Secrets of a successful office fit-out

Still working with individual cubicles, small offices or sectioned-off teams? Then it’s time to think outside of the box – literally.

Modern office design is about breaking down the barriers. Opening up space – and minds – to create comfortable, collaborative environments carefully crafted to boost efficiency, motivate staff and encourage innovation. After all, why can’t an office offer style and home-from-home comforts and still be an effective workspace?

A truly successful office refit will balance individual well-being with collective productivity, all whilst never losing sight of your business brand and personality. The question is, how do you find this elusive sweet spot?

Here the office fit-out experts from Blok Projects share their secrets…

 

What makes a good office fit-out?

Many reasons can spur the need for an office fit-out. A change of premises for an expanding team, an image overhaul to align with new branding or a push for better teamwork and a healthier office culture.

Yet whatever the incentive, if a fit-out is going to achieve its true potential, there are a few key things to consider first.

 

·      Aesthetics and functionality

First impressions count. So it’s a given that if you’re investing in an office fit-out, you want it to look good. But there’s a catch – it also needs to perform.

What use is an office so focused on style that it fails miserably to provide an effective workspace?

The important thing to remember here is that with good design, you don’t have to make sacrifices. It’s possible to achieve a great-looking office space that is perfectly in tune with the needs and demands of your team.

 

·      Don’t lose focus

Finding harmony between form and function can be difficult, so it’s vital not to lose sight of your objectives by becoming so absorbed with one aspect of your design that other areas are neglected.

Any professional office re-fit company should help to mitigate this, ensuring you stay focused and on track with a design that caters for all your requirements.

 

It’s also important not to be too swayed by current trends.

Take, for example, the push for open-plan space. There’s no denying this can be great and is generally considered a successful way to foster a more productive environment, but it doesn’t work for everyone.

According to the Future Forum Pulse Winter Survey, 15% of participants consider having a quiet space to work a key reason to head into the office, with The Gensler UK Workplace Survey finding that a huge 45% of office workers cite ‘focusing on their work’ as their main reason for coming to the office. So perhaps that social lunch area you presumed would be loved by staff would be better reimagined as individual work pods for focused work.

Our best advice here is to talk to your team. Discuss plans with them to find out their views about what will – and won’t – work.

 

·      Avoid playing copycat

How your office looks is important. It reflects your brand personality and working ethos, so it’s essential to find the right formula for your business and not simply mirror a setup or style that seems to work elsewhere.

In simple terms – you do you.

Be clear about your objectives and what you want and need from your space. Are breakaway areas for creative thinking or an active social scene important? Do you need adaptive space to accommodate hybrid workers? Or are quiet areas for concentration a must?

The needs of every office are different and for true success, it’s important to avoid imitation and concentrate on what works for you.

 

·      Future proof

One of the biggest pitfalls of an office fit-out is failing to think about the future.

A growing team, hybrid working – dynamic and flexible space is key to creating an office that can adapt to the changing needs of your business and offer you the best long-term value.

On that note, it’s also important not to go too niche or ‘on trend’ with your design, as this can become dated very quickly.

 

Guarantee success

Take all these factors into consideration and you’ll be well on your way to an effective office re-fit. But if you want assured success, why not get in touch with the team here at Blok Projects?

As highly skilled and experienced office fit-out specialists, we can help you take your work premises to the next level – so your business can look and perform at its best.

To find out more about the services we offer and how we could elevate your office space, check out our office fit-out pages or contact the team today.