ideas for making your work place more appealing

[Matt1959]

I know theres quite a few on here that work from premises - whether they be office, workroom, studio, light industrial.

What have you done to your work place to make it a better place to work?

Things like --

brightly coloured walls?
bright floor coverings/ carpets?
a big TV on the wall?
big pictures/ posters?
special lighting?
sound system?
plants?
special drinks machines?
posh coffee makers?

anything else:|

who's got what, that makes their workplace that bit special

 

[An Oasis]

I try to keep work spaces as bland as possible. No distractions that way.

Have a nice Altec Lansing speaker system which makes audio from the Internet sound great, but it's disconnected as it means too much time is spent listening to some many incredible musos.

The only luxury is a good high backed office chair which is dead comfy.

Coffee trying to cut down.

Plants all over the place as we have run out of storage space for indoor plants, it looks like a jungle and I can wait to get rid of them when our new storage space is finally sorted out.

 

[KM-Tiger]

I've always gone for function and comfort.

If everything works and is in sensible places, lighting is good for working at a PC all day, and it's warm, then certainly I am happy. The warm bit matters a lot to me, as I'm skinny and get cold very easily. My staff tell me I get really miserable if I'm cold!

An interesting view out of the window helps for those contemplative moments. We used to overlook the Medway and could watch the ships go by. Now we've moved, it's the airport runway, Either way much more interesting than someone else's wall.

 

[Cathy]

I love love love being able to create my workspace how I want it.

If I want to go and grab a yoghurt from the fridge I can. If I want to nip into the garden for a few minutes I can.

One of the things I most love about working in the environment I do now, as opposed to a 'public sector' office it's the freedom to create the 'chaos' I need to work in. To make piles on the floor, without an HSE inspector telling me I'm creating a hazard.

Being warm and comfortable and relaxed in my workspace means that the distinction between work and play is very blurred and so working a 13 or 14 hour day actually really doesn't feel like 'work'

 

[Alice3537]

Do you want to make it more appealing for you, your employees or for clients? There's often a difference!

 

[Gillie]

Oh I wouldnt be without my chair ... that and the fact is makes a horrendous noise all the time when I am on the phone ... its one of those leather lie back things that means I get my feet on my desk at certain times when taking to certain people!

 

[KM-Tiger]

makes a horrendous noise all the time when I am on the phone ...

What sort of noise exactly?

 

[Matt1959]

Do you want to make it more appealing for you, your employees or for clients? There's often a difference!

well, its for me really. I spend alot of time on my own in a workshop unit and often wonder about this. Even the lighting can make a big difference.

Its a strange thing, people spend alot of their life at work and put up and shut up with negative surroundings. I think heat is one of the biggest things - house is nice and snug and we go to work and shiver. Myself, I have CH at work now, so nice and warm but it took me years to spend the money and put it in.

I notice Keith hasn't taken the bait yet

 

[Gillie]

What sort of noise exactly?

It moans and groans .. quite approprriate sometimes!! Tried spraying it with wd40 style stuff but still does it!

So my chair, a silly mock up pic I did to get back at AA ... it amuses me! And my coffee machine that unfortunately these days only does decaff!

 

[Alice3537]

well, its for me really. I spend alot of time on my own in a workshop unit and often wonder about this. Even the lighting can make a big difference.

Its a strange thing, people spend alot of their life at work and put up and shut up with negative surroundings. I think heat is one of the biggest things - house is nice and snug and we go to work and shiver. Myself, I have CH at work now, so nice and warm but it took me years to spend the money and put it in.

I notice Keith hasn't taken the bait yet

Well, the surrounding for yourself should always be as you want it, but not necessarily to customer standards (and often better for working in!!).

I don't agree with the 'all white walls' unless there is artwork or pinboards/whiteboards/whatever - far too stark for me!

I DO believe in a fairly neutral wall so you can add or change artwork as you wish and so, if you do want to go the 'pinboard route' it would work against the background!

I've seen some really great offices over the past couple of weeks - problem is, the majority don't look 'worked in'!! Ikea et al in real life is great but where the hell do you PUT the stuff!!!

 

[stugster]

Oh I wouldnt be without my chair ... that and the fact is makes a horrendous noise all the time when I am on the phone ... its one of those leather lie back things that means I get my feet on my desk at certain times when taking to certain people!

And here's me thinking you kept farting on the phone Gill!

 

[An Oasis]

And here's me thinking you kept farting on the phone Gill!

No mate

That's the chair pre WD40!

Not sure what the other noises are, me thinks she smokes about 60-a-day Capstain full strength.

 

[Gillie]

Thanks guys ... and sometimes Rich I wished I smoked too!! Come the spring this cough will go ...

I read once that a common mistake with offices was to put desks against walls or with backs to doors which makes the person using it uncomfortable and that you should only ever put the end of a desk in that position so the user of the desk felt comfortable and worked more efficiently.

 

[Dawg]

Thanks guys ... and sometimes Rich I wished I smoked too!! Come the spring this cough will go ...

I read once that a common mistake with offices was to put desks against walls or with backs to doors which makes the person using it uncomfortable and that you should only ever put the end of a desk in that position so the user of the desk felt comfortable and worked more efficiently.

Feng hooey.
(In the nicest possible way, natch).

 

[Jenni384]

Well I'm still moving in, but I've got a comfy chair, desk positioned for a good view out of the window and the essential efficient heater. Still to come are plants, candles, incense, rugs and some brightly coloured abstract art for the walls

 

[RieOrg]

Wouldn't say my workspace was special, more like unusual i find, but very pleasant. Our offices are located within a converted mill, we occupy two floors. It can be a bit cold first thing in the morning on a monday but apart from that it has a lot of character maintains heat the rest of the time and creates a great working environment.

One of the bonuses that everyone takes advatage of are the 'SNACK BOX'S' (equivalent to a vending machine without the hassle). If you get a bit peckish through your working day then there's always something there to suit everybodys taste.

 

[capsule01]

Well, although we are short on space here, its a fun and productive environment.

We have high ceilings and large windows, good air circulation!

Space invader decals on the walls.

4 way radio controlled helicopters flying around.

100's of toys everywhere.

Good selection of music.

Inspiring art work and images/pictures on the wall.

Very comfy desk chairs.

A nice view.

 

[RieOrg]

You might be short of space but it sounds like a great environment!!

 

[capsule01]

You might be short of space but it sounds like a great environment!!

We like it! The team seem happy to come into work and we deliver great work...

Many larger ad agencies have spent loads in getting the right work environment for their staff. I recall a TV show a few years ago about St Lukes in London. They tailored their environments to get the best out of their teams.

For example, they had a Creative teams working on Clarks shoes. So they made a small studio exactly like a Clarks shoe shop. Apparently this really helped the creative team answer the briefs better.

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I think we need a bar next.