A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.

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How to Improve Your Brand Through Office Design

We’ve constantly been hearing about branding, but before you tackle your office branding, first you need to know what it actually is. According to experts, the name of your business, its symbols and colors and its design all fall under the features of one’s brand, and thanks to it, buyers can differentiate your products from those other products. A brand also holds in itself a ton of company values, the culture of your community, your product personality and your internal and external integrity. And while businesses often use big budgets on marketing, communications, packaging, etc., there’s one part of branding that’s often overlooked—office braiding.

We’ve constantly been hearing about branding, but before you tackle your office branding, first you need to know what it actually is. According to experts, the name of your business, its symbols and colors and its design all fall under the features of one’s brand, and thanks to it, buyers can differentiate your products from those other products. A brand also holds in itself a ton of company values, the culture of your community, your product personality and your internal and external integrity. And while businesses often use big budgets on marketing, communications, packaging, etc., there’s one part of branding that’s often overlooked—office braiding.

If you want to make your offices attractive and recognizable for customers, it’s crucial to add some branding to it. This move has many benefits, but it mostly serves the purpose of improving your brand visibility. So how can you boost your brand through office design?

Separate the zones

One of the first things you can do when designing your office branding is to make a difference between spaces in your office, mainly client and worker spaces. Why? Well, clients and workers have a different experiences in your company, so they need to be treated differently. For instance, it’s easy for staff to see through the client branding because they know all the business secrets and see the products every day. Therefore, they deserve different branding tactics that also send a good message and boost the connection between the brand and the staff members.

Create a carefully-curated color scheme

Colors have a huge influence on human beings, so it’s essential to create a good color scheme in your space, making sure it relates well to your brand. Using colors associated with your brand and logo on the walls is quite logical, so don’t hesitate to do so. However, if your company colors include very bold and bright shades that would be very distracting when placed on the walls, focus on the nature of your industry instead. For instance, if your industry is very stressful, it’s not smart to worsen that stress by using those reds or blacks from your logo or lettering. But let’s say you work in digital industries—plenty of digital marketing options, tech advancements and innovative materials and textures are a great solution.

Add some interesting signage

Signs are one of those things that people are programmed to notice and remember, so make sure to use them in a creative way in your office to boost your branding. With an experienced creative graphic design studio on your side, you can come up with a super fun logo or redesign your existing logo to add some more interest, to display your new offer of goods. From small signage boards to big billboard-size signs, you can go as small and subtle or as big and bold as you want, depending on the nature of your brand. These signs are guaranteed to be noticed, no matter the size of your business.

Put focus on touchpoints

Don’t think you can go crazy with branding. The key to improving your brand through interior design is subtlety—you have a very fine line to balance on. In order not to overdo it, you can focus on the areas that have the biggest impact on customers. This is naturally the reception area which should be branded clearly, so people know who you are, what you do and what you stand for right away. Do the same for the most important areas for your staff and identify the behaviors you want to encourage through branding.

Choose the right furniture

It’s possible to showcase your brand and company values through furniture as well—it’s not all about the walls. If your brand aims to evoke safety, comfort and relaxation, make sure your furniture matches this philosophy. And forget all about the traditional approach of your industry to furniture, and try to stand out in the best possible way. For instance, coworking spaces are leading the way in innovative furniture and branding through furniture with their café designs, homey designs or natural inspirations.

Display and use your products

Some brands offer abstract products that can’t really be showcased in action, but those that can should be displayed and used around the office for clients and staff to see. There’s no better way to tell the story of your brand than through your products. For instance, food-based companies can create a tasting hub or a small kitchen in their central part to demonstrate what they are all about in the best way possible.

Office branding can be one of the best ways to grow your brand and create a meaningful connection with your staff and customers. And make sure that all your branding options are flexible, meaning they can be adjusted for your future brand growth and development—this is a pro tip many forget to use. 

