What’s the importance of Singapore office interior design? Can it enforce a brand and the connected to it corporate culture? Is it just an aesthetic element? Does it determine the reputation of a company as one insisting on traditions or as an innovator? While professional interior design can accomplish all of these, its importance goes beyond what meets the eye.

Employee retention in a busy and dynamic digital world has become a nearly impossible task. At the same time, companies need skilled workers to remain stable in a highly competitive environment.

Professional interior design is important in a number of ways, especially when it comes to ensuring the happiness and the engagement of employees. If you’re wondering whether your office is in need of an upgrade, here are a few reasons why moving forward with such a project is going to be worth the investment.

It Gives Employees Convenience

Anyone who has at least minor interest in modern interior design has seen the futuristic offices of some of the hottest companies today. These feature gyms, sleeping pods and even slides between floors instead of stairs.

When they’re asked about what they’d like to find in the office, however, most employees say they need convenience. Things like a cosy kitchen and a nice coffee machine accomplish a lot more than modernistic and funky designs.

Office interior design that ensures convenience and comfort encourages people to spend more time at the workplace. If the office environment is way too sterile and ordered, employees will feel like they’re walking on egg shells. This is why the modern office delivers everything needed to do a good job while also focusing on a bit of comfort and the provision of quality relaxation opportunities.

The Office Becomes an Extension of One’s Home

Through modern interior design, Singapore companies have started bridging the gap between the home and the office environments.

Workers today spend a lot more time at the workplace than in home. This is why crafty Singapore interior design companies like home guide have turned the office into an “extension” of the home environment.

The strict corporate and neutral appearance of the office has undergone a massive transformation. Offices today brag brighter colours, artwork, throw pillows, cushions and funky little rugs that give employees the feeling of being in the warm and friendly home environment.

Turning the office into a home extension encourages people to spend more time there and to interact with co-worker’s in informal settings. Thus, better bonding opportunities arise and collaboration between teams or even departments is taken to the next level.

A Chance to Overcome Chronic Stress

Burnout is a serious, serious problem that related to contemporary workplace realities. Statistics show that workers in Singapore have the highest burnout rates in the region. According to employers, nearly a third of all workers experience burnout, regardless of the fact that companies are constantly working to increase the number of employees.

Proper collaboration and effective office practices are essential to address this chronic fatigue. The office design, however, could also play a role in controlling the phenomenon.

Interior design companies always plan for the creation of a relaxation or a chill-out area.

This part of the workspace gives employees the chance to distance themselves from the multiple tasks and the problems they’re trying to address. Contemporary relaxation areas often feature a yoga and meditation zone, a massage space, a pool table and even an art station. Different people fight stress in different ways and diversity is the key to helping workers unwind.

Employee burnout is a problem that has to be addressed on corporate rather than individual level. Design that focuses on relaxation and gives people a bit of flexibility is one of the first steps in the right direction.

Enabling Flexible Arrangements

Telecommuting is becoming more popular by the day.

Many companies are making processes much more flexible. Employees can complete tasks from home and visit the office upon necessity. They can also stop in over the weekend, bringing their family while handling a quick task.

Contemporary office interior design makes the workspace suited to such flexible arrangements.

Standing offices and shared spaces are becoming increasingly common. These enable companies to move to a smaller office and reduce some operational expenses while still giving workers a comfortable space for meetings and collaborations.

In addition, many offices are starting to feature prominent cafeteria or childcare centres where employees can leave their little ones for an hour or two.

Gone is the strict style and the rigorous structure of the office of the past. Today’s office is much more dynamic and functional. It has areas and zones that were entirely unheard of a decade ago. Technology is also displayed more prominently to enable remote work and allow people to communicate with their co-workers regardless of location.

An Office Tailored to the Needs of the Right Crowd

Needless to say, such innovative solutions aren’t suited to the needs of all businesses.

Some corporations still benefit from the clean and classic corporate design that will remain timeless regardless of tech innovations.

It’s simply a matter of understanding operations and the needs of workers to deliver the environment that will work in their favour.

While younger people are happy in offices they characterise as “fun,” more experienced professionals will be looking for stability and convenience.

You need to know your team and you need to know how these people work before moving forward with an interior design innovation project.

Once you pinpoint the right solutions, you will have to partner with the right entity that can bring your vision to reality.

You need an interior design company that has the experience but that’s also open to executing an innovative idea. Home Guide has years of experience but we always strive to innovate and bring something new to the table. Just take a look at our office interior design portfolio!

Contact Home Guide today if you want to make your employees happy and help your company grow through the power of interior design.

Plastic waste is a serious problem in Singapore. Statistics from 2018 suggest that Singaporeans go through 1.76 billion plastic items per year and only 20 per cent of these get recycled. According to the Singapore Environment Council, Singaporeans use 467 million plastic bottles per year and 473 million disposable, single-use plastic items.

Offices contribute massively to this plastic pollution. Single-use plastic cups, utensils, plastic bags, containers and bottles are a common sight at a regular work place.

Clever office interior design can offer some solutions to this problem. In fact, Singapore interior design companies have been conceptualising projects that allow for the complete elimination of plastic from the office. Sustainability is expected to become an even bigger, more prominent trend in the future office design.

Putting together a plastic-free office can be relatively easy. You can start with a few simple, gradual changes like the ones mentioned in this guide.

Environmentally-Conscious Kitchen Accessories and Utensils

The water cooler is a place of socialisation and so is the office kitchen. Unfortunately, these feature plastic cups, plates and single-use utensils that employees will need once to consume their meal before discarding.

