To impress visitors, the design of an office matters just as much as its customer service. For those charged with creating an office that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, it’s often hard to know where to start. Fortunately, there are a variety of options that can dramatically change the space without demolishing walls, refinishing the floors, or making other substantial changes. Custom office signage, new furniture, lively colors, and more can also be powerful options.
No matter which types of décor are chosen for the space, the most important factor is the first impression. The visual aesthetics of a well-designed office create an impact and are appreciated by visitors and staff alike. Here are some recommendations for blending functionality with artistry in your office design.
Practical Ways To Blend Functionality & Artistry
The most impactful office spaces will incorporate design elements that are both visually appealing and functional. Consider the following for your space:
Custom Signage As A Functional Art Piece
Many office spaces choose to display information using signage, but custom signs can reimagine a space when designed with care. Imagine an office that stands out from its peers in an office block by using rich, backlit illumination to draw customers’ eyes to the name of the business.
Not only does this immediately create an artistic impression (based on sign colors, shapes, design, and more), but it also helps visitors find the business, which improves the experience. Signs can also do more than simply state the name of the business.
A restaurant could wow customers with the artistry of a custom engraved sign featuring their menu, creating both a visually stunning installation and a functional way to display information the customers need. The only limit to the power of custom signage is imagination.
Furniture That Combines Form & Function
The furniture that provides seating, writing space, and privacy in an office can make an impression on visitors extremely quickly. Uncomfortable seating (or insufficient space and number of seats) may leave customers feeling uncared for. If they must fill out paperwork on a dirty desk covered in bits of tape and chipped edges, they may wonder whether they are in good hands.
Instead, select furniture that supports whatever need visitors have, e.g., a welcoming place to sit, a sturdy place to write, and more. Then, consider how those items can be leveled up aesthetically. Instead of a standard square table, imagine a curved one (often called a kidney table, for its kidney bean shape).
Not only does this add a level of elegance to the office, but it also provides more accessibility and comfort for customers, who can fit more snugly into the curves of the table to do their writing. Do not forget to incorporate natural elements! Wood remains a symbol of classic longevity and a down-to-earth attitude, but consider thinking outside the box with options such as bamboo as well.
Using Texture & Dimension To Enhance The Brand
Even the most well-designed offices can be left feeling uninspired and sterile if they utilize only items that are flat and glossy. Textured walls and surfaces can go a long way here, and as an added benefit, textured materials also help to cut down on unwanted noise.
Embrace décor with some level of dimension; custom signage can appear to pop out of the wall and add visual interest. By curating more of the 3D environment in an office, businesses can take full advantage of every inch of space they have.
Tips For Executing A Balanced Design
While all of these recommendations for artistic and functional office design can be inspiring, it is possible to go a little too far and create something that is disorganized and overwhelming. Be sure to prioritize the key areas of the office first: reception, meeting rooms, and other spaces that visitors will spend the most time in. When designing these rooms, think about cohesion.
Do all of the aesthetic elements complement each other? It can be jarring for visitors to see furniture made of angular designs next to a wall covering with large, sweeping curves.
Finally, do not hesitate to collaborate with experts! Professionals who create custom signage and other office décor usually have insight into what installations can draw customer attention without standing out like a sore thumb. Remember that a single, highly relevant design element, such as a sign or centerpiece, is often more impactful (and less cluttered) than many smaller items in the same square footage.
Request A Free Custom Office Sign Quote From ShieldCo Today
Designing an office is an important task that can have real-world consequences on a business. The team at ShieldCo Art is proud to help companies create signs that impress customers and convey their values while fully embracing the beauty that comes with creating real art. Contact ShieldCo to discuss your vision for your office and discover how custom signage can play a part.