Improving Office Wellbeing & Health With Interior Office Designs

Improving office wellbeing has been shown to enhance productivity, increase morale and even improve staff retention. It is estimated that poor productivity and the number of days lost to sick leave costs the UK economy an estimated 7.5 billion a year.

In recent years, open-plan offices have been pinpointed as the principal culprit, but there are numerous design faults in today۪s offices that often do little to support office wellbeing.

It۪s well-founded that the structure and layout of buildings has an impact on mental and physical wellbeing. Consequently, interior office designers and architects have to consider wellbeing office design concepts that promote mood and positive psychological responses.

Promoting health and wellbeing in the office through interior design involves more than selecting engaging fabrics and installing ergonomic furniture for aesthetic purposes. Wellbeing office designs have to create a functional and flexible space that enhances the relationship between people and their environment.

If your office design is not conducive to the health and wellbeing in the workplace for your employees, your business could be producing less output and you could be making staff miserable. Maybe it۪s time to consider an upgrade.

A growing number of today۪s workforce want a healthy work-life balance. Millennials, in particular, prioritise their personal life over job security. Ultimately, employees are more loyal to companies and deliver more output when they are happy.

According to the latest research from the University of Warwick, economists undertook various experiments testing the idea that happy employees work harder.

In a trial environment they found that happiness increased the productivity of a workforce by 12%. This evidence shows office interior design as one of the main factors that has a direct impact on happiness and wellbeing.

Companies that invest in employee wellness, support development and create a happy working environment foster employee satisfaction.

According to a report published by Fellowes, 93% of workers in the tech industry confirmed they prefer to work for companies that provide a healthy work environment designed to promote mental and physical wellbeing.

With this in mind, the conditions and workspace in which your employees operate should be designed to enhance wellbeing. Encourage your employees to positively interact with their surroundings and gear the design towards improving their quality of life at work.

A people-centred workspace is obviously not the be-all and end-all of ensuring employee satisfaction and wellbeing, but a healthy office design does contribute to reducing stress levels which ultimately increases productivity levels.

Scientific research confirms natural light plays a crucial role in physical health. The vitamin D we get from sunlight enhances mood and helps to prevent delimitating illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and weight gain.

Natural sunlight alleviates levels of anxiety, symptoms of depression and helps to regulate the body۪s circadian rhythm. Because daylight suppresses melatonin levels, our natural body clock function optimally and we rest better at night so benefit from a sound sleep.

Indoor lighting, on the other hand, can have a negative impact on physical health including eyestrain, headaches and low energy levels which result in lower productivity.

A combined study published by researchers in professional disciplines including medicine, psychology and clinical chronobiology concluded natural light impacts mood, alertness and wellbeing. Subjects overall preferred the daylighting for visual acceptance and glare.

Research conducted by the Swiss Federal Institution of Technology also found that employees working in office environments with natural light have higher levels of energy and produce a higher rate of output.

Today۪s interior designers look to make full use of natural light sources when designing for office wellbeing. Natural light can be drawn by installing large windows, expansive screen walls and skylights, which is why many designers incorporate windows into wellbeing rooms at work. Using natural light sources also negates the need to use artificial lighting thus making your office more energy efficient.

Industry research indicates indoor lighting should mimic daylight. Recently, manufacturers have been producing ambient lighting with warmer colour temperatures and LEDs with integrated controls.

Blue lighting is recognised to suppress melatonin levels, increase energy levels and alertness. However, prolonged use can cause eyes train, blurry vision, headache, neck and back pain.

Because computer screens and handheld devices emit blue lightwaves, Light Fidelity lighting (Li-Fi) should be used for artificial lighting. Li-Fi LED lights use infra-red and ultra-violet visible light waves and can be operated via wi-fi routers.

Indoor lighting should also be used to complement other design elements as well as serve a purpose to people using the room. The level of comfort created by lighting impacts ease of vision and is imperative in a working environment.

Art has a longstanding association with power, sparking imagination and influencing thought. Ruling classes have used powerful images throughout millennia to influence subjects and promote their ambition.

It۪s no secret that imagery in marketing can influence purchasing decisions and prompt internet users to click on a link. If you۪re using compelling images to influence your customers, then why not hang artwork that inspires your employees.

A paper published in the Journal of Business Research showed that creative individuals with an openness to artwork feel more inspired in their daily lives and perform better at creative tasks. Appreciating artwork cultivates inspiration.

Other studies have found that art can boost creativity and help reduce stress levels. The two work hand-in-hand. Contemplative aspects of art relieve feelings of pressure in high-stress settings.

Artwork that portrays a diverse range of provocative images that critically represents present-day life and culture is a strong communicator that arouses dialogue and innovative thinking. In turn, artwork can help improve health and wellbeing in the office by creating points of discussion and encouraging active imagination.

Hanging mantras and quotes as part of your wellbeing office design can also work to stimulate thought and motivate staff. Combined with the right colour scheme in the right setting, artwork can have positive affects on cognitive performance.

Because wellbeing is about feeling good and functioning to the best of our ability, it makes sense to promote physical exercise. Promoting movement can can be achieved in a variety of ways in your wellbeing office design.

A growing theme of interior design in the corporate world is the agile office. Flexible workspace encourages your employees to move around the office and make the most of cloud connectivity and mobile devices.

Sitting in one position for long periods is proven to damage the musculoskeletal structure and increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, strokes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Being physically active, on the other hand, is shown to reduce symptoms of physical and mental health. Design strategists, therefore, consider how office space can be utilised more efficiently whilst encouraging employees to flex their limbs throughout the day.

Today۪s office designs should encourage your employees to take a proactive role in their health and wellbeing in the workplace. You can encourage them to interact with their work environment by installing adjustable workstations (AWS) or sit-stand desks can give them the option to changed position.

Some Fortune 500 companies are taking physical movement to the next level by installing games rooms with pool tables, fuss ball tables and even five-a-side football pitches.

Whilst such frivolous activities are not plausible for most businesses, providing a variety of workspace options such as private nooks, community hubs and stairs-only access encourage movement and exert physical energy.

According to a paper published by the Centre for Active Design in the US, open and accessible stairways persuade people to use them rather than taking the elevator.

Businesses can also encourage employees to stay healthy by promoting physical exercise. People will cycle to work if there are more amenities such as bicycle storage and a shower, for example.

If you don۪t have enough space in the office to build your own gym, sports centre or games room, why not offer membership discounts with your local gym.

Creating office spaces with wellness in mind can benefit both companies and their employees. It can reduce sick days, motivate staff, increase their productivity, increase employee satisfaction and retain top talent. How can your office design benefit your company?