consider these office interior design ideas to promote collaboration in your workplace.
1. Open concept offices
If open concept is allowed to dominate the modern kitchen and living room, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be allowed to dominate the modern office.
Open concept offices are the epitome of collaboration because they are open. Employees can easily move around an open concept office, working in different stations, group areas, and other zones built for the purpose of collaboration.
And as we mentioned above, idea sharing and validation is something that every business can benefit from. Need proof, just look at the Spotify way of doing things.
Your employees want to feel like they have the ability to do the best job possible. Freedom of movement is an important and easy way to enable that. According to a Harvard Business Review survey of individuals using co-working spaces, freedom of movement led to a 75% increase in productivity and a 86% decrease in isolation.
I’m going to fill you in on a secret.
An open office isn’t just a row of desks in a large room. An open office is an office that combines many features into one fluid design. It may have things like
collaboration rooms, relaxation lounges, hangout areas, a dedicated snacking area, workspaces, and much more.
You only need to remember one thing. The goal of an open concept office is to stop your employees from feeling like they are working in a prison cell. If an office interior design specialist can accomplish that, you’re already ahead of the game.
2. Create a coffee or snack lounge
It’s no secret that coffee is the fuel of any business. Don’t believe us? Try and talk to any millennial before they’ve had their morning coffee. We guarantee it will be a terrifying experience for everyone involved.
But the truth is, a dedicated coffee and snack room is a great way to promote collaboration. When your employees are jammed in cubicles and forced to work like grunts, their creativity suffers. Google has embraced this philosophy and enforces a no more than “150-feet from food” rule.
By encouraging them to take a break, grab a coffee, and chat with their workers, you are promoting a healthy and happy workplace.
We get that you may not have the budget of a company like Google or Facebook. But a simple office interior design idea like a snack room doesn’t have to be expensive.
Converting an unused room into a lounge with a coffee machine, buying a box of pastries from a local bakery, and other simple gestures go a long way and will make your workplace a happier place.
3. Designate common areas
Sometimes it’s better and more efficient for you to create common areas, rather than common workspaces. Some employees don’t work well in active workplaces.
A common area is a suitable compromise between the sprawling open concept office and the cubicle prisons of yesteryear. Your employees will still have the ability to unwind and to chat about projects, but can easily retire to their own personal space to complete their work.
As an office interior design specialists, we often recommend that you think simple when it comes to common areas. Rather than try and go above and beyond, figure out what your employees really want.
Here are a few basic examples of common rooms done right:
- Create whiteboard rooms to promote collaboration and project unity.
- A lounge with comfy couches, nap areas, and other relaxing features.
- Collaboration nooks with distinct design features like views, colors, and other visible elements.
- A games room that promotes healthy competition. Too much competition is bad, but just the right amount is perfectly healthy.
4. Use community tables
If you’re short on space, community tables may be exactly what you need. Community tables are shared desks. They promote a collaborative workplace because they enable your employees to work in groups.
In the tech industry, these types of workspaces are desirable because multiple programmers are often working together to solve a problem. In this setting, employees can test code, brainstorm ideas, and overcome challenges quicker than if they were alone.
As a business, community tables are a cost-effective option that can directly impact productivity and encourage collaboration.
5. Fluidity Is key
All of the office interior design ideas we mentioned above are applicable in any modern office. But no matter what you do, your office still needs to be fluid. This means having a fluid floor plan that promotes freedom of movement, productivity, and one that inspires your employees to do great things.
Think about it like this.
Flow is important in your office. You can actually decrease productivity and stifle creativity if your employees are constantly disturbing other employees because their workspaces are too close to a loud room.
Likewise, you don’t want to place important rooms in areas that don’t make sense. An office interior design specialist can easily help you make the right choices when it comes to fluidity.
Putting these office interior design ideas together
Not every office can install a major collaboration room, a lounge, or a kitchen. We understand your office is unique. Whether you want to boost productivity, creativity, or modernize your office, Space Refinery is here to help.
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