The question is, of course, what improvements should you be making? Well, there are loads of places to start, so keep reading to get some ideas because once you read more, you’ll immediately know what you need to do. 

Photo by Anna Arysheva

Fresh Air And Light

It might sound basic, but fresh air and natural light are massively important, and offices with good airflow and loads of daylight can actually make people feel more awake and less stressed, which can only be a good thing. 

If your windows are blocked by anything (whether that’s the blinds or curtains you’ve put up, furniture in the wrong place, or overgrown trees and bushes outside), it’s well worth making some adjustments to let more light in - that might mean moving desks closer to windows, for example. As for the air quality, a stuffy office really isn’t going to be a pleasant place for anyone to work, so try opening windows when the weather’s good, adding some plants to purify the air, and perhaps installing a dehumidifier or an air conditioning unit to help even more. 

Comfortable Furniture 

If your team is sitting in old, creaky chairs or working at desks that wobble, it’s going to take a toll - after all, who’s going to be able to sit comfortably like that and really focus on their work if they’re constantly worried the desk is going to topple over? 

This is why you need to think about upgrading chairs, adding standing desk options, or just rearranging furniture to make better use of the space you’ve got (there’s always an optimum way to do it, and there’s always a way that should be avoided - it’s good to get them the right way round) because it’ll make a positive difference. Not only will people be more comfortable so they can concentrate better, but they’ll know you’re taking care of them, and that can lead to better productivity as well. 

Keep Things Running Efficiently

Another simple update is to make sure your space isn’t wasting energy by using old heating systems, not fixing draughty windows, or leaving lights on all over the place (including overnight). 

Many businesses are now looking for better ways to manage their energy use, and it could be a wise move to switch to a new energy company that offers greener options or better rates (or ideally both). In that way, you’ll get to save money, help the planet, and have a more efficient business with an office that runs better. 

Make It Easier To Work Together 

Open plan offices sound great in theory, but they don’t work for everyone, and if your team is getting distracted, it might be time to look at how people are using the space. Is it really the most efficient setup? 

To make it better, you can add quiet corners or rooms for when people need to do particularly focused work, or perhaps set up a meeting area that’s away from the main drag and can be nice and private if need be. Whatever you do, it’s good to give people choices in how and where they work because that means everyone is accommodated. And if that means thinking about remote or hybrid working, perhaps that’s a conversation you need to have as well. 

Cut The Clutter

Offices (just like our homes) tend to fill up with ‘stuff’ over time - things like extra chairs, broken bits of equipment, boxes of things that might be useful but probably won’t be, and so on. And although it might not seem like a big problem, it could be a big distraction, even if it’s a subconscious one. 

However, taking a day to clear out unused items and tidy up around the office can really make the space feel bigger right away - and it’ll be instantly easier to use as well. You don’t have to throw everything out (that would probably be a bad idea), but getting rid of whatever you don’t need makes sense because less mess usually means less stress, and your office is sure to run better.