8 August 2022

Maximising Wellness Design In Office Space

Wellness Design

How relevant is the concept of wellness to the design and creation of office space? Should you take it into account when selecting colours, furniture and décor? Will wellness have an impact on how your office is practically organised?

According to the Health and Safety Executive, a UK Government department, wellness is highly influential when it comes to employee satisfaction at work. The data speaks for itself. 

In a recent report published by the HSE in 2021, entitled Work-related stress, anxiety or depression statistics in Great Britainthe government stated that:

  • In 2020/21 there were an estimated 822,000 workers affected by work-related stress, depression or anxiety. This represents 2,480 per 100,000 workers. 
  • In 2020/21 work-related stress, depression or anxiety accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health.

These are some eye-opening statistics. Worker wellbeing is something that has been discussed more openly since the pandemic. We’ve all had those moments of stress, juggling a little too much, not enough time or space to think. And it’s really important for people to feel that they are in an environment that supports them at work. 

Having the time to stretch cognitive muscles can really help spark ingenuity. This is where the big jumps forward in thinking happen. 

But, what kinds of wellness design can support happy, engaged people in the workplace?

Creating Wellness Design In The Office

Colour Boost

There have been countless studies into the psychology of colour and how light plays a part in our wellbeing as humans. It’s interesting to move those ideas into the workspace and consider how colour and light interact with our feelings of wellness and how we can optimise their use in office wellness design.

In a 2020 article from Forbes magazine, Ben Hamley, future of work lead at JLL Asia Pacific, cannot stress the importance of colour and light enough for work wellness design. 

Many people believe that reds and oranges are energizing colours, able to keep workers active and that blues are relaxing and calm. However, Hamley begs to differ, focusing on blue as a key tonal shade for improving alertness. 

The proof apparently is that blue light tends to keep us awake more – we only have to consult our smartphones to know that this is probably true. Therefore, including tones of blue can really help keep people alert and simultaneously feel calm – a perfect wellness design choice.

Dedicated Wellness Space

In a new study from Kelson GlobalHappiness In The Workplace, The researchers found that nearly 50% of workers felt discomfort or undervalued when there wasn’t any private or calming space for wellbeing in their work environment. 

In addition, a core storyline that was uncovered during the completion of this study was that the majority of workers felt the physical surroundings they work in really matter for their mental wellbeing and overall wellness. 

With this in mind, when it comes to designing office space, it can be a great idea to incorporate some dedicated, separate space to increase the propensity for wellness for everyone.

Opensourced Workplace deliver some intuitive and mindful ideas around wellness design for employees. Obviously, it depends on what you think will work best for the people you work with; many companies create fitness spaces, relaxation zones or games areas to suit the needs of their employees and business in general.

The Art Of Wellness Design

Appreciating art is apparently as good for your mind and soul as being in nature. This concept is explored in recent research carried out by the University of  Westminster, who found that a visit to an art gallery at lunchtime or being in the presence of art can lower cortisol or stress chemicals in our bodies. 

Using art is a helpful tool to improve worker positivity seems like it could be of powerful value in wellness design for the workplace. It not only makes your office space look unique, elegant or playful, but supports your employees to feel more in tune with their environment.

Ergonomics Enhances Wellness Design

Ergonomic furniture pieces are objects that are specifically designed to improve efficiency and create more comfort in the office. Involving workers in discussions about what pieces would best suit them and benefit their productivity can help build a workspace that works for everybody in their own way.

According to a study by Open Access Government, the option of sit-stand desks are becoming increasingly popular, enabling better movement and helping people to stay on track. 

An example of this practice becoming more commonplace is in Denmark, where it has become mandatory for employers to offer staff the chance to have a sit-stand desk.

The Power Of Movement

Many companies have cottoned on to the fact that having spaces where people can enjoy exercise or be involved in games is key to engaging workers for longer and creating beneficial team vibes. 

Some offices have special yoga or workout spaces, or have included table tennis, table football or pool into the workplace. The ability to encourage activity and show your employees that it’s ok for them to both work and play in the workplace increases feelings of wellness, enables them to feel more connected to their work and augments productivity levels.

Looking For Offices With Great Wellness Design?

If you have staff wellness on your mind and want a space that carefully considers their wellbeing while boosting your business, then connect with us at Sketch Labs.

Contact us today if you want to make sure wellness design is a feature of your new office space. We streamline the search for your future office space and save you time and money. Better yet, our initial services are free. Schedule a chat with us on our website, so we can help you find your ideal office space.