Designing a Flexible Office

The Rise of Flexible Office Layouts

For many industries, adaptability and an agile workflow are necessities–so why shouldn’t your workspace match those values? Flexible office design is becoming more prevalent as employers look to attract talent with diverse backgrounds and work styles. If you want to make space that emphasizes productivity and employee satisfaction, here are a few ways to get started.

Embrace Variety

Each employee has a unique skillset, strengths and preferences that inform the way they work. There is also a growing awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace–and a better understanding that traditional office layouts don’t work for everyone. For some, a shared table workstation provides a sense of community that powers their work. Others might prefer a bar facing a window, where they can take in natural light while they focus on a big presentation. If your office space design features numerous modular workstations,  your employees can find the perfect fit based on their mood and tasks for the day. 

For quick, casual meetings, furniture like loungers and couches can help workers collaborate in comfort, and Nexus mobile whiteboards can be quickly rearranged for work sessions large and small.

Establish Communication Channels

First come, first serve work areas make on-the-fly work sessions a breeze–but for routine meetings, one-on-ones, and other private sessions, make sure private, reservable spaces are a feature of your workplace. Whether you use a digital calendar, physical sign-up sheet, or a Nexus Tablet hung on the door, clear communication will prevent mix-ups and make sure every employee has available workspaces when they need them. 

Create Focus Zones

Smooth collaboration is a massive perk of flexible office design, but you don’t want to emphasize collaboration to the detriment of concentration. For some of your employees, solitary spaces away from distracting noises are a must if they want to do their best work. Consider soundproofed privacy booths for high-focus work sessions, or designate a portion of your office as a quiet zone where conversations are kept at a minimum–acoustic solutions can simultaneously dampen sound and beautify your office.  Your introverted employees will thank you. Nexus Partitions can also be used to create spontaneous focus areas–they can roll anywhere and act as temporary walls to provide a little quiet where you need it.

Choose Adaptable Solutions

You might already be running wild with ideas for your flexible office space–but you still have to fit those dreams into the space and budget you have. With this in mind, multipurpose office furniture allows your employees to reconfigure workspaces to their needs. For example, chairs and tables on casters make it easy for quick adjustments to match the workflow. The Nexus Easel+ whiteboard  line looks great in any office, and even when they’re not in use, they can act as space dividers. The design also features detachable tablet whiteboards that make brainstorming in a pinch easy. 

Keep Breaks in Mind

Your flexible office space design shouldn’t just consider workspaces–you also need to think about where your employees take breaks, eat meals, and chat with coworkers. If you can, incorporate natural light into these spaces, or design an outdoor lounge area where employees can get fresh air when the weather is nice. Well-designed break areas can improve employee satisfaction and have a positive impact on mental health. The connections that coworkers make in these spaces can also contribute to a robust company culture.

Because each of your employees are different, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for your office layout. To make sure everyone in your workplace gets what they need in a flexible office layout, consider a company-wide survey before you begin a redesign. By listening to all of your employees, you can be sure that no needs are overlooked–resulting in a more productive, accommodating workplace.