Have you entered an office and immediately wanted to suffocate? Yes, a bad layout does that. The office that is either cramped spaces, weird desk placements, or simply zero personality is the office that kills productivity. Working in the best interior design company in Dubai, I have seen the impact of a smart layout. Here are the best ways to create a workspace that enhances movement, focus, and overall job satisfaction I will discuss in this blog.
Factors to consider
The Flow Factor
Do you have those kinds of offices where you have to zigzag through desks around chairs to get a printout? Absolute nightmare. I’ve been in places where you could see no one thought about movement, where people are constantly bumping into each other, and blocked paths and bottlenecks all the way through.
Your office layout should allow people to move freely and naturally, without confusion. Imagine people naturally walking, between desks, to meeting rooms, the kitchen, the bathroom.
Team Talk vs. Focus Zone
Ah, the ongoing debate between open offices and cubicles. I’ve experienced the chaos of an overly open layout, and it can be overwhelming. You hear all conversations; all keyboard clicks; all annoying calls when Steve from accounting is on speakerphone. However, go too far with cubicles, it is like you are working in a maze of isolation.
The best offices balance both. Open areas for collaboration? Great. But also, provide private spaces where employees can focus and work without distractions.
Boss Watch
Have you ever worked with a boss who always plotted themselves in the office’s centre like an omnipotent overlord? Or you just had one who had been tucked away so far down that you had to arrange a full expedition just to ask a question? Both are bad.
However, managers should be available but not breathing down employees’ necks. I once worked in an office where the boss sat directly behind everyone, leaving no privacy and no personal space for us. Not fun. On the other hand, I also worked where managers were so secluded in a distant office that they almost lost touch with the team.
Sunlight & Vibes
Lighting is everything. I’ve been working in underlit offices that could have been dungeons and others with that flat fluorescent light that made you wonder what the hell you had chosen out of life. Natural light? Game changer. It’s no wonder why people will fight for desks by windows. This reduces stress and boosts mood.
Maximise that daylight if you’re pulling together an office. Even if windows are scarce, at least find windows that bring decent light, that don’t blind everyone with a sleepless look on their faces.
Power Up
Have you ever had to crawl underneath a desk while dressed in business casual shoes, trying to plug in your laptop like some sort of tech support gremlin? Been there. The fact that outlet placement is not even thought of in offices is ridiculous.
There should be easy access to power at every desk. Meeting rooms must need to have enough power outlets to prevent people from struggling to charge their devices.
Break Spot Magic
Once, I had worked in a place where the ‘break room’, if you can call it that, was nothing more than a sad, small corner with a microwave and a fridge so disgusting I almost wished for death. There was no one who wanted to work there, no one, and morale was trash.
A break room shouldn’t feel like a punishment. Employees must need a space to relax and recharge, even for only 10 minutes. Add some plants, nice furniture and maybe even a snack stash and boom, happier employees.
Noise Control 101
Too loud? Can’t focus. Or too quiet? It feels like a library where people are afraid to make any noise. Offices must need to have a balance.
The office I worked in had zero noise control, calling everywhere, people carrying on all the time, EVERYTHING was just noise. Productivity? Non-existent. There was the other extreme with someone who was so silent that you could hear someone typing from across the room. Also, weird. The choice between hearing and being heard should never be made.
Brand It, Baby
If your office looks like a more common, lifeless corporate space, it’s likely not to be designed effectively. Every single thing looks like it could come from any stereotype and is devoid of personality or character. White walls, generic desks, zero personality… Snooze fest. The secret is a little branding, some neat artwork and a few pops of colour.
There were offices where I felt like I would work out of an Excel spreadsheet. Then there are several offices where the company’s identity is mostly reflected in the colours, furniture, and small details, making it an inviting place to work. The company’s culture should be reflected through an office setting, not a sad office supply catalogue copies pasted office.
Desk Drama
Not all jobs require the same type of desk, and not all desks even serve the same purpose. Have you ever seen a designer cramped into a tiny cubicle with no place for their gargantuan monitor? An accountant struggling with too little desk space, or an architect trying to work on a massive screen in a cramped area. I have, and it’s really painful.
Make design of the workspace depend on the real job. Some roles require large screens, some require storage, and the individual can need a standing desk because sitting is essentially slow-motion torture all day. One-size-fits-all desk setups don’t work.
Final thoughts
A visually stunning office doesn’t necessarily mean high productivity, a better mood, or high employee retention. I’ve seen many talented employees leave companies simply because of poorly designed workspaces. Don’t be that company. If you want the space to look functional AND interesting, consider hiring interior design consultants in Dubai. I promise you the level of gratitude from your employees will be rewarding.