Open offices are more popular than ever. These expansive, bright spaces initially emerged as a response to the rising costs of renting office space, offering a reduced footprint per employee. Open offices are also an attempt to increase collaboration and reduce workplace silos.
However, this type of architectural design presents numerous challenges that can make working in an open office less productive for some. One simple way to address this issue is with custom wall coverings.
There is no need to invest in an entirely new office lease if your open plan office is not working for you. Instead, consider how some basic changes to the space can improve employees’ personal experiences, and by extension, the success of the company.
Attention
One of the biggest challenges that employees in open office spaces encounter is divided attention. Rather than enjoying the solitude and peace of an enclosed work area, they sit in an open room with potentially dozens of other employees working. The cacophony of keyboards, mouse clicks, papers rustling, and even muted conversations is enough to keep even a hard-working person distracted.
However, many office managers do not realize that some of their employees’ attention issues stem from the space itself. Studies show that workers can focus better on tasks when they are in a colorful room; in fact, muted colors, such as gray and off-white, resulted in the worst performance compared to all other colors studied. Unfortunately, many open-plan offices are decorated with white and gray because these colors are simple, cheap, and light-reflective.
Consider changing things up with custom wall coverings. In the studies mentioned above, blue and red walls produced greater concentration on simple tasks (red) and difficult, detail-oriented tasks (blue). Research also indicates that yellow helps to keep people alert, and those who were studied inside yellow rooms made fewer errors in their work. Wall coverings can be made in any hue or pattern to inspire and energize workers.
Morale
When employees are stuck in an office space that looks identical to that of their neighbors, it is easy to feel like just one more cog in the machine. This perception can decrease morale, which is directly related to an employee’s productivity, company loyalty, and accuracy in completing tasks.
Wall coverings cannot give each desk in an open office a personal touch, but they can cultivate a sense of purpose and identity among employees. Share your company’s values directly on a custom wall covering.
Create a beautiful mural showing positive feedback or notable accomplishments each of your employees has achieved. Personalize the space so they recognize that they are a meaningful part of your company’s mission and vision, not just a faceless number in your payroll.
Noise
Because open office spaces lack dividing walls, any sound can echo across a large distance, interfering with employees’ work, even from hundreds of feet away. Custom wall coverings can quickly solve this issue thanks to their textured options.
The reason that sounds echo in a large room is that the sound waves hit a flat wall and then bounce back into the space. With textured wall coverings, sound waves become trapped inside the varied texture, unable to return into the room.
This reduces overall sound levels, allowing employees to work in peace, and it also adds visual interest to the room. If your office has glossy, light-colored walls, textured coverings can reduce glare without making the room appear dim or drab.
Segmentation
Open office spaces do not benefit from the hallways and conference rooms that other workplaces have, but that does not mean that every desk should become a meeting space at a moment’s notice. Sections of the open plan should be dedicated to specific tasks, such as breakout groups or focus areas. Custom wall coverings can make this delineation clear, so your employees know where to direct their attention for the task they are currently working on.
Not only does this improve the experience for the employee seeking the ideal space, but it also shields other workers from interruptions. No one wants to have a group of friends chatting loudly behind them when they want to work, so use custom coverings to segment the workspace for clarity and comfort.
Make Your Open Office a Hit with Custom Wall Coverings
If your open office is struggling with challenges such as excess noise or distractions, the solution might be much simpler than you think. Custom wall coverings are highly adjustable for any of your needs, and they do not require the substantial investment that other changes, such as adding walls, might demand. Contact Tree Towns to share your challenges and learn how custom wall coverings can help your employees succeed.