How to Make a Great First Impression with Office Design
When it comes to office design, your first instinct is to create an environment that will provide your employees with comfort and boost their productivity. However, if your business requires meetings with clients and partners, there is another factor to take into account – making a great first impression when these people come to visit you. If your customers and associates feel welcome in your office, they will be more inclined to do business with you.
Office design
Make sure the air is always fresh
Probably the first thing we notice when we walk into a room is the smell. That is why you must make sure that all unpleasant smells are eliminated. The same goes for stale air. It is vital to keep the room well-ventilated. If there are no windows that you can open, you can install fans and air conditioners. However, you also have to make sure that the temperature is not too high or too low as that can make people uncomfortable. Having an air purifier contributes to a pleasant ambiance as well. Additionally, think about incorporating some candles with natural scents as well as plants around the office. Plants will both help keep your air clean and elevate the mood in the office which also enhances productivity.
Natural lighting is best
While no one really wants to walk into a dark room, well-lit rooms are very inviting. The best kind of lighting is natural, as it can be a great mood booster. So if your office is blessed with plenty of sunshine, don’t ignore or block it. Install big windows and put up sheer curtains that let in light but do not allow it to create a glare on screens. However, even if you do not have access to natural light, all hope is not lost as there are now LEDs that can emulate natural light.
Choose the right colors
When it comes to choosing the colors which you will incorporate into your offices, you need to consider two factors – color psychology and your brand colors. A lot of people do not feel positive and productive surrounded by sterile white walls. Adding some vivid colors can personalize the space and make it more charming. You can redecorate the waiting rooms and reception to complement the colors of your brand, or use those colors if you are not already. That way, you will show that your company has a unique identity. Moreover, depending on the type of work you do, you can turn to color psychology to see which colors are best for your office. Yellow boosts creativity while blue is very calming, for example.
Put up directional signs
Another crucial aspect of making a great first impression is ensuring that your visitors can find their way around. If you have several floors, you can put up various boards to display all the information that people need. Show them how to get where they need to go. Moreover, if you’re organizing an event, you can even have some custom flag banners made. They are very practical as they can be moved easily and you can use them to display the timetable.
Add a welcoming area for meetings
In case your business does not require you to have a big conference room, your meetings can be held in a friendly area with conversational furniture. You can incorporate armchairs and sofas. Opting for round objects can bring a sense of comfort and peacefulness to your visitors. In addition, add some art pieces and motivational quotes as that can elevate the entire atmosphere.
Meetings area
Keep everything tidy
Regularly maintaining your office is of the essence. Clutter is very noticeable so make sure everything has its place in the office. Papers and tangled wires all over the place just make you look unprofessional. Not only will keeping everything clean and tidy make you look better in the eyes of your visitors but it will also make you more organized and productive. Additionally, also check your equipment and furniture on a regular basis. If you see that something is not working, fix or replace it. If any of the furniture is worn out, get new pieces. If any lights are out, replace the bulbs.
As you can see, creating an inviting design for your office is not at all hard. However, if you really think that you cannot pull this off, you can always talk to a professional designer.
