‘QUEER EYE’ DESIGN SPECIALIST THOM FILICIA

OFFERS DESIGN TIPS FOR SMALL OFFICES

§ Encourage natural light:  If it’s not possible, use dimmers, desk lamps and other lighting solutions for creating an atmosphere where people don’t mind working extra hours.

§ Incorporate elements from the home: An open and comfortable kitchen, for instance, becomes the same thing it is in the house – a place where people gather.  They have coffee, they talk and you have informal meetings.  And think about installing wall-to-wall carpeting: It’s acoustical, comfortable and inviting.  When employees have to work late, they kick their shoes off, the overhead lights go off and lamps come on. 

§ Hang mirrors:  It’s a little bit more exciting, it brings in light, and it reflects the views.  If you have two windows, now you have four windows.  It changes the whole environment.  It makes it feel more energized. 

§ Don’t be afraid to experiment:  Playing with different ideas and concepts is a wonderful thing.  Just because you designed it today doesn’t mean you have to live with it for the rest of your life.  That goes for painting the walls, too.  Color is one of the best things to explore with because it’s only paint. 

§ Think of design as another vehicle for expressing your personality and ideas:  If you have this beautiful environment that people walk into and are really taken by, that’s a huge business advantage.  Someone walks in and goes, “You know what, this person is very interesting to me.”

Thom Filicia’s office tips have been reprinted with permission from Entrepreneur magazine.

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