Impact Office Blog

Get Creative with Impact Office!

It won’t be difficult to imagine a typical office: harsh florescent lighting, grey cubicle walls, the sounds of clicking keyboards and whirring copy machines and, not more than one or two people to be seen. Where is everyone? Well they are well hidden and tucked away in their cubicles, working hard for their company. While this scenario may work for some, others may find a need for a more creative alternative workspace to inspire their best work.

Here are some ideas on how you can furnish and create alternative workspaces in your office!

#1: Going Cubicle Free

Instead of typical, grey and secluded cubicles, try an open system of desks. “Hot desking” as it is commonly known, is an office desk design that keeps all the employees visually and physically connected, sharing desks and work spaces. This type of system will definitely encourage collaborative work. The Bridges II System is a wonderful example of how you can create a uniform office without the cubicles.

#2: Hot Desking

Hot design takes your cubicle free office plan one step further by not assigning desks to specific employees. Instead, the desks or worktops are there for who ever needs it and can be assigned to one or a team as required. Explore our desk systems or perhaps even our boardroom table selection! Who said those large tables had to be reserved for meetings only!

#3: Quiet Lounges

Now this kind of alternative space caters to your employees who would love to work from their couch. By providing quiet lounge areas, employees can choose a space that suits their creative needs in order to be their most productive and inspired. Perhaps a comfortable chair and coffee table will be just the thing for your employees who like to sit cross-legged on a sofa with their computer on their lap. 

#4: Sitting or Standing

A subtle alternative workspace can be found in a desk. Try a height adjustable desk to give your staff the choice of working in either a sitting or standing position. Healthy employees is always a bonus!

#5: Indoor, Outdoor

When the weather is nice and the sun is shining, who really wants to be cooped up indoors. Motivation to work drops to a crawl as people longingly stare out the windows at the blue skies. If you have the option, provide an outdoor working space! 

(Images via Pexels: 1, 2)

Find the Essentials for Your Perfect Creative Studio and Art Space

Not every office is going to look like the traditional stereotypes of cubicles all in a row located above the world in a downtown high-rise. In fact some workspaces have not even been dubbed “office.” This month, we’re taking a look at what you need for the perfect creative studio!

#1: The Perfect Worktop

Cubicles and desk systems all have their perfect place, but perhaps not in a creative studio. Large tables are the perfect surfaces to create and collaborate with space. We also recommend a height adjustable desk to help you avoid bending over your work!

#2: A Good Chair

Everyone needs a chair that will provide support during the times sitting in front of a computer. Luckily we have a wide variety of ergonomic options that can help keep you healthy while you work.

#3: A Creative Lounge 

When you need a break from the computer and your creative work, a lounge area is the perfect space to retreat to for some time to recharge your batteries and rebuild your internal idea bank. Of course comfortable seating is a must in this area but we also recommend a coffee table. This is a great way to display inspiring books and materials while giving your office space a more relaxed feeling.

#4: An Idea Board

A magnetic white board is a must when you are in a creative studio. It’s the perfect place to note down new ideas with your team or even create a mood board for new projects!

#5: Shelving and Storage

Whether you want to display past projects (or perhaps an award or two) or you need a home for your materials, we’ve got just the piece for you. We have the traditional filing cabinets for all your paper work as well as shelving units and dressers!

Whatever kind of office you wish to create, we can help you make it happen! Contact us to today to get started.

(Images via Pexels: 1, 2)

Plants in the office should not be overlooked when you are building a workspace…

One accessory that makes a huge difference, not only in creativity and productivity, but also in your employee’s health and work satisfaction is greenery.

Here are the top three benefits of having plants in your office:

1. Plants create a calm environment.

Plants and green features can help to reduce your team’s stress levels. It is not uncommon for people to feel more at ease in their surroundings when they are close to greenery. Studies have shown that people in environments that contain plants experience less stress, better focus and take fewer sick days.

Plants also look beautiful and contribute to a more positive visual perception of the space to both employees and clients.

2. Cleaner air.

Plants do what plants do best and that is purify the air. Plants can improve the air quality inside buildings and can also contribute to stabilizing the humidity levels. Greenery reduces the carbon dioxide levels, as well as certain pollutants and airborne dusts.

3. Reduced noise.

Plants in a space can affect the acoustics of a room, muffling sound and reducing noise. How? Greenery can reduce the reverberation time of sound and, when placed strategically (such as in concrete areas, wood floors or marble walls), plants can absorb the noise and minimize the distraction to your employees.

So there you have it! Don’t forget to bring nature into your office, especially now that the weather is changing!

(Image via Pexels)

Meet Your Clients in Style

We’ve talked before about the value of designing your office space to promote productivity and employee happiness, but let’s not neglect the reception area! Whether you are a B2B or B2C company, there will always be a time when you welcome guests to your office. Whether we like it or not, first impressions count and your reception area is the location where you can take control of those first impressions.

Your reception room is like the formal living space of your company house. Just like in a home, a reception area has designated spaces and reflects the overall design of an office.

