Google Campus, Soho Works, We Work, Central Working: these places have become synonymous with trendy, creative working environments, and with good reason. Their popularity has not only branched a network of similar flexible office spaces, but the trend has trickled down to SMEs and even global corporates seeking that ‘creative coffee shop’ feel.

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There has been plenty of research supporting the idea that a more relaxed, collaborative workspace both fosters creativity and amplifies productivity. However, most small businesses don’t have the budgets or resources to make their office the next Google Campus.

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At Forster Inc, we firmly believe that great design should be accessible to everyone, regardless of budget or circumstance. Using the big trendsetters as inspiration, we can translate this look into a design that works for single company offices and smaller businesses.

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We’ve narrowed down the best ways to bring the feeling of ‘home’ to the office that are achievable, affordable and that work for your space.

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Incorporate ‘café culture’ into your office space

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A recent survey asked office workers to rate the most important things to them for being happier at work. Two answers came up on top: one was air quality; the second was coffee quality.

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It’s no secret that ‘café culture’ is everywhere, seen as the best environment for achieving creativity and productivity. However, you don’t need to hire a barista to achieve this look: it’s about having the right seating around a central coffee point or kitchen. While one larger table with long benches encourages team collaboration, a few smaller tables with chairs promotes one-on-one meetings. Choose the layout that best works for your business.

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Encourage breakout spaces

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Breakout areas are important for any business, providing employees spaces to think, collaborate and relax. And yet these spaces are often overlooked or not planned properly. However, you don’t need a separate room to achieve this; even small or open-plan offices can have designated breakout areas.

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Try using furniture to block off certain areas and create the sense of space. For example, screens give both acoustic and visual separation from a main working area. Position soft furnishings, such as sofas, in an angle to create a new sense of space. Also, using soft furnishings makes your breakout area more comfortable, serving as a great counterbalance to sitting at a desk all day.

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Exercise areas, changing rooms, table tennis, bike stands: many of today’s most cutting edge office spaces contain areas or features that are exclusively for employee entertainment, enjoyment and relaxation. You may not want to have a multi-story slide like Google, but placing some consideration into how a space can best serve your employees rather than your business is likely to pay off in the long run, increasing staff retention and company following. Comfort is key and choosing furniture that is ergonomic and fit for purpose will benefit everyone. Our friends at Chairs FX have written this excellent guide to choosing the right chair.

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Is your office in need of a redesign? Get in touch to discuss. We’d love to help.

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