Thursday, January 29, 2009

Why is Office Design so Important?

By Hugh Roberts

Keeping one's eye on office design and building maintenance are imperative aspects to doing business that many business owners ignore. The design of office interiors can have a profound effect on the disposition and production of workers and upper management. Keeping a well-maintained office is significant in regards to health and safety concerns. By utilizing proper design and upkeep, companies are able to experience some amount of control over the gladness, well-being, and productivity of not only their workers, but themselves also.

It would appear to be evident that the happier and healthier a person is, the more productive that person will be. Even if business owners may understand this concept, they quite often ignore the results that office design can have on their workers. Often, building maintenance is disregarded, resulting in awful air quality or hazardous areas inside the office. Additionally, the erroneous colors, furniture setup, or level of noise can depressingly effect the character and minds of those functioning within such conditions.

One great way to commence improving office design is to think about the total amount of untidiness that is presently in the place of work. Office interiors that permit little room for movement can bring about emotions of being "closed in" or claustrophobia. A lot of home offices wind up set up in this way, with an excess of office equipment or furniture taking up most of the available room. By opening everything up and creating space, many workers will experience a sense of freedom. What must be realized is that these emotions can turn into a more constructive mood, more contact with others, and more teamwork.

Planting plants and flowers can have a positive effect on the individuals working in a place of work. Office interiors overflowing with nature can have a soothing effect. When an office is experienced as too sterile, individuals can yet again feel closed in, which could result in a more confrontational office space. Try utilizing windows that look out onto vast lawns or garden areas. One more helpful way to perk up office design is to be attentive to the noise level. If building equipment or nearby traffic are too deafening, the sound can have a depressing impact on those working. Try using extra rugs, blinds, or office dividing walls to aid with any excess noise.

An office design alteration may be required when the office interiors are comprised of design schemes and furniture from two to three decades ago. Numerous older office spaces are darkened with shadowy colored furniture, rugs and drapes. By reorganizing the office with lighter colors and additional open spaces, the work environment can be changed from a dreary experience to one that helps bring a cheery and peaceful feeling to each person who enters the reorganized space.

Building maintenance has to be considered when going through any office design alterations. Maintenance is required to keep all aspects of the workplace in excellent working condition. Usual office cleanings keep the workspace free from filth and dirt. Things such as the roof should be maintained in order to avert water leaks, which will simply result in more costs to the owner when the inside of the workplace experiences water damage.

One aspect to building maintenance that is usually overlooked is the air quality. Any office design arrangement needs to include the right total of waste cans to collect waste the right way. Refrigerators must be in any kitchen area to keep food from going bad. All waste needs to be disposed of in a punctual manner. Plants and flowers must be kept watered and maintained. Furniture should be kept away from any vents and be sure to keep up all heating and air conditioning systems.

Even if all offices have precise actions that need to be acted upon during the course of each work day in order to be prolific, don't ever underestimate the power that the right office design and building maintenance can have on the workers in charge of finishing each duty. Whether working in a home office or a large corporate building, office interiors are a huge part to creating the environment that best helps bring in the revenue everyone is concerned with. - 15246

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