Author: WorkWell

Whilst an office should always serve as a practical and professional space, there are ways to create a comfortable, cosy, and inviting environment- reminiscent of how we feel at home. After all, the office can be perceived as a home away from home.

Making the office feel like an approachable space isn’t just about the furnishings that soften the aesthetic; it’s also about the culture of the team working in it. We’ve compiled a list of ways to create a sense of belonging for the staff in your office.

Physical touches to warm an office environment

1. Furniture

Utilising soft furnishings is a great way to create more relaxed settings within your office, think a cosy ready nook for lunch breaks or research sessions. Sofas with cushions in your brand colour palette, and wall art that brings life to the walls in the space.

When utilising art or furniture, try to draw design elements that create a sensory experience with your brand. Doing it through colours, materials, textures, and styles. This creates cohesion in your design, and it allows your environment to reflect your brand in subtle ways. 

Using practical storage solutions like coat hooks, bag nooks, and umbrella stands allows staff to comfortably settle into the work environment. Also, keeping their desk space and additional office areas clutter-free.

The environment we work in is vital in shaping our experience, inspiring a sense of togetherness through considered interior design.

2. Plants

Utilising decorative elements in a considered manner that feels professional, yet welcoming, helps create the feeling of an inviting space. Incorporating plants into the room offers mental and physical health benefits, along with brightening the space and injecting energy into the atmosphere.

3. Fragrance

Sensory experiences often play a big role in the day-to-day comforts of our lives, from scented candles to incense. Whilst these aren’t practical or safe in a commercial setting, utilising diffusers is a great way to incorporate scents into the environment.

4. Lighting

Lighting can influence our experience of an environment, so it’s important to utilise lighting to create experiences that serve different purposes. For instance, lamps being used in more informal breakout areas can help soften the aesthetic and make it feel cosier.

Whilst a bright, white overhead light can help replicate the feeling of sunlight in darker corners of an office during the winter months, when daylight hours are much shorter. Where possible, however, we recommend utilising every bit of natural sunlight to illuminate the room.

Creating a workplace culture that feels like home

Workplace culture is everything; think of it as the feeling your business creates for employees working there. This includes making staff feel like they belong there, that they are encouraged to be their best, improving well-being and creating experiences that improve the well-being of belongings.

Creating a sense of purpose is a big draw for employees to feel comfortable and part of a community. As such, it’s a key part of making the office have a warm and open atmosphere.

If you’re looking for an office environment that balances out warm and welcoming design with a professional and clean aesthetic, we might be the right choice for you. We can work with you to ensure your office feels effortlessly inviting so it fits perfectly for you and your team.

For workforces adopting the hybrid work approach, flexibility is a key advantage, giving employees the choice of when they work in the office and remotely. Whilst flexibility is valued, there’s real value in creating an environment that employees prefer to work from.

The focus is no longer on creating office days, but on creating environments that naturally attract staff.

How to attract teams using hybrid work models

Managed office spaces offer many perks. For the hybrid workforce, it can enhance the work experience.

1.      Office design and activity-based working

The design of the working environment plays a crucial role in motivating and encouraging employees to work in an office. A major benefit of managed office spaces is the various work zones allocated for different styles of working. Whether that be open-plan collaboration areas, quiet spaces like Zoom pods for solo sessions, or social spaces like outdoor seating and communal kitchens, where connection is made tangible.

Different spaces and services can cater to the evolving needs of a business and the individual preferences of employees. Each space is carefully designed to maximise ease and function for users. Ergonomic furniture improves the experience of staff, ensuring they’re comfortable whilst working.

Design is incredibly influential on employee wellbeing; a naturally well-lit office can help create work environments that keep members enthused. Utilising plants is another great design method for improving staff wellbeing through thoughtful environment design.

2.      Collaboration

Creating opportunities for collaboration is another driving factor in attracting employees. Working together can strengthen rapport, promote innovation and improve efficiencies. Some of the ways you can do this are by:

• Utilising co-working spaces
• Hosting workshops
• Mentoring opportunities
• Team days
• Set collaborative goals
• Networking opportunities

3.      Culture & socialisation

One of the biggest draws of attracting employees is to create a culture that people want to be a part of. One aspect of that is creating opportunities to socialise. Work takes up a great portion of our lives, so being able to enjoy it is crucial to making people want to work in the office rather than remotely.

