There’s an understandable temptation among coworking space owners and operators to showcase the beautiful furniture and interior design of their space. Websites are full of images of gorgeous cafe areas, hip offices and envy-inducing meetings rooms, with no people in them.

What potential members are looking for in a workspace, however, is not necessarily a beautiful design. A well-designed space is nice to look at, but if you’re relying on interior design to attract members, you might find yourself in trouble.

Coworking spaces thrive when members thrive, and members thrive when they are engaged, connected and valued.

Rather than trying to appeal to someone’s design sensibilities, show them the vibrant community they could join by including photos of people working and engaging in your space.

Here are some ideas of photos to include:

People working independently in the community space
A small group collaborating on a project
People interacting in the kitchen or coffee area
Celebrations, such as anniversaries and holidays, in the space
Recurring, casual events, such as happy hours
Members attending Lunch and Learns and in-house workshops
Guest presenters in the space
Community managers engaging with members
Members socializing
Group photos of members
People doing everyday work in the space
Quiet times when members are doing heads-down work
Lively times when the space is bustling with energy and excitement
People working in different areas of the space

The idea is to show potential members that there’s a community of professionals already working together, networking, learning, socializing and supporting each other.

Yes, a beautiful interior can be a nice perk of a coworking space, but if that space isn’t full of engaged people who enjoy working in that shared space together, you may have trouble getting others to commit to being in the space.

All the design features in the world can’t compensate for an empty space or a group of disengaged members.

If you’re shooting your own photos, here are some resources to help you get the best quality possible:

All photos by Cat Johnson