There is a distinct difference between making an impression, and making the right impression. When shooting for quality and success in the business world, there can be no room for mistakes – at least as far as your brand recognition and personality is concerned. And it all begins with the design of your office space.
Not only does your work environment need to be functional and conducive to productivity, but it should also portray a story, evoke emotion. Your office space needs to lead and inspire people to achieve great things. Things like signing groundbreaking contracts that will launch your brand to new heights. Here is what your office design tells about your company and how you can optimize it for a successful and bright future.
A welcoming entryway
The entryway leading into the lobby and the office space will highly influence the perception of your prospective clients and customers, and your employees as well. Shaping the opinion of your visitors before they’ve even had the chance to be swept off their feet in the main areas is of the utmost importance, so be sure to adhere to the following rules.
One, keep the entryway spotless at all times, and clean out the garbage cans regularly. Two, keep the entryway visible and free, don’t let your employees or other people clutter up the space as it can leave a bad first impression. Three, don’t forget about branding and don’t underestimate the power of a personal touch. Your entryway should proudly boast the company logo, and it should be decorated according to the season.
Distinctive lobby design
Your next line of defense against the merciless scrutiny of everyone who enters your domain is the lobby, or reception area. Think carefully about the color scheme and the furniture you’re going to introduce, and which emotions will these elements evoke in the minds and hearts of your visitors.
Considering dark wooden desks and chairs? You’ll need lighter accents in order to make the room feel friendly and positive. Considering pure white furniture and a minimalistic design? You’ll bore everyone to death, you need variety in terms of color and texture. You also want to make the area as comfortable and pleasant to be in as possible, so think comfy chairs and greenery around the room.
Mind the conference room
This is a tricky one. Many entrepreneurs venture into designing their office space without first considering the implications it will have for the conference room, which not only needs to be functional but also intoxicatingly inspiring for creativity and cooperation.
While you can’t go wrong with a round wooden desk and some comfy armchairs, you need a touch of uniqueness and personality as well. You want to elevate the aesthetic appeal and introduce functionality at the same time by installing elegant acoustic panels for sound quality and isolation, greenery for positivity and energy, and even framed art in the form of quotes or paintings.
Small details like this go a long way when it comes to building your success.
Embrace the modern office layout
Cubicles and offices with solid doors are outdated, nowadays people want to see big, open spaces imbued with positivity and vibrancy achieved through the use of modern furniture, bright colors, and personality. So think common areas instead of cubicles, vibrant colors instead of monochrome designs, and modern furniture instead of bland office desks and armchairs.
You want to use the modern office design to set yourself apart from the competition and show your employees and your clients that your company works and thinks outside the proverbial box, rather than being confined within pre-established social and industry norms.
Add variety and personality but portray professionalism
Finally, adding a personal touch here and there around the office space can work wonders for your reputation with your clients and staff, just make sure not to overdo it, as clutter can easily accumulate over time. Instead, you want to calculate and organize these unique elements to portray professionalism, creativity, and positivity.
Remember to let plenty of natural light permeate the setting and add various greenery around the office, complementing every wall and corner with shelves holding various trinkets and elements that portray the story of your brand even further.
Designing a modern office setting is not rocket science, just think about what makes people smile and don’t be afraid to incorporate it into your workspace. Portraying a setting of class, professionalism, productivity, trust, and positivity becomes easy by implementing these five essential tips.
Catherine is a passionate home design consultant from Melbourne. She loves making homes beautiful and buildings sustainable, but she also like sharing her advice and knowledge with people. That is why she is also a regular contributor to the Smoothdecorator blog. Besides all this, she loves reading and enjoys a superhero movie from time to time.
