If you’re an Instagram user, you’re probably familiar with the concept of an aesthetic even if the term isn’t familiar. Ever noticed how a certain company’s posts all carry the same look and feel, and a consistent color scheme? That’s their aesthetic. Many brands use a style guide to extend that strategy well beyond Instagram and present a consistent look across all their marketing.

Commercial spaces can – and should – have their own aesthetics also. Let’s take a look at why, and how to go about it.

There are two main reasons why an office aesthetic is so important: First, it’s an extension of your brand, the face you show to the world. Second, the care put into developing an aesthetic sends a clear message to your team. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. If your workers are crammed into an unwieldy floor plan, working on uncomfortable furniture under bright fluorescent lights, you’re sending a message, but probably not the one you intended.

Conversely, a thoughtfully designed space sends a positive message about the organization and the degree to which it values its employees. There’s a tendency to view aesthetics as an unnecessary expense, but an office environment can have a huge impact on morale and productivity. Properly done, your office aesthetics can boost creativity, foster company pride, strengthen connections between team members and even reduce stress. In other words, the time and effort spent in getting it right are an investment in a better company, not an expense.

So what is an office aesthetic, exactly? It’s a combination more or less all the components of commercial design.

Those include some obvious things like color schemes and floor plans, but there’s more to it than that. As mentioned above, office lighting can have a big impact on aesthetics, as can natural light … generally speaking, the more the better. Smaller touches like incorporating more curves and fewer 90-degree angles in furniture and other fixtures can make a difference (research shows that spaces featuring curves are more likely to be perceived as beautiful).

Accent items such as hanging art or sculptures can make a big difference in the overall look and feel of an office, and plants have been shown to have plenty of benefits beyond their natural beauty. One study showed that workers in offices with plants had significantly reduced levels of fatigue, anxiety, anger and depression.

Finally, pay attention to the ears as well as the eyes. Noise levels in an office can have a significant impact on worker morale and health. Any design should include areas for collaboration, of course, but be sure to incorporate private, quiet spaces as well.

To learn more about how to integrate sound absorbing and space defining products, click here.

In the end, your commercial space should be as unique as your brand. Making the right decisions here not only makes a powerful style statement, but can result in a happier, more productive team.

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