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Important Considerations When Designing Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings account for a significant portion of the global infrastructure, with the best ones sticking with us and continuing to inspire us to this day. But as trends and priorities continue to evolve over the years, building designs and features tend to follow. Nowadays, simply creating a striking, memorable, and influential design isn’t enough; the building has to serve a practical purpose and cater to changing client needs as well. With that in mind, here are some of the most important considerations all architects should have in mind when designing commercial buildings:

We partnered with a furniture company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Commercial buildings account for a significant portion of the global infrastructure, with the best ones sticking with us and continuing to inspire us to this day. But as trends and priorities continue to evolve over the years, building designs and features tend to follow. Nowadays, simply creating a striking, memorable, and influential design isn’t enough; the building has to serve a practical purpose and cater to changing client needs as well. With that in mind, here are some of the most important considerations all architects should have in mind when designing commercial buildings:

Energy efficiency

As the world becomes more mindful of the environment, commercial buildings are expected to reflect the same tendencies. In most cases, this means designing for energy efficiency with better exteriors that provide good insulation, offer fire resistance, enable soundproofing, increase the strength of the structure, and minimize overall maintenance costs. However, additional features such as high-efficiency HVAC systems and the use of solar panels are appreciated as well. It also seems like the LEED certification has become the norm for commercial buildings attempting to cater to greener, more eco-conscious clients.

Maximizing sunlight

The demand for energy efficiency and environmentally-friendly solutions combined with the practical purpose of commercial buildings also means that natural lighting is highly valued in these spaces. Sunlight reduces lighting costs and thus minimizes overall energy consumption while lifting the mood, boosting energy and focus, and enabling optimal work. Increasing the amount of natural light is a key consideration for modern commercial spaces, but sunlight alone might not be enough. The addition of smart glass that can be tinted or glazed to control temperatures, reduce brightness, and eliminate glare might be equally as important.

Waste management

Although often overlooked, waste management is another crucial aspect that should be considered during the design stage, especially as the need for eco-friendly solutions increases. Clients are now demanding better waste systems all around the world, but especially in countries such as Australia. Here, implementing a robust and efficient waste chute from Melbourne and utilizing commercial outdoor trash cans has become the norm for commercial buildings. These highly technological solutions are convenient and easy to use, helping to improve safety and hygiene in commercial spaces while satisfying the rising need for better waste management. These highly technological solutions are convenient and easy to use, helping to improve safety and hygiene in commercial spaces while satisfying the rising need for better waste management.

Collaborative spaces

Across the US, on the other hand, the collaborative work trend is gaining more popularity, and building design isn’t immune to this tendency either. Nowadays, commercial buildings have to support collaboration through open and inviting areas where employees can freely communicate and share ideas. For that reason, local architects tend to include open spaces where casual seating can be placed in their designs. These areas tend to have plenty of natural light, sound-inhibiting materials, and inviting interior design that gives workers an informal place to meet, relax, and work together on important projects.

Higher flexibility

Along with collaboration, the need for flexibility is also increasing, particularly in terms of work environments that allow for different work zones within a shared space. Some employees prefer privacy, others like working in an open office environment, while many might enjoy a combination of both. Flexible workspaces that cater to both individual offices and open floor plans tend to be the ideal compromise that might even help to boost employee productivity. Meetings and collaborative projects can be held in the common areas while more sensitive tasks can be performed away from all the hustle and bustle.

Great surroundings

A vital consideration for commercial building design is also whether buildings should stand out or blend in with their surroundings. For commercial spaces attempting to maintain an established style or attract new customers, striking design features might be advantageous. However, designing buildings in line with their surroundings may be a better solution overall. Natural materials can aid in environmental friendliness, subtle accents can lead to unique facades without becoming obtrusive, and the utilization of the available outdoor space can provide plenty of benefits to the overall work environment in the commercial building.

Evidently, commercial building design trends and tendencies tend to evolve along with societal changes. The considerations mentioned above are just some of the most important aspects architects should have in mind when attempting to meet the needs of their clients.

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Design For productivity: Some Ideas To Consider On Your Next Office Remodel

Every business setup has the objective of staying profitable and becoming a success. For this reason, entrepreneurs and group owners of more prominent corporations are always on the hunt for success at all costs possible. It is no longer news that one thing you should consider if you want to be successful is your workforce. Whether you like it or not, your employees will determine how successful your company becomes, if you do have employees. With this in mind, you should know that the design of your office will play a big part in determining how well your employees will thrive at their desks. Here are some office design ideas.

