No matter how many people are in your office, whether it’s 50 or even just you, an office upgrade is like anything in life: when you spend a little time nurturing it, the results are often filtered out in more ways than you’d expect.
If making your bed in the morning can help you become more productive, then investing the same pinch of care and attention into your office can help you and your workers find that little burst of motivation to invest back into themselves.
This article will be exploring some easy ways to improve your office space that don’t involve a full-scale make over. Upgrading doesn’t have to be particularly expensive or time-consuming. Just a small bit of TLC, or a clever investment. can make all the difference, and totally transform the space.
Keep reading to discover our 6 simple ways to revamp your Joburg office space.
1. Upgrade that coffee machine
Unless you’re living completely in the wrong century, you’ll probably have some form of coffee making facility in your office, even if it’s just a kettle. You and your colleagues put in their hard working hours to contribute to your business, and one of the easiest ways to say thank you is by installing a proper, quality coffee machine in the workplace. Pick a modern design that is guaranteed to deliver a first-rate mug every time, and save collective hours built up on journeys to and from the local cafe.
What’s more, if you have an existing or prospective client over, they’ll be much more impressed if you’re able to offer them a barista-level pick me up, whilst still being able to discuss your projects or plans in the relative privacy of your office.
2. Bring in some greenery
Who doesn’t love plants? Well, those who are in charge of taking care of them most of the time. But even if you’re not a natural green thumb, there are plenty of options to liven up your workspace with a bit of colour. So long as your office has some natural light, there’ll be plant species who would love to call your office home. Being surrounded by plants is proven to increase our mental health, and this is equally as true in a work setting as it is at home.
If you work with a larger team of people, taking care of the office plants can become a group responsibility, and an opportunity to bond over something that isn’t work-related. For loyal employees, an office plant is a perfect parting gift for those moving on; a memory to take from their old job into their next.
3. Add a statement piece of furniture
A statement piece of furniture doubles up when it comes to an office revamp. Firstly, bringing in a new, large item to your office space is the easiest way to create the largest visible difference with the least physical change. Rather than going for the basic run-of-the-mill sofa, clinical chair or bog-standard coffee table, why not choose something that’s pleasing to the eye, as an artistic addition to your space?
Having something interesting to look at can stimulate the brain in moments of stagnation. It doesn’t have to be anything revolutionary, but will also show your colleagues that you value creating an interesting space to work in. And of course - investing in functional artwork rather than simply buying a large sculpture has its functional benefits too, as a place to rest, to eat, or to store books and magazines.
4. Assess the kitchen space
Is your kitchen looking a little sad and drab? Kitchen spaces in offices are very prone to turning from opportunities to rejuvenate and relax into purely functional areas that become akin to brutalist architecture with their sad stack of plates, and a microwave that has seen better days, perhaps even better decades.
Spend a moment to assess your kitchen area with fresh eyes. Could it do with a deep clean, to get rid of the build up of grime and crumbs in the corners of drawers and shelves? Are you missing forks, or teaspoons, and does that dishwasher sponge really need to be kept suffering threadbare for another 6 - 8 weeks? Treat your kitchen at work as you would at home, however small, and you’ll feel a lot happier when using it to cook and eat from.
5. Fill empty wall space
Plain, white (or insert your colour here) walls can invite a clean, productive mindset. A ‘blank slate’ to mirror the same working attitude. However, if every single wall in your office is whitewashed and left bare, you and your employees may soon start feeling like you’re working in a corporate prison box.
Wall space can be easily upgraded, either with posters and paintings, or wall hangings and shelving units. Not only will this reduce clutter on the floor, it will lift the eye and make the office feel more dimensional.
6. Clean the bathroom
All too often the poor office bathroom gets neglected in a revamp. Bathrooms in office spaces tend to end up becoming the place with the least thought; simply a basic room to do your business. However, it’s unlikely that the bathroom in your house is subject to the same (lack of) decoration. And, especially if you work 9-5, since we spend so much time in the office, putting effort into all of it, even the bathroom, is important if you want you and your colleagues to feel like you’re working in a well cared for space.
So hang up a picture, clean out the bins, remove the empty toilet rolls, and add a diffuser. These simple touches are so easily achievable, and they make all the difference. As the saying goes in hospitality - you judge a place by the quality of its bathroom.
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As you can see, an office revamp doesn’t need to mean turning all the desks upside down and starting from scratch. We’ve demonstrated 6 easy ways you can upgrade your second home, and make it not only a more productive office, but a more enjoyable place to spend time in for all those who step inside it.
