Great Ways to Upgrade Your Office

*This is a collaborative post on great ways to upgrade your office

Office upgrades can be as simple or complicate as you like, depending on your current situation and your plans for the future. Whether you’re working alone in a home office, you’re considering expansion, or you need to change your current conventional office with staff, these tips should help you improve and upgrade your working surroundings.

Upgrade your office by using ergonomic furnishings

If you spend long hours at a desk, having the right chair, that supports you and encourages good posture, is important. Consider a standing desk as an alternative, so you have the choice of sitting or standing while you work. Other ergonomic items to consider include monitor raisers, mice and keyboards, footrests, reading slopes and wrist supports. They can all help you work comfortably, reducing physical strain. 

Improve your lighting

Studies have shown that natural light improves mood and can boost productivity. If you can, place your desk or workstation closer to a window so your light is good and you can see outside. You might have to experiment with angles to minimise screen glare. If you can’t get closer to a window, invest in good daylight bulbs and task lighting to avoid eyestrain.

Upgrade your office by creating more space

Working in a cluttered environment can stifle creativity, so clear as much space as you can in your office. If you work with physical products, maybe in online retail, business self storage can help you control stock and keep a more organised store room without surrounding yourself with boxes. Self storage facilities are often happy to work with business owners, and won’t mind if you want to do your packing and dispatching from within your storage unit.

Have versatile workspaces

If yours is a shared office, incorporating flexible work areas can help with productivity and relaxed working. Try and have meeting areas, collaboration areas or meeting rooms as well as quiet work spaces and access to private areas so you’re able to accommodate different work styles.

Upgrade your office by using art and appropriate décor

Just because it’s an office doesn’t mean it needs to be utilitarian or boring. Include plants, artwork and decorative elements to create a visually pleasing, inspirational environment. You can keep things appropriate by choosing colours, art or decorations that reflect your company values or work ethics.

Update your technology

Modern tech can really help streamline your business or working operations. Keep your software, hardware and printers up to date and running efficiently. Keep a watchful eye on the latest developments so you never have a big upgrade to go through. Big, sudden changes can slow down productivity if yourself or employees face an unexpected, steep learning curve.

Upgrade your office by creating break and wellness areas

These are important whether you’re a sole trader or have work colleagues or employees. Everyone needs a restful place to step away from work and recuperate for a few moments during the day. You could consider a meditation space, an exercise area or a small garden or courtyard if such a thing is within reach. Even if you don’t have lots of space or spare rooms to convert, try and make an area to take a break, relax and socialise (even if it’s just you online) so you can get away from the work computer.

Investigate alternative office solutions

What happens when there’s simply no room in your current office setup to do the things you need to do to grow the business? When you’re on the lookout for better or bigger office premises, the cost and scale of an upgrade can feel daunting. A more friendly and accessible solution could be on your doorstep in the shape of a flexible office to rent. Much cheaper, better contract terms, and no hidden expenses could make it just what you’re looking for.

An office upgrade inevitably leads to some upheaval so you might find it better to do things in stages, if at all possible. Plan it out on paper, incorporating all the steps, and work out a natural progression to minimise disruption. However you set about it, it’s always worth it for a fresh, inspirational and efficient working environment.