Office re-design checklist
4 minute read
Knowing exactly how to upgrade and re-design your office space is not always easy – and there are aspects of the renovation process that not everybody considers. Although enlisting the help of a professional interior designer will make the process much more simple for you, there are things that you, as the employer, need to think about and plan before the design begins.
Assess how your office space is currently used
One of the best ways to decide how to use your new space is by looking at your current situation. Are there any particular areas of the office that are used very frequently, or hardly used at all? By looking at what’s utilised the most, you can make an accurate decision based on which areas your employees find most useful, and which areas you may want to consider leaving out of the new design. This will help you to start planning out your new space.
Start planning a design brief
Begin by brainstorming your visions for your new space – think about your business goals, and how you can design your space in a way that will help you reach them. Take some time to consider the specific needs of your business – will you require a formal, corporate environment, or can you include an element of fun, perhaps with a games room or multi-functional cafeteria? Don’t forget to keep your brand values in mind, since you’ll want to instil brand awareness within your design – perhaps by incorporating your company colours.
Aesthetics and atmosphere
Once you’ve thought about your space planning and business visions, you’ll want to start considering how your new office is going to look and feel. Taking some time to gain inspiration is a great idea; this could include scrolling through Pinterest, looking through interior magazines to create a mood board or asking your designer to create a concept drawing.
Inclusive and inspiring space
Be careful to not get too lost in the aesthetics. Above all else, your space should be inclusive and diverse. Think about accessibility and manoeuvrability, ergonomic furniture, and catering for a variety of working styles.
Colour psychology
Choosing the right colours is essential in a workplace environment. Colours have been found to have a direct impact on mood, productivity and motivation levels; for example, red is empowering and energetic, and yellow encourages happiness and creativity, whilst blue induces feelings of security and logic – all of which are desirable qualities in the workplace. It’s recommended to steer clear of plain white in an environment of this type.
Similarly, it’s important to consider natural lighting – since a lack of this can significantly reduce productivity levels. In your space plan, try to incorporate a sufficient amount of windows – but be careful to prevent letting in too much light, as this can cause eye strain.
Sustainability
We’re now in 2019, and it seems as though sustainability and environmental awareness is the way forward. It’s a great idea to include this in as many aspects of the new design as you can, since this will not only help to save the planet, but it will improve your environmental ratings as a company. You could choose products that are made from recycled content, or incorporate items that can be easily recycled. You might also want to incorporate aspects of the ever-popular biophilic design, since it offers many mental and physical benefits.
If you’re looking to re-design your workspace, click here to speak to one of our professional designers for more advice.
