How to Design an Efficient Office

How to Design an Efficient Office

Office furniture should be chosen according to employees’ needs and expectations to enhance their productivity.

How to Design an Efficient Office

Productivity is the essence of a job. Not only the location of the office but also its layout, structure, design, office furniture used, and the overall atmosphere of the office are extremely important in increasing employee productivity.

According to studies on offices and productivity, the physical environment is the most significant factor in determining an employee's ability to concentrate. It is stated that a well-designed office can increase productivity by about 20%.

An uncomfortable and distracting office may lead to unhappy employees. If something makes employees unhappy, they may not be as productive and focused as they should be. According to a study with 560 full-time and part-time employees in the USA, office chairs and desks make more than half of the employees unhappy.

For many years, open office designs were preferred. Open office layouts are good for employee interaction but are prone to noise and visual distractions that can hinder concentration. Therefore, employees are now rediscovering the value of quieter and more focused work. They ask for spaces where they can concentrate. Collaboration is still on the agenda, but instead of open offices, co-working spaces with comfortable office chairs or desks are preferred.

Privacy and flexibility can have a direct impact on the level of satisfaction at the office. Employee satisfaction also positively impacts productivity enhancement. Therefore, office designs and office furniture selections made in line with the needs and expectations of the employees are of critical importance. Ergonomic, comfortable, and cozy office desks and office chairs are essential for employees who spend most of their day sitting in the office. For example, adjustable office desks and office chairs that are in line with ergonomic requirements, such as 60-90 cm distance from the computer or sitting in a position in which both feet touch the ground, should be preferred. This is the only way to ensure a healthy work environment, and it will have a positive impact on productivity.

Creating different workspaces for employees can also increase productivity because looking at different things with different features all the time and moving away from monotony will help them refocus. Therefore, not only making the right choices for employees' office desks and office chairs but also correctly selecting executive desks, meeting tables, or sofas and armchairs in common areas will be effective.

In addition to choosing the right office furniture, there are important issues to consider in the general atmosphere of the office to increase productivity.

Noise affects employees' concentration; it is not only distracting but can also increase stress levels and make it difficult to maintain productivity.

Lighting is one of the most important factors in concentration and productivity, yet it is one of the most overlooked and least invested in.

The colors used in the office affect the mood and brain functions. Therefore, choosing the right colors for the office can affect productivity.

Like the color of the office, the sense of smell can also strongly affect mood, mindset, and thus productivity.

How to Design an Efficient Office

21-22 degrees Celsius is considered the ideal temperature for an office, and optimum temperature makes employees more productive.

Similarly, the air quality of the office greatly affects concentration and cognitive ability.

Although having indoor plants is not a traditional method of creating a productive office, having many plants in the office helps clean the air, encouraging employees to be more energetic, productive, and creative.