Stylish and Sensible: Social Distancing Solutions Can Look Great!

ariat reception social distancing design

Right now there are big changes going on in the workplace. With the need for social distancing and other protections as employees head back to work, employers are facing a whole new question: how to keep workers safe from illnesses. One effective option to slow the spread is physical barriers. But those two words might cause you to hesitate, picturing overbearing walls or the dated cubicle design of old.

Choosing safety does not mean sacrificing style. Learn how to implement social distancing solutions and maintain the look and feel of your brand in the workplace.

The New Workplace Aesthetic Balances Protection and Style

Even as offices and other workplaces start to get up and running again, social distancing remains a vital part of our lives. Employers must now ensure that their workplaces make it easy for people to keep their distance. This means not just for employees, but for everyone else who comes through, however long or short their visit.

Particularly if you’re in a customer-facing business, the problem then becomes one of style versus safety. You want to do what’s necessary to make the workplace safe for everyone, but the addition of any new structural element has the potential to interrupt how people move around in and use the space. It may also disrupt the feel of the workplace. In a time when it’s more likely customers and clients will come to you for their needs rather than meeting them at trade shows, your brand and product presentation has to be top-notch within the confines of your space.

Engaging briefing centers

Adding partitions, screens, or cubicles can provide an effective level of protection, but adding these elements can alter how the space flows, looks, or feels.

What’s the solution to this issue? It comes down to how you select and use those structures. Put them in the right places, and they’ll provide protection without disruption. Keep your brand and aesthetics in mind, and you can improve the space while keeping everyone safe.

Gigamon lobby with receptionist

Workplace Partitions: What Are Your Style Choices?

Using partitions in your workplace can help make social distancing easier to maintain. And with careful choices in color and other factors, you can make sure that any structures you add enhance your existing aesthetic. Whatever the nature of your workplace, these partitions can be modified to reflect your style and culture.

Choose Your Color(s)

When it comes to color, there are few limits. Whatever your workplace aesthetic might be, it’s likely your partitions can fit perfectly into that color scheme. Making the best color choice means more than just matching your existing setup, however.

Because you’re adding new structures into the workplace, it’s also important to consider how your color choice will affect the feel of the space. Some colors may make it darker or smaller, for instance, while others will help add a feeling of light and openness. In a small space, or in one with little natural light, go for lighter colors rather than dark, heavily saturated ones. A large, naturally bright space is better able to handle strong or dark colors.

Or Opt for Clear Panels

Adding partitions to a space can sometimes make it feel closed-in or make it seem smaller than it really is. Opting for clear or frosted acrylic glass, rather than solid-color partitions, is an effective way to counteract this. Also known as plexiglass, these panels retain the element of transparency, which has several advantages:

  • It reduces the amount of light that’s blocked by the partition – People working in the enclosed space don’t have to work in a space that feels dark and cramped.
  • Clear panels don’t disrupt the gaze as much as a solid-color partition does because the eye can travel beyond the acrylic glass and see what’s on the other side.

These elements together make acrylic glass perfect for most situations. It’s especially important if you’re adding partitions to a space that’s small or has little natural light. In fact, the only time when you’d need to avoid clear panels is if your partitions must provide privacy as well as protection. In cases where it’s important that the space is also private, go for a solid color, or choose an opaque panel.

Pick a Pattern or Add Your Logo

If you have even more particular style needs, you don’t have to stop at a single-color or clear-acrylic glass partition. Once you’ve chosen a material and color, you can opt to add patterns, or even your company logo, to your panels. Whether you choose clear or solid panels, patterns can be added in crisp, clear colors. Or have your logo perfectly reproduced on each piece. This is perfect for any workplace where you want the environment to add to your marketing message. Pick your color, pattern, and logo, and every partition will do double-duty as a brand reinforcement!

Partitions Can Be Both Protective and Attractive

There’s no question that workplaces will look different in the age of social distancing, both literally and figuratively. Thankfully, different does not have to mean unattractive. Good choices in material, color, and pattern ensure that the partitions you use can be functional, protective, and stylish.

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