Every business setup has the objective of staying profitable and becoming a success. For this reason, entrepreneurs and group owners of more prominent corporations are always on the hunt for success at all costs possible. It is no longer news that one thing you should consider if you want to be successful is your workforce. Whether you like it or not, your employees will determine how successful your company becomes, if you do have employees. With this in mind, you should know that the design of your office will play a big part in determining how well your employees will thrive at their desks. Here are some office design ideas.

Consider the lighting

Apart from the fact that poor lighting will make the employees strain their eyes to work, there is this energy to work that comes with a properly lighted environment. Poor lighting causes headaches, fatigue, stress, and a host of other problems. Apart from these physical issues, there could also be repercussions to your mental health when an environment is dark and gloomy. To boost productivity, you must improve the lighting of the office. Make sure there is more influx of natural lighting by creating more windows. Natural lighting is free and brings happiness also. You can also install some indirect lighting which will still be bright and won't affect the eyes. Collaboration amongst employees can help with more productivity and when the lighting is poor, there will be no zeal to meet up for important discussions that will move the office forward.

Office painting

It may not seem like much to you but an employee could receive an extra boost in energy just because of the colors around the office environment. Colors have a major effect on our emotions and productivity. White color is not a good one according to studies. The choice of color for the painting can be green for creativity and blue for productivity. Red is also a good option for activities that require attending to details but it can reduce analytical reasoning. There are many roundups of how to use color psychology in your office according to research. A variety of color environments can be planned for different activities with an aim of creating a more productive environment. Regular repainting and designing of the office are also good, as it makes the employees have a feeling that they are changing environments. So, that feeling of working from office spaces in Atlanta or Nashville for instance can be experienced in the office just because the design and painting are changed regularly.

Consider an open design

The modern offices have been able to identify that large, open spaces will bring about a psyche of not being choked. An employee will not do too well if that feeling is there. As opposed to the cubicles and closed places, an open environment gives more room for a collaborative culture, which brings about relationship-building and productivity. Open office designs also feel more aerated and cleaner. Constructions costs are usually lower also as you wouldn’t have to build cubicles here and there. Claustrophobia and work-related stress cannot bring about productivity and this is what a choked-up office could cause. If you need to boost employee morale, workplace satisfaction, and productivity, you need to design your office to be more open than building secluded cubicles in it.

Build a gym room

Exercises help employees relieve tired body cells and tissues and also help their mental health to refresh and be prepared to take on more tasks. So, you can create a section in the office and furnish it with gym equipment that is not too big. There are several compact workout equipment these days and the goal is to get something that everyone in the office will be encouraged to use. Apart from the impact of this on the health and wellness of the employees, it also encourages collaboration. This will help form healthy relationships and birth innovative ideas that can boost productivity in the office.

Final word

Office remodeling is usually cost-intensive and you want to make sure you do it right so it can have a better impact on the employees. Though it depends on the owner’s preferences and employees’ needs, comfortability should be the main objective. The concluded job should be safe and aesthetically appealing for the promotion of satisfaction and productivity.

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How to Design a Functional Home Office

In order to be productive and efficient in your work, you need to work in optimal conditions. That goes both for the traditional office and a home office. Working from home has only slowly started gaining popularity when it was all sped up by the sudden coronavirus outbreak. Many people around the world were caught unprepared at that moment, without having an actual home office and being forced to work from home. Only at that moment did many people realize how important it is to have an actual home office, with all its aspects. If you work from home full-time or part-time and you still haven’t designed your ideal home office, it’s high time you did so. It will benefit you in terms of productivity, efficiency and comfort, making it pleasant for you to work.

So, you should start with finding the right place for your home office - it doesn’t have to be a separate room. When you have found it, you should focus on using soothing colors for walls and other features. Then comes the essence of a highly functional and practical home office - picking out stylish and comfortable office furniture. It’s important to make it bright and add some plants for cleaner air. When organizing the furniture in your home, you should keep the view in mind as you want it to be as perfect as it can be. And of course, for peace of mind, you need to keep your office clean and organized at all times.