So what does it take to rock that first impression? Here are five things that can create an excellent reception space:

1. A Reception Desk

A stylish reception desk is a necessary piece and is arguably one of the focal point of the room. Your reception staff needs a comfortable and functional place to work and your guests should not be left wondering where to go when they first visit.

2. Comfortable Seating

It goes without saying that your staff needs comfortable seating in order to do their jobs. However, don’t forget about your visitors! Creating a comfortable space for them to relax while they wait is an excellent and simple way to display your company’s hospitality. Whether you want couches or stylish chairs, we’ve got a wide selection for you to explore.

3. Coffee Tables and End Stands

Why not take a step further and really make it feel like a home away from home? Add coffee tables or end stands. These pieces of furniture will help to create a more relaxed space. 

4. Magazines and Reading Material

Whether it’s material for long waits (who doesn’t appreciate them when waiting at the doctor’s office?) or purely for decorative purposes, magazines and coffee table books create a lived in space and soften the atmosphere.

5. Plants

Bring a little bit of nature indoors. This is great for air quality, as well as introducing an element that promotes calm. Plus, who wouldn’t enjoy a pop of green!

With people spending so much time at work, how can you make the work place a more engaging and energizing place to be?

 When employees work long hours in environments that are dull and boring can take a toll on their productivity and their health. We try and create engaging environments for schools and places for people to learn, so why don’t we do the same for where people work? Here are some easy ways to make your work place more exciting and dynamic to keep employees stimulated throughout their day.

1. Get rid of fluorescent and bad lighting: lighting is one of the most important things in a work environment, fluorescent lights can cause headaches and other annoyances get as much natural light as possible and use pot lighting instead.

2.Create Open Space: if the office is full of cubicles create an open area where people can leave their desks to work, chat, or take a break. Eating, working, relaxing all in the same place becomes repetitive and dull.

 

 

3. Create private space: if your office is extremely open concept with everyone working in close proximity, make a quiet area or room where people can go to get some peace and quiet and work alone when needed.

4. Keep Employees Comfortable:  making employees comfortable in their work setting is one of the most important things an employer can do, make sure they have proper ergonomic seating, that they have access to good drinking water, coffee or tea, and even some snacks to keep them going throughout the day. Also make sure the office temperature is neither too hot nor too cold making people extremely uncomfortable and distracted.

5. Encourage Breaks: if your employees are working long hours in their chairs looking at computer screens encouraging them to take short breaks can make a huge difference. A quick walk around the block or coffee break can re-energize workers and make them more productive, it is also very good for their overall health.

Tips & Tricks to Get the Best Reception Area for Your Office!

The reception is the point of entry for all people coming into your office, it is the first impression they get of your company before any interaction. It is important to make your reception area a reflection of your company but also keep it warm and inviting. Since your receptionist is first person to interact with anyone entering your office, make sure they have the space that they need to work effectively and are comfortable in.

 

Here are some pointers to getting the best reception area possible:

• Make sure the reception desk is sleek in design and aesthetically appealing
• Measure the room and make sure the reception desk isn’t too big or too small for the space
• Make sure the people working reception have enough workspace and storage to complete all tasks easily and effectively, also more storage allows for less clutter and papers out in the open
• If your receptionist works with sensitive or confidential information, like in a doctor’s office, make sure the desk rises up to about neck level allowing people to still see them but not see the files they are working with
• Your receptionist will be at their desk for the majority of the day, make sure they have an ergonomic chair and accessories to keep them focused and comfortable
• Make sure lounge seating is comfortable and inviting
• Make sure all reception seating suits your cleaning needs, leather and vinyl are a lot easier to clean than fabric upholstery
• Add anything to increase your visitors experience such as magazines, candles, TVs, or a coffee station

Receptions are the time to make a statement and use bright colours with interesting designs, have fun with this space!

Giving Employees the Opportunity for Collaboration & Privacy in the Workplace

And how it can be extremely beneficial.

 One of the biggest issues facing today’s workplace is being able to have a workplace that fosters collaboration and learning between employees but also gives them privacy and time to work alone when needed. Usually offices don’t do a great job getting the right balance of spaces that condone collaboration and the amount of space for people to sit in quiet and think and focus.

 

 

Many workers need places where they can go for private moments to think, recharge, and really execute their work. These spaces can become hard to find in the open concept workplace which is usually very loud with constant interaction. Open design can increase collaboration and interaction between employees but it can also decrease productivity.

The fix to this problem is giving employee’s choice. The option to work in a quiet setting but also areas where people in large or small groups can get together and collaborate and learn from one another. We think the best way of doing this is creating spaces that are designated for the latter. Rooms with tables that can be moved around into a boardroom shape or into smaller groups gives people the freedom of how they want to interact. Seating areas with comfortable couches and chairs that are a designated quite space at certain times can allow people to sit and think in quiet and execute their work. Other times these areas could be common areas where co-workers go to talk to one another. Teaming stations where people work in close vicinity with one another but have panels that give them some quiet and privacy to do their work is a good compromise.

Giving employees the option between “me” and “we” time will allow them to choose the space that fits their needs at certain times. Not all workers are extroverts or people who can focus with a lot of noise and back chatter behind them, realizing this will make employees more productive and also happier within their work environment!

