Your office is a place where you can entertain your partners and clients. It’s important that you make the best impression possible. It’s ok to add personality to your office but you want to avoid making common interior design mistakes that cut into profits. Office spaces are often the most overlooked and are usually done last minute. You don’t want to struggle with bad decisions so let’s review some of the major interior design mistakes that many small businesses make…
Not enough seating.
It may seem like a no-brainer that a business owner would want to provide ample seating for visitors, but many businesses make the mistake of not including sufficient seating in their office space. This can be especially damaging if you have a customer service or sales focus: your customers will spend more time waiting without somewhere comfortable to sit down.
Providing more places to sit also makes your office feel more inviting, which will encourage employees and clients alike to hang out longer and collaborate more often on projects. In addition, if you are working with people from other organizations or companies who are visiting in person (like investors), having additional chairs available for those guests is essential for making them feel welcome and comfortable so that they feel free in sharing their thoughts with you.
The space isn’t inviting.
The space doesn’t have a personality.
The space isn’t comfortable.
The space doesn’t have any aesthetic appeal.
The space doesn’t promote collaboration.
The space doesn’t have any art/decorations that make people feel like they’re in an office, not a college dorm room (think: plants, posters, etc.)
The furniture is uncomfortable.
A common mistake is to not have furniture that is comfortable. When you’re designing an office, it’s important to make sure that the chairs and desks are ergonomically designed. Otherwise, employees may get back problems or just not be able to concentrate as well on their work. This means that they will be less productive overall, which can cost your business money!
It’s also important to make sure that your employees can adjust their height tables so they are at eye level with screens and computers. They’ll be able to see better this way and avoid neck strain by looking down at their screen all day long (which could lead to health problems). You don’t want people getting sick while they’re on company time!
The furniture doesn’t fit with the space.
There are many reasons why this can happen, but it’s important to know that it happens often. When you’re planning an office redesign, there are a few questions that you should ask yourself before purchasing any new furniture or decorating equipment. First, consider what kind of space is available for your employees to work in and which type of work environment would be best suited for them as professionals. Your next question should be whether or not they need desks at all or if something less traditional like standing desks would work better for them. The third thing to consider is how much room there is in each room—is it really necessary to fill every corner with seating? If so, perhaps a combination of chairs and couches might make sense instead!
The furniture doesn’t fit with the office culture
Another common mistake made when redesigning an office space is not considering how employees will feel about it once they’ve been moved into their new area(s). You want everyone working together under one roof; therefore, when designing rooms within that building try incorporating elements such as color schemes into furnishings so there will be no conflicting themes between departments–this way everyone has something exciting about where they spend most waking hours!
It’s confusing to navigate the office.
If you’ve ever worked in a large, open office space, then you know how difficult it can be to find your way around. When employees are required to go from one end of your building to another, they should be able to get there quickly and easily without getting lost or wasting their time asking colleagues for directions.
Having a confusing layout can also lead to loss of productivity because employees will spend too much time trying to find their way around instead of focusing on their work. If this sounds like something that has happened in your business before, read on!
There aren’t enough workspaces for employees to do their work comfortably.
Ergonomic furniture is essential for increasing productivity and reducing stress levels, but it isn’t always easy to find the right fit for your office. When you’re looking for new desks, chairs, and tables for your workspace, it’s important to take into consideration the dimensions of your space. Are there enough workspaces? Do all of these workspaces have adequate surface area? Do they provide ease of access to power outlets and other necessary hardware? If you aren’t sure whether or not a piece of furniture will work in your particular office space, contact an interior designer who can help guide your decision-making process.
As you consider your office design needs, it’s important to engage with your designer throughout the process. You don’t want to find yourself spending money on features or finishes that won’t benefit your business or your intention for the space. Communicate with your designer, by asking questions and expressing preferences when they come up. And don’t forget: home offices are not exempt from the design mistakes discussed in this blog!
