If you are planning an office redecoration or refit, you’re probably looking for inspiration. Where to start, though?
Other offices – yes!
Magazines – yes!
Logistical requirements – also yes!
The country’s largest flower show, which has just taken place at the start of this month in London – sorry, what?
It may be a surprise, but the Hampton Court Flower Show featured loads of great ideas that you can employ in your office. Attracting around 140,000 visitors, this celebration of the outdoors extends beyond the horticultural to bring many innovative visual ideas to London. A surprising number of which are actually relevant to building a creative and healthy working space.
Colours
Lauded for a Summertime vibrancy of colour, the designer gardens that were on display could not disappoint. Could you employ a similar approach to colour in your office? A colour scheme need not focus simply on one colour palate. Indeed, many modernist office designs are far more likely to resemble a wild flower meadow with their variety and distribution of colour. For offices seeking the ideal single colour, think about the green colour palette of a garden. Greens inspire both relaxation and creativity. Moreover, it is a colour that indicates prestige and security for a corporate brand.
Living Walls
Perhaps your organisation prides itself on its sustainable or ecological priorities. So why not extend this approach to your office itself. A ‘living wall’ is a popular garden feature, especially for those who are challenged for space. However, it is a feature that works wonderfully on both internal and external buildings. When natural greenery has such recognised benefits for workers, installing a living wall in a reception area is a great idea.
Materials
Many of the gardens on display in West London were as much about their use of materials as their distribution of greenery. From timber walls and paths to industrial backdrops, using distinctive and unexpected materials is just as important within a working environment as it is outside. This doesn’t have to be an expensive approach. By stripping back an office space, you can come across fantastic features that can lift an office design. Just make sure that they are prepared and treated properly.
Bespoke furniture
The conscientiously designed furniture that nestle in these London show gardens are as important as the gardens themselves, since they are the gateway to how the space is experienced. And so it is for an office design. From reception desks to the stationary cupboard, furniture directly impacts the experience of a space. Bespoke office carpentry enables a design to fulfil a brand image, and also to optimise an area practically by using every inch of floor space that is on offer.
Sustainability
This is relevant for the sustainability of the property itself, and also for the productivity of the business. Make decisions about your office building that decreases energy consumption, such as LED lighting or increased insulation. Optimise natural light by using glass for internal partitioning. This makes the space a lot more attractive for those within it, and they will subsequently be more productive.
The Winners
Interestingly, the People’s Choice award winners at Hampton Court were both focussed on the human condition. The Health and Wellbeing Garden and the RNIB Community Garden both employed design tactics to optimise the mental states of those enjoying the garden. In turn, this should be so for those designing or implementing an office scheme. An office environment should promote inclusivity and mental wellbeing.
A business is only as healthy as those who work for it. In this way, the working environment should utilise design techniques that promote an environment that is mentally supportive. This includes both natural and contrasting materials, varieties of texture and, of course, natural light. These things have been displayed to great effect at London’s Hampton Court, and can bring huge benefits to any office redecoration.
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