It is important to put effort into not only the appearance and atmosphere of an office, but also the interior. In fact, global companies such as Google and Apple have very stylish and unique offices. Even in Japan, an increasing number of companies are focusing on office interior design.
However, there are many people who don't understand how interior design relates to business. In this article, we will introduce the benefits of putting effort into the interior of your office, and explain the key points to consider when installing one, as well as the importance of carpets.
Advantages of putting effort into office interior design
The interior is not just stylish. Successful companies tend to focus on interior design.
Here, we will introduce five benefits of office interiors to help answer the question, "Why do offices need interiors?"
Improved productivity
Office interiors can help improve productivity. Research from Minea University in Egypt suggests that office design has a significant impact on employee performance.
For example, studies have shown that installing flowers and plants can help improve productivity and encourage innovative thinking and solutions. The introduction of ergonomic office supplies has also been shown to impact productivity.
Reference: Rasha Mahmoud Ali El-Zeiny｜The Interior Design of Workplace and its Impact on Employees’ Performance: A Case Study of the Private Sector Corporations in Egypt In this way, office interiors are not just stylish, but can also be seen as an investment to grow your business.Facilitating communication
Interiors help promote communication. A pleasant environment and beautiful design help create an atmosphere where employees can easily interact with each other.
In 2014, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) compiled a report stating that ``office design has a significant impact on the health, productivity, and well-being of staff.''
Reference: World Green Building Council｜New Report Links Office Design with Staff Health and ProductivityFor example, if you create a break room that can be used by any department and have a bright and open interior, you will be able to easily interact with colleagues during lunch or coffee breaks. Such exchanges can lead to the discovery of new approaches to projects, the creation of cross-departmental communication, and the possibility of strengthening collaboration within the company.
Improving your company's image
Decorating the interior of your office creates a good impression on visitors and improves your company's image.
In addition, in recent years, there have been many cases in which photos and videos taken within the company are posted on SNS to promote publicity. If a post like this becomes a hot topic and is seen by many people, if the office interior is sophisticated, it will help improve your company's branding.
Retention of human resources and prevention of early turnover
A stylish office with a carefully designed interior will help retain employees and prevent early turnover. In fact, according to a survey by Nohara Holdings Co., Ltd., which manufactures and sells wallpaper, more than 70% of office workers in their 20s and 30s answered that they "wanted to work in a stylish office," indicating that there is a need among employees for improving the interior of their offices.
Reference: Nohara Holdings Co., Ltd. | [To create a comfortable working environment] The number one thing that young employees think is important when working is "communication skills"! What are the characteristics of an office that makes communication easy?Of course, office interiors are not a direct cause of employee turnover, but it can be a contributing factor. Once the staff is established, it becomes easier to hire more talented staff, so it can be said that being particular about the interior also has an impact on recruitment.
Increase employee motivation
A stylish office with a carefully designed interior can also be expected to increase employee motivation. When motivation increases, employees become more creative and productive, leading to innovation and improved performance.
Additionally, focusing on the interior of the office will help increase employees' motivation as it will increase their sense of belonging to the company.
Office interior introduction points
When it comes to interior design, it is important to choose something that suits your office. If it doesn't match the atmosphere of the office, even if you are particular about investing in it, it may have the opposite effect.
When investing in office interiors, consider these five points:
- interior purpose
- budget
- office layout
- work style
- Comfort to use
I will explain each point.
interior purpose
First, let's think about the purpose of the interior: ``What kind of office do you want your company to be?'' Depending on your purpose, the taste of your interior and the budget you spend on it can vary greatly.
For example, some IT companies use beaded cushions or balance balls as chairs instead of the orthodox style of lining up a large table and several chairs in a meeting space. The purpose of this interior design is to make it easier to generate innovative ideas that are not bound by conventional frameworks, and to create an environment where employees can easily interact with each other.
The type of interior you choose will also indicate how your company wants its employees to work, its management policy, and its branding image. Therefore, consider the interior by taking into account your company's fundamental values and the direction you want to take in the future.
budget
Next, decide on a budget to allocate to your office interior. If you don't set a budget in advance, you may end up with unexpectedly large expenses. For startups with limited funds, you should also consider the risk of overspending your budget in pursuit of a fashionable atmosphere.
Although interior design is an element that contributes to improving productivity and motivating employees, it does not have a direct impact on business sales. Therefore, it is better to start with a small budget.
office layout
Deciding on the layout is also an important element when organizing the interior of your office. Deciding on the layout will give you a more concrete idea of the interior you want to achieve. Decide how many centimeters wide the table should be in which room, how many chairs should be placed, and where the copy machine should be placed, taking into account the size of the room and the width of the aisle. In the first place, the layout will vary greatly depending on whether employees are seated in their respective departments or whether there is a free-address system.
Another important point to keep in mind is to check that the layout does not interfere with business or traffic. For example, if you want to place a houseplant in the entrance area, if there is not enough space, you will have to avoid the houseplant and the layout may hinder smooth flow of people.
Although you want to pursue a stylish appearance, above all, you need to consider the interior with the aim of creating an office that is comfortable for employees to work in.
work style
The optimal interior for your office will also vary depending on your work style. If your company uses a free address system, create an interior that emphasizes fluidity. Because there is a lot of movement of people, it is necessary to take measures such as ensuring aisle width and selecting flooring materials that minimize noise.
Additionally, if you have a hot-desking space, such as a work-intensive space, where different people use the same desk, it would be a good idea to consider the fact that it will be used by a variety of people, and choose a type of chair that allows you to adjust the height of the seat and armrests.
