After reading our Form and Function blog post, you know that interior design goes much further than just decorating your workspace. Studies show time and time again that good office design improves productivity – and, conversely, the wrong choices curb it.

This is all great, but what does that actually mean in practice? Can an interior designer really save your company money?

The simple answer is: yes. One report states that a tiny 2-5% increase in employee productivity could cover the entire cost of workplace accommodation.

Considering that good lighting alone can boost performance by up to 20%, the numbers speak for themselves. An interior designer has the expertise, the experience, the eye and the objectivity to make the best choices for your workspace.

Here are the 5 key features of office space design that an interior designer would focus on to improve your staff’s wellbeing and, as a result, your company’s output.

How do your employees want to work? Studies show that engaged employees who are vested in a business can boost profits by 20%, yet the vast majority of office workers feel disengaged – by nearly two to one. Designing an office around people builds a connection between employee and a brand, increasing retention and, of course, productivity. Perhaps your employees show a significant interest in working remotely and flexibly. This could mean fewer desk stations and more meeting rooms for your office. Understanding your employees is the first step in shaping how your office looks and operates.


The right lighting can quite literally make or break employee output. Indeed, improved lighting – both natural and artificial – is linked to increases in productivity up to 20%, as well to higher retention rates. What makes the optimum lighting? This answer depends on your building layout, use of space and even what your company does. Lighting is often a great asset in an office, unless it causes glare. This is why it’s so important to understand how your space will be used and choose lighting to suit each area.

Environmental sounds greatly affect the operations of any office. Background noise can improve the performance of routine tasks (by up to 38%, studies show), while that same noise can distract employees who are writing or researching. Furniture, flooring, walls, ceilings and other building materials all shape the acoustics of a workspace. Meeting rooms should be soundproof, but all it takes is the wrong material choice for confidential conversations to be audible to an entire floor.

Poor ergonomics and layout are some of the biggest offenders for employee productivity and satisfaction. The most modern companies are moving towards a flexible, activity-based approach for their office spaces, planning a layout around how their staff works – and not the other way around. So instead of having just one type of space you have a variety of options to suit your workers, from private nooks to collaborative areas. Beyond the layout, everything from desk choice, chair choice to facilities and air quality affects ergonomics. If you want optimum employee wellbeing they all need to work in harmony.

Imagine that a worker in your office is asked to get an important document. And because you don’t have the proper storage in place, it takes three times as long as it should. Now times that by every document retrieved over a year.

On average, every employee in the UK loses one hour every day to disorganisation. Time is money, and inefficiency in your office storage costs you. An interior designer isn’t just an expert at devising economical storage solutions, they have resources and contacts you may not have. They can bring in the right people for the job.

We often work with organising team Sorted London on our workspace interior projects. This ensures our clients’ storage and operations run smoothly and efficiently, saving them time and money. With so many elements to consider in achieving the right office space, an expert eye can be invaluable. It’s easy to end up wasting even more time and money trying to devise solutions yourself, when your time would be better spent sharing your own expertise.

Most importantly, an interior designer designs around your people, ensuring your office works for your business – and not the other way around. Interior designers are not just interested in look and feel – we’re here to make sure that your space functions as it should, boosting your productivity, staff and success.


The impact of office design on business performance

Top 10 Trends Influencing Workplace Design

If you are looking to redesign your workplace interior, 

Will an interior designer save you money? pt 1

Do you work in a beautifully decorated, trendy co-working office? Is it fit for purpose or have the cracks begun to show. Employee coffee cups are chipped, paper-thin walls mean whispers are necessary to avoid being overheard, and the facilities barely work, at best.

As designers, we can’t help but ask when hearing this: is this ‘beautiful design’? Or just veneer?

In our twenty years in the interior design industry, we have found that the best place to look for the balance between form and function is retailers.

For their businesses to sell, their shop fronts and retail spaces have to look beautiful, and work for customers, too. Stepping one foot into an Apple Store, or into Ikea’s organised, user-friendly layout, shows the power of this at work.

Inside offices the relationship between customer-and-business isn’t quite as clear-cut. Employees also play a huge factor and are at the heart of business performance. And while there have been many studies inextricably linking employee output and office design, many employers still don’t consider office design a good business investment.

In other words: your meeting room may have beautifully decorated wallpaper on it – but if you can hear a confidential client meeting happening in the room next door, your office isn’t really fitting its purpose.

The key to ensuring you’ve struck the balance between form and function is understanding how your space is used. Putting in the right storage, furniture, layout and flow can be the difference between increased profit and slow process.

Our advice to office managers, particularly in the creative industries is this: 

 Your office may be stylish, but is the layout, furniture and design helping your employees work in the most efficient way possible? Make sure that your space works for both your clients and your staff, and you will see increased performance. Period.

When it comes to office design, ‘one size fits all’ simply cannot apply. Each company has its own unique culture, needs and tastes. This is why having an interior designer come in to help can make such a big difference. Investing in the most efficient design for your office is investing in your staff, your productivity, and your future.

Is your office in need of a redesign? Get in 

Form and function in the office

Are you interested in interior design and sustainability? - then this is the workshop for you. An introductory course that takes you through all the essentials to reduce the environmental impact on your project and shows you how to create harmonious and organised interiors.

Learn from expert Rachel Forster, award winning interior designer and reuse consultant.

“I will guide you through the process with expertise, enthusiasm and enjoyment. Learn the elements of good design through this hands-on course by creating your own design and personal vision board and by understanding space, colour and materials all with a sustainable angle.

The workshop takes place at Yodomo, Hackney Wick, home of the renowned Reuse Textile Hub and is a great way to spend three hours on a Saturday learning in real life. This course is perfect for beginners or refreshers and we provide everything you need on the day. I’m looking forward to seeing you there.” Rachel

Rachel has taught at the Royal College of Art, UAL, Central Saint Martins, Instituto Marangoni, Kingston School of Art and The Interior Design School.

In this workshop you will gain a basic introduction into:

The design process
The client brief
Concepts
Planning a space
The effect of colour and light
Material sourcing
The role of furniture and accessories
Vision board creation

Forster Inc.

Our Interior Design Reuse Workshop