In an ideal world, open office designs should boost collaboration, productivity, and improve the way your business functions. In practice, though, getting all of your team members on the same page –– in the same space –– can be more difficult than it first seems. While business owners want their team members to feel comfortable with each other, it’s not a wise play to opt for an open office design without also implementing some rules for decorum. To that end, here are four simple guidelines that will help your team maintain good open office etiquette:

A noisy office isn’t always an indication of great productivity. Indeed, while business owners certainly want their employees to feel comfortable collaborating with each other on important projects, research indicates that ambient noise in the workplace not only affects professionals’ ability to concentrate, but could also lead to increased stress, strain, and health risks. Another problem for business leaders is that distracting noises can come in a variety of forms. In order to help you and your team stay focused and energized in a noisy workplace, then, make sure to check out these five helpful tips:

Coming to terms with the limitations of your office can be a difficult thing to do. After all, no business owner wants to admit that their workspace isn’t up to standard or that it’s lacking in anyway. Yet, many offices are indeed somber, messy, cluttered, dated, and/or boring. The silver lining is that it’s possible to beautify an ugly office quickly and efficiently. Here are four options worth exploring today:

When most business professionals talk about increasing workplace productivity, they focus on abstract concepts. Unfortunately, business owners can’t purchase “positive-management techniques,” or “self-accountability,” for their team members. And while it’s possible to change a company’s culture strictly through attitude adjustment, altering the physical layout of a space is often a much more effective way to boost morale and performance. Given that fact, make sure to check out these five interior design factors that increase productivity:

For some professionals, going to work is like entering an Orwellian nightmare. The cubicles are small and uniform. The lights fluorescent and harsh. The color scheme is drab and gray. There’s little-to-no artwork, and the break room –– if there even is one –– is criminally understocked. In short, they work in a boring office. And, unsurprisingly, most people fail to reach their full potential when placed in an environment that’s not conducive to creativity. In fact, rather than cutting down on distractions, boring, outdated workspaces are more likely to cause employees’ minds to wander. To alleviate some common office woes, consider implementing any one of these six tactics:

A busy, bustling office is a productive one, right? Well, not necessarily. The reality is that business owners need to be able to recognize when their employees are distracted from their work –– as well as what they can do to prevent such distractions from occurring. Remember, business leaders are responsible for ensuring their team members have everything they need to perform at their best, and an unfit office design could lead to a glut of distractions that inhibit productivity. Here then are three ways that business owners can address office distractions and eliminate them once and for all:

It’s entirely possible for professionals to spend more time at their desk than in their own living room during the course of a regular work week. Still, the harsh truth is few modern workstations boast the amenities, tools, and tech that employees need to operate at their best. Indeed, a poor desk setup can have a major negative impact on your mood and productivity. To combat some office workstation woes, make sure to check out these five awesome ideas to improve your desk situation ASAP:

An office redesign is a big project –– no matter your industry or budget. Indeed, choosing to renovate your current workspace is one of the most important decisions any business owner could make. And because redesigns are such large undertakings, many professionals are turning to modular office walls as an alternative to traditional construction methods. But are modular walls a good idea for your operation? Here are five reasons you should at least consider them for your office redesign:

It’s difficult to put a price on the power of art. After all, how can you quantify the emotional response a compelling painting produces? What is clear though, is that people love engaging with murals and art related to businesses. In fact, business murals offer major benefits to companies that utilize them both inside and outside of their offices. Here are four reasons why you should consider integrating murals within your office design:

The value of a good first impression can’t be overstated. And that’s especially true for medical practices, hospitals, and testing facilities. A medical office design can either inspire confidence and relax nervous patients, or exacerbate their concerns. Given that fact, medical professionals can’t take any risks when it comes to their design choices. Here then are four amazing ideas for medical office designs of all shapes, sizes, and budgets: