Workplaces serve as reflection to a company’s office culture. The workplace design is the company’s first impression and should be such that it lets the company put its best foot forward. The workplace design ideas have a significant impact on employee productivity and mental well-being.
An average corporate employee spends at least nine hours a day in the office. This time constitutes a significant part of the day, and it’s only natural for them to crave connections. Workplaces need to add value to their lives. We’re living in an era of collaborative learning and co-working; tight, lifeless cubicles are a thing of the past.
The importance of ideas for workplace design and what should be taken care of while designing workplaces?
Good workplaces have a human-centric design approach. They foster connection among people, with nature, and with the community. Good design is motivating; it energizes and fuels your urge to work. It is also therapeutic and relaxes you when work gets too stressful.
If you’re headed down the path of designing workplaces, start by understanding the physiological and psychological needs of the employees. You cannot go with the age-old sea of insipid grey desks cramped in tiny spaces, row after row, and expect employees to be productive. While basic ergonomics must be maintained, there is no need to stop there. Go beyond the typical!
Design integrated spaces for work and quick breaks. Give them options and allow them to be comfortable while working. Work with every single corner of the office, even the bathrooms, and add great lighting and comfortable bathroom partitions. The past years of remote working have brought people to a realization of what works best for them. If you want your company to be spared from the resignation spree, you need to keep your employees happy. Flashing higher salaries and incentives is not enough; millennials and Gen Z value office culture way more.
In this article, we’re discussing 21 therapeutic and dynamic workplace design ideas that will bring a whole new vibe to your office space.
21 Ways to Enhance the Working Environment and Boost Positivity all Around
Here are 21 workplace design ideas that’ll help you enhance your working environment leading to creative, motivated employees with higher morale and a positive attitude.
Below is a list of 21 ideas for workplace design
- Office Design Ideas Must Say a Big Yes to Open Plan
- Bring in Green Surprises while Designing Workplaces
- Workplace Design with Proper Light Shower
- Rainbow Delight for Workplace Interior Design
- Contemporary Office Design Includes Cozy Corners
- Workplace Design Ideas Must Have Swing to De-stress
- Exciting Flooring to Walk-In Work Enhances the Design of Workplaces
- Pet-Friendly Modern Office Workspace Design
- Jumble Around Books in Library – Workstation Design Ideas
- Workplace Design Ideas Incomplete Without a Gym or Gaming Area
- Dynamic Standing Desks Are Ideal Office Furniture
- Treadmill Desk in Workplace
- Burn Calories while Working
- Modular Workstations
- Workplace Design Ideas Incomplete without Pellucid Box
- Lazy Layover – Office Napping Pods
- Include A Café in Modern Office Design to Bond over a Tea Break!
- Hot Desking for Hybrid Workplace
- Hello! Booth Must Be a Part of Smart Office Design
- Yoga Room in Office – Therapeutic Office Ideas
- Daycare for Kids at the Workplace
01. Office Design Ideas Must Say a Big Yes to Open Plan
Open-plan workplaces are offices sans hierarchy. Open plan spaces are much better than traditional workstations that were confined to a packed cube. The lack of physical barriers between employees in such office design ideas breaks down the rigid notion that closed hierarchical spaces display. A combination of open plans with private spaces for meetings facilitates collaborative working. Flat, open floor plans encourage the exchange of ideas that lead to the transformation of the office space into a large collaborative think tank of sorts. The enhanced accessibility and approachability allow people to converse without being hesitant. It boosts productivity as everyone feels that they are equally important to the company.
02. Bring in Green Surprises for Workplace Design
One of the therapeutic design ideas is to include plants in the workplace. Dazzling greens can be the highlight of a workspace design. Green elements in workplace design bring a sigh of relief amidst the never-ending work cycle. They connect us to nature and reassure us of the world outside when we are too engrossed with work. Greenery induces feelings of calmness and helps us relax.
Whether you create separate green pockets as breakout zones or use greenery as an integral part of the office space, it will surely boost productivity. Greens can be incorporated in workplaces of every size in numerous different ways. These include grass carpets, small planters, vertical garden walls, or the insertion of living greens into architectural elements.
03. Workplace Design with Proper Light Shower
In modern office interior design, let light be the protagonist of the workplace. Light energizes humans, and increases alertness and concentration. Exposure to ample natural light is crucial for mental well-being. Brightly lit spaces help employees focus, boosting productivity. The importance of light in workplaces can never be underestimated.
Despite its proven benefits and necessity for creating appropriate environments, light is often overlooked in modern office interior design. This phenomenon is now changing as large glazing that floods the interiors with natural light is becoming a staple in modern offices. Along with natural light, integrating the right amount of ambient light, task light, and mood light further enhances the experience of the space.