Interior design can put emphasis on beautiful utensils and kitchen accessories designed for multiple uses.

Your interior design team will work on a cosy kitchen that features porcelain mugs, plates, a sufficient number of forks and knives. Having a dishwasher in the office kitchen is also a good idea because cleaning utensils will become simpler and people will be less drawn to choosing single use cutlery.

Once the kitchen is designed, you may want to start thinking about the provision of incentives and stimuli for environment-conscious behaviour. There may be small prizes for the workers who refrain from using plastic. The provision of such incentives will quickly turn sustainability into a part of the office culture.

Custom, Branded Multi-Use Water Bottles

As you’ve gathered from the intro, the use of plastic bottles is a major problem in Singapore and one of the main contributors to plastic pollution.

Let your design team work or help source for a supplier to custom design water bottles that goes both with your brand and the office interior design. It could be branded, it could feature your corporate colours or another part of your corporate identity. Bottles made from metal are very long-lived, beautiful and stylish.

Providing employees with such bottles and making sure there’s always a gallon for refills at the office will definitely reduce the need for the purchase of single-use plastic bottles.

Designated Recycling Corners

While getting rid of plastic in the kitchen is relatively easy, going to a 100 per cent free from plastic office is not entirely achievable.

Stationary and office supplies often come in plastic packaging. There will be shipments arriving on a daily basis, files, plastic wraps and outdated plastic supplies that you’ll eventually have to get rid of.

Good office interior design creates designated recycling corners that are readily accessible and visible.

Make sure you have at least several recycling corners scattered throughout the workplace. This is especially important for larger offices. If people don’t have easy access to the recycling bin, they may get lazy and throw plastic items in the regular trash can.

Signs and labels that explain the importance of recycling can also be incorporated in the office interior design. Work with your interior design team to make these signs visually pleasing and informative at the same time. You can have an entire wall in the office turned into an infographic that explains the consequences of plastic pollution and the little steps that can be undertaken towards living in a cleaner and healthier environment.

A Beautiful, Sustainable, Plastic-Free Office

Many offices in Singapore are reliant on plastic supplies and even pieces of furniture. These are still utilised because they’re long-lived, easy to maintain and more affordable than other options.

Plastic items, however, will eventually have to be discarded. In the long run, some more expensive materials could prove to be a better investment because they will remain in a good condition for a much longer period of time.

Tell your interior designer that you want to go plastic-free in terms of accessories, furniture and decorations.

Your interior design team will opt for sustainable alternatives like wood, bamboo, stone and ceramic tiles. All of these are much better than their plastic counterparts for the environment. In addition, a plastic-free office interior will look much more sophisticated and welcoming.

A 100 Per Cent Plastic-Free Office Café

Just like you can eliminate plastic from the workspace, you can also get rid of plastic at the office café or bistro.

Larger companies and corporations tend to have an office café as an added perk. It’s a wonderful place for creative sessions, a bit of relaxation and socialisation with co-workers. Cafés, however, are notorious for the excessive use of plastic cups, straws, plastic bags, utensils and containers.

A green café will be very trendy and it will also teach employees about the importance of going plastic-free.

Make sure that the café lacks a vending machine that releases plastic cups and bottles. Instead, install a more high-end coffee machine (we’ve already discussed the ways to get rid of plastic cups and bottles). If you’re opting for a coffee machine, make sure it’s not of the variety that uses plastic capsules.

Cloth bags for the storage of food remains are a great choice – these are washable, recyclable and they can also be branded to carry your company’s message and identity elements.

Don’t hesitate to change practices that have been around for decades. Just because everyone else is reliant on everyday plastic use at the office doesn’t mean that a better option is missing.

Talk to your interior design team and communicate the desire to go as plastic-free as possible. Experienced designers like the Home Guide team know what it takes to utilise sustainable materials and to introduce decorative solutions that will encourage office workers to reduce, reuse, recycle.

Contact Home Guide today and make the first step towards enhanced office sustainability and the creation of a brand new workplace culture.

Your office is a space where workers spend most of the day in. Hence, this space should be comfortable and capable of stimulating productivity. An office, however, can also be used to enforce your corporate culture. It can highlight the key essentials you believe in – cooperation, perfectionism, innovation and team work.

Office interior design can accomplish a lot in terms of setting the right work tone and telling workers which values matter the most inside the organisation. Corporate values, missions and believes can be highlighted in numerous ways. Some techniques are universally applicable across workplaces in Singapore.

Put Emphasis on Comfort

All companies want to show employees they’re being valued and appreciated.

Putting together a comfortable workspace is one of the best ways to tell valuable employees “thank you.”

Comfortable office interior design encourages people to spend more time at their workplace and to be engaged. The good news is that comfort can be achieved in so many distinctive ways.

The acquisition of modern, ergonomic furniture is just one of the options. Your office interior design could also put emphasis on relaxation areas, community spaces where people can collaborate and little personal spaces that will produce a bit of privacy, even if you opt for an open-space office design.

Choose Engaging Interior Design Solutions

Getting people to engage with the corporate culture is one of the essentials for preventing distance and detachment.

It’s very important to include every single employee into shaping up the face of the business. This goal can be accomplished through the selection of the right office interior design.

Here’s a simple example of what corporate culture engagement entails. Let’s say your office is all about innovation. If so, you can have augmented or virtual reality wall displays that change on the basis of the feedback received from the observer.

Apart from being cool and in line with the company’s most dearly held values, such office designs can also be used to educate. In some instances, getting people to engage will provide valuable feedback about the needs and the preferences of the workforce. As a result, the office design and the overall workplace environment can be tweaked even further.

