When you start a new business there are many, many things to consider. From market research, to writing your business plan to deciding on the best structure and also finding the perfect location for your premises and making it a welcoming place for you and your team. It can all be quite overwhelming. If it all feels a bit much it’s worth taking a look at the best startup incubators toronto if you’re in the Canadian region – getting a bit of help in the early days is nothing to be ashamed of and will likely benefit you in the long run.
In this article we’re going to be concentrating more on how you can make your office space more comfortable and welcoming place, so that you and your team and inspired and motivated to go to work each day and work hard for the business.
The right colour palette
Colour actually influences emotions so making sure you choose the right colour palette in the work environment is really important so that not only employees feel welcomed, but so do clients. Light and bright tones and shades will offer a sense of energy and openness, but to focus on a welcoming feel you should consider buttermilk yellows and soft creams.
Get the furnishings right
Once you have decided on your colour scheme you should think about how your furnishings can compliment it. A great deal of office furniture is not comfortable, which will end up creating a vibe that’s the total opposite of the one you’re going for. You will also likely want modern furniture, and it is possible to acheive both of these factors, you just have to spend a bit of time shopping around and doing your research.
The easiest way to find a solution is to make sure that the office desks and chairs you provide are ergonomic so that they provide comfort to your team during the day and consider breakout area furnishings to be softer, comfortable alternatives like sofas and or even a beanbag. Your employees are mush more likely to return from their breaks feeling more relaxed which will only have a positive impact on their attitude towards their work.
Provide a cool kitchen
As with at home, the office kitchen is a communal space that also needs to be welcoming as well as practical so it’s equally as important to get this space right as well.
Unlike at home the space will to accommodate food preparation and seating areas for many people. So let’s take a look at some suggestions:
Open up the kitchen
If you can take down some walls, do so to make it more easily accesible and give you more space, as well as making it a more an inviting area.
Replace cupboards with shelves
An office kitchen isn’t like your own at home, so make life easier for your team to find things by organising things on shelves instead of in cupboards. No one wants to spend their precious lunchbreaks hunting around for things.
Think trendy, think barstools
Trendy barstools are multifunctional, not only are they modern and look cool, they’re relatively inexpensive too. And they can be moved easily so if you need to use them in other areas of the office, you can.
Treat your employees
It’s not all about furnishings. Make your team feel appreciated by keeping everything stocked up. Milk, tea, coffee and sugar should be a staple in any work kitchen and shouldn’t have to come at the expense of your employees. Treat them with little extras too by providing a smart cookie collection for them to delve into or a bowl of fruit for those who are wanting to make a healthier treat. A little extra thought can go a long way and could turn someones bad day into a good day.
So there we have it, just a few ideas that are food for thought for when the time comes for making your work space a little more homely and welcoming. Let us know in the comments if you have any further tips.
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