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Blogging

Office Design Tips For Success

 

The office is a place where many of us set up of home and spend most of our time. It is a space where we work, socialise and develop professionally and should be a productive and inspiring setting. 

Office Design is important for a good workplace dynamic and it is more important for you and your workers than you may think. This is why today we are going to take a look at the way that you can upgrade and change your office to make it feel much more exciting and productive this summer. 

  1. Create a flexible space 

One of the main issues which older generation companies suffer is the standard cubicle and desk way of thinking. Working in a regimented way just isn’t the way forward any longer and it is important for you to create a space that accommodates different ways that people work. Some people work best sitting on a sofa with their laptop, some work better in a cafe type setting and some like traditional desks. By having a flowing workspace where people can move around and set up shop anywhere they want, it will make for a much mofre productive space. 

 

  1. Open the space 

People enjoy being able to talk and communicate during the day and if this is why having lots of separate rooms in the office can be a bad idea. It is always a great idea for you to get rid of the walls in the office and open up the space more. People need to be able to talk and bounce ideas off each other so having an open working space is always the best course of action. 

 

  1. Create comfortable desks 

No one will ever be able to work effectively at a desk if the desk is small, dingy and messy. It is important as a worker that they are able to put their personal stamp on their work area and have a desk which is comfortable for them. Make sure not to skimp on the desks you buy for your workers because they will be working at their desks all day every day. It is important that this is a space they can feel comfortable and work productively. 

 

  1. Make it light 

It is incredibly important if you want to enjoy a happy and productive work environment that you have lots of natural light in the room. The absence of light can have a physiological and mental effect on your workers and this is something which can make them much less productive. Light makes us feel happier and more awake and it helps people to concentrate, so bring in plenty of windows and cool white lights. 

 

  1. Seating areas

Now and again during the day, everyone will need to get up and walk around and get away from their screens. It is important for you in the office to design a work area which also has a seating area which people can use to chat and rest for 10 minutes or so. You can even add a muted TV with subtitles in this part of the office and this can make a big difference to your workers. 

 

  1. Brand it up 

As well as making sure that the office is productive for your workers, you will also want to ensure that it is branded well and gives across the right impression to your audience. Get the neon signs and logos up on the wall and bring some colour to the space. 

 

  1. Use brand colours 

As well as decals and signs, you can use the colour palette of your brand to paint the office and make it feel like one big happy family. Depending on the colours of your brand, you can either mix a few bright colours or have a nice calming space which reflects the tone of your brand. 

 

  1. Add some plants 

If you want to add something more fun to the office and make it feel more like a homely space, plants are a key thing. Plants such as fresh flowers and succulents can be a good choice in the office and they will bring some colour and texture to the home. You can have small plants on the desk and you can also have larger plants around the office to provide life, colour, and calm to the office. A great idea would be to bring in plants which have a scent because they will make the office smell fresh all year long. 

Business Blog

How to Set Up an Office

There are many different aspects to starting a business, one of which is setting up an office for yourself and your colleagues to work from. The office will be where you all spend the majority of your time, so it is really important that it is designed in a way that will encourage productivity, but also in a way that makes it a comfortable space to work in. Here, we run through some ideas on how to create a great office.

Layout

One of the first steps in determining the layout of the office, is to make the most of your light sources. If you can find a way to make sure everyone has access to a window, it will make them feel less trapped and the light will help them to maintain a positive mentality. Windows are key to making sure the air quality is good too. It can be a good idea to offer people different places to work from for example, a staff room, kitchen or their desk so that they can break up the monotony of an office environment. It is important that everyone has their own designated desks too, as it will make them feel more at home. If you want to encourage a team mentality, try organising the desks into a circle rather than having people sitting with their backs to one another; this helps aid group discussion and is ideal when it comes to company announcements. If you don’t have the space to accommodate this, split the group depending on departments, so that colleagues with similar roles can bounce ideas off each other.

Furniture

It is important to make sure everyone has all the equipment they need in order to ensure maximum productivity. This includes the right software and hardware, such as industry specific software like field service business management software personalised hardware like certain screen sizes, keyboards and mice from a company like Workwave. There are certain specifications to consider when choosing office furniture, as you need to make sure that people are comfortable at their desks. Their backs need to be properly supported by their chairs for example, their eyes need to be a certain distance from their computer screens and their feet need to be supported.

Decoration

There is a lot to consider when it comes to office decoration. First of all, you need to have the correct lighting levels. Poor lighting not only has a negative effect on state of mind, but it can also cause eye strain and headaches. Relaxed or warm lighting can cause people to lose focus and feel fatigued, so make sure the lighting is bright. Natural light is a must-have. The temperature of the room is important too; if it’s too warm people will feel relaxed rather than motivated, yet if it’s too cold, they will be uncomfortable and distracted. A nice scent can create a more enjoyable working environment too, as can some background music but make sure it is not too loud or too intrusive. Finally, make sure your office space is always kept clean and tidy to reflect the proactive approach you expect from your employees.

Conclusion

There is a lot to consider when it comes to creating an office space, so it is important to remember a few key factors when designing it. Think about the layout in terms of how people can interact with each other, make sure their desks are comfortable to use and ensure that you have the right lighting, temperature and noise level. For more business advice, take a look at www.vikingwanderer.com

 

Business Blog

Four Flexible Business Ideas

If you want to start your own business but don’t feel you have the time or don’t know what you want to do, then there are a few very flexible ideas. You can start a company that doesn’t require you to be chained to a desk and work that you can do in the evenings and weekends if you want to work around other life commitments.

 

Cleaning Service

If you enjoy cleaning or don’t mind doing it then running your cleaning service could give you the flexibility you want. You could choose your hours and your clients, and with people so busy now many people are willing to pay for a cleaner and they will pay a fair bit. If you wanted it to grow, there is the chance that your business could develop into a larger company, however, if you’re going to keep it on a small scale, then you can do that too.

 

Personal Trainer

For this one, you do need some qualifications, but if you’re into your health and fitness, then this might be something you enjoy and make money from. Any costs from your training you will make back as you can charge a lot by the hour for being a personal trainer. You need to get yourself a few case studies at first so that you can show people the transformations you have helped and show them your reviews, but it won’t take too long to build it up. As a personal trainer, you can make house calls, visit a gym, or let clients come to you (if you have the right equipment). You need to be very knowledgeable about everything from proper exercises for different body types to how to motivate people who want to get healthy. And you should feel comfortable getting close to your clients to learn what works best for them.

 

Towing and Recovery Business

A towing and recovery business can become very profitable, but you do need some knowledge and equipment to be successful. You need to draft and then follow your business plan and make sure you promote your business. You’ll need to have a look at recovery trucks for sale and look into buying other supplies such as traffic cones, floodlights, and strobe lights and you’re away!

 

Caterer

Are you a great cook and do you enjoy doing it? Then maybe you should start charging for your services and your talent and start a catering business! While you won’t necessarily be able to do all of your catering work from home, it’s an excellent place to start. Then you might need to use a commercial kitchen and will probably have to hire some part-time employees to help during events—much of the organisation, planning, marketing, and actual business work can be done wherever you like. Check the local food regulations to find out what you would need to be running a business from home, but even if not catering for big parties, delivery meal services are very popular today with people requesting all sorts of dietary requirements. It’s a money maker.