Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Advantages Of Renovating Your Commercial Property

There can be many reasons why a company may choose to renovate their commercial property. Every business owner must look at his or her property as another instrument for increasing productivity and attracting new businesses. For that reason if you feel that your corporate environment is not bringing the advantages that your company needs it is important that you seriously consider an interior revamp. You'd be surprised at how the look and atmosphere of your property can impact your bottom line. According to a study performed by Michigan State,

"Buildings that incorporated LEED practices into their renovations had employees who missed less work and put in almost 39 hours more per person annually..... Fewer allergic reactions and reduced stress increased productivity in the range of $69,601 to more than $250,000 per year."

There are a number of additional benefits that can be received by renovating your commercial property.

Increases Value

Remodeling allows you to maximize the potential of your property throughout its life. A carefully planned office can increase its value by bringing your facility up to date so that time and money is not wasted on outdated equipment or furnishings. When your business objectives are carefully considered in the renovation you'll be better able to fulfill your goals and deliver on your promises.

Increases Productivity

When the focus of your renovation project is to increase productivity it will more than pay for itself in the improved level of efficiency. Analyzing workflow patterns and communication demands will help in choosing the right office tools that will allow employees to work more effectively.

Ergonomic seating, softer lighting, and quality furnishings can create a healthier environment where workers will be less fatigued so that they can stay on a task longer, which can contribute to better productivity. Workers who are comfortable are less likely to have accidents or call in sick; a common problem for businesses with poorly planned surroundings.

Studies have shown that when employees are comfortable in their workplace atmosphere their morale improves and that in turn, helps to motivate, attract and retain employees over the long term.

Keeps Up With Changing Technologies and Work Styles

As technology continues to improve the way businesses are run, a property renovation can give a business the needed flexibility to adapt to the constant stream of advances introduced every year. When a business considers not just their immediate needs but also anticipates future needs it can keep the company in the forefront for a much longer period of time.

Advanced technologies can also allow for different types of work situations as well as new trends in the market. Allowing employees the freedom to work from home or work in teams or any other work style can easily be accommodated with the right office design.

With the right combination of furnishings and technologies, your business property can last much longer and provide a much better atmosphere that would be more conducive to a smooth and profitable working environment.

If you are considering renovating your business property it will require you to make a number of decisions. Using the services of a professional renovator like ApolloInteriors can be very instrumental in helping you to make the right choices. As explained by the Thomas Interior Survival Guide,

"Whether to move or remodel at all is a tough decision.... To turn this challenge into an opportunity, you've got to plan profitability and productivity into every aspect of your new space - from the first blueprints to the final art prints on the wall."
This will require taking advantage of professionals who can help you to see not only your immediate needs but also the future challenges that your business might face. When your plans include the present as well as the future your renovation project has a better chance of creating a space where the office environment works for you rather than just becoming a place where you work.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Reaping The Benefits Of An Office Redesign In The UK

Refurbishing an office can be a bit of a nightmare. It doesn't matter whether you are doing it for personal reasons or professional ones. There are lots of decisions which need to be made and this can lead to a few stresses and worries. However, it isn't always this way and most of the time things run very smoothly. There are a lot of benefits when choosing to refurbish your professional or business space, particularly for offices and this is the same all over the world. It doesn't matter whether you are in America or in the UK. You will still reap the same benefits from the redesign.

"In the business world, there's nothing more influential than the image of your office space. Clients, vendors, business partners and future employers will first be drawn by the general aspect of your company."

Benefits

Let's take a look at the many benefits when choosing to redesign your office space regardless of your whereabouts in the world. Changing the design can really raise the morale of your employees. A drab looking working environment is going to make them feel bored and frustrated, so that they may be slow at completing tasks. However, if you have a nicely decorated office which has the right sort of decor and accessories, this will make them feel much happier while they work and can even increase their productivity. Having a change around is also a great way to ensure that you get the full use of your available space and this will likely also appeal to customers or clients who will then pass on that information to others, therefore, raising your business reputation.

