8 reasons to install glass office partitions
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Are you looking for ways to make your office a more pleasant place to work? Glass partitions could be just what you need. Discover 8 reasons why.
If you have a job that's partly or entirely in the office, you'll know how important it is to work in a space that's clean, comfortable and welcoming.
Ask people what that means and they're likely to mention good lighting, well-functioning facilities, plant life, comfortable furniture and more. But they might not immediately reach for something that can make a huge difference to an office space: the walls.
Open-plan offices have been a "thing" since at least the early 20th century. But a big improvement was made to them in the form of glass walls.
It's not just that glass is easy on the eye, conveying sophistication to staff and visitors. It also brings with it a range of benefits, all of which add up to one thing: a great place to work.
So, without further ado, here are eight compelling reasons to install glass partitions in your office.
1. They look good
It's long been known in the business world that your office is part of your brand identity. A possible partner turning up to a meeting in a ruined castle or large bin will think twice about working with you. First impressions count – and glass office partitions can help to show that you mean business.
They look sleek, modern and minimalistic, for sure. But they also help to create a welcoming atmosphere by letting in plenty of natural light. Anyone who's worked in a dingy office will know how important this is for staff morale and visitor satisfaction.
They're also aesthetically flexible. You could get a company logo sand-blasted or screen-printed onto the glass. You could go for a tasteful frosted effect. Or you could invest in some switchable smart glass that can be turned from clear to opaque in less than a second.
What's more, glass is to an office what black is to your outfit – it will go with pretty much anything. This is good not just for today's redesign, but also for tomorrow's. If you want to make changes down the line, you can, knowing that your glass partitions will still look the part.
Glass is like black in another way, too. Just as black is famously slimming, so glass can be fantastically enlarging. A room with glass partitions will look more spacious than one without.
You don't need deep pockets to make your office look beautiful. You just need a vision – and plenty of glass.
2. They can boost productivity
Most of us don't want to work in an office that resembles a classroom. But if there's one thing that office designers can learn from schools, it's that being seen is an easy way to boost your productivity. Just as students are keen to look busy, so staff in glass-walled rooms are less likely to fritter away their time.
But it can also create more of a sense of a shared space. Opaque doors and walls communicate one thing: "DO NOT DISTURB". Sometimes, of course, this is just what's needed – but most of the time, you want staff to mingle, communicate and share ideas.
Glass office partitions, then, can give your staff productivity a shot in the arm by helping to create a relaxed, engaging and communicative atmosphere.
3. They absorb sound
A bustling office can be an invigorating place to be. But sometimes it can feel like you're trying to take a call, read a PDF or hold a conversation on Oxford Street the week before Christmas.
Staff need to be able to hear themselves think – and glass partitions can help. As well as letting in light, they keep out sound. Whether you have permanent see-through meeting rooms or spaces with foldable partitions, glass can improve focus when and where it matters.
4. They're portable
Is your office space lacking in feng shui? Glass partitions can be moved, removed and rearranged – a godsend in an office that's bustling, growing or both. You can even take them with you when you move premises.
5. They're cost-effective
At this point, you might be thinking that something so useful must surely cost an arm and a leg. In fact, glass office partitions are cheaper to install than brick walls.
And they're not just cheaper to install, but quicker too. That means less downtime and disruption when the contractors are in.
They bring with them another cost benefit in the form of lower electricity bills. More natural light means less electric lighting. This is good for your budget and for your carbon footprint. Win-win!
6. They're good for your health
There's plenty of scientific literature out there arguing for the health benefits of natural light. It can, they say, reduce headaches and drowsiness and even lower stress.
We're not going to pretend we've cross-checked every bit of research on the subject. But it feels right, doesn't it? A light-filled office is just more pleasant to work in than a dingy one – and that will almost certainly affect staff morale and well-being.
7. They're easy to maintain
Glass walls are as tough as leather. You can keep them nice and clean with just a dedicated glass cleaner.
8. They can improve privacy when required
Frosted glass and switchable smart glass can both be installed when privacy is needed. This can be achieved without the open-plan feel of your office being compromised.
Final thoughts
Glass partitions can transform your office from "nice enough" to "superb". They're low-maintenance, cost-effective, versatile, and even good for your health – and oh, they look great too.
So if you're thinking of how to make your office a great place to be for both staff and visitors, don't sleep on glass partitions. They could be just the addition that your workplace needs.
At ToughGlaze, we supply high-quality, Kitemark-approved
glass for partitions to manufacturers across the UK. Looking for materials or inspiration?
Get in touch today for a quick and competitive quote.
