Kent and London office design has moved with the times. Over the years and through research into what works and what doesn’t, what improves ROI and helps employees health and well-being; businesses have come to understand that their office plays a fundamental role in how well a company is perceived and how well it performs. The way we work has evolved and with it Kent and London office design has changed and adapted too.
Clearly an important element of any Kent and London business is the look of its office workspace. However given there are so many design styles and office layouts how do you decide the best office design for your company?
Defining Kent and London Office Design
In order to define what a workspace should look like a good designer will look to the type and nature of the work that is to be carried out within the workspace. Companies have different ways of working and this needs to be factored into any design ideas and final layouts. Clearly there is no point having a great looking office if it doesn’t work for your business or your workflow.
Your work should define the workplace not the other way round. Other factors to consider are how any design will reflect on your brand and ensuring that the health and well-being of your staff is a high priority in their new working environment. Many of the best office designs are focussed on the staff using them, in a way designed to enhance productivity.
Designs Elements To Consider
By looking at your requirements in terms of layout needs and what would best suit your individual business you can start to put together your office design plan.
Consider What Layout Would Work Best
- Do you need individual desks and/or “team desks”?
- Are you thinking about open plan vs. individual offices or a mix of both?
- Look at workflows and how work is managed between individuals and across teams to assess where best to place desks and work areas.
- Do you need flexibility to easily move furniture around to change layouts? Creativity comes from the flexibility to adapt to the task in hand. Making furniture moveable supports reconfigurable workspaces which can adapt to any requirement.
Look At Quiet Spaces and Break Out Areas
- Think about providing quiet areas away from the hustle and bustle of the busy workspaces.
- Factor in break-out areas where staff can move away from their desktop to an area that is specifically designed for quiet, relaxation or a place to recharge.
- Look at kitchen and tea-point areas as part of your overall layout where staff can come together over lunch or a cup of tea.
Making Colour Work For Your Kent and London Office Interior
- Think about colour. Consider what colours say about your office space.
- Identify what colour scheme would work best for your company and office space.
- Look at using colour on walls, in furniture, in artwork, by using plants and other accessories.
Design Styles To Consider
There are many different office design styles. The trick is finding the right one (or a mix of styles) that meet your needs as a business.
Modern Office Design
The “modern office” tends to be open plan layout with some individual offices and break out areas.
Traditionally offices would set desks out in rows, in the modern office desks are set out in less regular patterns, more defined by workflow. This layout is also shaped by advances in technology where staff can be more mobile rather than having to be in a “fixed / set position”.
This change to the layout allows for better team working and collaboration while still retaining the flexibility to accommodate single workers who need to have quiet and some privacy in order to complete their work.
A modern office will look professional, bright and clean and utilise high end finishing touches like glass partitioning and quality and innovative furniture like standing desks. The office space will tend to be uncluttered enabling staff to work without distractions.
Open Plan Office Design
In an open plan office design traditional offices or office cubicles are replaced by large open spaces with fewer desks arranged in a way that benefits collaborative sector businesses that requires staff to move around and interact with different people and teams on a day to day basis. Hot-desking is also more often seen in this type of office as staff don’t have their own desks but simply utilise desks in the areas they need to work in.
Open plan offices tend to be bright and airy given that they are large open spaces. They also tend to utilise bright colours in different ways e.g. they may use colour to stimulate creativity/productivity or to differentiate areas or signify what different workspaces should be used for.
As in the modern office design open plan designs tend towards quality furniture.
Scandinavian Office Design
The main principles of Scandinavian design are light, clean, uncluttered, simple lines and the use of natural elements with an emphasis on simplicity, minimalism and functionality.
The goal in this type of office design is to create an understated office environment which is mainly white with a few simple colour highlights. It’s important to introduce some colour in the office space to prevent the environment from becoming too cold and sterile.
With the right balance your office can create a sense of space and serenity allowing staff to work uninterrupted and with minimal distractions.
Furniture should use natural elements and be simple and understated but robust and comfortable.
Individual Style Office Design
You may decide none of the above styles are right for your office and want to go with something a bit more individual, especially if you are in the design sector e.g. a graphic designer or design agency. If that’s the case you can borrow some elements from other design styles or choose to completely go your own way.
You may want to introduce your own ideas in terms of layout, colour scheme and furniture. You may even want to take your design to new heights by introducing new elements like office graffiti or wall art. In this case it is well worth ensuring that you utilise computer aided design (CAD) to “see” your designs before making your ideas reality.
Involve Your Staff in Your Kent or London Office Design
Don’t forget to involve your staff in any refurbishment and redesign project deliberations as any changes will have the biggest impact on them. Given that studies have shown that when staff get involved and have a say in their work environment improvements in well-being and productivity were observed.
Poor choices can have an impact of your business and are likely to cost more to put right. It’s therefore best to involve the right office refurbishment company from the start of the process.
JBH Refurbishments Can Help
JBH Refurbishments have 25+ years of experience in Kent and London office design and office refurbishment. Contact us on 0333 207 0339 or via our contact form to move your project forward.
