In the age of remote work, the last remaining advantage of working from a traditional office is the fact that there are fewer distractions, which allows you to focus more on work and be more productive. The problem is that limiting (or eliminating) distractions in the workplace is far from easy.
The single biggest issue in most offices is the noise. With so many people, keeping it quiet so that coworkers can focus is a difficult task. Fortunately, with the right acoustic solutions, this task is not impossible. Here are some solutions you should consider.
- Wall panels
The most obvious choice here is to go with drywall. This is the simplest way to improve both soundproofing and energy efficiency in the room. However, when you’re done, you could consider going a step further and installing some wall panels.
Wood-wool panels are also known as wood fiber acoustic panels, and they’re made out of wood wool (thin strands of wood bound by cement or magnesite). Aside from having amazing soundproofing properties, they’re also highly aesthetic and are used for thermal insulation and even moisture regulation. This is something that a lot of offices from regions with higher air humidity could greatly benefit from.
Seeing as how most offices are just glass, plastic, and concrete, some commercial property owners and enterprises try to enrich their space with moss panels. This is a unique material because it doesn’t incorporate moss-like texture; it uses actual natural moss.
Unlike the two panel types listed above, which also have significant energy-efficient properties, fabric acoustic panels are made just for sound control. This is what makes them so popular in educational institutions and commercial spaces. On top of that, they also contribute to the fire-resistance of the area.
Either of these will improve the sound structure of your office space; it all comes down to your interior design choices and personal (style) preferences.
- Acoustic furniture
The next thing you need to consider is the acoustic furniture. We’re talking about furniture pieces made of materials that absorb noises created within these spaces instead of amplifying them. Still, this is not as common, and there are numerous other “furniture” options you can opt for.
For instance, you could go with noise-cancelling curtains. The curtains already have some effect on their own, seeing as how they’re fabric and not a smooth surface from which sound waves will just bounce. On the other hand, going with noise-cancelling curtains will give you that extra edge in an effort to create an optimal acoustic workplace.
Carpets will greatly help reduce one of the biggest sources of noise in the office space – footsteps. The thing is that most commercial spaces have a hard floor (of some sort) because they’re easier to maintain and are less vulnerable to impact and scratching. At the same time, this makes footsteps louder. While you can introduce the rule that will limit chatting (even the effects of this are questionable), there’s nothing you can do about footsteps.
The biggest downside of carpets is maintenance but with so many rug care agencies out there, even this shouldn’t be that big of a problem.
Lastly, you can use shelves as barriers, even in an open office setup. This way, the sound doesn’t travel unrestricted, and you avoid having to use barriers that look like physical walls (completely defeating the purpose of an open office).
- Cubicles or open space
In the past, offices used cubicles to create a sense of personalized space. This way, everyone had an “office” of their own and they had the freedom to decorate this office and claim the space as their own. Another big advantage was that dividers worked as sound barriers, which is a boost that a lot of people are too quick to downplay.
Cubicles give you more privacy, which means that you don’t have to worry about having someone look over your shoulder. You also have the freedom to claim the space and set up your workstation any way you like without having to worry about how it will affect people around you.
Cubicles make you feel isolated, which is one of the biggest reasons why the business world collectively abandoned them. They’re even compared to prison cells, which just goes to show the perception and the psychological impact they have on the people occupying them. Now, with an option to allow your employees to work remotely, cubicles make even less sense.
On the other hand, there are ways to make an open office work. You just have to figure out the right layout and combine it with some ideas we’ve discussed in the previous two sections. With the right furniture, panels, and strategically placed shelves, you can make your open office space much quieter.
- Organizing workspace
Lastly, you need to rethink the layout of the workspace if you truly aim to make the place as acoustic as possible. For starters, you need to figure out how to give everyone enough peace and quiet so that they can focus on work but not restrict people and make them feel like they’re in a public library.
The first thing you have to do is give everyone enough space. What does enough space mean? Well, for a comfortable and functional space, there should be at least 3.28 feet of free space behind each desk. This will give people enough room to roll back on their chairs and get up without restrictions. As for the distance between side desks, there are a lot of opinions, and the general rule is anywhere between seven and 11 feet.
The most important thing is that you separate the work area and the break area. This way, people who are on the break won’t interfere with those who are still working. Just don’t forget to insist on people taking their breaks (even mandating it).
One last thing you can do is purchase silent peripherals. Noise-cancelling headphones, silent keyboards and mice, may be expensive but they’ll pay themselves off in increased productivity.
Wrap up
The last thing you need to keep in mind is the importance of workplace comfort and having enough peace and quiet plays hugely into this. Exposure to noises increases anxiety, decreases productivity, and even increases talent abandonment rates. It’s in your best interest to try and prevent this (if possible).