There will come a time with your office space when it starts to look old, tired, and in dire need of freshening up. Rather than go through the hassle and expense of relocating your office, many companies prefer to refurbish their existing offices instead of transforming them into ideal work environments. There are many factors to consider when planning an office refurbishment, and you want to take your time and seek professional help to ensure your refurbishment is done to the highest standard. You can see a few of these factors listed below to help you start planning your office refurbishment and ensure you create an excellent working environment for your business.
The Layout & Floorplan
One of the first considerations is the layout and floorplan of your office refurbishment. You want to ensure that you utilise your available space as much as possible and that each department has sufficient room in the workplace. An excellent way to help you make the most of the space you have available is to use the services of a professional office design company. You can utilise their knowledge and experience to maximise your use of available space, and they will often have tricks you can use that you would not have ordinarily thought about before.
The Office Flooring
You must also consider the flooring you will have in your office space, which can significantly affect an office’s comfort, aesthetics, and noise level. Harder floor surfaces will increase the echo in the space and make it harder to control noise levels, but they are easier to clean and maintain. However, softer flooring materials will absorb sound, making it easier to manage, but will require more cleaning and maintenance. You also find that soft flooring materials like carpets can be expensive, so you must compare options to see which suits your budget and design aesthetics best. Different flooring materials you can consider using include:
- Laminate Flooring
- Hardwood Flooring
- Ceramic Tile Flooring
- Rubber Flooring
- Vinyl Flooring
- Carpet Flooring
Office Lighting
The lighting in your office is another vital factor to consider, and you want to try and maximise the natural light in your workplace. There are many benefits to natural light in your office space, which can help increase productivity, well-being, and the overall comfort levels of your employees. Natural light is invaluable, so maximise the use of windows and provide blinds for control. Ensure that artificial lighting is energy-efficient and adjustable to meet different requirements throughout the day, and LED lighting is an excellent option for this. Invest in lighting that reduces glare on computer screens and minimises eye strain and consider installing task lighting for workstations and ambient lighting for common areas.
Dividing The Space
Many offices come as one large open-plan space until you divide it using temporary walls and partitions. It is much cheaper to divide the office space using drylining or other materials for a partition, and they are quicker and more affordable to make than standard brick walls. There are many types of partitions you can consider using in your workplace, and some of the most popular ones include:
- Drywall Partitions
- Demountable Partitions
- Frameless Glass Partitions
- Sliding Partitions
- Switchable Glass Partitions
- Curved Glass Partitions
Glass partitions are an excellent option to maximise the natural light in your office space, but they offer limited privacy unless you choose switchable glass partitions. You can use different types of partitions to divide your office, and they can also help control the temperature and noise levels by offering additional insulation.
Furnishing The Office
When you go to the trouble and expense of refurbishing your office, it is also a good idea to update and modernise the furniture in your office. Choosing cheap furniture will backfire on you as it is not as comfortable and does not last as long. Instead, invest in quality ergonomic furniture for your office, which can help keep your employees comfortable and reduce strains and pain from working at uncomfortable desks and chairs. Consider standing desks if some of your employees prefer this option and ensure whatever chairs you choose offer the correct lumbar support when sat in them and they are comfortable.
Embrace Biophilic Design
It is also worth considering embracing biophilic design when refurbishing your office space, which embraces nature and brings it into your workplace. It helps you connect with the natural environment and can help reduce stress and make for a pleasant workplace. You can use organic materials in the design and ensure plenty of greenery in your office once the work is complete, which will help to make a fantastic-looking and productive working environment for your business. Biophilic design can help boost the creativity and focus of employees, boosting productivity and making it a comfortable workplace.
These are a few factors to consider when planning your office refurbishment, but there are others, such as colour scheme, ceiling, and technology that you incorporate into it. Take your time planning and look at all available options, and you can create the ideal workspace for your business and its employees.
