Want to go natural in the office? Smart move. Let’s look at the natural office design trend and how it helps benefit your office!
Bringing nature into the office boosts overall morale and helps workers be more productive. But how do you connect the office space with the great outdoors?
In Southern California’s urban sprawl, we see evidence of natural beauty all around us—from the mountains forming a backdrop behind downtown LA, to the coast, and to the national forests. Don’t forget the sun. A few years ago, the Harvard Business Review referred to natural light as the #1 Office Perk.
It’s one of the elements that should be part of every company’s wellness program.
Light
Sunshine is worth harvesting indoors, especially since downtown LA gets about 290 total days of either full sun or partly cloudy skies, according to most estimates. Benefits of sunshine are proven to reduce employees’ stress and improve their natural sleeping cycle.
If it’s possible, enlarge windows to maximize the amount of sunshine that can filter indoors. Try to have desks and workstations within 25 feet of windows and use center spaces for storage equipment or break areas. Install skylights or sky tubes.
What happens if your office is in a windowless setting?
Advice in CareerTrend says to upgrade your fluorescent lights to a color “’temperature’ that mimics daylight and use focused task lighting to reduce eye strain.”
Regardless of the setting, consider using translucent partitions for cubicles and space dividers instead of solid walls.
Photo: Loftwall Hitch Space Divider
Fabrics and Materials
The most basic of all building materials remain popular. Wood has environmental benefits. “If sustainably sourced,” says a UK design company, Insightful Environments, “wood is one of the most environmentally friendly materials available as it is infinitely renewable and acts as a carbon store, giving it an important role in reducing carbon emissions.”
Pine, oak, and beech are three types of wood that can be effectively used in the office. So can bamboo, a grass, which is a beneficial plant for a variety of uses. It can be used as furniture and grown in pots as space dividers.
Bamboo also absorbs carbon from the environment and releases high oxygen levels into the atmosphere.
You can use wood in strategic ways. Light-grain wood floors can help lighten the office environment, even if little natural light is available.
Use natural fabrics for upholstery like cotton, leather, and wool or wool blends. Hemp is another natural fabric choice that’s described in Better Homes and Gardens as feeling similar to canvas and its resistant to mold and mildew.
Lounge seating has options with natural-looking fabrics like the OFS Realm Lounge Seating. There are fun ways to customize it like adding wood to the curved armrests.
Photo: OFS Realm Lounge Seating
Walls
Imagine natural elements on your walls with rocks, wood, and plenty of greenery. Check the Nevins Bio Canvas Frame that not only brings natural elements into the office, but it helps control acoustics, too.
Photo: Nevins Bio Canvas
Get Naturally Inspired
See these elements coming together in 2010 Office Inspiration’s The Green Office page. Notice how greenery and light are fused to create a welcoming environment.
You don’t have to shut the door on nature when stepping into a corporate office.
Use furniture with natural fabrics and natural wood.
It doesn’t have to take a huge budget to green up the surroundings. Real wood shelves filled with pleasing office plants are an easy way to start.
Photo: OFS Obeya Architectural Structure
Re-imagine cubicles or meeting spaces with office design solutions like the OFS Obeya Architectural Structures. It’s made with plywood cores and real wood grain details, and a great way to incorporate natural office design trends to your office.
Photo: Arcadia Delen Table
Need meeting tables or a breakroom surface? Check the Arcadia Delen Table that’s available in different shapes with solid Ash and Walnut wood finishes.
Photo: Arcadia Livia Bench
The Arcadia Livia Bench has a classic look and comes in both straight wood beams and scalloped wood. Optional removable seat pads can be easily added.
Remember This …
No matter how little or how much sunlight or other natural materials you have in the office, keep an orderly environment. Everyone will think better and feel calmer when their work environment is organized, clean, and orderly.
Here’s an idea from The American Society of Administrative Professionals. Choose a day each quarter when everybody cleans and organizes their personal office space and another day when you team up to clean common spaces.
Freshen Up with Natural Office Design Trends
What do you need to improve your office environment and workflow? How do you incorporate natural office design trends successfully?
Get input from the team at 2010 Office Furniture. They’ve got more than 50 years of combined experience furnishing and planning spaces for clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.
They’ll show you how to keep employees engaged and promote their overall well-being.
Contact them with your questions and potential project needs.
Read Also: Designing a Healthy Office
Main Photo: Arcadia WorkSmith Cart
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia Contract, Loftwall, Nevins and OFS