Coworking enables a diverse group of working professionals, including startups, SMEs, MNCs, and freelancers to collaborate and work together.  

To ensure 8 to 9 hours of productive time each day, professionals need the right working setup that helps them think, innovate, and work flexibly without hassles. 

A well-designed coworking space can offer greater working flexibility and maximize space utilization, thereby creating a positive and productive work environment. 

What’s more?

Research acknowledges that office designs influence employees’ productivity and job satisfaction levels. So, with the right coworking workspace design, you can boost your business ROI and reduce attrition rates.  

In this post, we will share six practical tips for designing amazing coworking spaces to meet your employees’ unique needs, thereby creating a productive work environment. 

6 Tips for Designing Coworking Spaces

#1: Incorporate Multiple Seating Options

Working professionals who feel mentally and physically comfortable in workspaces deliver peak performances. No wonder, 9 in 10 employees desire flexible workspaces. 

How can varied seating arrangements help?

Deploying high-quality and diverse seating amenities like chairs, tables, couches, and more in workspaces allow employees to work stress-free.

For instance, installing adjustable chairs can help minimize neck pain, while tall-height desks can save from severe back pain that impacts nearly 50% of the working adults. Besides, installing standing desks can reduce the risk of sedentary lifestyle diseases like obesity, heart diseases, and more.

However, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to arranging the seating as every employee has unique needs. Some employees may want private desks to operate with optimal productivity, while some may need specialized rooms with telephone booths and projectors for collaborative projects. So, ensuring variety in workstations is crucial.

One of the leading coworking solutions providers, The Address, offers the following seating options to ensure a productive workspace. Opt for the ones that suit your employees’ preferences and work roles. 

1. Solopreneur Cabins

These are private cabins for employees, including solopreneurs and freelancers that need focus and privacy to complete their tasks. 

Key Amenities: 

• High-speed internet and Wi-Fi

• Customized chairs and tables 

• 24/7 access with unlimited tea/coffee

2. Dedicated Desks

These are fixed desks ideal for small teams and freelancers.

Key Amenities:

• High-speed internet and Wi-Fi

• Custom branding and nameplate provision

• 24/7 access with unlimited tea/coffee

3. Shared or Flexi Desks

These are rotating desks for small teams of three to four individuals that need to work together.

Key Amenities:

• High-speed Wi-Fi services

• Rotating shared spaces

• 24/7 access with unlimited tea/coffee

4. Team Bundles

These are enclosed cabins designed for small-to-mid-sized teams and startups that need to work as a close-knit unit.

Key Amenities:

• High-speed internet and Wi-Fi provision

• Custom branding across the cabins

• 24/7 access with unlimited tea/coffee

5. Private Office Spaces

These are custom-built private workspaces designed for startups and companies of any size. 

Key Amenities:

• High-speed internet and Wi-Fi facilities

• Custom branding across the office

• 24/7 access with unlimited tea/coffee

6. Virtual Offices

These are workspaces designed for hybrid and remote workforces. 

Key Amenities:

• Serves as headquarters for office-related meetings and work 

• Phone calls, courier, and mail management services

• Well-equipped business center with meeting rooms, conference halls, board rooms, and a training and event hall.

#2: Carve Out a Confidential Zone

Several business operations deal with confidential data. For such meetings and discussions, private desks, conference halls, or meeting rooms may not suffice. 

Your team needs a separate space where they can conduct confidential client meetings and negotiations. For such occasions, you need a  zone to uphold your team’s privacy needs. 

Here are a few design tips to consider.

• Use dry walls or acoustic sound insulation to soundproof the walls of the confidential zone. In the case of glass material, ensure it’s at least 10 mm thick.

• Password protect your Wi-Fi and secure the computers and laptops from cyber-attacks by using strong passwords. Make sure to change them frequently to avoid any risks. 

• Install storage cabinets and desks to store and lock physical copies of confidential documents.

• Install soundproof phone booths for private conversations. 

• Allow visitors to access the space only after authentification.

#3: Create Relaxation Rooms

Work-related burnout emerges from unresolvable and long-term job stress. It is one of the leading reasons for the high attrition rate in companies. 