Collaborative Spaces

Effective communication between workers and between departments is the heart and soul of productivity.

Collaboration can be encouraged effortlessly through clever office interior design.

A Singapore interior design company like Home guide that specialise in the field of commercial solutions know that very little is required to get people engaging with each other.

A well-designed office kitchen with a few appliances creates the right informal settings for a lunchtime conversation. If you want to encourage collaboration in a more professional way, there could be a brainstorming corner. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a conference room. Large bean bags, little coffee tables and even hammocks or swings create a cool and fun space where people can let loose and get those creative juices flowing.

Collaborative spaces should be designed in a way as to not interfere with other aspects of the work process. Hence, they should be located adequately. In some instances, noise isolation solutions will also have to be employed to ensure a great collaborative space that doesn’t stand in the way of other people’s concentration efforts.

Creative and Artistic Interiors

Concentration and strategic thinking are both determining for the success of every business. So is creative thought, however.

Modern office interior designs show just how valuable creative thought is. They provide solutions and accessories that employees could rely on to brainstorm, record their ideas and share new concepts with others.

Turning an entire wall into a whiteboard for scribbling and sketching is one simple example of an office ambiance that encourages creativity and thinking outside the box.

Artwork, greenery and well-furnished meeting rooms also contribute to the more creative and artistic side of the office interior.

Even if the corporation operates in a traditionally “creativity-free” industry like finance, for example, a little bit of warmth and imagination inside the office can be beneficial. Artistic interiors break things up and they take away from the sterility of the corporate space. Hence, such interiors can encourage innovative thinking and help employees come with breakthrough solutions for pressing problems.

A Little Bit of Fun

Every single person should be having a bit of fun at the office.

An interior design that’s somewhat quirky and light-hearted can easily maximise engagement and the amount of time people spend at the office.

Contemporary offices always have at least one innovative, fun or exciting corner. A meditation room is the perfect place for a bit of afternoon relaxation. You can also have a sports corner that features darts, table tennis, a treadmill or a recumbent bike.

You can even put together an art room or an anti-stress space with gentle music and massage tables.

It’s really up to you to decide which fun and unorthodox idea is the best match to your work culture. Discussing such opportunities with the interior design team working on your project will help you fine-tune the concept even further and focus on an execution that makes sense and that will get your employees excited.
These are just a few simple examples of office interior design solutions that highlight certain aspects of corporate culture. Obviously, you can go in a completely different direction to make the biggest values a priority.

The interior design team you’ll be partnering up with is going to examine your company’s history but it may also be a good idea to give them an overview of your mission, values and beliefs. This way, decorations and functional solutions will be chosen to correspond to your corporate identity.

Lastly, the experience of interior design teams matters.

If you want to have your vision brought to reality, you have to pick a Singapore interior design company with an extensive portfolio and background history. Home Guide has worked on numerous office projects and we know what it takes to make the corporate culture and the brand identity a priority. Contact us today to give your business the corporate space it deserves.

A few decades ago, science fiction writers imagined technologies and described developments that were deemed impossible at the time being. Today, many of their predictions have come into existence – autonomous robots, virtual reality, 3D printing.

These technologies are having a profound effect on many aspects of life, including the way that we work.

Office interior design professionals have to take the new tech in consideration when coming up with solutions for their clients. In addition, they have to think about a new generation entering the workforce and about sustainability issues that the world is trying to address.

The future office interior design in Singapore will be affected by all three of these trends. What is it going to look like, however? Let’s examine a few of the most prominent characteristics of the futuristic office.

3D and Augmented Reality Designs

Singapore interior designers are already exploring the scope of 3D printing. Furniture can easily be tailor-made through the use of the right patterns and a 3D printer. Some have even taken such experiments a step further – the first entirely 3D printed building is already here.

Three-dimensional printing allows for the creation of original, lightweight and very durable pieces. In addition, this technology makes custom items much more affordable than they are right now.

Through 3D printing, interior designers will become much more capable of taking on clients that have unique or highly specific needs. Designers will get to conceptualise office décor and functional pieces that are either unavailable or that will cost the client a little fortune to get done.

3D technologies aren’t the only ones that will impact the Singapore office of the future. Augmented reality can also be used to make the office a more comfortable, exciting and functional place.

Some say that augmented reality solutions could eliminate the need for having physical offices. We still have a long way to go until we get there but the technology can still be very useful in the traditional office. Imagine the layering of data on top of an office wall. Functional, practical and highly relevant, this solution will be a great choice for just about every industry.

Biophilic Design

As our world becomes increasingly urbanised, interior designers will start looking for better ways to bring nature into the office.

Biophilic design is an entire sub-division of interior design in Singapore. The use of plants, trees and entire natural setups (a small lake, a water cascade) allow for a bit of serenity in the middle of the hi-tech environment. The contrast creates a soothing space that workers can rely on to get their batteries recharged and to disconnect for a while.

Offices That Embrace Remote Workers

The traditional work space is starting to break down.

More and more people are telecommuting or working from home. Companies are enjoying the flexibility this option provides. On top of boosting productivity, this flexibility is also a great choice in terms of ensuring employee engagement.

The office of the future should support hybrid teams of people who are in the workspace and those who are working remotely.

The incorporation of large screens in the walls, for example, could simplify live streaming conferences. Remote workers will get an easy chance to interact with their colleagues in the office and to feel included.

Touchdown spaces should also be incorporated in the design for those who visit the office only occasionally. Such spaces allow workers to sit down, log in, do a bit of work and leave the office without disturbing anyone.