Decisions, Decisions!


There are a whole host of different choices to be made when it comes to choosing designs for your office space and making the wrong ones can have a very negative impact and achieve the opposite of what you are looking for. In the UK, there are many different companies and contractors who can provide advisers and interior designers who will be on hand to help you make these very important decisions. They will be able to steer you in the right direction and away from the wrong choices as well as giving you the best examples of office furniture and other decor that you will want and information on the best places to purchase them from.

Feng Shui

Once you have chosen all of your office furniture, you then need to make decisions about how the various components should all be positioned. The way you present your furniture and accessories is just as important as the decor itself and has a direct effect on clients, employees and the general look and feel of your office. You need to position items so as to allow maximum use of the office space and make sure that everything is conveniently located for ease of use. Decorations such as plants and paintings all help to give the area a homely feel which will appeal directly to anybody who comes into the office.

"If you spend many hours at the office, you just have to find a way to make the office energy work for you. More often than not this is a challenge, especially if your office has no windows, but good feng shui even in this office is not an impossible task."

Choosing to redesign your office space is the first decision you will make on a road of many. There is so much to think about and do but there is also a lot of information to be found on the internet and if you want to find out more then this is the place to start.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Controlling An Environment Using Interior Design Psychology

It's not often that you hear the words "design" and "psychology" in the same sentence and if you did you might possibly think the person who said them was talking gibberish but there is in fact a psychology involved in interior design. Technically speaking, interior design psychology is the study of the relationship between an environment and the social, behavioral and psychological effects this can have on anyone who inhabits the space. The aim of the study is to ensure the maximum possible positive benefits of any home or work place are being achieved. This is done partly by making the best use of any available space, therefore improving the well-being of an individual. Psychoanalysts, such as Sigmund Freud and other professionals in the field, have proven with various studies over decades that using psychology in design can make it possible to control the environment, behavior and relationships of those who inhabit it.

"You may have heard that yellow has been associated with feeling happy; but it's also true that more marital fights happen in yellow kitchens than in kitchens of any other color."

Proximity

Proximity or proxemics, which plays a large part in design psychology, is the study of how much personal space (this is the space between themselves and others) a person needs as well as what they consider to be their own personal territory. Incidences of personal space can be seen when you look at a crowded train or bus. Those people who need larger amounts of space between themselves and others will choose to stand over sitting in a seat next to someone they don't know. This also comes into play when designing a room for someone. You need to make sure that they can have enough space for themselves while still fitting the room out according to their specific needs.

Perception


Everyone has a different perception of space and bodily awareness. In addition to this, there is also a vast difference in opinions around aesthetics and symbolic meanings to space. Part of the psychology of interior design is to determine the different needs of each customer and help them to create a room or living space which fits those needs perfectly.

Object Placement

Believe it or not, this type of psychology even stretches as far as which items you choose to place in your home and where they go. Obviously, placement comes under the spacial awareness heading but when it comes to objects and furniture there is a distinct order which is followed. First comes the functional items such as pens, chairs and telephones. These items are of significant importance due to how often they are used. Next comes valuable items but this depends on how you define value. If it is monetary then items like expensive paintings or piano's can be placed but other items will need to be removed to avoid overcrowding. If it is sentimental value that you find more important, then things like family pictures or priceless heirlooms will be placed instead. After value comes items which are seen to be symbolic, jewelry which symbolize a birth date or other such items will be included. Lastly, there are the labelled items, that is, items which show a persons worth such as family crests.

"Interior design accessories add to the aesthetic value of a room, and should be representative to the designer's (or homeowner's) personality and tastes. They may include things like wall art, throw pillows, antiques, sculptures, keepsakes, collectibles and memorabilia."

Simple Terms

The simple truth is that choosing to have your home decorated by an interior designer is going to be full of benefits for you and if you choose a trusted and reputable company such as Apollo Interiors to carry out the work for you, you can be sure to receive the highest possible standard and professional treatment.