3 Ways to Make the Most of Your Space as a Small Business Owner

As a small business owner, you have many considerations on your plate – not the least of which is maintaining a welcoming environment, building a skilled and knowledgeable staff, and keeping them happy for the long-term. Creating a space that is conducive to creative problem solving, collaboration, and team building is no small task.

Though it can be challenging, thoughtfully crafting a workspace that both communicates the vision of your brand and supports your staff in their achievements is one of the best choices you can make as a small business owner. You will find, if you offer a work environment to your team that is comfortable, safe, and thoughtful, their productivity will skyrocket – and they will be content to help your business grow for years to come.

First, think about the space you want to create. Do you want it to be warm and inviting, helping create an environment of comfort and “home away from home” for your team? Do you want it to be clean, fresh, and modern, with lots of room to breathe? Or maybe a space that brings out the historical aspects of the building, with movable furniture for immediate creative movement space?

It’s also important to consider the longevity of the space you choose. If you own the building, look at the “bones” – does it need any repairs? For instance, hiring commercial roofing services, gutter cleaning, or window upgrades could make all the difference between a space that you’re happy to occupy for years as your business grows and one that you’re itching to move from as soon as possible. Moving can be just as stressful for a business team as a family, and especially if you’re wanting to create a homelike feeling in your office, setting up a sense of stability is key to comfort.

Secondly, the old model of cramped cubicles and fluorescent lights is out – and with good reason! Studies show that there are simple design elements that you can incorporate into your office space that will keep office morale high and increase productivity, too.

Open office plans have been all the rage the past few years, but though they can generate innovation, they can also promote resentment and claustrophobia between employees. As always, considering everyone has different levels of sensory input and social interaction that they can handle, giving the option for some people to work in their own space can be more beneficial in the long term.

Creating private spaces within the office for employees to choose to work alone or in small teams will also help reduce ambient noise, which can be very helpful for productivity. Your employees will feel safe and secure with the many options to choose their ideal workspace, day by day, and project by project.

Finally, natural light and fresh air are easy to incorporate into your space – just take down the old blinds, and open the curtains! Sunshine has been proven to promote a positive attitude, and vitamin D keeps the immune system healthy. In temperate weather, you could even open the windows, and allow your employees to “enjoy a breath of fresh air” – literally!

Your staff will also appreciate the thoughtfulness of having live plants in their workspace – not only do plants improve the air quality, but they bring a sense of fun and joy into the environment as well. A blooming flower pot can brighten the day of even the most stressed-out person in seconds flat!

As you can see, when it comes to creating a productive team, there are so many elements to consider. But you can take steps today to plan for your ideal workspace! And from there, you’ll start attracting the team you need to help your business grow and prosper for years to come.