Make Your Office Space a Hub for Creativity and Innovation

Office décor and design should do more than impress, it should help foster innovation and stimulate creativity. Before you leave your office’s fluorescent lights and dull-gray carpet untouched, consider how a bland office environment might stifle your employees’ imagination and energy. Below we outlined some essential design elements that help foster innovation and productivity in the work environment.

Plants

Offices that include large or small plant features tend to improve creativity. The presence of plants gives off a more “relaxed”atmosphere. According to a study done by Texas A&M University, the presence of plants or flowers in an office actually increased innovative thinking and creative problem solving.

Color

Color can be psychologically provocative. In an office space, this can be a good or bad thing. Studies have found that warmer colors create a more stimulating environment, which can be distracting and generate feelings of anxiety. Researchers state more subtle, cooler colors work best as a staple design feature. Cool colors evoke feelings of calmness, much like plants and flowers.

Light

According to this article, people work better with more natural lighting than artificial lighting. Artificial lighting can induce high stress levels, disrupt productivity, and affect the health and well-being of your employees. If you were looking for a new office space, consider choosing one with large windows and natural lighting.

Architecture

Open spaces with minimal structural elements tend to be less distracting and bolster creative, free thinking. According to this study, office spaces with lower levels of architectural and design complexity coupled with bright, natural lighting help induce innovative thinking.

Layout

A well-structured office environment often starts with an effective office design. You may choose to adopt an open office layout, which have been known to promote collaboration between coworkers. Or, you may choose to work in a more closed office environment to improve productivity and control the noise level. Either way, you can eliminate distractions by strategically laying out your office plan. For example, you don’t want the employee lounge to be right next to people who prefer a lower noise levels and minimal distractions.