Workspaces are supposed to be areas of deep work and concentration but recent research found that 60% of office workers find it difficult to focus. Coworkers chatting, eating and not respecting others’ boundaries make it challenging for employees to get into a state of flow at the office.
So, how can office managers and workers create privacy in a busy workspace? Cubicle extenders, privacy screens and white noise are just a few of the methods for promoting a more focus-friendly environment.
Why Is Office Cubicle Privacy Important?
Privacy is not just about blocking off spaces — it’s about protecting employees’ well-being. One study found that whenever the office sound level was over 50 decibels, it resulted in a 1.9% decrease in the workers’ physical well-being for every 10 decibel increase. The human mind naturally responds to sudden changes in sound as part of the fight-or-flight response, so elevated noise levels directly affect stress.
Maintaining a private cubicle area blocks out most visual and audible distractions and helps employees enjoy a more calm space.
How to Create Privacy in a Cubicle
Privacy in the workplace is about building a space where employees feel safe enough to achieve a state of deep focus without fear of distractions. For workers to perform at their best, they need peace and quiet. Since office areas are often in open, public spaces, here’s how to create privacy in a cubicle:
Extend the Cubicle Walls
One of the easiest ways to quickly transform an office space from chaotic to peaceful is simply to extend the already existing cubicle walls. Investing in panel extenders delivers privacy in the quickest, easiest way possible. These nifty desk additions help employees feel more secure. They mount onto existing cubicle walls, offering an instant visual and sound barrier. Here’s how extenders aid in creating a more private space:
- Prevents other workers from peeping over and starting a distracting chat
- Makes the workspace seem larger, which can help employees feel more comfortable in their space
- Blocks out excessive light and movement outside the cubicle
- Blends into the cubicle walls seamlessly
- Dulls some of the sounds coming from outside the cubicle
Add a Mirror to the Background
Most workers are seated with their back to the cubicle, which means they can’t easily see what’s going on in the background. Many employees can feel uncomfortable at the thought of a colleague or supervisor standing behind them without them knowing.
Adding a mirror either behind or along the side of the computer screen can create a sense of security and show employees their privacy is respected. It also prevents other workers from peeping into cubicles and disrupting others.
Use Privacy Screens
If you’re looking for cubicle privacy ideas that maintain the ambience of an open floor plan while still providing a space for employees to get into a deep focus mode, invest in desk-mounted partition screens. They create a semi-private workspace.
These screens are perfect for allowing social interactions but also provide an enclosed area for high-focus work. Here are the top benefits they offer:
- Offers a sense of privacy without feeling completely isolated from the rest of the office
- Makes the cubicle feel more organized
- Softens some of the sounds in the area and reduces noise pollution
- Allows employees to personalize their workspaces
Follow an “Open/Close” Rule
Employees can share a workplace while still respecting each other’s privacy. Encouraging an open/close rule is an excellent way to stick to complete high-focus tasks without disturbances while still allowing time for office chit-chat. Simply mark the cubicle with either an open or close sign to let other workers know when they can enter the area.
Pairing the open/close rule with a physical barrier, such as a privacy screen, is a highly effective way to prevent unwanted guests and maintain productivity and concentration.
Install Cubicle Doors
A cubicle door is a surefire way to maintain privacy in the workspace. It allows employees to shut off all disturbances and focus on work. This cubicle privacy idea is an excellent pick for workers who are engaging with private data or other confidential information. It prevents anyone nearby from peeping in and seeing any secret information.
One key feature to look for is cubicle doors that slide out because they modernize the space and also allow for the convenience of opening up the area to collaboration.
Utilize Mobile Screens
Mobile screen dividers are the most flexible privacy solutions. They allow employees to decide when they want complete solitude and when they’re ready to do lighter work and engage with others.
Individuals can also invest in mobile freestanding screens and leave them along the side of their office cubicle. This method is space-efficient and allows them to seamlessly transition from deep-focus, solo work to collaborative meetings.
These mobile screens allow workers to create their own privacy pods by simply sliding the screen into the right slot. They also prevent visual eavesdropping, enabling employees to use the screen when working on confidential projects.
Innovative Cubicle Noise-Reduction Privacy Ideas
A significant part of attaining office privacy is reducing noise. Research shows that telephone ringing and irrelevant chatter are the primary noise sources in the workplace, causing low productivity and noise-related stress. Here are some creative office cubicle privacy ideas to dull the racket:
- Music or white noise: Calming music or white noise can muffle some of the office’s chitter-chatter and help employees focus better. It masks out any unwanted sounds and offers workers the chance to feel a sense of privacy.
- Sound-baffling panel: These panels help mitigate echoes and sounds that usually surround the office. OBEX sound baffles provide a more conducive workplace environment. They enhance acoustics to promote clearer communication while simultaneously preventing noise from leeching throughout the area.
- Noise-canceling headphones: While it’s important to have a quiet space to work in, research shows that complete silence may actually inhibit creativity by emphasizing the lack of sound. Noise-canceling headphones paired with privacy screens or doors can help muffle out excessively loud noises while still keeping some of the sounds in the background.
Find Cubicle Ideas for Privacy at OBEX
If you’re looking for privacy solutions that work, OBEX has a range of desk and cubicle screens and sound baffling products to turn any office space into a private and productive environment. All our products are made to order, so they are entirely customizable in terms of shape, material, size and color. We make our screens to fit your existing furniture perfectly, with no gaps or overhangs.
Our screens take only a few minutes to fully install and we provide every tool needed to set them up so you can have instantaneous privacy. We also offer an incredible volume discount perk for bulk orders. Don’t hesitate to contact us to transform your office into a private and peaceful space that’s optimized for productivity.
