8 Cheap Design Tricks for a Trendy Modern Office

Every company wants an office that impresses clients, attracts the best staff and promotes employee wellbeing, but how do you revamp your office when you’re on a tight budget? We have some cheap design tips and tricks that will make your office space into a cool modern workplace.

1. The psychology of colour

A fresh coat of paint can make a surprising amount of difference to the overall atmosphere and is an inexpensive way to update the look and feel of your office. Blue tones create a sense of security, increase productivity and promote communication. Likewise, green, thanks to its associations with nature, is calming and is linked to higher levels of creativity. Neutral colours such as white, grey and beige are fresh and capture light well. At the other end of the spectrum, bright colours such as reds and oranges are energising colours that attract attention, but they can also be perceived as stressful so are better in breakout spaces or reception areas.

2. The talking point

If you can’t afford to make big changes throughout your office, choose one or two eye-catching features that will grab visitors’ attention and create the illusion of a revamped workplace. This could be anything from investing in a statement sofa to a thought-provoking piece of recycled office furniture.

3. The great indoors

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to brighten up your office is by adding plants and greenery to bring in elements of nature. Plus, according to a Human Spaces Global Impact Report, people whose workplaces feature natural elements report a 15% increase in wellbeing and creativity.

4. Write on the walls!

Ok, so we don’t mean literally, but coloured glass writing boards are a great way to add some pops of colour to your workspace. Far more interesting to look at than the whiteboards you see in most offices, glass writing boards come in all sorts of colours and can become an eye-catching design feature with a practical use. If you have glass partitions, you could even write directly on the glass with dry-wipe markers for a fun and quirky cheat’s glass board!

5. A work of art

Artwork can be costly and is an unnecessary investment when you’re on a tight budget, but that doesn’t mean you have to have blank walls. Printing your own pictures is cheap to do and you can buy inexpensive frames to display them. Even large prints and canvases are affordable using online photo printing services. Choose something inspirational that is in keeping with your company culture without being an advert. Perhaps someone in the office is a keen amateur photographer and would be happy to have their work on display.

6. Silence with style

High noise levels are one of the biggest complaints that workers have about the modern office. Some effective ways to reduce the noise levels also double up as great decorative features. Acoustic wall panels and desk screens come in all sorts of colours and can create a colour scheme throughout the office: sleek grey tones for a minimalist look or bright colours for a fun atmosphere. Noticeboards can also offer some noise absorption; using frameless noticeboards to create a pinnable wall is a great way to turn something a bit old fashioned into a modern feature wall. Prices will vary depending on the level of sound absorption offered but bear in mind that you are solving two problems in one: a quieter workspace and a style statement!

7. Update old furniture

It may be that small changes to the office furniture you already have could make a big difference.

• REVAMP: If your desktops are looking tired but the frames are still in good condition, you can buy new desktops and fit them to existing frames – they will look like brand new desks!
• ACCESSORISE: Can’t afford new reception sofas? Invest in scatter cushions to give them a new lease of life.

8. Tidy desk = tidy mind

It may sound boring but keeping workspaces clean and tidy costs nothing and makes a big difference to the overall look of the office. Use cables tidies and trays to make sure unsightly cable clutter is hidden from view. Add colourful letter trays for stray paperwork and pen holders to keep stationery in one place.