Office Rehab: Are You Thinking Outside the Cube?

Thinking outside the cube can be challenging especially when it comes to redesigning office space. The current corporate market is as it tries to meet the growing demands of the workforce, and better understand the effect work environment has on productivity.  By doing so, corporations are redesigning work spaces, providing workplace amenities, and researching elements that allow employees to be increasingly productive. Most companies can't afford to completely redesign their space, so if you are looking to elevate the mood and spice up your office here are 4 tips to keep in mind:

1. Wall Color
Paint, is generally a cheap fix for any office and can provide the largest impact. Color can help or hurt office productivity by affecting the mood and overall well-being. Choosing the right color for office walls helps employees remain focused, increases concentration and energy, and helps increase productivity. Keep in mind, there are guidelines for colors depending on what kind of response your work requires. If your work requires a great deal of concentration, you'll want to use non-stimulating colors. But if your work requires employees to be upbeat, energetic, and enthusiastic, you'll want the opposite, colors that are strong and bold.  Click here to find out what colors might be right for your office.

2. Lighting

It's no secret that the right lighting sets the stage for the workplace! As more companies renovate their spaces they are working to increase the amount of natural light. BHC Rhodes recent remodel incorporated natural lighting and their employees are soaking up the benefits of a healthy open environment. By knocking down walls and creating more spaces that have natural light allows employees to thrive while getting a healthy dose of vitamin D. Most employees are more productive when there is an abundance of natural light. If your office space doesn't have these amenities here are a few solutions to incorporate short of renovation:

• Inspire employees by installing false windows in areas where there is no sunlight 
• Use full-spectrum lighting since this is closer to natural sunlight
• Keep personal lamps at every desk to illuminate darker areas in the office

3. Greenery
Bringing the outdoors in is a must! Adding plants to your office is something that every business should do since greenery spruces up the office and provides health and psychological benefits to everyone. Conscious business owners should take notice of how the relatively inexpensive plants create huge improvements to office spaces and their employees productivity. The benefits seem to be endless, here are just a few::

• Reduction in stress levels
• Reduction of sickness and absences
• Cleaner air to breathe
• Increased creativity and comfort

4. Desk Comfort
The going thing today are desk spaces that are flexible with options for standing desks has 

shown to decrease a range of health problems from obesity to diabetes to cancer. Because the average office worker spends 5 hours and 41 minutes sitting each day at his or her desk this allows for healthier and happier employees. 

Adapting offices to meet the needs of your employees is a must to sustain and increase productivity levels. It's important for businesses to consider tenant improvements and renovation projects. Read more office rehab solutions in our blog post, "Creative Office Solutions for the Modern Workplace".

Block Real Estate Services, LLC (BRES) has many office sites available to update or rehab and if you are in the market, BRES has many partners such as Hoefer Wysocki Architects who designed the rehab of BHC Rhodes and would love to get you into your new and updated space.

For more information on leasing office space in the KC metropolitan area contact:

Estel Hipp
Sr. Vice President
Block Real Estate Services, LLC
LinkedIn