Being able to work comfortably is an ideal situation for anyone, whether you are working in an office or at home. Having a comfortable working space can help you to be more productive in your day-to-day work.

There are different types of workspaces where you can work. The most common ones are assigned workspaces, conference rooms, and creative spaces.

Culture at work is changing rapidly, and so are workplaces. Modernizing your workspace with a creative services team or a design service is a good start. Modern workspaces should be adaptable and ergonomically conscious.

Working alone in an office is an ideal situation for some people. Some enjoy co-working with others for inspiration. Having a designated space to work can get your psyche to be in work mode.

Co-working spaces that have creative sign designs can have a different feel to them. Creative art designs or creative furniture can elevate the area as well.

New trends in co-working spaces are emerging globally. Co-working spaces are starting to shift towards something that is liberating. An intuitive and transitional environment is also a direction workplaces seem to go.

Co-working spaces are diverse and have different forms. Those forms are favorable to the work environment. Whether the workspace is shared or not, the idea of workspaces is being disrupted and reimagined.

The Objective of Developing Your Co-working Space

Modern workspaces should be easily accessible and adaptable to shifting trends. Working in depressing, drab cubicles is no longer a trend. A more modern and sophisticated office design could boost employee morale and productivity.

A good co-working space should encourage people to be a part of the business. With this in mind, that area should be designed to be engaging and interactive. Having a web graphics design made during planning should be done.

When planning a co-working space, think about what you want to improve. Consider how this aligns with your business strategy with the help of a creative services team. 

There are essential objectives that you should consider when developing a co-working area. The most important one is to make sure that it enables productivity and creativity. Your members will most probably like to be in a stimulating environment to have their creativity flow.

You should also consider the cost of creating or improving a co-working space. The more you increase the cost, the more virtual designs you can have access to. You’ll also be more effective in managing the space as a consequence.

A co-working space should be hospitable to the members. It should be able to provide a good experience to people who use the area. It should give them a feeling of delight and should make them feel happy while using the space.

Ensuring interaction between members is a must. Thinking about more ways to help the community should be considered. To be able to communicate with like-minded individuals is a valuable commodity for co-working spaces.

There are other reasons for you to upgrade or create a functional co-working place. It can be about flexibility for people to move around the area. It can also be about making people comfortable while using the space.

14 Creative Ways to Optimize Your Co-working Space

There are plenty of ways to improve your co-working space. But, you should keep in mind that office space planning is not just about cool designs. Office design should be more about productivity. It should also be about culture, and the well-being of the users. Here are 14 ways to optimize your co-working space:

1. Don’t focus too much on the physical design

Creating an atmosphere of productivity in the workplace is as important as the physical area itself. There is no perfect workplace layout. However,  as long as the employee’s needs are met, then you’re on the right track.

2. Incorporate different zones

Zoning is very important in space planning. You should be able to provide areas for different purposes. Having many virtual designs before going forward with one should be considered. An example of zones are:

• Open Spaces for co-working

• Team rooms

• Private booths

• Meeting rooms

• Break rooms

3. Add a range of seating options and desks

There are requirements that you should follow for your members to feel good. The chairs and table height should be according to standard. Desks that have adjustable heights or standing desks are great options as well.

There are a lot of designs made by the creative industry that can meet these requirements. You can also have one designed to meet  your specific needs.

4. Talk with your members

You should engage and get feedback from your community. You want your co-working area to please your members. Creating micro-events for your members is a good social culture option.

5. Find a way to manage noise levels

Noise in an open space can be very annoying. Paying attention to the overall acoustics of the co-working place is a must. Choosing the right flooring, walls and ceiling should be done. 

6. Plan your decorations

Seeing plants has been proven to make people happier. An alive and green scenery around us makes us feel good. Adding plants to your interior can add a lot of value to your space.

Adding items that can show your personality or a unique item should also be considered. This could be an art piece or even a ping pong table for people to use during their breaks.

7. Brighten up the workplace

Adding in a little bit of color and a lot of light goes a long way in creating a warm atmosphere. Adding  colors in the form of furniture can brighten up your co-working space. Some artistic arrangements can also be placed.

8. Include pods for quick calls

A co-working area can be noisy for someone who needs to answer a call or be in an online meeting. Bringing in an external phone booth or pods can solve this problem. These types of quiet areas are very useful in a working environment.

9. Provide healthy snacks

Everyone likes to have a little snack now and then. Providing healthy snacks for your members is a good decision. Having a spot for eating snacks and drinking coffee is a good way to stimulate creativity.

10. Place whiteboards or writable walls

You should be able to provide enough whiteboards. This is important to stimulate your members' creativity and productivity. This can also give life to your co-working area if you have people who are good at painting.

11. Install a gadget drawer or locker

Phones, tablets, and other gadgets can help you be more organized and efficient. But, they can also be very distracting and a big time-waster. Have a dedicated area where you can place these gadgets. It should help keep your members from getting distracted.

12. Be inspired by your environment

If you’re lucky enough to have a nice outside view, use it to your advantage. All you need is a floor-to-ceiling window to let natural light come in.

13. Keep the area clean

Having a dirty and messy working area can be very distracting. You can be stuck thinking of how you can clean the area. You might not get a lot of work done because of this.

14. Provide an opportunity to move around

Encouraging your members to move around can recalibrate their thoughts in the workplace. Having the option to work while standing or seating is an example of providing movement. Incorporating a copy machine or water dispenser are examples of other reasons for your members to move around.

Conclusion : 

Optimizing your co-working space is a good practice for every business or company. It can boost employee satisfaction levels and increase their productivity levels. Being able to provide a good working space can maintain employees.

Another benefit is that you can ensure that every space is utilized to its fullest extent. Being able to put every inch of the co-working area into good use can save you money.

Optimizing your co-working area can also increase your energy efficiency. Having an area that is not always occupied by your workforce is just senseless. This area would just waste energy through lighting, heating, or air conditioning.

Optimizing your co-working space requires careful thinking and planning. Some instances should be considered when it comes to optimizing the co-working area. Make sure that the result must be effective and beneficial for your members.

Author: Charles McDermott

Cover image by Jane Doan on Pexels