Tips to design a cool Workspace on a budget

Workspace

While creating an ideal workspace sounds exciting, there are some basic rules one must follow. Jasmine Jhaveri a veteran in the Interiors space says, “Create a workspace that reflects your company’s culture. Your decor, the choice of colours, the atmosphere you create must all be in sync with the spirit of the company.”

An Interior Stylist and a Design Enthusiast, Jasmine Jhaveri of Jasmine Jhaveri Design Studio is known for her infectious passion for design and creating highly customised spaces that are harmonious and cohesive.

Based in Mumbai, with almost 16 years of experience and having styled homes and offices of large corporates, industrialists and homes in London & Amsterdam, she is known for her discerning eye and her distinct visual language.

Here are some cool tips from her to design a Workspace on a budget:

Open plan layouts:

An open-plan layout is a great option for small offices as they seem roomier. Consider using glass cubicles and dividers instead of concrete as it saves cost of building walls.

However, the “new normal” dictates that we incorporate the use of plexiglass screens to create partitions amongst employees for safety and hygiene purposes.

Decorate right:

  • Depending on the nature of your brand, one of the most effective workspace design techniques is to showcase your own products. After all, your products are the best storytellers of your brand.
  • An obvious client touchpoint is the reception area, so this should be branded to clearly state who you are and what you do. If you do not have the luxury to accommodate a reception desk use a large creative signage on a wall or hang a backlit signage box from the ceiling.
  • Make sure to use color to your advantage.Colors like blue and green induce calm, and research suggests that workspaces using these colors can improve efficiency and focus, while a color like yellow may stimulate creativity.
  • If painting large walls is out of budget use Decals effectively.
  • Include unusual materials like turf flooring in a meeting room. The idea is to take your shoes off and walk around to get the ideas flowing.

Wall story:

  • Don’t forget to dress the walls. Creative ideation is about more than work – it’s about life and observations.
  • Curate your workspace like a gallery. Rotate works often to elicit fresh responses to the space and stimulate novel ideas.
  • Use chalkboards where one can doodle or jot down their ideas when the creative flash strikes rather than a startlingly white whiteboard.

Ergonomics:

  • Buy comfortable chairs that support the spinal curves.
  • Sitting is the new “smoking” with research proving that sitting for hours on end can be the cause of many common medical conditions. Introduce more standing options in the workplace.
  • Create a multi-purpose work environment and an office space in which everyone has a suitable place to work within their own comfort zones. Some prefer to stand; others like to sit on the sofa and some people move around.
  • Buy furniture which is compact and is versatile.Don’t buy too much but make sure what you buy has a character that speaks your brand language.
  • In fact, buying is not essential. If you’re short on budget you could always look at what you have and find ways to uplift it.

Go natural:

  • Choose a rather brightly-illuminated place with fresh air. 

  • Nature has been shown to boost creativity, so make sure you incorporate some indoor plants in your workspace.

Good lighting:

  • A well-lit room is one of the most important elements of a well-designed office.

  • Your space can be equipped with the most unique furniture, the best color combinations and chic desks, but none of that will truly shine unless you have the right lighting. 

  • By simply letting in more light, adding mirrors, and switching out light bulbs, you can access untapped sources of light throughout the office while maintaining your budget.

Organise your workspace:

  • We can’t ignore the fact that offices require a lot of storage space.
  • A cluttered work space can feel overwhelming, while a tidy space will keep the team calm and organized.
  • Pegboards are fantastic organizing boards and look pretty cool too.
  • Storage boxes to house things like writing utensils, papers before they’re processed, and miscellaneous office supplies will instantly make your space appear more organized.

The workspace should be divided:

  •  Divide your workspace in two – the work zone and the chill zone.

  • A break-out space doesn’t necessarily mean only to chill out and eat lunch, but can actually be used to aid productivity. Make them as fun and creative as possible for a cooler, more modern environment. How about a board game table? Chess anyone? Or a small jukebox to create a fun vibe while making your coffee.

  • The great thing about break-out spaces is the freedom to design them however you want them to look. There’s no need to keep them as formal as you may design the main office space.

Remember: Your workplace is more than walls, desks and computers.  It’s a second home for some employees. It’s a recruitment tool for hiring and most importantly, a place to inspire your team. When done right, it can have a huge impact on motivating people to work hard in shaping and growing your brand.

After all the way we decorate affects our feelings and this has a direct impact on our overall wellbeing.

The following are links to a few items that can be sourced online:

Computer Arm Rest:

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07NGL6FZK/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_awdo_t1_3NX4EbW4K68EF

Wall Sticker:

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07PBF5Y1W/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_ls04EbW6K1HBV

Grid Frame:

https://www.amazon.in/PIKIFY-65cm-Black-Holder-Functional-Creative/dp/B084R7FSZ9

Storage:

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B083FLJHBM/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_awdo_t1_.OX4Eb714QM9T

Desk Organizer:

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B077PTRBRK/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_Ev04EbWVRC48P

Bean Bag:

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07JD9NJJC/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_eD14EbXSF2VX8

For more Design tips visit Jasmine Jhaveri Design Studio at http://jasminejhaveri.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasminejhaveridesignstudio/

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