Change office dÈcor to improve staff morale

By Pocyline Karani

Business that gives serious attention to the physical environment of the office is far more likely to increase employees’ productivity. In the recent past, there has been a shift towards sprucing up the office. Companies are redesigning, redecorating and adopting contemporary dÈcor, moving away from conservative and often dull environments.

According to interior designer Caroline Mumbi who has worked with several corporate brand names, says a well-decorated office is ideal for employee productivity. "The workforce is by far the most valuable asset of any business, and almost always the biggest cost."

An interesting study by an architectural body from Britain found that simple things like lighting and adequate daylight can reduce absenteeism by 15 per cent and increase productivity by between 2.8 per cent and 20 per cent.

Bring Out The Best

Good workplace dÈcor can make a big difference in staff satisfaction, attraction, motivation and retention. Similarly, it can also affect the level of knowledge and skills of workers, increasing their innovativeness and creativity, positively impacting on how they respond to business and technological change and how effective the organisation is at attracting and retaining customers.

On the contrary, poor office design is linked to lower business performance and higher level of stress experienced by employees. Of all factors that influence employees’ job satisfaction, performance accounts for 24 per cent. It can affect staff performance by five per cent for individuals and 11 per cent for teams.

As the pressure of competition introduces new demands of differentiation through quality of knowledge management and creativity, a well designed and decorated workplace influences the image customers have of an organisation. Those employers who ignore the evidence of office design as an enabler of staff satisfaction and performance risk the loss of key staff and, ultimately, business success.

In fact, many directors, with the assistance of a much younger generation of employees, acknowledge the importance of office dÈcor. They have developed a greater understanding of the relationship between an office building and the effectiveness of the people who work in it.

An office should be a welcoming place, which brings out the best of employees. It must have a pleasant ambience yet the decorations used to spruce up its look need not be expensive. Good examples include hangings inscribed with motivational quotes, sketches and paintings. All these give the workplace a neat and refreshing look.

The starting point

Consider small changes such as introducing objects of beauty like aquariums, fountains or indoor plants. Aquariums create a lively atmosphere in the office and add beauty to the office. The movement of the fish in the water prevent dullness from creeping in.

Another interesting addition is a fountain. This has a soothing effect on the mind as the soft sounds from the fountain resemble a stream and acts as a stress buster by revitalising the mind. A little greenery in the form of potted shrubs add to the beauty of the workplace.

Frames

These exhibit the aesthetic sense of those who choose them. As they are commonly used in office dÈcor, one should be careful while selecting frames to ensure they have a calming effect and do not cause distractions.

Art Work

In order to achieve a customised look, consider crafted artworks specially designed for the company. Handmade artworks give a sense of satisfaction. At the same time, employees tend to develop affection for the workplace.

Wall paint colour

Why not experiment with bold colours? A proper blend of bold revolutionises the space. Work around the company’s corporate colours. If the colours are conservative, change them in line with the modern trends.