Culture starts by setting out the company values and behaviours which will shape the experience of workers. Some values we believe are essential for attracting staff are:

1. Ensure there’s inclusion and diversity
2.  Create opportunities to build trust
3. Find opportunities to inspire, and share them
4. Encourage feedback
5. Reward positives, whether that be achievements or behaviours
6. A problem shared is often a problem halved. Don’t be afraid to find solutions as a team

Ultimately, a team that is confident and comfortable communicating and that wants to present indicates a strong workplace culture.

Why WorkWell is the ideal solution to office-first hybrid models

WorkWells offices are designed to make the days in the office a rewarding experience, from the modern design and comfortable furnishings to our prime locations and vibrant community. We provide an adaptable environment, designed to serve the members using it, and guaranteed to promote productivity and reduce, if not eliminate, inefficiencies.

If your hybrid workforce is looking for an environment that attracts employees to work in the office, don’t hesitate to contact us to explore your options and create a bespoke contract.

Serviced offices, by design, offer far greater flexibility than leased spaces, with shorter terms and ease of moving and simpler contract setups. At WorkWell, we ensure our serviced office comes with flexibility, allowing our members to adapt to change in real time whilst avoiding being locked into a rigid contract.

What makes a flexible contract valuable for a business?

Flexibility is ideal when seeking out an office contract. It affords businesses the agility to adapt, pivot, and scale your environment to their business needs, ultimately giving them a competitive edge in a consistently evolving landscape.

A flexible contract can be useful for reducing costs by limiting overhead spending by merging all the costs into one flat fee. This not only saves budget but can make the set-up process efficient as there aren’t lots of contracts needing to be set up.

Those opting for a managed office space are able to tap into an already established community, which in turn increases networking opportunities. This is something that rivals the traditional office, as it makes the process of connection easier.

This type of contract empowers businesses to make decisions based on their current needs, rather than being locked into long-term contracts that don’t serve them. Gone are the days of being trapped in an environment that isn’t conducive to success.

Which contract features should you look for to stay agile?

What makes a great contact? Well, the key is a lot of things when there’s a balance struck. Your contract must meet your basic requirements, i.e.:

• The cost
• The duration of the lease
• The notice period
• The breadth of the services you can use
• If business rates are included

The key to getting a contract that allows your business to stay agile in such a competitive market is to look for the following in your managed office contract:

• How flexible the contract is, i.e. can it be changed during the contract or are you locked in
• Benefits/perks of the space, i.e., WorkWell members can use all communal space indoor and outdoor with access to Zoom Pods, sound-insulated booths, refreshments and free parking.
• If there are penalties for early contract termination

How does WorkWell make flexibility functional?

Most serviced office providers will give their members some flexibility, but at WorkWell we go beyond that. With the unique advantage of being able to scale mid-contract, we ensure our members’ workspaces serve them.

We accommodate these needs by adjusting the environment to the growth or reduction of the business, when necessary, providing smaller or larger office spaces to ensure the space is practical for the member.

Our fees are all inclusive, meaning only one bill goes out of the business account each month. All bills are streamlined at WorkWell, which means one flat cost for the rent, utilities, maintenance, and security is included within the leasing fee.

The approach we take is low commitment for the member, so whether it’s leasing a day office for a day or using our co-working spaces for a week. We make it easy to flex the contract, so you get the most out of the space and your money.

Could flexible contracts be the key to long-term success?

Absolutely, serviced office spaces with flexible contracts, like ours, are the bedrock of success. An adaptable contract flexes with your business, rather than restricting its capabilities. A major benefit, for instance, is the reduction in spending for leased office space. With members only paying what they need, they’re able to allocate more budget to their business, which can be a factor in creating success.

There’s a lot of value in picking a provider that caters to your business’s needs not only in the present, but for the future too. Real-time adaptability is fundamental when offering flexible contracts.

If you think a managed office could be the right solution for you, don’t hesitate to contact us to find out whether WorkWell is suited to you and your business needs.

