It has finally come time for an office refit. Perhaps you are relocating to a new premises, or you might need to repurpose your working space for a growing and evolving workforce. Or maybe your current environment has come to the end of its workable life and desperately needs a facelift. What are the key questions that you should ask yourself as you embark on this project in order to achieve the best results?
“How do you expect your organisation to grow?”
If you are making the effort to refit your work space, the key hazard to avoid is to grow out of the space within just a couple of years. So while we don’t expect you to have a crystal ball, we advise you to ask this question. Your answer will impact how many workstations you need now and over the next five years. This is not a case of installing empty desks but ensuring that a workspace can be switched around or repurposed to accommodate those extra workstations when they are required. By considering bespoke furniture, you can ensure the best and most effective use of your space.
“How can you make the most of natural light?”
It is likely that your office lighting will be in use for most of the year, but don’t discount natural light. As part of your refit, therefore, consider how to use glass within internal spaces in order to disseminate natural light to as many parts of the building as possible. This does not need to compromise privacy; with glass technology constantly evolving, you can maximise light without losing private business areas. Once you have organised the natural light of a space, you will then find that your artificial lighting requirements become clearer. Also consider the flexibility that lighting can offer: by using colour and projection, light has the power to change the nature of a space.
“How should we position our storage, reception and utilities?”
Practical aspects can radically affect the satisfaction of your workforce. Ensure that sufficient storage is available, toilets are accessible and reception areas are fit for purpose in terms of the amount of traffic that you anticipate. These things may seem very basic, but the frequency of access to practical areas that your staff require means that the impact of positioning is considerable.
“How will colour support our professional climate?”
This is more than simply choosing a wall paint that you like. Colour choice has the power to affect mood and productivity and can reinforce branding within a space and the subsequent scope for staff on-boarding which is so important for modern HR departments. Consider how colour can inspire creativity or how the use of different tones for different areas of your office space could help to zone activities.
“How do workers need to move around the space?”
The layout of your office refit will have a lasting impact on how communication flow is managed. Consider the proximity that different departments should be to one another in order to maintain practical lines of communication. For formal meetings, consider the size and frequency of meetings that are intrinsic to your business and ensure that you have appropriate numbers and sizes of spaces to accommodate.
“How will communal and kitchen spaces fit into your scheme?”
The modern working environment has increased the priority of social aspects of an office. When workers feel valued through social perks, they are more likely both to stay with your organisation and to work productively. By ensuring that your workforce have the space and facilities to balance social interaction and healthy living within their working lives, your business will benefit.
Starting with these questions about your office refit, you will undoubtedly spark a myriad of smaller and more detailed considerations. It can feel a bit overwhelming, so if you need advice on the direction of your refit, we at HL Decorators can help you to achieve long-lasting results.
We are commercial painting and decorating contractors, serving London, Essex, Cambridge and the Home Counties.
We’d love to talk more about your commercial project. Contact us for a free quotation.
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