Any office should be well balanced between functionality and comfort. But thanks to the modesty of a startup office, it can rarely come with the luxury fixtures of an established corporate space. The budget constraints mean you have to be creative with what you have, as with everything else. But that doesn’t mean your team needs to feel like they’re working in a Spartan environment with zero personality either.
We could give you a large preamble as to why a nice office space works well for hires, especially those trying to make good on your startup idea. We know that a cold, uncomfortable workspace just adds another layer of stress to their onboarding experience. But really, you likely want the best office you can design and afford, so it’s unnecessary to convince you of that outcome.
Luckily, you don’t need to pay an obscene amount to achieve this, as you should focus more on the thoughtful touches that show you’ve considered the human experience of the space. In this post we’ll use some helpful suggestions to get you started on that path:
Create Zones That Serve Different Needs
Office comfort starts with recognizing that people need variety throughout their day. Even in a compact startup space, you could zone different areas for different types of work. Perhaps a quiet corner with better soundproofing for focused tasks, and a more collaborative area with comfortable seating for impromptu discussions.
Even if you’re just working in a large garage spce, a sofa area and large table area can fit. A company that drops water coolers or coffee stations in the space rather than having just one break area might find that informal conversations happen more naturally too, or let people feel comfortable in building team cohesion without forced interaction. You could achieve that with Drop water coolers.
Bring Nature Indoors However You Can
Plans are great for making a space feel vibrant. They can help to soften harsh lines, add color, improve air quality, and create a subtle connection to the outside world which is nice in an otherwise small space. For new staff members who might be dealing with first-day nerves, plant life creates a subliminal sense of calm. You don’t need an elaborate living wall or expensive specimens that take heavy upkeep, as low-maintenance varieties that can survive occasional neglect like snake plants are fine. Place them where they’ll catch natural light but also be visible from most workstations.
Personalize Without Creating Clutter
A startup office needs to communicate your company identity to new arrivals, for obvious reasons, especially when the startup is fledgling and trying to justify its existence. As such, you could display your company story on a feature wall using photos, milestone markers, or customer testimonials. This can make new staff feel proud or see how their own early integration into the new operation is giving them real opportunities to grow.
With this advice, you’ll be sure to make that modest startup office much more pleasing to occupy.
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