Cre8ing Calm in the workplace

There’s an increasing demand for workplaces, especially offices, to provide space for employees to take time away from their desks to relax or socialise with colleagues during or after the working day. Such facilities which offer calm, screen-free time can contribute to improved staff wellbeing and as such are a key part of the WELL Building Standard.

This year, we’re celebrating the art of creating calm within an office environment through our #Cre8ingCalm campaign on social media. Here are just some of the ways to create calm in an office space.

 

Living walls

Plants have long been associated with tranquillity and also help purify the air, which is why we’re seeing more demand for interior designs incorporating greenery, especially in the office sector. Living walls are a fantastic, low maintenance way to do this.

We created this living wall design, which is complemented by stylish herringbone wood wall panels, for the new staff café area as part of a London office refurbishment project.

We also added living moss to the statement feature wall in the staff dining area as part of the office’s bold and colourful design for this recent project with Artemis Interiors.

Not only do living walls create a visually attractive space, but it’s been proven that seeing greenery helps people feel more relaxed – making them the perfect way to creating a calm space for employees taking a break during the working day.

 

Tea points

There’s nothing like a cup of tea to help you relax, which is why installing accessible tea points is a great way to give staff a boost throughout the working day.

We can create tea points manufactured from a wide range of materials so they’re bespoke to suit any office design, whether it needs to stand out or blend in. This recent office fit out for example, includes a tea point which comprises Corian worktops and decorative under panels.

Seating areas

It’s important for office employees to be able to take some time away from their screens during breaks, which is why there’s a demand for the creation of seating areas which are separate to the main workspace.

Booth seating offers a degree of privacy, allowing small groups meet, whether that’s to share a lunch break or have an informal meeting. These seating pods, which were manufactured using Kvadrat fabric and European oak triangular feature walls with integrated tables, are an excellent example.

Seating areas within staff canteens can be designed to encourage colleagues to socialise and eat together, like these high bar stools in a staff kitchen area.

If you’d like us to help you create calm for your next office fit out project, we’d love to hear from you.