Activity Pods and Capsules

Designated pods or capsules for various activities may seem somewhat futuristic but many interior designers believe this is going to be one of the primary trends of the future.

Imagine a pod that features soundproofing, optimal light and a distraction-free interior for concentration. It would be great for those who need to isolate themselves from the rest of the office in order to complete a challenging task.

There could be creativity pods, data analysis pods, conferencing, workshop and even sleeping capsules. Each space will be designed to reflect a specific purpose and to offer the ultimate conditions for the execution of the respective task.

Solar Energy, Paperless Offices and Sustainable Solutions

Society is becoming very conscious of the resources we use, our wasteful practices and the ways in which human activities affect the environment.

Future office interior designs will put a lot more emphasis on the conservation of resources and the utilisation of clean energy sources.

Solar panels are bound to become a standard solution in terms of electricity generation. These could cover at least some of the company’s energy needs to reduce the carbon footprint of the business.

Interior designers will also conceptualise spaces that are less dependent on paper. While a 100 per cent paperless office is impossible at the time being, office functionalities and decorations could highlight digital solutions, paper-free communication and recycling. The use of the right signs and the less convenient availability of printers, for example, are two simple design solutions that will help employees bring down the number of pages they print on a daily basis.

The green offices of the future will also feature motion-activated lights (a technology that’s already widely utilised), more natural light through innovative solutions like reflective surfaces that bring in sunlight regardless of the office floor, interiors made entirely of sustainable materials and even the creation of living buildings that are entirely covered in greenery or that feature a rooftop garden.

There are many things you can bring your office to the future.

If you have an idea, you will need to look for the right partner that can execute the concept and help you make the most of it.

Home Guide is a Singapore interior design company that specialises in residential, retail and office solutions. We embrace new technologies and are eager to experiment with the trends of the future that make offices more functional.

Contact us today if you want to redesign your workspace or you’re looking to put together the perfect new office for your team.

A modern Singapore office is functional, trendy and industry-relevant. It provides the right working conditions while also exuding that “wow” aspect of interior design.

Corporate environments today don’t have to be sterile and based on one and the same take of the business décor. There are various hot and trendy office décor ideas you can introduce in your work space right now.

Layered Textures

Layered textures will be a hot aspect of office interior design in 2019.

Many offices opt for monochromatic décor ideas that lack pattern or texture. Navy blue, grey, black and white are considered standard corporate colours because they’re neutral and they have a corporate feel to them.

Such monochromatic solutions, however, look lifeless and lacking in energy. This is especially the case when it comes to the design of creative spaces and office areas where the exchange of ideas takes place. Parts of the office where employees socialise will also benefit from something a bit brighter and much more unusual.

Layered textures can be accomplished in several ways – through the introduction of rugs, fabrics, wall carpets with geometric shapes, quilts and soft furnishing. They add a bit of a “homey” feel to the office through their warmth and intriguing appearance. Hence, employee will feel much more welcomed and predisposed to spend long periods of time in the office.

A Meditation and Massage Corner

Adding a zen corner to the office is a great interior design idea to adopt in 2019.

Relaxation is vital for overcoming everyday stress and ensuring productivity, even during the most stressful work periods.

Experience-driven spaces allow for space optimisation and the prioritisation of the positive experience workers will have during the day.

A zen, meditation and massage corner is very easy to create as a part of the office’s leisure area. Greenery, a massage chair, a comfy couch, soft colours, incense, candles and even a relaxing photographic wallpaper can take employees to a place of peacefulness.

Creating a meditation corner is far from expensive but it will provide one of the best experience-driven spaces in the office. If you’re interested in giving employees more than one experience, you could also opt for an espresso lounge, a chiropractor consultation space or a music room.

Mobile Furniture

the modern office layout is no longer static. The needs of work teams change all the time, which is why the office décor should be effortless to modify.

Lightweight, mobile furniture will dominate the corporate scene in 2019 and the years beyond.

When an office has lightweight furniture and accessories, the interior space can be rearranged quickly in any way deemed appropriate. Apart from furniture, you may also want to consider wall dividers and lightweight separators that will create private little corners for contemplation and creative work.

Choose lightweight chairs and tables that feature wheels for the purpose of sliding around. Large bean bags and mobile whiteboards will also contribute to the functionality and the flexibility of the office space.

Antique and Weathered Textures

The exact opposite of minimalism, antique or weathered office interior design will definitely make an impression.

In fact, weathered textures can be put alongside contemporary solutions like sleek stainless steel surfaces. The juxtaposition will result in a visually pleasing and very dynamic “old meets new” interior design concept.

Singapore interior design professionals love such contrasts because they bring together the best aspects of both worlds. A delicate and intricate woodcarving placed on the wall in a modern office will immediately draw attention. It will also give some warmth and old-school charm to a clean and functional environment that may be somewhat lacking in personality.

Repurposed and Recycled Items

If you want to take the “old meets new” office décor idea a step further, you can go for recycled and repurposed items.

Giving items that would be discarded a second chance will result in a unique office ambiance. In addition, such interior design solutions are a great choice for companies working towards increasing business sustainability and the adoption of green solutions.

An old crate, for example, can easily be transformed in a coffee table for a meeting room. Old clipboards can be hung on the wall to hold art or facilitate the exchange of ideas.

There are dozens of ways to reuse old office supplies and items that would otherwise be discarded or recycled. Let your interior designer know you’re looking into the idea and together, you’ll come up with creative and relevant solutions.

Living Green Walls

You can take office plants a step further by designing a living green wall for the office. It looks relaxing, it adds some texture to the interior and indoor plants can produce various health benefits for the inhabitants of the space.