A recent survey revealed that over 52% of working professionals experienced burnout in 2021. No wonder, the turnover rate reached a record high last year. 

Relaxation or recharge rooms can help create a relaxing, welcoming, and happy vibe in the office, allowing employees to take a break from work. It is here that they can pursue fun activities like playing indoor games, taking naps on a hammock, or enjoying good music.

Creating relaxation rooms can amplify your employees’ productivity by helping them remain stress-free, thereby ensuring their well-being. 

Here are a few ideas for creating relaxing rooms at workplaces.

• Include Indoor Games: Create a playroom by including indoor games like table tennis, carrom, and more. This will help encourage social bonding and encourage a positive environment.

• Invest in Nap Pods: Offer sleeping pods to allow your employees to take a cozy nap and rejuvenate after tiring work sessions. 

• Add Audio-Visual Elements:

Including an audio-visual room can help your team unwind and enjoy their downtime. You can add projectors to allow them to watch movies or add a karaoke set up to let them sing their heart out.

#4: Include a Food Station

Food station allows employees to take a break from screen time and refuel their mind and bodies with food delicacies.  

It is the breakout zone, where employees get an opportunity to socialize with their coworkers, leaving their stress behind. Hence, creating a food station incorporating vibrant design can be an excellent idea to let your team socialize while satiating their taste buds. 

Here are a few tips for creating a food space that fosters social vibes.

• Install granite or metallic countertops that are durable and need less maintenance. So, opt for any of them to make your office kitchen easy to maintain.

• Include necessities like microwave, fridge, water filters, and coffee machines. Invest in quiet appliances, thus creating a peaceful work environment that allows employees to focus on their work.

• Install couches, bar stools, and dining tables for employees to sit and enjoy their meals. 

• Use colorful wallpapers to accessorize and create good vibes in your food station.

#5: Pay Attention to Factors Like Temperature, Lighting, and Background Scenery 

Did you know?

• Workplace temperature impacts the productivity and mood of working professionals.

• Employees that work in well-illuminated spaces are most productive.

• Access to nature views can boost their psychological health and productivity levels.

All this clearly points to why coworking space operators and business owners should prioritize lighting, temperature, and background scenery. 

Follow these tips to balance all three elements in your workspace and boost your team’s mood, well-being, and productivity. 

• Lighting Requirements: Artificial lights that mimic natural sunlight are the best. Use cool-toned lighting with temperatures of 4,600K+ to create a natural effect.

• Temperature Requirements: For indoor workspace environments, maintain temperatures – 24°C to 27°C (75°F to 80.5°F) in the summer and 21°C to 24°C (68.5°F to 75°F) in the winter.

• Background Scenery Requirements: Wallpapers reflecting nature, inspirational quotes, and artistic designs can elevate your space entirely while creating a happy environment. Besides, allow your team to accommodate space near windows to enjoy the outdoor view. 

If the technical requirements of lighting and temperature control seem overwhelming, hire an engineer for appropriate guidance. 

#6: Bring in the Greenery

Placing indoor plants is the most inexpensive and easy way to inspire productivity while sprucing up the workspace decor. Plants also improve the air quality by curbing indoor air pollution often caused by building materials and air fresheners. 

Studies reveal that employees who keep plants at their desks experience relatively less work-related stress and anxiety than others. 

How can you bring in the greenery?

Enliven your coworking setup with the following low-maintenance plants –

• Snake plant

• Peace lily

• Cast-iron plant 

• Jade

• Spanish lavender

These plants need little water, are durable, and remain fresh all year. 

Place them on desks and randomly across the office to stabilize your team’s mood and improve productivity and indoor air quality.

Conclusion

Coworking space design is vital to creating a fun, innovative, and inspiring environment that can help maximize employees’ productivity levels. Besides, it upholds a positive professional image that can attract valuable business opportunities. 

The design ideas shared in this post can help you build a workspace that is visually appealing, comfortable, functional, and welcoming. 
For more details and professional guidance, get in touch with The Address. Our team can help you design a coworking space that resonates with your brand’s vision and culture while fostering a productive environment for your team.

What are the best locations for Coworking Space In India