Most people spend about 90,000 hours of their lives at work. That’s nearly 45 years. It makes sense that the workplace can play a big role in our health. When designed badly, an office can add to stress, leading to burnout and making people feel worse, not better. That’s a problem for both employees and employers.

Investing in your employees

The good news is that investing in a high-quality workplace yields significant benefits. When companies prioritise employee well-being, encompassing not only physical health but also mental and social well-being, the benefits are substantial. People feel better, and they take fewer sick days. They’re more engaged and productive, which means companies perform better as well.

Research by the McKinsey Health Institute shows that investing in employee health could create between $3.7 trillion and $11.7 trillion in economic value worldwide. That’s around $1,100 to $3,500 of value per person, or up to 55% of average annual pay. Most of that value, up to 77%, comes from improved productivity and reduced presenteeism. That’s when people are at work but not able to work at their best.

Too often, businesses focus solely on visible costs, such as absenteeism. But those account for just a fraction of the opportunity. The hidden cost of people not working to their full potential is far higher. And that’s where a better workplace can make the biggest difference.

A healthier workforce benefits the business and lifts entire communities. Healthier workers are more likely to be involved in their local area, help others and lead fulfilling lives outside of work. That’s why better workplaces are not only good business, they’re also good for society.

The pitfalls of employee health

Unfortunately, the current state of employee health is not where it should be. A global survey of more than 30,000 employees found that only 57% reported good overall health. Just under half, 49%, were ‘faring well’, meaning they had good holistic health and no symptoms of burnout. One in five reported signs of burnout.

Burnout is not the same as being tired after a long week. It includes exhaustion, feeling mentally distant from work, and a sense of being unable to cope. It affects people across every industry, although some are more severely impacted than others. Employees in accounting, retail, agriculture, shipping and the arts reported the lowest health and highest burnout levels. Even in the best-performing industries, fewer than three in four workers reported being in good health.

The situation is worse for certain groups, with women, LGBTQ+ individuals, younger employees, people with lower income or education levels, and those who are neurodivergent all reporting worse outcomes. These groups made up 80% of the survey respondents.

Designing office spaces for success

The design of the physical workplace plays a huge role in supporting wellbeing. At WorkWell, we have emphasised the proven value of natural light, indoor plants, quiet zones, and access to fitness facilities. Workspaces filled with sunlight and biophilic elements, such as greenery or nature-inspired textures, have been shown to reduce stress and boost cognitive performance. Employees who sit near windows get better sleep and report higher productivity. Plants not only purify the air but also create a more calming and restorative environment.

Equally important are quiet spaces and on-site fitness facilities. In open-plan offices, having a designated space to retreat to for focus or rest can significantly reduce stress. Physical activity, whether it’s a lunchtime yoga class or a treadmill in the office gym, is directly linked to sharper thinking and an improved mood. When companies design environments that promote movement, reflection, and calm, they’re not just building offices—they’re investing in human potential.

A high-quality workspace isn’t just about better chairs or healthy snacks. It’s about the full work experience. That includes feeling safe, supported and respected. It means having leaders who genuinely care, clear roles and expectations, and a culture that fosters a sense of belonging and purpose.

The most successful employers take a systematic approach. They measure how people are doing. They test solutions and adapt based on data. They train managers to support wellbeing. They look beyond quick fixes and instead build a culture that supports long-term health.

There are plenty of examples to learn from. At the sportswear company On, an employee health programme led to a 30% drop in staff turnover, a 5% boost in productivity, and a $2.9 million a year savings, an 11.6x return on investment. At Ikea Canada, adding ‘Wellness Days’ helped reduce employee turnover from 35% to 24.5%. At Audi, voluntary health checkups led to high employee participation and long-term health benefits.

Final thoughts

Even small changes can have big results. Encouraging movement breaks, promoting mental health awareness or improving access to coaching can all help. What matters most is that health becomes a core part of how the workplace functions, not just an add-on or an afterthought. When work supports wellbeing, everyone wins. Employees are healthier and happier. Companies perform better. And society as a whole benefits.

Work shouldn’t be something people have to recover from. It should be a place where they thrive. Investing in high-quality workspaces is one of the smartest things any business can do.