When you're custom-designing the office for your company, the world is your oyster. When you have an infinite array of options, it's easy to focus on style and aesthetic. Business organizational studies have invested a lot into studying what colors, textures, and levels of light exposure employees need to feel their happiest and their healthiest. But make sure you keep function high on your list of criteria. Look for design materials that offer these three qualities:
1. Easy cleanability
At the end of the day (or the start of the day), a clean office is better than a kitschy office. Do away with design materials that look great for the first three months and then show irreparable signs of wear. Real and unsealed stone surfaces, deep carpets, and thin plastics fall on this list because they'll get stained, worn, and sun-damaged. Look for subway tiles, sealed cork, and metal.
2. Sound-dampening potential
When you're in close quarters with your co-workers, the noise can be both overwhelming and distracting. The best way to dampen sound, especially if you don't have a lot of permanent walls, is with insulative materials. Use design materials like cork and fabric to erect temporary walls, dividers, and more. Even just filling common areas with plushy furniture instead of stark stools can absorb the noisiness.
3. Cohesiveness
Your office space is where you and your co-workers are going to be spending a lot of time. So it's important to make it a place that's comfortable, pleasant to look at, and with as little "corporatization" as possible. But it still has to be able to put on a professional face. Pick a color palette that gives you lots of options but still makes everything look put together.
Keeping these elements in mind as you design a fully functional, productive workspace is tricky. Contact Studio Other for help to make it happen.