04. Rainbow Delight for Smart Office Design
Your workplace interior design should speak for your brand identity. The design of your office space should reflect the diversity and vibrancy of your company. A basic colour palette is always safe to play with; pops of colour here and there give the space character and make it look vibrant. Splashes of colours in your design create a sense of playfulness and break the monotony of the basic, typical offices. It boosts creativity, energizes the employees and lowers stress among them. Take cues from colour psychology to use colour mindfully and appropriately. Add colour by painting murals, using colourful accent furniture and artwork.
05. Contemporary Office Design Includes Cosy Corners
Modern office design must have distinct spaces for relaxation. These breakout spaces help people quickly reset by taking a break when work gets overwhelming. The breakout spaces should be designed to calm and relax, using comfortable furniture pieces such as a bean bag or cosy couch.
Vibrant soft furnishings included in contemporary office design make the space humane. It subtly says, ‘it’s okay to take a break’. Breakout spaces with a casual vibe are excessively important for the productivity of employees working long office hours.
06. Workplace Design Ideas Must Have Swing to De-stress
Coping with work stress can be daunting at times. We cannot help but wonder about the nostalgia of a stress-free childhood or the memories of the last vacation. But why deprive ourselves of simple pleasures? Why wait until the next trip to unwind? Create a relaxing ambience in your office space with the use of swings and hammocks in pocket spaces.
These comforting seatings help employees unwind and decompress, taking the stress away. This refreshes them and makes them prolific. You can use them in conjunction with green breakout spaces.
07. Exciting Flooring to Walk-In Work Enhances the Design of Workplaces
Using exciting and inviting flooring in the design of workplaces is the easiest way to create interest within the space. Flooring patterns can be used to demark zones and direct the eye. It can also be used to create interesting wayfinding patterns in large offices. Flooring patterns can mimic the logos and speak for the brand identity in the simplest way possible.
08. Pet-Friendly Modern Office Workspace Design
Pet ownership has increased post covid. We’ve also become used to working around our pets. Why not include them in our workplaces? Pet friendly workplaces have many benefits: their presence is therapeutic, they boost morale, and they increase work efficiency. These facts are good enough to warrant including space for them in modern office workspace design.
Pet-friendly workplaces are open, with careful attention to scale details. It takes animal behaviour patterns into consideration and creates unrestrictive flow spaces. Additionally, they incorporate spaces catering to animal activities like water bowl areas, leash hanging spaces, lounging spaces, play areas, etc.
09. Jumble Around Books in Library – Workstation Design Ideas
Attractive library space in workplaces serves as a breakout space and doubles up as a learning space. It gives the mind a break when work gets monotonous, and at the same time, it inspires individuals to do more. It is a great space for employees to bond and discuss ideas.
Whether a library occupies a room or remains integrated, it encourages employees to turn to traditional learning methods. In this digital world where attention spans are becoming shorter, library spaces could be a breath of fresh air. Such workstation design ideas enhance concentration and focus among employees, thus fostering a productive work culture.
10. Workplace Design Ideas Incomplete Without a Gym or Gaming Area
Feeling frustrated at work is common for most of us. How do we let go of this without creating a scene? The best practice to calm oneself is to sweat it out. Gyms and gaming areas integrated into offices help employees let go of their unpleasant nuances.
Gyms and sports areas also help tackle health issues such as the ‘syndrome of the desk’ which is essentially caused by prolonged hours of sitting. Employees must remain healthy to be productive. Thus, however unconventional this may seem, such therapeutic office ideas need to evolve to match the needs of the hour.
11. Dynamic Standing Desks Are Ideal Office Furniture
Sitting at your desk for long periods of time can make you tired and unproductive. The lack of physical movement messes up your health, the effects of which are seen in the increasing cases of diseases amongst the younger generation. Many millennials at a young age complain about constant back and neck pain and other posture-related problems.
The easiest way to combat this problem is to install therapeutic office furniture, such as standing desks, in workplaces. Multi-functional desks that give flexibility in standing and sitting are appreciated in modern workplaces. Only a comfortable employee can be productive and an asset to the company.
12. Treadmill Desk in Workplace
For fitness enthusiasts who love cardio, treadmill desks are a blessing. Now the question arises: how to design workplace with a treadmill? Well, the combination of standing desks and a treadmill works well for a few employees. It is a niche idea, yet if you have employees who’d be interested in this, it can be a worthy addition. To incorporate such workplace design ideas, you can dedicate a section of your office for such quirky fitness desks.
13. Burn Calories while Working
Yet another quirky fitness desk to have in workplaces is this exercise standing desk. The pedals need to keep moving to generate power for running electronic gadgets. This will surely help people meet their fitness goals and get in shape.
14. Modular Workstations
Sometimes, too much chaos in an open office setup can affect productivity. Including modular workstations is a great option. Everyone’s working methods are different; some people just thrive when they work alone in a private space.
Create a good mix of different types of workstations in the office and let people choose what works for them. Flexibility is fundamental for modern workspaces, depending on how much attention the task at hand demands, people may switch between private and collaborative desks.
