There are a variety of theories about how office space affects employee satisfaction. But what about curating your office environment to create an inspiring company culture, and to attract new talent? Does the presence of standing desks at your company really make you a superior employer to one that utilizes the standard cubicle-ridden space? Here are four reasons why office space affects company culture:

1. Let’s consider the day of the average employee: wake up, eat, work, eat, snack, work, work, eat, friends, eat, sleep … repeat. Well, this employee may be a bit hungrier than average, but let’s just go with it. No matter the “normal” routine, a large percentage of every employee’s day is spent at their place of work, thinking about their place of work, and doing work. Wouldn’t a comfortable, collaborative, inviting environment make your transition from working to snacking that much more pleasant? Just like a smile passed effortlessly to a passerby on the street, an office space that effortlessly gives off an image of confidence and community will breed that same sentiment in its employees.
2. A lot of modern offices are adopting open floor plans, but is this new layout really that much more appealing than the time-tested cubicle? According to Jeanne Meister at Forbes, it is! Employees and prospective new employees highly value a company’s flexibility and its willingness “to innovate, evolve, and adapt to a changing marketplace.” Building a flexible schedule for employees is one of many new innovative ways to establish an inviting, desirable environment. A flexible workspace and office culture will ensure that employees feel valued — they are not there to be worked to the bone, but because they have something important and valuable to offer.
3. An efficient and productive space should be welcoming and able to accommodate any company-specific needs. For example, while an artist’s studio should be bright and airy with a lot of natural light, a music studio needs to be soundproof (and, let’s face it, certain workout studios could stand to be smell-proof). If the space is catered to the business, it will automatically encourage productivity and collaboration. The more a space turns “coming in to work” into “doing what we love,” the happier and more efficient employees are likely to be.
4. White walls, a stuffy cubicle in a sea of the same, and a general lack of character — distractions are one thing, but an uninspired space will breed a monotonous, stagnant attitude. Employees need to be inspired. Whether your office adopts regular team-building activities or brings in a Feng Shui master to maximize positive energy, a motivated work environment plays a massive role in cultivating productivity and happiness. Coming in to work should be an exciting adventure — it should add that spark of energy and inspiration to create something to be proud of every day.

Regardless of the specific de-cluttering tips your company chooses to follow, it is without a doubt that an inviting, accommodating, and inspiring workspace promotes a positive company culture and allows employees to naturally be more productive and excited to come into the office.

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