Many landscape and gardening service providers can help with the creation of a green office wall that features different plants but that is also easy to maintain in an optimal condition.

If you don’t want to work on the maintenance of an entire living wall, you can have planting containers hung in rows on the wall. All you’ll have to do in this instance is water the plants and enjoy the beautiful texture they’ll bring to the office. Once again, contrast and juxtaposition will work here to make the interior design dynamic and distinctive.

There are no rules and static templates to follow when it comes to choosing inspiring office décor ideas. In 2019, rules are made to be broken. Think about your core areas of competence and the needs of your workers. You can also get them involved in the process to pinpoint the most attractive ideas.

When you know what you’re trying to accomplish, you’ll simply be left with contacting the interior design team in Singapore that can handle the project. Home Guide has worked on a range of innovative office décor solutions. Check out our portfolio or get in touch with us today to find more.

Given that the average office worker in Singapore spends, a significant, 2,371.2 hours of their year at the office, the ergonomics of the space should be carefully considered. The science of ergonomics focuses on creating a space that has been optimally designed to suit the abilities and proportions of the user, in this case, the worker. This helps create a happy environment, as it ensures workers are comfortable and not straining while completing their duties, thus avoiding injury, expense, and disgruntlement.

Ergonomics relates to space design, furniture design, and process design. That is to say, ensuring there is enough space for workers to complete their tasks comfortably, without having to strain or struggle to fit into a space; ensuring items like seating, cabinetry and desks are at the optimum height and size for workers, depending on body shape and size; and ensuring that the kind of tasks workers are expected to complete do not cause repetition injuries, or strain by expecting too much of their body’s abilities.

Your office interior design firm should be able to ensure that the ergonomics for your space has been considered in your final design. This requires input from yourself so that your office interior designers can fully understand the requirement for the space and the employees within it.

Ergonomic Space Design

There are several factors to consider regarding space design and its ergonomics.

Lighting

Depending on the task at hand, additional lighting may be required to supplement ambient light. Individual desk lights may be necessary to allow for the shifts in daylight, or to provide lighting for specific tasks. Alternatively, shading may need to be required to control natural light. For those working at computers, windows should be kept perpendicular to screens always, to avoid glare or shadow and shades should be available to block out the harshest daylight.

Functional Space

Consider the space requirements for the daily tasks of employees. This includes providing enough space to move back from the desk to stand up without straining, as well as positioning equipment such as printers or filing in easy to access spaces with support furniture. Also, consider supplementary items; extra paper for printers can be heavy so shouldn’t be stored too low or high to risk injury, and at an openly accessible space.

Security

Perhaps not typically considered during ergonomic design, security also affects an employees experience of the work process. For instance, while open-plan offices have recently become popular, consider which employees will be dealing with sensitive or confidential information in documents or conversations. If the CEO constantly has to move to the boardroom to have private tactical business conversations, or the HR manager has to shield confidential salary information, perhaps open-plan is counterproductive for them.

Ergonomic Furniture design

Sitting at a desk, working at a computer all day can lead to a surprisingly high number of opportunities for injury. 31% of reported workplace-related injuries include lower back strain, neck pain, and tight shoulders, all linked to computer work. All areas of the individual’s workstation need to be considered. Ideally, workers should take regular breaks and change their working position throughout the day, for instance from standing to sitting and back again. And all areas including break areas should be ergonomically designed with the related task and user in mind. It is worth hiring an office interior design firm that can help to ensure that furniture is selected to suit the users, and not simply make a design statement.

Chairs

Workers will spend on average 8 hours or more a day in their chair, so correct support is vital. The user should be able to sit with their feet flat on the floor, thighs parallel to the ground and the average seat depth should be 41cm, though adjustable is better. The chair should be firm enough to provide support, without being too rigid, providing natural lumbar support in lower back. Finally, the user should be able to move freely as necessary; if this includes swivelling, the floor surface should not provide undue resistance to the castors of the chair.

Desk

Height is the most important factor and ergonomic design suggests 73cm as the ideal. Ones arms should be able to rest on the desk with the elbows at 90 degrees and ones legs should fit under the desk with comfort and enough space to cross the legs if necessary. An adjustable desk, from standing to sitting is even better to ensure a change of posture throughout the day to avoid issues with blood pressure, back pain and long term illness.

Monitor

Should be approximately 20cm away with the top of the screen in line with your eye level at an upwards angle of about 10-20 degrees. Eyestrain, back neck and shoulder strain can all result from a poorly positioned screen.

Keyboard and Mouse

The user’s arms should be able to sit comfortably at their sides, without stretching, and ideally, the keyboard should angle away from the user by 15 degrees (this is one factor to which almost no keyboards cater). The wrists should be able to remain straight and not flexed upwards or downwards when typing and the mouse should remain in easy reach.

Task Design

While task design doesn’t really fit into the focus of the interior design of a space, employers should consider the type of work that employees will need to carry out. If work is repetitive, it may be worth creating a rotational work cycle, allowing workers to rotate through different parts of the work process to ensure they have the chance to change the type of activity they do all day. For employees that are required to sit at a desk all day, encouraging employees to take short breaks throughout the day can lead to less strain or injury complaints. There are several systems and apps available on the market to help ensure employees take regular breaks, to avoid both eye and back and neck strain, as well as mental fatigue from remaining on one task for too long.