15. Workplace Design Ideas Incomplete without Pellucid Box
Pellucid glass cubicles are great for meetings and discussions. They allow you to go into mute mode in a noise-free space while maintaining the visibility of the office space. You can include a series of cubicles for different teams within the office. These workplace design ideas are ideal for conducting meetings without any outside disturbance.
It is far more advantageous to have these small multiple cubicles instead of large conference spaces because they allow different smaller teams to conduct discussions and meetings simultaneously.
16. Lazy Layover – Office Napping Pods
Did you not have enough sleep late last night, or was it the heavy lunch that has you feeling sluggish and sleepy? Sometimes, no amount of relaxation, tea, or coffee helps regain productivity. At such times, the only thing you need is a good nap; a napping pod is of great use on those days. Office napping pods are becoming a part of modern offices that prioritise employees’ comfort, creativity, and well-being. They can even be used as alternative workstations when you’re working on a laptop and the work is going to take long, focused hours and people want to be comfortable.
17. Include a Café in Modern Office Design to Bond over a Tea Break!
Tea and coffee breaks are a time to chill and bond with colleagues. What better way to make this break happen than to enjoy it in a cafe with a view? A well-designed cafe or canteen space is largely loved by office employees. It is a must-have in every office, irrespective of how large or small the space is.
Integrate multiple comfortable seating options within the cafe space. Frame the view, let light flood in, add greens and create a quaint, cosy space. It is the one breakout space in the workplace that everyone will use; make sure it suits everyone’s needs. Such workplace design ideas rejuvenate the minds of the employees, so they must be given equal importance.
18. Hot Desking for Hybrid Workplace
We live in an era where co-working is the norm, and with the changing economy, many people opt for remote working and have flexible work hours. The question that arises now is how to design a hybrid workplace. Well, the answer is hot desking. Hot desking is becoming the norm in modern workspaces. And rightfully so, with rising startups and small firms, investing in real estate is a risk not many are willing to take.
Hot desking is the efficient use of workplaces at different hours of the day by different people. It is an ad hoc system that allows flexibility in choosing workplaces. This system effectively boosts productivity and creativity as employees don’t have to spend time in the same space.
19. Hello! Booth Must Be a Part of Smart Office Design
Need privacy at work, or do you want to go to a secluded cabin for hyperfocus? These phone booth-inspired modular workstations give privacy when needed. This smart office design is ideal for the times you find it difficult to focus in a co-working space. Design interactive and stimulating booths for boosting the productivity and well-being of the employees.
20. Yoga Room in Office – Therapeutic Office Ideas
Sitting posture-related issues are becoming a big problem for millennials today. Yoga is becoming increasingly popular as it helps combat these posture-related issues. Yoga at the desk is a good solution to keep your physical and mental health in check while working. Flexible floor seatings or a yoga room can be incorporated as part of this plan. These therapeutic office ideas can do wonders.
21. Daycare for Kids at Workplace
Working parents find it difficult to manage their time; thus, anything that makes their workplace more tranquil or helps them manage their time better is naturally welcomed. So, a daycare facility for kids in the workspace is the best option for them. Offering a daycare facility can help companies in many ways. It helps boost employee morale, reduce attrition, and increase efficiency.
The dedicated area is essential for the kids to entertain themselves, play, nap, and spend their time happily. Also, nannies are necessary for the comfort and care of the children. In addition, small indoor games and bright-coloured decorations are more favourable for the kids’ area.
Takeaway
Flexibility and adaptability are central to designing therapeutic and dynamic workplaces that boost creativity and productivity. Adopting simple design strategies like bringing in greens, ample light, and vibrant colours or going unconventional with gyms, pods, and yoga rooms creates better workplaces.
FAQs Related to Workplace Design Ideas
01. Why does the Office need to be Dynamic?
Dynamic spaces are human-centric, as they give employees the flexibility to work on their terms. Office spaces need to be dynamic for the overall productivity and well-being of the employees.
02. What Factors affect the Work Environment?
Design factors affecting the work environment include exposure to light, openness, accessibility, connection to the outside, etc. It is also affected by the type of furniture and the flexibility of spaces.
03. Why is it Important to Enhance the Work Environment?
It is important to enhance the work environment to boost productivity and creativity among employees. Good work environments lead to a good company image and ultimately, profits.
04. How to Design Dynamic Workplaces?
Include flexibility in workplace design. Give the employees options; be it in terms of furniture, open spaces, closed cubicles, breakout spaces, etc.
05. How to Enhance Well-being in Workplaces?
To enhance employee well-being, plan for spaces that boost physical and mental health. For physical health, attempt to increase mobility through the use of standing desks, treadmill desks, and gyms. For mental well-being, incorporate breakout spaces like cafes, lounging areas, green zones, etc. These office design ideas do wonders and increase productivity.
Now that all your queries pertaining to workplace design ideas, such as how to design a workplace and how to design a hybrid workplace, have been answered, you must also have a look at our blog on Work From Home office ideas.
10 Work From Home Office Ideas For Workcation
Image Courtesy: Image13, Image 14, Image 17
Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.
