If the past year and ensuing work from home situation have taught us anything, it’s that employees require ergonomic, functional spaces where they can be productive. The whirlwind changes and ongoing drama of the pandemic have made us realise that we should prioritise our employees’ health and wellbeing not only for their sake but to also create the right working environment.

Not only will a practical and stylish office interior design in Melbourne encourage workplace wellbeing, it can also help your business achieve its short and long-term goals through increased drive, imagination and productivity.

If you’re planning the big office return and want your team to feel happy, confident and right at home there, here are four tips for ensuring an absolutely marvellous office fitout.

1. Increased space & storage are a productivity dreamboat

Staff from Melbourne to Miami detest working in cramped, tight spaces. They are uncomfortable and do little more than increase employee agitation. What is the simple downside of this increased agitation? Oh, only decreased motivation, of course…

Instead, why not go the communal route? Ensure staff from each department have the facilities and functionality required to work comfortably and with enough space to get things done freely.

This doesn’t only include adding ergonomic chairs and extra drawer space: it can also include comfortable work spaces like pods and bigger communal areas - all things that are good for morale.

2. Balance the light/sound situation

People strain their brains to function when distracted by unnecessary noise. Therefore, it should be avoided where possible. There are a host of awesome methods you can introduce to reduce noise, including the installation of sound insulators and surface coatings. It may not seem that big, but think about one department trying to work silently while another department, over the other side of the office, is celebrating a huge milestone that, at that time at least, only concerns them.

To add to this, poor lighting is the world’s great productivity killer. Natural light is great for human beings: we, like plants, rely on it as an energy source, as well as it being great for improving our moods.

The simple solution? Choose an office building that provides natural light, with large windows and open plans being at the forefront. Next, position the department spaces and furniture in a way that everyone can benefit from the sun’s health-fab rays.

3. Form & function = a winning business

Nobody really wants to work in ugly space, but they also don’t want to work in a beautiful space that is completely lacking in practicality. It’s important to find a happy medium between the age-old balance of form and function. You may be surprised at how happy your business staff become if you add a few stylish touches to an already functional office space.

4. Furniture is simply vital

Because people have to sit (or stand) at their desks all day, and poor posture does nothing more than increase strain and disdain (for the workplace). Be sure to fill your office with uniform, high quality, ergonomic chairs - none of this patent leather throne for department heads to look over their minions from in complete, condescending comfort - your staff deserve to be comfortable, too!

What’s more, be sure to invigorate the space by installing some elegant painting, vibrant plants and even a few statues - artwork and greenery go a long way to encouraging creativity and increasing mood - all very good things for winning businesses.