Comfort to use
It is also important to try out interior goods and experience how they feel. Especially when it comes to office chairs, it's a good idea to test out how comfortable they are. When deciding which products to introduce, it is important to not only ask the person making the decision, but also to listen to the honest opinions of employees and field staff.
If possible, we recommend visiting the manufacturer's showroom to check the usability and size. If you are ordering by mail order, please order a sample.
Choose flooring materials for your office interior
When considering the interior of your office, we recommend that you first choose flooring materials such as carpet. There are two main reasons for this.
- Office flooring is difficult to replace
- Flooring materials determine the overall image of the office.
I will explain the reasons for each.
Office flooring is difficult to replace
Office flooring is much more difficult to replace than other interior furnishings. This is because various things are placed there, such as desks, chairs, copy machines, equipment, and various wiring.
To replace it, you will need to move everything on the flooring. In some cases, it may be necessary to suspend operations, such as temporarily making office space unavailable. Flooring is the foundation of your office interior, so it's best to select it first.
Flooring materials determine the overall image of the office.
Flooring materials greatly affect the atmosphere and impression of your office. Because it occupies the largest area in an office interior, the material, color, and texture of the flooring material are central elements in the overall design of the room.
For example, light-colored flooring creates an open atmosphere, while dark-colored flooring creates a sense of stability. Choose the flooring material that best suits your company's goals.
Carpet is recommended for office flooring.
Carpet is recommended for office flooring. There are various types of carpet, but for a typical officeCarpet tileis convenient.
Carpet tilecan be installed by employees alone, without having to hire a contractor. You don't need any special knowledge, and you can install it just by preparing the minimum tools.
With regular carpet rolls, if you want to replace it because it's dirty or frayed, you have to replace the entire carpet. However,Carpet tileIf so, you can only partially replace the parts you want to replace.
AlsoCarpet tileIf so, you can enjoy arranging the design by combining multiple carpets. Since it can be purchased at a relatively low cost, it is also suitable for small offices or those who want to reduce expenses.
Office interior supplies that go well with carpets
Next to carpet, consider interior items that will make your office environment more comfortable. For example, consider office interior supplies such as:
- green items
- display supplies
- storage
We will explain each interior item.
green items
Green items such as houseplants can increase productivity at work. A study by Cardiff University, a British national university, found that adding plants to your workplace can increase productivity by 15%.
Reference: Flower power - News - Cardiff UniversityIn addition, green has a color effect that relieves tension. It is also an effective interior design to install it in a place where people can easily access it, such as a conference room, reception room, or reception area.
display supplies
We recommend installing display items in the reception room. This is to make it easier to promote and announce the company to visitors. For example, a brochure stand or magazine rack allows customers to view company information while waiting.
Display items often have a subtle design and match a variety of carpet colors.
storage
Storage items are important for organizing your space and creating a comfortable work environment. For example, open wood-grained shelves blend in with the carpet design and beautifully store documents, books, files, and more.
Additionally, wall storage provides a large amount of storage space and does not obstruct aisles, making it suitable for companies that store a lot of documents.
Recommended commercial carpet
Carpet is a good first choice for office interiors, but we do not recommend choosing it based on color or design alone. This is because some products lack durability and wear resistance and may require immediate replacement. While focusing on appearance, check the materials and functionality as well.
Suminoe carpets have both high design and functionality. Suminoe is a long-established interior manufacturer that has been involved in carpet manufacturing for over 130 years.
Here, we will introduce three commercial carpets that Suminoe recommends.
ECOS®
“ECOS®” is a usedCarpet tileHorizontal recycling that recyclesCarpet tileIt is.
In Suminoe, it was discardedCarpet tileWe succeeded in recycling the waste at a recycling factory. In recognition of our efforts to protect the earth's resources and the environment, we received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 4th EcoPro Awards and the Grand Prize in the Plastic Resource Recycling Special Category at the 22nd Green Purchasing Awards.
Additionally, it has superior light and wear resistance compared to conventional piece-dyed products, and has strong chemical resistance. It also comes in a wide variety of designs, making it suitable for a variety of office interiors.
Click here for more information about ECOS®
Carpet Concierge
Suminoe's ``Carpet Concierge'' is recommended for companies looking for rolled carpets for office entrances.
Carpet Concierge is a high-quality rolled carpet that takes advantage of Suminoe's traditional methods and careful manufacturing methods, which have been in business for over 130 years. It is used in hotels such as W Osaka in Osaka Prefecture, Takayama Green Hotel in Gifu Prefecture, and the lobby for horse owners and executives at Kyoto Racecourse.
They are also used in a variety of other first-class hotels, and because they come in a wide variety of lineups, some products can be installed at low cost.
Click here for more information about Carpet Concierge
HT FLOOR 2tec2®
If you are aiming for a stylish office, we recommend HT FLOOR 2tec2®. HT FLOOR 2tec2® is a PVC woven carpet that originated in Belgium and is popular for its advanced design. Using bicolor yarn that expresses two colors in one thread, the jacquard weave can express a wide range of designs, from plain weave to intricate patterns.
The surface has small irregularities unique to jacquard fabric, making it less slippery than regular carpet.
Click here for more information on HT FLOOR 2tec2®
Office interior starts with carpet
Office interiors have a variety of effects, including improving employee productivity. In order to create the ideal office environment, you first need to set goals that suit your company. Plan your interior by considering your company's values, direction, and branding elements.
When it comes to interior decoration, we recommend that you start by deciding on the carpet that will be used as the flooring material. Carpets occupy a large area, which not only affects the atmosphere of the office, but also makes it difficult to replace them once installed. Once you have decided on the carpet, consider other interior accessories.
Suminoe offers a wide variety of carpets with a variety of designs and excellent functionality. We have showrooms all over the country, so please take a look and expand your imagination.