Office Space design and furniture

You will probably spend a good amount a time and consideration when deciding how best to furnish your house. Furnishing your office space should also be done with careful consideration.

Of course furnishing your home will reflect your tastes and desires, but this should not be what guides you when deciding how to furnish your office. On the contrary you should design your office with functionality plus the needs of your businesses and employees in mind.

If as a business, you are flush with cash, and lets face it, not many new businesses are, you could employ a professional designer to design your office space. For everyone else, it is best to sit down and carefully plan how you want the office to look on the budget which you have allocated. You can make your office look stylish without spending a fortune. However it is important to recognise that buying the cheapest of everything could have repercussions in the long run.

Functionality is critical, make sure everyone has room to manoeuvre safely, don’t pack people in too much as it can have an adverse effect upon staff motivation. Your staff will spend much of their week in your place of work, so make sure they are comfortable and that there are no issues regarding furniture or design. I would say one of the most important items to consider are office chairs. Having gone from a large luxury style leather chair to a rather standard office chair I can certainly say there is a big difference. Making the place of work comfortable will mean that staff may be willing to work harder and for longer and they are not aching to get home to the sofa!

Adding items such as indoor plants can be beneficial and make the office feel more homely. A water cooler is a must in a modern office, as is facilities for making tea and coffee. If you do not have a kitchen try to install a hot drinks machine. Make sure you make room for relaxation so thay employees don’t feel they have to leave the premises to relax. This will also aid staff interaction. By law you must install blinds onto windows. Also try to ensure that the level of lighting you choose is suitable for all employees. If you do not have air conditioning which can be expensive, install plenty of free standing and desk fans. In the long run, an air conditioning system is more practical however. With a serviced office of course, none of this should be a issue as all of these kind of facilities are provided for.

With the litigious nature of modern day working practices, it is not uncommon for employers to get sued for injuries sustained at work. It is estimated that the hidden costs of repetitive and cumulative straining disorders can be up to 700% more than the visible costs. But careful planning plus consulting with your employees should help to avoid and legal problems.

If you have an office and need help with planning, why not use the Choregus office space design tool?