Refreshing your workspace with warm textiles is the key to being comfy enough at work. As we refresh our homes during winter, the work environment also needs a cozy makeover to get productive at work. Whether it’s a large office, a cubicle, or even a home office, your workspace can be your greatest asset for your creativity. Through thoughtful design, and the right furniture choices, your desk, and its surroundings can help you achieve comfort in your workspaces during winter. Whether you’re outfitting your home office or corporate office, here are a few winter tips from renowned architects and designers on how to combine productive work with seasonal comfort through office design and decoration.
Staying warm during winter can be as simple as adding a snuggly throw to keep the chill off, and maintain comfort in the space. Ar. Smriti Raheja Sawhney, Founder and Principal Designer of DesignEx suggests, “Bring in cosy fabrics to add comfort and warmth during winter. From layering Faux-fur fabric to your desk chair to placing plush comfy rugs underfoot, furnishing with textiles is the easiest way to give a winter makeover to your workspace.”
If you are looking for small home office ideas that will make for a sophisticated workspace in a rather cramped space, the choice of the colour palette can do the trick. “Consider a subdued softer palette in your workspace, especially during winter. The pastel tones keep the compact workspace feel more open and light while offering a personal touch and more warmth”, says Suvarna Joshi, Principal Designer of Intento Architects. Besides colours, material choices for furniture and floors can also determine the coziness of the workspace. Ar. Anurag Pashine, Founder and Principal Architect of Salankar Pashine and Associates asserts, “Furnish your warm, welcoming, wintery office space with wooden furniture and accessories. The wooden accents in the workspace lend the theme of rustic beauty, aiding you to create a space that is super snug yet stylish.”
To make your office feel comfortable, fresh, and natural you can always place plants, both indoors and outdoors in your workspace. Rohit Suraj, Founder and CEO of Urban Zen comments, “Greenery and nature add character, colour, and wonderful energy to any workspace. Amongst other things an array of hanging plants transforms a classic home office into a fun and cozy space that resonates with the employee’s ethos. Succulents and terrariums are another classic and interesting addition to a workspace bringing a personalised touch to it.”
When the days get shorter and natural light is hard to enter the space, maximise your office’s lighting potential with multiple sources of artificial light that include table light fixtures and ambient lights. Ar. Sumit Dhawan, Founder and Principal Architect of Cityspace ‘82 Architects explains, “Making the most of your workspace view and natural light is extremely significant during the winter months when a dark office setup will be hardly inspiring. Also, opt for sustainable artificial lighting sources like LEDs, tactical tasks lights, and other smart lighting control systems that will contribute to efficient energy use.” Ar. Abhigyan Neogi, Founder and Principal Architect of Chromed Design Studio mentions, “Window treatments help the room retain heat, keeping you warm and comfortable during winter. The addition of a sheer curtain in winter can also make a big difference in bringing natural light.”
“Think about wall hangings of artworks and photographs, that add colour and inspiration to the workspace. You can also add some fun to your workspace with cheerful feature walls with a floral backdrop or any other interesting patterns,” recommends Ar. Nikita Bajaj Pathak, Founding Partner at Design 21. Tapping inspirations at your work desks can also be accomplished by curating a mix of personalised décor items or by simply creating a nook for reading books.
Ar. Bhuvan Kapila and Ar. Gagandeep Kapila, Founders of Workshop for Metropolitan Architecture point out, “More than anything, an organised workspace is said to be a cosy place and will keep your office look as professional as possible. The furniture layout should be organised and uncluttered to achieve productivity at work. A good storage practice is necessary to have a clean and tidy office space, especially during winter, as this season is prone to humidity in interiors.”
Redesign your workspace this winter, and enjoy the improved comfort of an organised work environment with these decorating tips from eminent architects and designers.