Creating an Office That Feels Like Home

A study conducted by Indeed demonstrates that 73% of remote workers pine for interaction with their colleagues in person. Furthermore, more companies are realising that while working remotely can slash costs, it can also reduce the quality of work. But what’s more concerning is how it affects your staff’s mental health. People often feel isolated when they don’t need to be in the office. Therefore, it is time to resurrect the office space and create a reason for employees to leave their convenient workspace at home and return to the office. Below, we will provide a few strategies to revive the office and make it a comfortable replacement for a comfy home. These strategies focus on one foundational principle — making an office that feels like home.

Background Music

Allowing employees to tune into their favourite music can make an office feel like home. Besides, soft instrumental music or natural sounds act as a perfect background for work, reducing stress and boosting concentration.

Various streaming platforms, as well as personally created playlists, offer numerous opportunities to find fitting rhythms and beats. Music genres, such as classical, jazz, or ambient, create a melodic atmosphere, making the office feel like a cosy retreat. You can even make it fun by getting your workforce involved in running the music on set days to keep morale high. 

Make the Commute Easier

One more way to make your employees’ lives easier is to introduce incentives for getting to work. By partnering with companies such as loveelectric.cars, you can offer a salary sacrifice scheme through which your employees can use a portion of their salary to buy a range of used EVs (electric vehicles). 

This way, employees will enjoy safer, lower-maintenance vehicles and reduce their carbon footprint. While you, as employers, will demonstrate an active commitment to a cleaner future and boost employee morale. Not to mention, staff will now look forward to the commute, as they will be travelling in style. 

Adding a Touch of Home Away from Home

Photographs of family members, beloved pets, or private art pieces in an office space bring warmth and a homey spirit. Frames and photo collages on a desk or wall help maintain a personal environment for your employees. Allowing employees to bring their personal art pieces to the office can also make the area unique while giving them a sense of ownership. Often, employers restrict personal items coming into work but that’s a mistake; embrace them.

Plants for a Touch Of Nature

Succulent ferns or small potted plants give the office a breath of fresh air and make it feel garden-fresh. They improve the air quality while also creating a calm ambience. Some of the plants, such as; basil, mint, or lavender, provide a pleasant scent for additional comfort. Plants have a significant impact on the space you create for your employees in the office.

Quality Air Circulation

Additionally, maintaining good air quality helps increase the comfort of your office space. Proper ventilation and cool indoor air systems, including ceiling fans, can improve indoor air quality. A slow-spinning fan aids in preventing stuffiness in the workspace by allowing better airflow. A draft of wind comes in through an open window, and you and your coworkers will feel an instant burst of cooler air.

Cozy Rugs or Carpets

Using a thick, soft, luxury carpet or rug adds warmth and comfort to the room, particularly in the winter. Carpets can also serve as a sound-absorbing agent, keeping the room quieter and a more productive place to work. Patterned or textured rugs also make the room seem less corporate, allowing your employees to add an extra degree of comfort to their workspace.

Casual Seating Area

Shorter armchairs or even a small couch makes the room more comfortable and creates a more laid-back environment. It evokes a sense of socialisation within your workspace, which is ultimately the main reason people will want to come back to work. A small coffee table with a few books or magazines adds to the casual atmosphere, making the working environment less official. Bring your staff together so they remember why they once loved working in the office, pre-Covid.

Color Scheme That Calms the Mind

Creating a calming colour scheme, including soft blues, greens, or neutral hues, fosters a serene environment. Brighter hues assist in enlarging the room, whereas darker ones introduce depth and a warm sensation. Colour walls or objects in more relaxing hues can help keep the mind relaxed and focused while making it more pleasant to work in. 

Soft Lightning

Another option to embrace a more natural atmosphere is to use desk and floor lamps with soft, diffused light. If possible, install lamps with a dimmer, letting employees modify the level of light intensity. This is perfect for both work and relaxation; such lighting, coupled with good posture, contributes to a focused attitude at work.

Conclusion

With the above aspects in mind, you should be capable of creating a comfortable workspace that not only accommodates productivity but also supports the well-being of your employees. Little details go a long way towards transforming the office environment and making it feel less formal and more like home. Work becomes less of a burden and more of a joy when the space promotes socialisation.