Getting the most out of office space

Monday to Friday, the workplace is where most people will spend the bulk of their day. It then pays to really invest in an office that is welcoming, well-designed and capable of promoting a productive and upbeat atmosphere.

It is interesting then that while interior design is often taken seriously in the home – creating a space that is comfortable and stylish – this direction can often be overlooked in offices.

While they are meant to be functional to a degree, this should not dictate the overall aesthetics of where you and your employees work. After all, if you are going to be located in a space for a substantial amount of time, it makes sense for it to be a place people are proud of.

Moving offices

Perhaps the biggest decision that can be made regarding a workplace is looking for new offices to let, which represents a sort of clean break from the past and a fresh, new start to usher in a new era of productivity and success.
Moving can have a tremendous impact on the psyche. Whether it is a totally different location or building, there is a certain energy that comes from being in a novel place. Here new memories can be forged.

The great thing about such offices is that they are very flexible and designed to meet your needs. Whatever you require, be it a small, intimate setting to an extensive open floor orientation, bespoke deals can be arranged allowing you to enjoy the kind of business continuity that is essential these days.

To open or close

These days open floor offices are the norm, helping foster a communal and collaborative environment. In the past, workstations were often segregated, with employees sat behind walled desks.

While this works for some employers – it keeps workers focused on the task at hand – it ultimately doesn’t create an ambience that incentivises employees, nor makes them feel part of a team. It lends itself to a solitary life.

An open floor arrangement, while noisier and distracting in some respects, is altogether much more effective as not only does it encourage interaction, it helps ‘socialise’ work – you can still be focused on what is required of you, but it can be broken up with casual conversations about the latest happenings.

Efficiency gains

If your organisation has grown in the confines of the office it is based in, the likelihood is that the arrangement of various departments, for example, are not located in the most efficient way possible.

A case in point is social media. As a reasonably recent phenomenon, space for operations concerning this will have been reactive. Therefore, it is often ‘disconnected’ from the marketing/communications department.

Ideally, these two branches need to be brought together, and on assessment, you find that other facets of your organisation could do with similar reorientation. In such a scenario, perhaps looking at new offices is a better solution than moving furniture and equipment around in the current workplace.