In order to be productive and efficient in your work, you need to work in optimal conditions. That goes both for the traditional office and a home office. Working from home has only slowly started gaining popularity when it was all sped up by the sudden coronavirus outbreak. Many people around the world were caught unprepared at that moment, without having an actual home office and being forced to work from home. Only at that moment did many people realize how important it is to have an actual home office, with all its aspects. If you work from home full-time or part-time and you still haven’t designed your ideal home office, it’s high time you did so. It will benefit you in terms of productivity, efficiency and comfort, making it pleasant for you to work. 

So, you should start with finding the right place for your home office - it doesn’t have to be a separate room. When you have found it, you should focus on using soothing colors for walls and other features. Then comes the essence of a highly functional and practical home office - picking out stylish and comfortable office furniture. It’s important to make it bright and add some plants for cleaner air. When organizing the furniture in your home, you should keep the view in mind as you want it to be as perfect as it can be. And of course, for peace of mind, you need to keep your office clean and organized at all times. 

1. Find the right place

This is the first and the most important step in designing a functional home office. If you have an extra room in your home that you can turn into a home office, good for you - use it by all means. Or you can even adapt some other room if you don’t use it as often as you would a home office. This is up to you. However, not everybody is blessed with an extra room lying around. 

Many people need to find some other solution. So, what you can do is think about the room where you can integrate your home office. You actually just need some part of the room. It can be your bedroom, living room, dining room or even the kitchen. What you need to consider additionally is the noise and people traffic. After all, you need a quiet room, without too many people passing through. It will help you focus more easily and be prompt about your work. 

2. Use soothing colors

Now that you have chosen the spot for your home office, it’s time for picking out colors. Again, the level of modifications depends on where your office is going to be. You can think about the colors that make you feel soothed and productive. You can consider repainting the walls to fit your office needs. Also, you will have these colors in mind when picking out the furniture, which is the next essential step. Interior designers suggest using colors such as warm shades of brown, taupe or sand for creating a non-distracting background. On the other hand, light blue shades are connected to clear thinking, while dark blue colors create a stable atmosphere. If you work long hours, then light shades of green are a perfect option for you as they don’t tire our eyes.

3. Pick out stylish and comfortable office furniture

The next step is all about picking out stylish and comfortable furniture. The choice of furniture is closely connected to the job you do. However, some furniture pieces are key for almost all jobs out there that you can do from home. So, what every home office needs is a big-enough stable desk and an ergonomic chair to support your back. Moreover, some technology such as a desktop or a laptop and a printer is usually a part of a home office. And we mustn’t forget about some handy storage space. This will help us keep our office organized and tidy. 

When it comes to working from home, good thing is that you have more freedom to choose your place of working if you get bored with your office. For instance, if you have a yard or a garden, you can go and work outside in fresh air. All you need is some comfy patio furniture and retractable shade sails when the sun is too strong. Imagine working from a peaceful, luscious green garden, while sipping your coffee, smelling mixed flower scents, listening to birds chirping happily and a warm breeze going through your hair? Hard to resist, right? This wouldn’t even feel like work.

4. Make it bright and add some plants

In order for your home office to be fully optimized and functional, it should be bright enough. So, have that in mind when picking out the spot for your home office. Ideally, it would be a room with big windows, so you can have plenty of natural light. It boosts your mood and sets a positive atmosphere. 

Moreover, you can never go wrong with adding some plants to your home office. It is also advisable in other rooms as well. By adding a few plants here and there, you incorporate a natural element in your home office. Additionally, plants purify the air, so besides being a nice sight for our eyes, they are also beneficial for our health. 

5. Consider the view

When thinking about how to organize your home office in the best way possible, you should consider the view you want to see when working. That will fasten the process of designating where your desk will be, and then the other things as well. You always first start with the desk as it is a central piece of your home office. If you have a window that gives you a look at a park or your garden, place your desk in front of it. In that way, you’ll be able to enjoy a nice view and fresh air when opening the window.

6. Keep it clean and organized

Of course, keeping your office clutter-free and organized is implied, but we’re still going to mention it. Working in a neat office where everything has its place is key to feeling mentally at ease and being able to perform your job efficiently.

When it comes to designing a home office, you have more freedom in making it just the way it soothes you, which you can’t always do at the company’s office. Make sure you use this potential in the right way.

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