Workplace Designer Lists Five Office Upgrades for ADHD Staff

Luke Deedman, a workplace design expert at Deedman, has costed five office upgrades aimed at the wellbeing and focus of neurodivergent employees, timed for ADHD Awareness Month in October. The changes run from free, such as moving desks towards natural light or setting up quiet zones, to about £500 per employee for informal seating. He says the right environment helps people with ADHD, and everyone else in the office too.

Why Office Design Matters For ADHD

The number of adults seeking an ADHD or autism diagnosis has risen by 600%, and burnout rates are 50% higher among employees with ADHD. Psychiatry UK says the office environment directly affects focus, motivation and productivity, and recommends cutting auditory and visual distractions and creating spaces that support executive functioning.

Luke Deedman said:

"Workplace design has a lot to answer for when it comes to supporting all employees, especially neurodivergent colleagues who may have sensory processing issues or executive dysfunction. The 'big light' glaring down from the ceiling, lots of auditory distractions and noise in an office without quiet zones, lack of space to decompress, and visual clutter and distractions can make work life with ADHD even more difficult."

He added that employers have spent heavily on return-to-office mandates while managing sickness absence, and that improving an office does not have to mean knocking down walls or a full refurbishment.

The Five Upgrades And What They Cost

Sociable seating. A few sofas, armchairs or informal seating areas encourage staff to meet away from their desks. Research into office design links closer proximity between colleagues with more frequent and longer face-to-face conversations. Cost: about £500 per employee.

Plants. A peer-reviewed study found greenery made a workspace more attractive and private within three months, with fewer health complaints after four. The University of Exeter found office plants can lift wellbeing by up to 47%, creativity by 45% and productivity by 38%. Cost: from £23 a week.

Deedman

Colour. Swapping clinical white for soft blues or greens on feature walls and breakout areas, with accents such as pink or terracotta, can make a workplace feel more welcoming without a major refit. Cost: from £350, depending on office size.

Natural light. Staff who get natural light report feeling more satisfied, healthier and more productive. Offices can make the most of what they have by putting desks near windows, opening blinds and moving bulky items that block the light. Cost: from £0.

Screen-free quiet zones. A designated quiet area gives staff somewhere to concentrate or decompress away from calls and notifications. Research found that moving open-plan areas from an active zone to a quiet zone raised cognitive performance by 16.9%. Cost: free.