For years, many offices were designed to be lean: clear desks, blank walls, nothing to distract. Research suggests that approach costs more than it saves. People tend to work better and feel better in spaces that have been thoughtfully enriched, and art is one of the simplest ways to enrich a space.
What the research found. In a well known set of experiments at the University of Exeter, published in 2010, psychologists Craig Knight and Alex Haslam compared people working in lean, undecorated offices with people in offices enriched with art and plants. Those in the enriched offices were more productive and reported greater wellbeing. When people were also given a say in how their space was arranged, the benefits were greater still.
More recent surveys point the same way. In a 2022 study of 3,250 office workers across the United Kingdom, commissioned by Brookfield Properties, 69 per cent said that interesting and visually striking art contributed to their wellbeing at work. The details differ from study to study, but the direction is consistent: art makes a workplace more human.
Involve the people who use the space. The Exeter findings carry a practical lesson. Art chosen with some input from the people who work around it does more than art simply imposed on them. For a boardroom or an executive floor, that might mean a shortlist discussed with the leadership team. For a reception or a staff area, it might mean a wider conversation.
Choose works that say what the organisation values. Heritage art brings meaning as well as colour. The Majestic Mane collection, with its horses in motion, speaks of teamwork, endurance and progress, and its larger works command a boardroom wall. The Wild Kingdom carries themes of leadership and integrity, and The Zebra of Integrity has an obvious place wherever trust is the business. The Botanical Collection's themes of growth and provision suit reception areas, waiting rooms and offices that want to feel calm.
Give the reception a sense of place. A reception is the first room a visitor sees. A hand-stitched Kenyan work tells visitors where they are, and something of who you are, in a way a generic print cannot. It also gives people something to look at and talk about while they wait.
Consider the story behind the work. Every heritage piece in our collections is hand-stitched by artisans trained through our partner workshops, which work with women, youth, persons with disabilities and individuals in recovery. For organisations that care about their social impact, that story is part of the value of the work, and one that can be shared with staff and visitors alike.
Mind the practicalities. Hang large works where they can be seen from a distance, away from direct sunlight and air-conditioning outlets, and at a height that works for people both standing and seated. In corridors, leave enough space that passers-by will not brush the frames. In buildings with heavy footfall, agree secure hanging with whoever installs the work.
Think beyond the office. The same thinking applies to embassies, hospitals and wellness centres, places of worship, schools and conservancies. In each, the right work can make a space more welcoming, calmer or more dignified, depending on what the space is for.
Our curators work with corporate and institutional clients on choosing heritage works for offices, boardrooms and public spaces. To begin, book a consultation or arrange a private viewing at our Upper Hill showroom.