(Furniture and lighting are important aspects of the interior which shouldn’t be ignored.)
Coworking is changing the way people work. Unbiased by the locations and everyday functioning, co-working spaces have brought visible differences in the working of a shared office versus a traditional office environment. In fact, when you walk into an office, space itself will tell you whether it is meant for working alone or for a group of people.
Unlike to all contrary, co-working offices are not like any workplace. The environment inside speaks in volume of collaboration, inspiration, networking, and satisfied, efficient faces – and, that’s why co-working operators and community managers need to create a compelling interior. A co-working space shuns boredom of working in a home-office and fosters a productive environment more than a traditional office space. And, interiors matters the most in such a scenario. It is tried and tested before and it is clear that interiors make co-working spaces awesome. There’s more of flexibility, working seem more enjoyable, and there’s more of the stylish vibe.
Here’s what you need to understand before selecting the right interior for your co-working space:
First and foremost, there should be room for flexibility in the design of your co-working unit. Because only then you would be able to mould it according to the different styles and need of your community members. A co-working space provides not only the option of an elite venue but how a member can make the best use of the space. If not effectively planned, you’ll be just arranging tables and chairs within a style that matches any normal home. If this was the case, people might not join your co-working space in the first place. It is the right implementation of design with day-to-day functionalities that makes working a smooth experience.
(Keep the layout of your working space simple yet profound. Use eye-soothing wall colours and decor.)
From the placement of the couches in the lounge to the hot desks, and from the coffee units to the copier machine – everything’s placing matters. According to Mr. Ankit Sachdeva, Co-working Manager at OFCSPC, “people love having their own work area, but when a design change is introduced; like moving the comfy furniture from the play area to the dedicated desk, it takes time for adjustment. “
Generally, there are co-working spaces which follow a pre-defined design path. Maybe, this could be their branding positioning but a little location preferences should be there. For e.g. a co-working space in Gurgaon might have local culture imbibed in their wall art, as compared to their unit it in Bengaluru. These smaller design alterations work best for a conglomerate of co-working, while up-coming single location based shared offices can work on a super-snazzy décor.
Co-working spaces’ design is meant for boosting the productivity of its employees. Since the majority of the coworkers are young, health-conscious beings; introducing a few standing workstations won’t be a bad idea after all. Shared offices promote free-movement and therefore, you won’t find many people spending prolonged hours in their seats. Your focus should be then on changing the design of your space to promote the health and wellness of your members.
Co-working spaces create a light-headed work environment; they are fun-inducing spaces where people intend to unwind after every serious session of brain-storming or a successful client meeting, and only an awesome office design can make that happen. Several tech. companies operating out of IT parks and business districts in cities like Gurugram and Bengaluru profess of this practice. Take Google for e.g., their office design mixes not only the local elements, but the colours and props are so effectively matched that they create a fun atmosphere. And, that transpires energy.
Add innovative ways of making your co-working spaces more fun. Everybody adds a foosball or a snooker table or a Playstation dock – you can try adding a mini-golf patch or a swing or a slide near the lounge area. It is proven that these designs elements have a positive impact on productivity, collaboration and inspiration. Although not all of these measures would work with every co-working space, it’s worth considering how to keep your members from getting too irritatable. All that numerous cups of coffee and working hours can take a toll, from time to time.
Lastly, the style of your co-working space should go beyond from hanging framed landscape photos or quirky one-liners. You have to go the extra mile to create a beautifully designed and inspiring work environment. An office interior of a co-working speaks in volume of the innovation and creativity they instil in the members. And, they should be designed this way to let people channel their energies. Today, warehouse-turned-offices offer a large area to build a creative and stylish interior.
(Decide the interior based on the nature of work your community members do.)
Style can be aligned with the branding of your company, which can be used on the wallpapers, coffee mugs, t-shirts, table stickers, laptop stickers, badges and even fridge magnets. You can roll in art designers to showcase the journey of your co-working space on the walls or make it usable with rolling furniture. You can hang abstract lightings, add neon-sign boards, or get antique furniture. There is a whole string of imaginative things to create a beautiful, collaborative co-working space.
With these three little aspects, you will be able to create a really out worldly, yet stylish and efficient workspace for your community. Tell us in the comment section below about your interior design ideas.