What do you need in order to deliver your best work? A clear mind, space to work, and a positive energy that makes you believe you can achieve what you’re setting out to achieve! While creating an environment that caters to all these requests might seem difficult, there’s one tried and tested method that makes it possible, and that is: creating a minimalist office. You’ve likely read about how you can turn your home into a minimalist haven, but how does it work in the office? We take a look at seven ways to incorporate this philosophy into your workspace.

Go Paperless

It’s hard to get into a relaxed mindset when piles of paper continually surround you. Remember, your mind is influenced by more than you probably realize; if you can barely see your desk because of all the paper that’s there, then you’ll find it difficult to get down to work. It’s as simple as that! Aside from making it easier to reach that clear state of mind, going paperless will bring benefits such as cost-savings, better organisation, and showing that your company has committed to improving its environmental record. PRO TIP: You can also save on your business energy bills with commercial LED lights.

Buy Only What You Need

Yes, you’re going to need to have supplies in your office. Every workspace does! But do you really need three hundred of each item? Buying in bulk might save you money, but it’s making your office look and feel crowded. In any case, it’s rare that an office makes it all the way through all the items they bought in mass. What tends to happen is this: because you know you have hundreds in reserve, you’re lax with pens, staples, pencils, and so on. You’ll take more care if you know you haven’t got a seemingly endless supply hanging around the office.

Consider Flexible Working Days

Your items will take up space, but they won’t compare to the people in the office. If you have a small office that’s usually packed to capacity with all your workers, consider adopting modern working practices, such as flexible working and telecommuting. This will prevent the office from always being overpopulated, which can really hinder any minimalist ambitions that you might have. The philosophy is closely linked to calmness; the fewer people that are in your office, the calmer it’s going to be – it’s as simple as that.

Limit the Bulky Tech

In any office, you’re going to have certain technologies. They’re essential when it comes to getting the job done! However, with that being said, that doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate technology that’s in line with the minimalist philosophy. You can! For starters, look at limiting the bulky pieces of technology. It might not be necessary to have a large desktop computer on every desk. Instead, it may be better to have a slim laptop. Aesthetically, it’s much better; functionally, it’s pretty much the same. One bulky piece of tech you might need is a machine that can print, fax, copy; it’s better to have one of these devices rather than a separate machine for every job.

Get Clever With Storage

It’s all good and well planning to get rid of all but your most essential items, but in reality, this won’t be possible. There are going to be things that you simply need to have. However, that doesn’t mean that they have to clutter up the place. Instead, you just need to get clever with storage. If you don’t have much space onsite, take a look at fabric buildings. They’re easy and inexpensive to put up, and can be used as a large storage unit for all those things that you need to have, but which you don’t use on a daily basis.

Limit the Distractions

You should have a few pieces to brighten up your office, such as a big clock, plant, and maybe a sofa, but that’s about it. Try not to go too heavy when it comes to accessories; they’ll only serve to distract you from what you’re trying to achieve.

Less is More

Your mind may go into overdrive when you see all the possibilities of your office. But it’s worthwhile curbing the desire to go overboard with your office. When it comes to designing the space, adopt the mantra of “less is more.” It’s much more calming to walk into an office that looks like it was thoughtfully outfitted to meet the needs of the company and nothing more, rather than a space that’s jam-packed with interesting but mind-boggling features.