This can help to avoid expensive medical bills and replacement staff requirements related to strain injuries(one estimate reached a figure of $34,000 as a cost to the company of an injured employee and the related expenses). Office interior design in Singapore is particularly important given the amount of time workers spend in the office. At the end of the day, the company’s bottom line will benefit and employees will be left feeling valued and more satisfied in the workplace.

Open office plans have been a recurring modern theme for many years now. They create more space, encourage communication and generally actively encourage collaborative innovation.

This layout, however, isn’t the only opportunity you should be considering if you’re about to modify the interior design of an office. A traditional layout that features cubicles or closed spaces could be a good choice for your business.

Considering the different layouts and selecting an experienced Singapore interior design team will help you pick the execution that makes the most sense for the kind of work you do and the specific interactions taking place in the workspace.

The Benefits of the Open Office Layout

Open office layouts have been very popular and they’re still very much considered the trend of the future because they bring a number of important advantages to the table.

For a start, it’s much easier for people to feel a part of the team when they’re surrounded by workmates and they can visually identify everybody else within the office.

Open office designs are also ideal for collaborative work. A worker can easily approach their colleagues when in need of assistance. Communication is effortless and simple, which means that the productivity level might also be high.

According to reports, open office designs help for faster problem solving and a quicker response from all parties involved in a specific work process. Because of these characteristics, companies from different industries in Singapore have started opting for open office layouts.

The Benefits of a Traditional Office Layout

Traditional office layouts aren’t outdated because they have their specific range of merits.

A traditional design does not necessarily need to involve cubicles. There could be rooms and closed sections used to concentrate and do work.

The traditional layout is a good idea for professionals who have to complete challenging intellectual or highly specific professional tasks. In such instances, having everybody in the same room isn’t going to make a lot of sense because of the possible distractions.

People will also feel like they have their own space that cannot be invaded by others.

The traditional office deals with the common problems that stem from open office layouts – too much noise and the lack of privacy. At times, these could get to be so overwhelming that they could potentially reduce productivity.

Traditional layouts, however, could result in feelings of isolation and the lack of team establishment. If people are stuck in their own little space from 9am to 5pm, will they ever go out to spend quality time with coworkers?

Both open office and traditional layouts have their supporters. It’s impossible to tell whether one option is better than the other. Thus, consulting an experienced interior design firm in Singapore is very important. Based on the available space, the size of the team and the type of work you do, the interior designer will be able to give you a good lowdown on different options that are appropriate for your business needs and office culture.

A Hybrid Approach Could Be the Answer

Just because open-floor and traditional layouts are quite popular does not mean these are the only options out there.

For many Singapore businesses, a hybrid approach towards layout creation will deliver the best results catering to both introverts and extroverts.

This means taking the best aspects of both layouts and bringing them into the office.

Diversified spaces with varied level of privacy are ideal for most types of businesses and regardless of the company size. Such offices can have their own little concentration hubs, brainstorming areas, chill out spaces and open floor sections where multiple desks will be placed.

Flexibility is the key to making the most of the available office space. If people can use a certain part of the office that corresponds to the nature of the task at hand, they will be more satisfied with the work area and they’ll also be more likely to do a good job.

Many of today’s most innovative companies prefer a mix of open and closed design. Very often, employees are also included in the renovation process because their feedback provides invaluable information about how the office space is used and what the biggest challenges are.

An office design does not have to be fixed. In fact, interior designers in Singapore today give their clients flexible and practical solutions that enable the transformation of an office within minutes. Movable panels and acoustic barriers, for example, can easily be set up to transform the open floor layout and create a sense of privacy for a team that needs to isolate itself.

Human interactions are incredibly difficult and basic solutions or assumptions are not going to work for the dynamic companies of today. In addition, businesses tend to grow and evolve rapidly. An office layout that was practical two years ago could be completely impractical for the current team or the manner in which work is done.

To sum it up, it’s difficult to pinpoint the best office layout. Maintaining degree of flexibility when carrying out a renovation project will always be the best approach.

To carry out such a project, you will have to pick interior designers who have the experience and who know how to bring such conceptual work to reality.

Home Guide is one such team.

With over 26 years of experience in the world of corporate interior design, Home Guide has the know-how to suggest and execute the best layout for your needs. Even if you’re looking for a hybrid, innovative office solution, we can help you elevate the concept and create the perfect workspace for your team.

All of our work is tailored to the specific needs of the client and the characteristics of the available space. We will do our best to understand your work and your team. This understanding and personalization will be evident in the project we create for you. Contact Home Guide today to modernize your office and give your employees the best possible workspace experience.

It’s December, and everyone is embracing the Christmas spirit, not least of all the corporate world. Offices are decorated and end-of-year functions are thrown, all in the name of this festive celebration. Unfortunately, there are certain risks that are involved, given the nature of the decorations and their installation, which could lead to avoidable accidents. At Home Guide we believe in creating beautiful office Interior spaces, however safety should never be neglected and this list will help ensure you cover all bases in that regard.

Potential risks and how to avoid them

Traditionally, festive decorations include Christmas trees, strings of lights and a range of decorations draped, wrapped and suspended all around the office. However, when planning your office Christmas decor you need to consider these potential safety issues:

Installation

• When setting up any of the below decorations, be sure to maintain a neat work area.
• Don’t obstruct walkways or exits with boxes or tools
• Use the appropriate equipment, such as ladders and gloves, to protect against injury
• Make sure all Christmas decor comes from a reputable supplier and passes safety standards, and discard any old, broken or frayed items.
• Be sure not to block any security devices, such as motion sensors or security doors.

Christmas Tree

• A Christmas tree is often a nice touch for a centrepiece, however, if opting for a traditional fir/spruce style tree, a synthetic choice is best as live trees can dry out and create a fire hazard.
• If you want a living tree, embrace local Singapore style and choose a tropical option which will not dry out as easily as the traditional options and thus poses less risk if well watered.
• Make sure you don’t place the tree anywhere that will create a tripping hazard, or that blocks normal or emergency exits.

Christmas Lights

Christmas office interiors wouldn’t be complete without strings of lights to add that twinkling magic. However they can be one of the greatest potential hazards.

• Do a complete check and service all strings of lights before you hang them. Replace any blown bulbs and discard any cables that have become worn or broken.
• Do not use nails or tacks to secure cables as this is an electric shock hazard.
• Ensure all cables are neatly secured and avoid running them along walkways which could cause a tripping hazard.
• Use LEDs as they remain cool while switched on and use far less energy than incandescents. Be sure to turn them off at the end of the workday.
• Make sure there are no fast flashing lights in the workplace, which could be an issue for epileptic workers or visitors.
• Make sure lights are plugged into their own socket to avoid overloading and use a circuit breaker adaptor to avoid shocks.
• Avoid lit candles in general. Apart from the fire hazard, certain scented candles release chemical fumes that are also a health risk.

Christmas Wreaths, Baubles and Garlands.

• If you are suspending any decor, especially if from a great height, ensure all items are well secured with ties that are specifically created to carry a weight.
• Make sure any wreaths or garlands are tied down in some way and not just draped, to avoid them becoming a tripping hazard; this will also keep decor neat throughout the period.
• If you are spraying fake snow/frost, be sure to open windows to create a well-ventilated space.

Be safe to enjoy the season

The above list acts as a precaution against disaster and if followed, you can enjoy the Christmas season in your office without concern. It is proven that decorating the workplace improves morale as it shows that you want to include your employees in festive traditions. If you follow these guidelines you are also showing them that their safety is your priority which will do even more to ensure increased Christmas cheer. As a HDB licensed interior design company in Singapore, safety has always been our top priority, contact us if you need office interior design or renovations to bring in the new year!

It is commonly agreed in design and efficiency circles that the closed-off offices and cubicles of traditional office design just don’t work anymore. It has recently also been agreed that a completely open plan office with hot desking also has its own drawbacks. Instead, a kind of middle-ground concept has been evolving in offices of the more on-trend companies of the world. In fact, this idea has become so powerful that an in-depth study was completed by the global employee experience think tank, Leesman, to establish what the most important elements of office interior design and the work experience were for employees.

Given that employers want to maximise their return on investment on both employees and their physical property, a combination of spaces needs to be created, to allow for various types of employee needs and necessary tasks. The study identified 3 key ‘sentiment drivers’ that need to be addressed to establish the requirements. These drivers are:

Doing: does the workplace promote doing the actual work?

Seeing: Does the workplace create a positive image and a sustainable environment?

Feeling: Does the workplace create a pride and culture in the employees?

Space Allocation

From a space design and allocation perspective, office interior design needs to create a variety of spaces, specifically designed for the individual business’s needs. This should include open-plan desking for general employee tasks, that allows for social interaction as well as brainstorming of ideas and promoting camaraderie on work projects. Quiet areas, that are smaller spaces of silence for work that requires focus and no disturbances. Private areas, which offer a space for private meetings of large or small groups, and individual spaces where employees can take sensitive client phone calls. Informal meeting areas should also be included to encourage interaction of all employees irrespective of position and to allow for impromptu meetings, breaks and focused work that doesn’t necessarily require the quiet areas. These should be informal spaces and should include lounge-type layouts, moving away from the formal desking of other areas. Finally, cafe or break areas that allow for eating but also casual conversations and even brainstorming if necessary. Other non-work areas can be added in as well, things like gyms, yoga studios, outdoor cafes, craft studios etc, can be offered to ensure that the focus is not just on work but that employees are shown that their general wellbeing is important too.

The Human Element

From a psychological perspective, the nature of the spaces needs to also be carefully considered with a focus on the human characteristics that make a space most attractive and user-friendly. Given the use of open-plan space, boundaries need to be added using visual and textural cues. The use of colour psychology can also ensure each area is conducive to the type of activity allocated, and provide visual boundaries between areas.

Given that the new boundaries are more often visual indications rather than physical barriers, special attention should be paid to soundproofing and ensuring noise does not become overly distracting. Soft furnishings and sound buffers can be utilised to avoid issues, especially in offices with many employees. This was a distinctive factor in the first open-plan offices and was partially responsible for decreased productivity, so should not be ignored.

Another important element to include in the space is natural light. Given that the circadian rhythms of the human body work according to the changes in natural light, it is important to allow enough natural light into the space to ensure employees are aware of the passing hours of the day. Fresh air and greenery also contribute a positive psychological result and should be added where possible. Of course, geographic positioning is important here, Singapore interior design would need to take into consideration humidity and heat when allowing natural air into office spaces. However, Norwegian interior design, for instance, would need to consider dealing with their extended daylight/night times, depending on the season. Lastly, the ergonomics of all of the furniture in the space now supersedes design aesthetic. That is to say, it is not enough for furniture to simply look good, it should cater to the needs of the user and comfortably fit a range of body shapes.

The Work Itself

Once your interior design firm has done their job, however, the ball is in the court of the employer. As the employer, you also need to cater to the remaining wants of existing and potential employees regarding the work they do. This includes creating a collaborative work environment, offering self-regulation on projects, flexible work hours, engaging work and an environment of recognition for good work.

