The relative merits of lean, enriched, and empowered offices: An experimental examination of the impact of workspace management strategies on well-being and productivity

What the study found

In both experiments, decorated offices (plants and art) produced better outcomes than lean ones. Wellbeing and productivity improved further when workers had input into the decoration, and the gains shrank when that input was overridden by the experimenter.

Limitations

Short-term tasks in office settings; productivity measured with task batteries rather than real work output.

Neurodesign interpretation

Evidence that control over one's space is itself a design variable, separate from what the space contains.

Possible design implications

Plants and art beat bare offices, and letting occupants shape their own space adds to the effect.

Study design

Two experiments with four conditions: lean, decorated by experimenter, self-decorated, self-decorated then redecorated

Population

Office workers in a university interior office and a commercial city office. Sample: 112 and 47.

Setting

Offices, UK

Field

Workplace design

Mechanism

Perceived control

Spatial variable

Indoor vegetation, artwork, personalization of workspace

Keywords

lean office, enriched office, personalization, control, wellbeing, productivity

Notes and follow-up

Related records: ND-0159, ND-0157.