Everyone knows that an ergonomic chair and height adjustable desk are crucial to a comfortable workspace but are you also considering your environment? Surroundings impact productivity that’s why it is so important to make sure your desk setup takes into account the five tips below:

Lighting

Lighting effects mood, visibility and poor lighting can lead to headaches, fatigue and eye strain from staring at a bright monitor all day. Natural light is great but try and keep the source consistent. Placement of lights is a big factor here. Trial and error is required in order to get the best results for you. If your desk is not near a window we suggest going outside for lunch as much as possible so you can get the benefits of natural light.

Plant Life

Plant life is said to boost mood and productivity. If like us you don’t have time for another task then here is a simple office plant that doesn’t require a lot of attention; the Peace Lilly add tropical flair to your workspace with its large and lush leaves, and pretty white blooms. The Peace Lily is great for offices that are heavy on the air conditioning as this plant can tolerate it. But is not recommended for those who bring a dog to work or have it in their home office, it’s poisonous if consumed by pets.

Temperature

Setting the right temperature is so important for comfort and productivity, we did a whole blog on this not so long ago: click here to give it a read. The main take away from that article is to find the balance that best suits your workplace demographic and age range.

Sound

If you work from home then maybe this one isn’t an issue for you but the open office is by far the biggest craze in the industry right now and with it comes noise. It depends on the type of work you do but our suggestion here is to buy some noise cancelling headphones and pair it with some ambient music. It is said that this can increase creativity.

Colour

Colour psychology is probably more important than you realise, especially in the office. Certain colours can invoke certain emotions therefore an office with the right colours can be so important. An office with a dominant colour of red can trigger warnings or aggression while yellow is seen as calming. Green is reassuring and orange stimulates fun. We suggest doing more research into colour before you decide what’s best for you. If your branding is vibrant then don’t forget to pair it with some neutral tones. This will help you stay on brand while not being too distracting for staff.

If you follow these simple rules then in time they will help you find the right environment for your work style.