The Return for the Company

Given that only approximately half of the world’s employees say that they are proud to bring guests to their workplace, just over half feel that their workplace allows them to be productive, and a similar amount say their workplace creates a sense of camaraderie, there is clearly room for improvement. By creating the ideal workplace experience, employees will feel that their doing, seeing and feeling sentiments are met or exceeded. Companies that have made these factors their focus in their office design are also the companies that consistently outperform other companies with regards to company performance and employee productivity on the global stage. The benefits, therefore, include not only increased employee retention but better financial results.

Home Guide has years of experience designing beautiful and functional spaces for both retail and corporate clients. That experience means we provide the ultimate design solutions for our clients, that help maximise the benefits for their employees and customers alike. If your offices are in need of an overhaul to move from unproductive stagnation, to dynamic efficiency, contact us and we will provide the perfect solution.

Recent years have seen a move away from traditional office spaces which have been replaced by more social ways of working.

Many recent co-working spaces set up in Singapore offer the same type of set-up, with large open-plan areas and few segregated offices. As well as making the most of the space available, previous research suggested this had many other advantages too.

However, before you get ready to break down the walls and create one big co-working space for all your employees, it might be worth doing a little more research. Concepts such as hot-desking and open-plan seating have captured the imagination of Singaporean businesses but have they proven to be a success?

Recent studies have suggested that open-plan offices don’t suit everyone and could be more of a hindrance than a help. We take a closer look at whether the modern ideals of open-plan interior design really deliver the best results for business.

The Rise of The Open Office Space

The theory of open office spaces seems solid; creating a communal area where it’s easier for workers to collaborate and share ideas. One best-selling book declares, “We encourage people to stay out in the open because we believe in serendipity and people walking by and teaching each other new things.”

The idea is that interconnected areas will work in a much more fluid way with more spontaneous communication and a natural flow.

The above theory has led to many more offices redesigning their space to become open-plan. In some areas, as many as 80% are open-plan offices now. Hot-desking often goes hand-in-hand with an open-plan design, with no assigned desks and workers free to sit somewhere different every day.

It may sound like an interesting principle, but how has open plan office interior design worked out in practice?

A Contradictory Effect

Although the idea is that an open-plan office will increase socialisation, research has shown that the reverse appears to be true.

One study from a group of psychologists found that the forced levels of interaction and lack of privacy led workers to withdraw, an unconscious effort to create the personal space that was lacking physically. Another reason for the drop in communication was that many workers felt overwhelmed by an open-plan environment, becoming overstimulated by the proximity of so many people.

The quality of friendships suffered too, with a lack of intimacy compared to workers where the space was split into smaller offices. Hot-desking made matters worse, removing the opportunities to form more than just a casual acquaintance.

To put this into perspective: one group of employees reduced the amount of time they spent interacting with their colleagues every day face-to-face by 67% when they moved to an open office space. Another observed group went from interacting for 5.8 hours every day to just 1.8 hours. The statistics are startling.

But does less socialisation really matter and is there any correlation with quality of work and performance?

A Drop in Performance

As it turns out, a drop in communication and collaboration also impacts on performance. In study after study, the results revealed that performance and productivity were both poorer within an open-plan space.

The biggest study of its kind, published in the prestigious Journal of Environmental Psychology, found that enclosed offices outperformed open-plan offices in every way with the perceived benefit of easier interaction being vastly outweighed by the negatives.

The noise of everyone in one large office appears to be another factor that can’t be sidestepped; even the best acoustics can’t circumvent the sound of a lot of activity. Disturbances weren’t limited to sounds either; constant movement around the peripheral vision or colleagues coming and going was found to be profoundly distracting.

In laboratory tests, those working in open-plan offices were found to have reduced cognitive performance and with poorer mental acuity. Motivation and creativity were stifled too and the more senior the employee, the more pronounced the effect seemed to become.

Productivity in open-plan offices is also adversely affected by absenteeism; the more people in the space, the greater the level of sickness. Reports suggest that large open-plan offices increase the amount of sick leave by up to 62%.

Accommodating Diversity

Aside from performance and interpersonal relations, there are other factors to consider too. Singapore has a reputation for being a society which has positive racial and religious integration, with a diversity in the workplace which is particularly harmonious.

This focus has been recognised by the Singaporean government, with Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Health, Amy Khor saying, “Embracing racial harmony is integral to Singapore’s progress. It is imperative that businesses instil the right values to promote inclusiveness and communal harmony at workplaces.”

Many employers in Singapore have warmly embraced the idea of inclusive practice which means accommodating different secular needs throughout the working day. While not legally required, for many employers this has meant providing a private area for religious purposes. For employees who wish to conduct religious practices during the day, the ability to do so respectfully and in an appropriate area is a significant benefit.

In an open-plan office, it’s not as easy to create these types of spaces, whether they’re for religious purposes or another reason. Offices with an enclosed layout enables the inclusion of these spaces in a more discreet way, allowing access as necessary. Therefore, for interior design in Singapore, an open plan office may not be ideal.

An Acceptable Solution

Almost universally, every study and survey seems to suggest that workers simply aren’t as happy or productive in an environment where they’re forced into a goldfish bowl with everyone else. Privacy produces improved performance but for the majority of businesses, it’s simply not possible to provide everyone with their own space. Open-plan offices are significantly cheaper too and are more economical with space, so what’s the solution?

The way forward may be to take the best of both designs. A hub-and-spoke design provides smaller and more intimate areas for employees to work, leading out to communal areas which encourage collaboration and interaction. By re-designing the office space to take the needs of both employer and employee into account, the end result could be very beneficial for all concerned.