Design Tips to Improve Teamwork with Collaborative Furniture

Designing a workspace to include collaborative office furniture is one of the best ways to enhance teamwork and innovation. From providing designated zones for vibrant brainstorming sessions to cleverly integrating equipment to encourage the flow of ideas, a collaborative office space can positively impact your staff in so many ways. In this blog, our furniture fitout experts are sharing their favourite design tips to improve teamwork using collaborative office furniture in your workspace.

Flexible Office Seating

Flexible seating in offices refers to a workspace arrangement where employees have the freedom to choose where they work, as opposed to being assigned to fixed desks or cubicles. This approach is increasingly popular in modern workplaces. After all, flexibility encourages spontaneous collaboration and allows teams to adapt the space to their specific needs.

To achieve flexible, collaborative office seating, aim to incorporate modular or movable furniture. This can be easily rearranged to accommodate different group sizes and activities. Flexible seating will also typically include a variety of workspaces, so you can mix and match with any of the following: open desks, lounge furniture, standing desks, and even outdoor furniture for outdoor areas. Having a variety of options allows employees to choose the setting that best suits their task or mood at any given time. Office booths are also a popular choice, offering comfortable collaborative office seating that provides both privacy and a surprisingly large workspace.

Integrated Technology

Incorporating various technological solutions and systems into your collaborative workspace furniture is another great way to boost teamwork. For instance, this could include anything from accessible USB ports to wireless charging pads. This will enhance productivity, efficiency, and collaboration, and improve the overall user experience within the workspace.

Having plenty of accessible power outlets is essential so that employees can charge their laptops and mobile devices while they work. USB sockets are a smart alternative if the space doesn’t lend itself to power sockets. Outlets should be available near flexible seating areas as well as integrated into collaborative office tables and desks. Staff should never have to rearrange the furniture just to plug in their devices.

On this note, it goes without saying that Wi-Fi must be fast and reliable!

Natural Elements & Aesthetics

Incorporating natural elements and aesthetics into office design has become an increasingly popular choice. This coincides with the growing recognition these elements can have on employee wellbeing, productivity, and overall satisfaction. The same rule can be applied across to your collaborative office furniture as well as the rest of the workplace.

Informal spaces are an opportunity to bring interesting and fun design elements into play. Incorporate natural elements such as plants, natural light, and biophilic design elements for a more inviting and stimulating environment. Remember, a collaborative office space should inspire creativity and strike a careful balance between aesthetics and comfort. Natural elements have been shown to improve mood, creativity, and overall wellbeing, enhancing the effectiveness of teamwork.

Collaboration Zones

Collaboration zones in offices are designated areas specifically designed to encourage teamwork, brainstorming, and spontaneous interactions. These areas should have comfortable seating, writable surfaces, and suitable technology tools to support teamwork in whatever form it takes. These zones should also be easily accessible and visually distinct to encourage their use.

These zones typically feature an open layout to facilitate easy movement and interaction among team members. This can include open, collaborative office seating arrangements, movable furniture, and flexible configurations that can be adapted to different group sizes and activities.

Tools for Sharing Areas

Equipment that supports teamwork should be readily available. This can include: smart screens for sharing digital content, whiteboards, and writable surfaces such as chalkboards or writable glass. These surfaces encourage idea generation, visual thinking, and active participation during brainstorming sessions and meetings – the perfect addition for any collaborative workspace furniture.

Comfortable and Ergonomic Design

Choosing comfortable and ergonomic collaborative office furniture is essential for employee wellbeing and productivity. Invest in ergonomic chairs and adjustable desks that provide proper support for the body, allowing employees to maintain good posture throughout the day. Likewise, you should choose upholstered seating options with adjustable height and lumbar support.

Also consider that collaborative office furniture needs to be inclusive and accessible. Consider factors such as seat height, armrests, and aisle widths to accommodate diverse needs and promote inclusivity

Variety of Settings

Try to provide a variety of different collaborative spaces throughout the office. These could include lounge areas for informal meetings, standing desks for quick discussions, and private alcoves or booths for more focused work or confidential conversations. Make sure there are enough spaces so that one will always be free when needed without employees having to book the space well in advance. Providing sufficient meeting areas will prevent teams being interrupted by other colleagues looking for a workspace or distracted by what’s going on in the rest of the office.

BT Office Furniture

At BT Office, we provide a wide range of high-quality furniture, including collaborative office furniture options. Get in touch today and speak to us about your requirements. You can reach us by emailing [email protected] or by calling  0800 298 7033.