The past few years our company has been noticing a huge trend in the industry. Customers are transforming their office spaces from traditional cubicles and private offices into open concept and teaming areas.

The reason for this change is companies are finding that a more open and interactive environment can lead to better communication between employees and to better problem solving and innovation within the company. Large companies such as Google, Intel, and Cisco have all completely re-designed their offices based on this concept.

Cisco Offices - San Fransisco

Google offices

The core of any open-concept office is the ability for employees to move around in an environment that suits their needs during various tasks. To be able to gather team members informally, large or small, is key to the teaming and collaborative workspace concept.

Impact Office has numerous open concept products such as teaming workstation like Evolve, Bridges II, and Voi.   We also have comfortable and open seating with Flock, Sirena, and Citi. Huddle and Tucana tables can be moved and re-formatted depending on the amount of people and the type of collaboration needed. Standing desks are great for impromptu meetings and discussions between co-workers as well. If you feel that your company needs a change and are looking to create a more interactive work space come visit us, we have all the latest open concept products and our professional sales staff can help you plan this office transformation from start to finish.

It’s a new year and what better time than to revamp your office and create a healthy, productive and Eco-conscious space?!

With just a few tweaks to your office design, you can accomplish all these things and Impact Office has got everything you need! Let’s begin with…

Healthy

A healthy employee is a happier, more productive employee. Design your office to include ergonomic seating in order to avoid repetitive strain injuries and workers on sick leave. Of course, some employees are more sensitive to sitting for eight hours of the day no matter how complex their seating is. Our electric sit-stand desks (featured in last month’s blog post) are ideal to allow your employees to work comfortably, whether they are seated or standing or whatever is in between!

Seating and desks are not the only office accessories that can keep your employees healthy though. Monitor arms are the ideal accessories to allow one to adjust the screens to the perfect alignment according to any individual’s needs. Foot rests are ideal for relieving back pressure and our foot machines can help employees maintain good circulation by encouraging movement and massaging the feet!

Productive

How can furniture make an office more productive? The secret is in the style and arrangement of designated spaces. Sleek modern desk systems such as the Evolve Benching Solutions or Bridges 2 allow for employees to work closely together and encourage collaboration, while still giving workers personal spaces to get work done without distraction. Vice Versa Bridges is another design that can help keep teams close together and maximize space in the office.

If you’re office doesn’t already have designated lounge areas, then perhaps space conscious desk systems will help make room. Lounge chairs and coffee tables are a great addition to the office, not just for customers and guests but also for your employees.

Eco-Conscious

If you want to reduce your impact on the environment, there are three R’s that every one should aim to live by: reduce, reuse and recycle! Impact Office may not able to help you implement recycling programs or digital IT projects to leave paper behind but we can offer you a selection of pre-owned furniture!

Lastly, and this is the only product we don’t have, add greenery to your office with plants! Plants can help clean the air, bring nature indoors and create a relaxed atmosphere where your employees can thrive. Make 2014 the year your office design contributes to your business magic!

For more options, explore our Products page.

 

Design a productive and relaxed atmosphere!

Don’t overlook your office and create spaces that will inspire…

When you run a business, productivity matters. How much does your office design affect productivity? You may or may not be surprised to know that it can majorly affect the productivity and creativity of your employees! When you spend the majority of every day driving to the same building, walking to the same desk, staring at the same computer, surrounded by the same grey desk and same neutral walls, and the same bland colour palette (an office characteristic that is all too common), you’re bound to find your thoughts running in the same uninspired circles.

There are many design tactics you can use to break that visual and mental pattern. Today we’re focusing on creating work lounges and that coffee shop atmosphere.

No matter how beautiful your desk space is, there will be times when a change of scenery is in order. Encourage your employees to move away from their desk and interact with co-workers by creating an office lounge. A lounge is defined as a public room or space in which to sit and relax. By introducing that coffee shop atmosphere into your office, you will find your employees happier to come to the office, inspired to have beautiful spaces to spend their days, more open to interacting and sharing ideas and enjoying their jobs. Happy employees make for a successful business after all!

Here are our top 5 looks to help you create the perfect look for your inspired lounge and to bring in those coffee shop vibes:

• For a fun and funky look, incorporate our Wilco tables into the room with brushed aluminum Reservation chairs.
• Create an industrial chic look with our Whitby Round tables and the Spire chairs, or maybe even something more plush like our Wind Reception chair!
• Bring in some old world charm with our Traditional Reception Chair with its tufted upholstery, nail head trim and Queen Anne style carved front legs and mix it with a thoroughly modern tempered glass Mission table for a more eclectic combination!
• Add new heights with our Round Bistro Table and modern Wire Stool!
• Nothing could bring those coffee shop vibes in more than the Perpetual Coffee table combined with our Citi club chairs, love seats and sofas!

Play with table heights and materials to bring visual interest to the room. Use colour and comfortable seating and light up the room artwork and stay away from harsh lighting. Maybe even add some soft background music? The sky is the limit when it comes to create a new space! 

Visit our showroom to learn more about these products and how you can customize them to create the perfect design scheme for your office lounge!

(Images via Pixabay and Pexels)