For a lot of startups, the idea that the office decor should matter at all in everyday productivity and work might seem preposterous. Why, after all, should it matter the kind of interior design your team works in? The answer is simple: Because you can use your decor to motivate and encourage your team in ways that words, strategies and financial perks can’t achieve. The office decor, after all, offers a common platform for exchanges, creativity, and dedication. That’s precisely why dull interiors have become a recurring complaint in companies with an employee turnover rate. Psychologically, the design of your workplace can play a significant role in your growth and success.

 

A pallet and crate decor

You can’t be disciplined if your decor is not on key

You might not think about it, but a lousy decor can be a distraction to your work. When the office design doesn’t address the key business values and mentality, it can be challenging to stay focused. Picture yourself sitting in a room filled with standard desks and chairs. The walls are blank. The stationary is uninspiring. Ultimately, it’s difficult to find the motivation and inspiration you need to tackle the challenges of startup growth when everything around you is, somehow, a little boring.



Bring a creative personality to your decor

A common mistake for startups and new entrepreneurs is to believe that you can’t have a fantastic interior decor unless you break the bank. In reality, you don’t need to buy high-end furniture to make it work, as long as you invest in quality. Google‘s Digital Garage, the initiative launched by the giant to help SMEs understand digital marketing, used simple pallets and timber crates to create a cosy and urban decor, using different sizes to make sofas, tables and enclosed seating areas for meetings. You can check some ideas online to find ways of making your office decor come to life with just a few pallets and planks. The imaginative decor can be motivating for your staff, as it shares the message that you can make great things with very little – it’s a metaphor for the startup!

 

Sort out your communication

You can’t make it work if you don’t design your office for effective collaboration and activity-based projects. At the core of it, an open-space design can encourage your team to share ideas and skills. But you can reinforce this natural behavior with effective communication tools within the office. Slack and Podio offers a lot of flexibility so that you can be sure that projects are kept on track and that people know and understand how to delegate tasks and share knowledge.

 

open space = shared thinking

Keep it fun

Last, but not least, an office decor that doesn’t understand the importance of playfulness is at risk of driving employees out. You may not be able to afford a video game cave for relaxation, but you can certainly make an effort to keep your team’s spirit high. Moo, the business card manufacturer, is using a lot of color to create a vibrant decor. Skype has a pool table and a lot of comfortable and casual seating areas for people to chat.

In short, your decor may not be your primary asset, but it’s a significant factor of motivation and inspiration. Keep it functional, affordable, fun and collaborative. And remember, you don’t need to create a sleek and luxury interior to keep your team happy!