Your ultimate office design cheat sheet

Whether you’re a startup company setting up your very first space or you just fancy giving your existing work area a makeover, you may be wondering where to start when it comes to your office design. So, if you’re unsure how to put together the perfect workspace, take a look at our handy cheat sheet to find out everything you need to know. A well-thought out layout Firstly, you’ll need to consider the layout of your office. If you get this wrong, you could face some serious backlash from your employees, so it’s vital that you spend time sussing out the arrangement of your workspace. You might want to think about grouping together your workstations. Especially in an open-plan office, this will enable members of staff to communicate with each other easily, and it allows members of the same team to sit near each other. It’s important that you take safety into consideration too, making sure you’re careful not to block fire exits when you’re positioning your furnishings. High-quality furniture Furniture plays an important role in the design of your office, so it’s crucial that you take your time when you’re picking these pieces. Before you start shopping, you might find it useful to make a list of exactly what you’ll need, including quantities, measurements and any specific features you’re looking for. In doing this, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and hassle, and you should find that your office comes together quickly and easily. When it comes to choosing chair styles and deciding on desk designs, you’ll no doubt be tempted to go for models that look the part. However, while appearance is key and it’s important that your furnishings fit in with your overall office decor, it’s essential that the products you pick are high-quality too. For example, it’s likely you’ll want seating solutions that are stylish and reflective of your company brand - but it’s also important to ensure the chairs you choose are comfortable and supportive enough so that your employees can sit for long periods of time without feeling achy or sore. You should bear practical issues this in mind when selecting desks too. Cramped workstations are a big no-no, so make sure you go for designs that are spacious and provide your staff with enough room to carry out their day-to-day tasks with ease. You could even invest in fold-up chairs and tables. These furnishings can be useful in a range of different situations, including unplanned discussions and impromptu meetings. They can also come in handy if you need some extra seating or additional surface space. At Furniture At Work, we offer an array of high-quality yet stylish furnishings to suit your budget. Suitable lighting A well-lit workspace is an absolute must. Aside from meeting the relevant health and safety requirements, the lighting solutions you go for will need to suitably illuminate your work area, so so you should think carefully about your options. In fact, poor lighting can seriously affect your employees’ moods and wellbeing. In turn, this could have an impact on their ability to perform well, which will ultimately affect your business’ bottom line. An office space that is too bright or too dim can lead to physical problems too. For example, your workers could develop health issues such as eye strain, headaches and fatigue, so it’s important that you get your lighting spot on. Ideally, each workstation in your office should be sufficiently lit without light reflecting off the computer screen. However, if some of your workers are struggling to control the reflections on their screens, you could provide them with anti-glare filters. Sufficient storage To keep your office neat and tidy at all times, you’ll also need to think about storage. There are a whole host of different designs for you to choose from, so regardless of your requirements, you shouldn’t struggle to find solutions that work for you. For example, you could go for stand-alone filing cabinets to keep your paperwork organised or you could opt for full-height cupboards to store files out of sight. You may also want to go for units with drawers or shelving. You could also provide under-desk pedestals for each workstation. These will not only give your employees a place to keep their work essentials, but it will help keep their desk space clutter-free too. To maintain an extra tidy office, you could even invest in locker-style units so that workers can stow away their belongings, such as coats and bags. An element of privacy Especially in an open-plan office, privacy can be a problem. While this type of layout allows employees to communicate and collaborate with ease, the lack of walls can mean that some people struggle with high noise levels that make it difficult to carry out certain tasks. So, to strike the perfect balance, it’s important to think about the ways you can create privacy when it’s needed. One way of doing this is by introducing screens and partitions. These dividers can be placed just about anywhere you like. Their flexible design means they can be assembled as quickly as they can be taken down, giving you the opportunity to set up a temporary secluded area in the office when you need it, whether it’s for a quick meeting or a group of workers need somewhere to work on an important project. There’s no denying that there is a lot to think about when it comes to office design, but as long as you pay attention to the layout, furniture, lighting, storage and privacy of your space, you should be able to create a work environment that is enjoyable for everyone.