If you’re starting a business this year, you’re going to need an office. And, if you want an office that doesn’t suck, you need to follow the guide down below:
Modern Design
If you look at some of the best offices in the world, they all follow a similar design pattern. All of them will be very modern and high tech. That’s just the way things are nowadays; offices should look modern. If someone enters your office and it’s full of technology and looks contemporary, they’ll love it. It’s a far cry better than if your office looked old and outdated. Who knows, having a modern office design could end up boosting your customer base.
So, it’s time to get to work on your office interior design. Clear out anything that was left over from previous residents, you want a clean slate. It might be a good idea to look here http://www.inc.com/worlds-coolest-offices-2015.html, for some design inspiration. Remember, you want your office to look innovative and cool. I think that using monochrome colors is a great idea. It creates a minimalistic feel and makes your office look super modern. Of course, it’s up to you! Another idea is to design your office using your brand colors. Your business logo may have a few standout colors that look good in your premises.
The next thing to focus on is all the equipment for your workplace. Again, make sure you’re getting cool stuff. Try and get things that are new and trendy. No office is going to look good if you’ve got some old fashioned school chairs at every desk. Get some desk chairs that are quirky and have unique designs. In fact, companies like Google sometimes use bean bag chairs in their workplace! I’m not saying you should also do this, but it’s a fun idea. What you should do, however, is ensure the desks, chairs, everything, is perfect.
Then, it’s onto the technology side of things. The computers and printers that your workplace will need. Once again, it won’t surprise you to hear that these should be as new as possible. There are two reasons behind this. First, new technology looks a lot nicer and gives your business a reputation boost. Anyone that enters your office will see all the new stuff and feel their jaw drop to the ground. Secondly, new tech is quicker and better than the old stuff. So, it can help you work faster and be more productive. A win-win!
Health & Safety
Now, it’s nice to have cool things and make your office look amazing. But, you have to remember a key aspect of office design; health & safety. Your premises must meet certain standards expected of every public building. You must make it a safe place for your employees to work, and for people to visit. Luckily, the process of making your office safe isn’t too difficult at all. In fact, there are just a few things you have to think about.
The first is something that often goes under the radar, radiators. Every building will have radiators fitted, whether it’s your home or office. When you’re at home, the radiators are often on the wall and unprotected. At your office, you can’t afford to do this. Having unprotected radiators is a health & safety hazard, people can burn easily by touching them. So, make sure you get some covers for all the heaters in your office. You can see plenty of radiator guards and covers here: https://www.contourcasings.co.uk/products/safe-surface-temperature/lst-radiator-guards/. They don’t cost a lot, and they’re vital if you want your office to be safe.
Another thing you should do is have the office checked before you move into it. Get someone round to have a look in the ceilings for asbestos. Asbestos is common in a lot of old buildings and can be harmful if not cleared away. Bring someone in to check, and then remove it if needed.
The third thing you can do is make sure you have lots of cleaning supplies and wet floor signs. That way, if there’s ever a spillage, you can get it mopped up quickly. Plus, having the signs helps you notify people that the floor is slippery. So, it minimizes the risks of people slipping and getting hurt in your office.
Office Exterior
When you start a new business, it’s common to spend a lot of time working on the inside of your office. After all, that’s the place where you’ll work. You have to ensure it looks good and is safe for people to work every day. However, this doesn’t mean you should neglect the exterior. The outside of your office is what people will see when they walk passed. It’s important you spend some time on that aspect too.
So, what can you do to make your office stand out to the outside world? For me, it all revolves around signs. You have to have signs outside your office clearly showing that you work there. If you own the entire building, it’s easy to create a custom sign and place it out front. Get a designer in to make something that stands out and grabs people’s attention.
But, I know a lot of you may be renting office space in a building. This means you might not be able to create a custom sign. Instead, you business name will be on the general sign outside the premises. As an alternative, you can create signs to be placed in your windows. Make a few big posters displaying your brand logo. Not sure what makes a good brand logo? Have a look at these examples http://www.awwwards.com/. Make sure anyone that walks passed the building will see the signs and know your business is based there. Doing something simple, like this, can have a very positive effect.
And so we’ve reached the conclusion of this guide. Bookmark this page so you can come back to it when you’re about to create your office. Hopefully, you’ve found the tips helpful and will be able to design an office that your business deserves.
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