How much time do you think you spend on the job? Ever feel like you’ve been living in the office? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic, adults between the ages of 25 and 54 spend 8.6 hours on work and work-related activities during the average workday—and that’s counting part-time employees. Work probably accounts for the biggest chunk of your day, so why not turn your workspace into an environment where you’ll feel comfortable, content and inspired?
Reject the prevailing notion that offices should be boring. A vibrant, stimulating work environment can motivate staff, foster interaction and encourage employees to think outside the box.
Photo via Instructables.com
Want some ideas to start with? Check out Scrappy Face’s office space and office supplies Pinterest boards. We are constantly hunting for new ways to enliven the office, ranging from fun and functional office staples (dachshund paperclips, anyone?) to inventive storage solutions. Check out the coffee-table-size Rubik’s Cube, pictured above, with space inside to stash supplies. We’ve also found creative uses for ordinarily underutilized spaces: Imagine transforming a blank office wall into a giant blackboard calendar or whiteboard for jotting down ideas and sharing information.
No matter what your budget, you can find smart strategies to cultivate a more appealing, organized and productive workplace.
- Recycle tin cans or old spice containers to organize office supplies and tame clutter.
- Decorate walls with vinyl cutouts of your logo to build company spirit.
- Beautify the office with an inexpensive Ikea chandelier and forgo drab overhead lighting.
- Maximize your space by going vertical with hanging binders or magnetic boards that double as an in-box.
- Splash out for these inventive office gadgets recommended by the Awwwards, which promote and recognize the world’s best developers, web agencies and designers.
- Bring the outdoors indoors with imaginative office furniture, such as a comfy bird’s nest for team meetings or clever rock-shaped cushions to cultivate a Zen atmosphere.
Still not convinced about the influence of work environments on productivity? Check out how hugely successful offices such as Red Bull Amsterdam and Google London boost company image, encourage teamwork and spark creative thinking. Designed by Sid Lee Architects, Red Bull’s Amsterdam headquarters gives its employees wings by providing sleek, light-filled workspaces with high ceilings, asymmetrical walls, attractive common areas, splashes of color and artistic details featuring, well, wings! The colorful Brighton-themed Google London office, designed by architecture firm Scott Brownrigg, makes employees feel like they’re on a beach vacation, even when they’re putting in long hours on the job. With a balance of open-plan office space, “beach hut” nooks for small-group collaborations and private spaces such as red phone boxes, Google lets its employees find the right space to share ideas and concentrate on tasks.
Photo via BecauseWeCan.org
Innovative office design isn’t just for the big boys either; take a look at the steampunk submarine office environment that Oakland-based design-build studio Because We Can created for scrappy video game startup Three Rings—for half the price of cubicles. What company wouldn’t want to add personality to its workplace if it also saves money?
Photo via addicted Eyes
Finally, take inspiration from these organizations, who build their brand right into their buildings. From the basket-shaped headquarters of basket-maker Longaberger to the giant bookshelf walls surrounding the Kansas City Library’s garage, these attention-grabbing examples of inventive architecture are instant advertising.
What have you done to brighten up your workspace?
