If you are looking to provoke your staff – and maybe yourself – into being more creative at work, then why not have a think about making your office more inspiring? Office design is a critical area that many industries use to help promote creative thinking amongst staff. There is plenty of scientific research to prove it, too. With this in mind, we thought we would have a look at some ideas that any entrepreneur with an office can try out.
Adjust Your Lighting
If your office is too dark or too bright (think horrible strip lights) then it might be time to think about a different option. Better lighting – including natural sunlight – helps to foster a more creative environment. Take a look at lighting specialists Osram to see the kind of thing that is on offer. And keep those windows clear. All that natural light pouring through the windows means that you will be able to keep more plants, which can help reduce stress levels and improve air quality.
Have A Quiet Area
Most offices these days are open plan. However, there is evidence to suggest that this stifles creativity. Background noise can interrupt the way the brain works, which in turn means that employees have to work harder to come up with innovative ideas. Having a quiet area gives you an environment where employees can just ‘think’ without any disturbances.
Improve Your Furniture
Comfortable furniture that supports people in all the right places reduces tension and the risk of injury. Make sure your staff are in a chair that suits them. You could even look into getting bespoke chairs and desks – take a look at what’s on offer from the RGE Group for a good example. Well-made chairs and desks help employees to relax and feel happier – which automatically gives a boost to the creative juices. They are also essential to your employee’s health and wellbeing.
Make Better Use Of Colour
If your office is full of magnolia, then making some minor adjustments to the colour scheme can help you draw out more creativity from your staff. Different colours promote different moods. For example, blue is thought to promote feelings of calmness while red and black are more powerful and authoritative. Depending on what your business is, both could be useful for boosting creativity levels in the office. You don’t have to paint the whole room – think about hanging colour-themed artwork instead.
Allow Personalization
Very few creative ideas have been dreamt up in dull, soulless offices. Allowing people to personalize their workspace can lead to some great ideas being formed. And we’re not just talking about pictures of the employee’s family on their desk. Allowing them to use their own tools and methods of working – such as doodling on paper or the wall – can help them be more creative.
And there we have it: five ways that you can boost creativity in the workplace. It’s amazing how minor changes can have an effect on people and the way they use their brains – so why not give some of these ideas a go?
