Does your office furniture reflect your company culture?

Function is an obvious part of office design but aesthetics are also important. An attractive office is a way to reflect who you are as a business, impress clients and attract the right employees. When choosing office furniture and designing a layout, you should always start by thinking about your company brand: who are you and how do you work. You should consider the image you want to portray to clients as well as what type of qualities you want to promote in your staff. Think about the differences you would expect to see between the offices of a law firm, a corporate bank and a marketing company for example. No two companies are the same, so why should any two offices be the same?

Office layout

The first, and arguably, most important thing to consider is the office layout. Do you need private office spaces or would an open-plan layout suit your business? More and more companies are moving towards an open-plan office setup. Some are even going so far as to include executives in this move; they ensure private meeting spaces or pods are available for sensitive calls or face-to-face meetings, but senior staff are expected to work in shared space the rest of the time. This encourages a more open company culture that makes management more approachable and creates a flatter structure. Within this layout, consider whether you want designated desks or if a hot desking system would work better. Hot desking encourages colleagues from different teams to mingle and can boost inter-employee relationships and inspire creative ideas that otherwise would never have had the opportunity to develop.

The office design needs to work from a practical standpoint as well as an idealistic one. Is it too noisy? Does it provide enough privacy? Is there a risk to data security if staff dealing with sensitive information work in the open? It is a balance between the culture you want to create and the work your company does.

Office furniture

The office furniture you choose can say a lot about you as a company. Traditional dark wood furniture is associated with long-established firms in traditional sectors such as law or accountancy; it exudes a sense of prestige that engenders trust in clients and pride in employees. Glass, on the other hand, suggests a much more modern, forward-thinking company and is popular with finance, media and retail companies.

One of the latest trends is for active office furniture; this includes standing desks and active chairs designed to encourage staff to stand or keep moving throughout the day. If you want to promote a company culture of health and wellbeing, the active office could be the best choice for your business. This type of furniture often combines contemporary style with functionality. Designed to look at home in any modern office, it provides ergonomic support while encouraging greater levels of activity. It is ideal for companies that want to provide their employees with more choice and who strive to create a more dynamic workplace.

Social spaces

We’ve all heard about the head offices of big tech companies like Google and Facebook with their penchant for including swings and slides in their office design to stimulate creativity. There’s no need to take the fun and playful elements to that extreme, but social spaces are important.

Firstly, it’s hugely beneficial for staff to have a breakroom where they can go to get away from their desks for lunch or a coffee. Having a dedicated space gives employees the permission they sometimes need to actually take this time for themselves, and research has shown that productivity increases when they do. Think about whether you can set up a few different social spaces so that employees can choose depending on their mood and what type of day they’re having: a canteen for socialising and eating, a quiet area for reading or meditating, and perhaps even a games room! It all depends on the company culture you want to promote.

Then there’s the activity-based office concept: an ideal setup for companies that put an emphasis on creativity and independent thinking. In an activity-based office, you don’t have one fixed desk location; instead, you choose your environment depending on your current task: perhaps standing up to work, sitting comfortably on a couch, concentrating in complete silence or brainstorming in a dynamic space? This type of office will offer diverse environments that support different personality types as well as different roles in the company. It's an innovative approach that often leads to increased creativity, productivity and happiness.

Colour scheme

The colours you choose can create a completely different atmosphere in the workspace and affect everything from mood to efficiency. Businesses often want to decorate with their company colours but think carefully about whether that is the right choice for your office culture. Perhaps you could use those colours as accents and chose more calming or inspirational colours as a base note.

Blue creates a sense of security and harmony. The popular colour increases productivity and creativity while also promoting communication. Blue is a great colour choice for the office and boardroom. Likewise, green, thanks to its associations with nature, is calming and can ease decision making. At the other end of the spectrum, colourful furniture in the right places can spread positive energy. Strong colours, such as reds and oranges, sharpen our memory, make us more active and radiate optimism. They’re perfect for breakout spaces and meeting rooms.

Don’t underestimate the impact the physical workplace can have on company culture and employee morale. By choosing the right layout, office furniture and colour scheme, you can ensure that clients immediately understand your values as a company and that employees feel happy and secure in their decision to work for your business.