5 ways to create social capital through office interior design.

The creation of social capital relies heavily on a workplace’s culture and the values and ideals it projects to and expects of employees. But it’s also about creating the right environment for positive workplace cultures to thrive and giving social capital the space to gain momentum and grow.

Here, we share five simple ways that social capital can be encouraged through office interior design and everyday behaviours:

1. Break down organisational silos. One of the facets of social capital is open communication and building relationships with colleagues. Breaking down organisational silos is a great way to do this. In spatial terms, this can be achieved with open-plan office interior design, removing formal divides between departments in favour of planting and glazing without losing line of sight and making the journey through the space feel cohesive.
2. Create ample space to interact. A huge part of social capital is encouraging interaction and giving employees the opportunity to forge their own connections—be that as colleagues or friends. This can be achieved through on-site cafes and tea points, plenty of relaxed soft seating throughout, games and wellbeing rooms, outside space, and dedicated areas for training and learning. These spaces will encourage the serendipitous interactions employees need and can also be used to boost social connection outside of work hours – hosting movie nights, book clubs, games nights and more.
3. Bring brand values to life. This can be achieved literally through artwork and branding, but the most critical aspect is ensuring the workplace supports the behaviours your organisation values. Suppose community is a massive part of your ethos. In that case, this must be evident in the office interior design, the amenities (teamwork and social spaces)and the activities it encourages. Equally, suppose inclusivity and diversity are integral to your brand. In that case, there must be dedicated spaces for prayer and well-being, as well as a design consideration for users with specific needs, such as those with visual impairments, disabilities, and neurodiverse conditions.
4. Maximise the value of the workplace – Destination offices comprise numerous settings that offer the user choice and variety. Maximising the value of all these settings is essential to create social capital. So, instead of welcoming new starters through intranet posts or Meta workplace updates, onsite cafes and kitchens should be used to host lunch club gatherings so new employees can get to know each other. Or celebrate team successes in shared spaces such as the forum so everyone can share the news. These activities in these spaces demonstrate your values, maximise the value of your workplace and create community.
5. Invest in collaborative furniture. Social capital grows when people can easily come together. Collaborative furniture, such as meeting pods, sofas, and kitchen table settings, makes teamwork easy and varied. Plus, the very inclusion of collaborative furniture helps communicate your organisation’s priorities and what employees are encouraged to do.

Business leaders must recognise that social capital is a powerful force that helps businesses to thrive. It makes employees feel united and supported and gives them a strong sense of belonging.

Organisations that consider the collaborative and social needs of their employees and ensure their workplace culture and office interior design all align are the ones where social capital, and therefore business performance, will flourish and grow.