Have you been put in charge of organising your new office fit out or refurbishment? Not sure where to really begin?
Planning an office refurbishment can be a very difficult and complex task and there's an awful lot to think about. For example, what budget do you set, how do you plan to minimise disruption and what exactly do you want from your refurbishment?
There are so many things to consider but thanks to this helpful guide, we'll make it far easier for you to plan a successful office refurbishment.
It sounds obvious, but the first thing you must do before even thinking about the hows and whens, is consider exactly why you're considering a refurbishment. This is a very crucial step as it will allow you to make sure that the project is completely worthwhile and able to deliver on all your business needs.
It will also give you the opportunity to draw up a detailed and accurate brief so that the right aspects and factors can be prioritised.
If your business is growing, you might find that your current business premises needs more office space to create room for new employees. Office refurbishment, in this case, is often much more cost effective than searching for new premises.
Alternatively, if you are having to reduce staff members at any point, it might be worth considering an office refurbishment to make better use of the empty desks and reorganise the space.
It may be that you're looking to have an office refurbishment to improve your brand image to impress visiting partners or potential clients.
If you change the layout and design of your office via a full refurbishment, you could provide a much-needed boost to productivity and staff morale.
There are some occasions when new government directives and regulations mean you have to update your appliances or office design to ensure you comply.
Lastly, you might have spotted or identified some potential health and safety issues in your workplace. This could therefore prompt you to refurbish your office and update any problem areas.
Once you've considered exactly why you want an office refurbishment, it's then important to create an office wishlist and have specific ideas and briefs in mind.
One of the best ways to do this is by forming a brainstorming team, which would include both members of the management team and staff from different levels of the company. You should then discuss any issues that staff have identified with the current office space and anything they think that could be improved.
There are a range of things that could be included in your wishlist. For instance;
After you've put together your wishlist, it's then time to think about and start planning for the elements of the office design. While the office refurbishment company you hire will be in charge of developing the designs and layouts, it's helpful for you to start thinking about them now so that you know exactly what you want to get out of the new office space.
When you're thinking about the layout and design, it's important to think about the following;
It's important to choose the right colours; not only for your branding but also for your workplace mood. In fact, studies have shown that colours are often closely tied to human psychology and emotion and can sometimes impact productivity and mood in a workplace.
You'll need to consider exactly how you're going to use your office space. Are you going to have an open plan office or are you going to segregate areas?
While open plan office spaces can look brilliant, they can also present challenges, like how you'd deal with noise in the office. If you choose to have an open plan office, you will need to think about whether to utilise partitions or meeting rooms to create silent spaces.
When you're considering an office refurbishment, lighting is a very important factor. Not only do you want to install energy efficient lighting that helps reduce your carbon footprint and energy bills, but you also want to think about the effect that too much un-natural light can have on your employees.
If your office furniture is looking a bit tired and outdated, it may well be time to have a complete overhaul, especially if you're having an office refurbishment. Alternatively, you could save money by reusing any old furniture in your newly renovated and redecorated office space. Whichever you decide, it's a good idea to have thought this all through before proceeding with an office refurbishment project.
The next important step for you is to set a realistic budget for your office refurbishment project. The majority of office refurbishment companies, including Diamond Interior Contracts, will provide a quotation, complete with free cost estimates at the start of the project. The total fit-out or refurbishment costs will vary and depend on many factors, including how old the building is, what type of building it is and what will be required.
When you're budgeting for your project, it's very important to account for potential other costs you might not have even considered, including:
Once you've considered all the aspects of a successful office refurbishment project, the final and incredibly important step is to choose the right company to take care of it all for you. In fact, it's highly recommended that you work with an experienced and professional office refurbishment company that provides a complete solution rather than one that only specialises in one aspect (interior design for example).
At Diamond Interior Contracts, we specialise in providing comprehensive office refurbishment packages that cover everything from the initial designs and planning right through to build, flooring, interior decorating, lighting, suspended ceiling installation, commercial joinery and carpentry and the installation of additional washroom facilities.
We work across Kent, London and the South East, so contact us today to discuss your office refurbishment ideas and requirements with one of our friendly team.
