Office Locations that Inspire Creativity

The grey, identical cubicles which made up the stereotypical office of yesteryear are giving way. New ideas on how to foster happiness, productivity and health at work have crept in – and grim, dismal environments are being taken away. It leaves a lot of businesses with the question, “what can I do with this space to get the most out of my staff?”

Use rustic materials:

People like natural materials, they're inherently pleasing. Wood floors and furniture have a certain feeling of assurance and gravity while still providing a chic and soothing workspace.

Employ light:

Humans have a delicate relationship with light. Bright natural sunshine is a natural mood elevator, but equally, bright artificial lights make us feel sterile and cold. If you can't get natural light in the workspace, try different tones to get rid of the 'hospital' fluorescent lighting.

Give people a reason to get up:

Long periods sat down are awful for your health, so give employees a reason to get up and move about in the office. Meeting cubicles, whiteboards, couches, optional standing desks or even just table football in the break room. Healthier employees are happier, and happier employees produce better work.
 
Reinvent the cubicle:

Yes, we just railed against the cubicle, but some businesses see real value in them. Some work, like software coding, requires great concentration for prolonged periods and therefore a bit of isolation. If you care about making your office a creative space, you surely trust your employees enough to let them customise their cubicle space to make it as personalised, comfortable and as inspiring as possible.

Try a business village:

A business village offers a radical take on the office block. Rather than a single building with business stacked on top of and next to each other, the businesses are spread out in a series of self-contained and independent buildings sharing a common space, like a courtyard. Avoid feeling stacked on top of each other and in the way – feel refreshed working away from a standard office block.

Keep it open:

An open office is a level playing field. Open offices promote collaboration, camaraderie, and informal problem solving, instead of having to book meetings with other cubicle workers just to deal with common issues.

Let workers have some privacy when they need it:

Having the option of ducking away into a nook or booth to focus can be a pleasing way to get stuck into vital tasks.
 
Whatever you do, don't overdo it. We've all rolled our eyes when someone suggests replacing office chairs with exercise balls or getting rid of desks; that kind of zany stuff is as oppressive as the grey cubicle walls. Not every company and employee is as progressive as Google, but all employees appreciate a workspace designed around their needs as humans.
 
What would you want most out of an office space? Share in the comments.