Numerous distractions in the workplace exist outside of cellphones, gossip, and email alerts. As much as employers would not want to hear, productivity is controlled by the individual, their motivation and attitude on a day-to-day basis. And while blocking websites, restricting cell phone use, and providing free, usually cheap, coffee is great for making co-workers feel like they work for a modern-day coal mine, the productivity problem isn’t solved by denying people use of modern day tools. Four out of five workers in the U.S. work at a desk, but only one in four works in an office that was designed to maximize productivity. Rules and regulations aren’t the only things crushing the working spirit, it’s the very walls and roof that surround it.

Paint Me Productive

Color can have an immense impact on your mood when you enter a room. Research shows that blue colors affect your mind, yellow your emotions, red your body, and green your balance. The same research has been applied to various sports teams and how their uniform colors affect their playing. Harsh, vibrant colors tend to make players aggressive while softer colors make players slightly more docile. Which side would you want to play for you?

According to psychologist Angela Wright, color affects productivity based on behavior. Each color scheme affects behavior differently, much as every office behaves differently depending on the industry type. For example, blue is a color that is best suited for work that requires heavy cerebral stimulation for problem-solving, like banks, law offices, or anything that requires heavy planning and attention to detail. Yellow is used for creative fields like designing or art, to stimulate ego to become bold and think outside the box. Red is used for physical stimulation like in a gym, or a space that requires a lot of movement from workers. Lastly, green is a balancing color used to create a sense of calm. Green is common in a business like spas, or therapy.

Using more than one color in a space also creates a mixture of these productivity emotions, and ultimately control the vibe of a room when you first enter it. Choosing the shade of any color will also influence productivity as well. Choose wisely.

The Designhaus Architecture office is accented with our company color Lime Rickey, a combination of green and yellow that is just vibrant to keep our staff creative and at peace while designing.

Get a Room

There’s a 66% drop in reading and writing efficiency when employees are distracted by conversations or incessant noise, not including music. It is always a good idea to design your office with spare meeting rooms for any in-depth conversations about projects that don’t always involve every team member. Full glass conference rooms allow for great lighting, but more importantly, encourage use because you can see when people are using it or not. Frost the glass for added privacy if necessary. If office noise pollution is a problem, there are several other solutions to improve the atmosphere and productivity

The Green Police

Plants absorb sounds and are most useful in corners of rooms. They prevent noise from bouncing off the walls and back into unnecessary eardrums. Plants also clean the air of harmful bacteria, helping to prevent the spread of illness in the workplace. A 2010 study by the new University of Technology, Sydney, found significant reductions in stress in the workplace. Results also included a 37% drop in anxiety, a 58% drop in depression, a 44% drop in anger and hostility, and a 38% reduction in fatigue. Plants also cost less than air filters for an entire building. In summary, plants boost productivity in the workplace!

Watch Your Step

Avoid excessive use of hardwood or ceramics. Carpet and vinyl are the best choices when choosing a floor for a professional office, or somewhat quiet workspace. If using vinyl flooring, it is best to use a rubber insulator underneath to absorb the noise and heavy steps.

Insulate

Insulation and wall/ceiling panels are not only useful for soundproofing, but they are also great for accent features to add some more color or unique shapes to the room. Imagine it as investing in a piece of art that works for you.

The Designhaus office has multiple conference rooms for private conversations, as well as a mixture of carpeting and hard surfaces. We also implemented ceiling speakers to drown out any background office noises and conversations with music during the workday. It’s unsettling to walk into a creative office and only hear keyboards and mouse clicks.

ABOVE: A current client is developing a modern-contemporary co-working space. This particular area is an informal meeting space that features sound booths for privacy, couches, and shag carpeting.

Desk Space Saves Lives

A chair or desk can make or break your employees’ ability to work. While sitting on a stool or stability ball is technically better for posture, alertness and building a strong core, people’s comfort level will plummet and so will amount of completed work. Choosing the right chair is essential for maintaining comfort and productivity. The chair should swivel, be ergonomically friendly, lower and raise its seat height, and have some form of cushioning on the seat.

Don’t necessarily rush to choose a desk for the chair to slide under so quickly. Not all desks are created equal for all human beings, especially if you choose the wrong chair. Desks need ample space for any equipment or materials necessary for work, but they also need to fit the persons using it. Is it too tall or short? Does it have wheels, and do they lock? Are the feet adjustable to adapt for any uneven surfaces? All questions should be considered when completing the standard workstation for your employees. Adjustable height desks are becoming increasingly affordable and allow each user to have it fit their needs for maximum comfort.

Designhaus has the privilege of testing chairs and other office furniture for several weeks at a time. We’re able to make informed recommendations for clients when designing their interiors and choosing furniture.

There are many other design options to improve productivity in the workplace. The most important that’s mentioned in almost every building design meeting is having natural lighting from skylights and windows.

Contact Designhaus Architecture to begin designing or optimizing your current workspace.

Sources: https://alifeofproductivity.com/angela-wright-interview/
https://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Silence-of-the-Palms_Costa1.pdf
https://www.ngia.com.au/Attachment?Action=Download&Attachment_id=1430