With a new season now upon us, it’s a great time to freshen up your office with some clever tweaks. Here are some of our top ideas.
Thoroughly Clean And Tidy
Offices can benefit from a spring clean in the same way that our homes can. Bring in a professional cleaning company to do a deep clean of all shared spaces, such as kitchen and bathroom areas, and to thoroughly steam clean all soft furnishings such as sofas and chairs. All PC equipment, phones, and other technical hardware should also be cleaned as they accumulate a lot of dirt – just look into the crevices of a keyboard for an incentive to prioritize this activity! Implement a clear desk policy and aim to create a paperless office to remove clutter and physical storage needs – cloud-based storage solutions are very useful here. The removal of excess ‘stuff’ will help to create a working space which is clean, clear, fresh and productive.
Re-Work The Space
Consider reshaping and reorganizing your office space so that it optimizes natural features such as walkways, natural light, and communal working spaces. Group desks together, create breakout spaces and encourage natural light to enter the working space by using lighter blinds and features such as transparency film. Use natural lightbulbs too to create a sense of energy and brightness. This will increase the feeling of energy in the office.
Freshen Up The Air
Most offices benefit from an open window if they are located in a non-polluted area or away from urban traffic, but there will usually be spots, such as the bathroom which can benefit from a strategic freshen now and again. Today’s air fresheners are discreet, smell great and have carefully-chosen formulations which avoid releasing excess chemicals into the air. They also come with features such as timers and sensors for automatic air fresheners for the ultimate in convenience.
Add Plants
Real plants help to absorb C02, dust and other unwanted elements in the air and pump oxygen back into the system. Office workers often say that they feel healthier and happier through seeing green plants and flowers in their working space. You can invite staff to bring in their own plants or hire an office plant provider to implement and maintain an array of office greenery for you.
Add Artwork
In the same way that plants can energize and freshen a space, the right creative imagery and artwork can change the feel of an office from functional to fun. Choose inspiring images, rotate artwork, even commission pieces as necessary. If you have marketing materials, display them on a wall. Add color, life, and zing into the room and you’ll instantly feel fresher.
Consider Health And Safety
For an office to be fresh and productive, it must be safe. Make sure walkways are clear, don’t have over-stacked shelves, avoid storing boxes and other items under desks and generally follow good practices to make sure your office H&S policy is implemented. This will ensure that your office is using its storage to a full capacity rather than allowing an excess of items to build up amongst spaces.
Consider a Paint Job
Colour psychologists advise businesses on the shades which can create different moods in the office. For example, red is the color of energy and passion and it is popular in sales environments. Yellow is intellectual and popular with thought-driven spaces, pink is nurturing and blue is calming and analytical. Review the colors used in your office and consider a refresh of your walls and soft furnishings to bring some pizazz back into your working space.
What other ways will you freshen up your office this spring?
