The design of a room can affect everything from our ability to concentrate to how empathetic we feel.
Isabelle Sjövall, neurodesigner and author of Designfulness.
You’ve likely heard it before, a comfortable workspace boosts productivity, but the benefits of liking where you work go far beyond ticking off your to-do list. Neuroscience, psychology and ergonomics all point to the same insight – environments shape behaviour. And when you enjoy your workspace, you’re more likely to move better, feel better and work smarter.
The connection between comfort and cognition
Environmental psychology has long shown that physical comfort directly affects mental clarity. When you feel at ease in your body, you free up mental capacity for more meaningful work. That’s partly due to what researchers call embodied cognition – the idea that our thoughts and behaviours are shaped by our physical state. In other words, an uncomfortable body leads to a distracted mind. The next time you’re adjusting a stiff seat or squinting at poor lighting, remember that those seemingly small issues will add up. In contrast, a well-designed workspace promotes clarity, engagement and even creativity.
How you sit matters
As we explore in our guide to sitting myths, the problem isn’t that we sit – it’s how we sit. Moving more is what matters and this perspective is backed by medical reviews showing that long, static sitting is associated with health risks – but dynamic sitting, which involves micro-movements and position changes, is not. That’s why seating solutions that invite variation and adjust to your movements are so effective, they work with your body, not against it.
A chair you enjoy using becomes a tool for movement. And when movement becomes natural, it supports long-term well-being.
Let the outside in
There’s a growing body of research confirming what many intuitively feel, access to natural elements in the workplace has measurable benefits. Studies have found that workers with more exposure to daylight sleep better and report higher energy levels throughout the day and adding greenery to an office can increase productivity by as much as 15%. Even a simple window view has an effect, views of nature, even urban trees or a patch of grass, improve focus and emotional well-being at work.
Balance design with human comfort
At Savo, our approach to workplace seating is guided by this human-centric ethos. We build chairs that support your body without demanding constant correction, designed to move with you. They adapt, rather than dictate. Blending into work environments, yet subtly elevating them. Because ultimately, liking your workspace isn’t about ping pong tables or office slides, it’s about feeling comfortable in the space where you spend most of your day. A great office space is all about balance. Materials, colours and layouts that mirror the outside world can help create a workspace that feels calm.
And when paired with furniture that adapts to your needs, the result isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, it’s health-promoting.
Want to dive deeper?
Explore how ergonomic design can improve well-being and performance in our sitting myths guide or learn about how the world is rethinking the chair in the digital age with the culture of sitting.