Office Design Inspiration Guide for Noobs

Designing an office seems easy, but it is not. There is more to office design than simply hanging a few pieces of office art. In fact, the field of office design contains many companies and art consultants that exclusively provide design tips and designing services to businesses. However, if you are a new company and cannot afford the services of a professional design team just yet, try incorporating some of the following design advice into your office design to get you started:

Look at competitors and successful companies in your field

Take a page from your competitors and consider designing your office as they do. If a company is bigger than yours, they likely have more money invested in their designs. Try and visit a few companies in your field. What do you like or dislike about their designs? Take note of the colors, textures, furniture, decorations, and lightings they use in the office. Use the parts you like as inspiration for your own office, and prevent the elements you do not like in your designs.

Simplicity and creativity are key

You do not need a crazily embellished office design to be successful. Companies like Google and Pixar have stunning offices that are worth millions of dollars, but these designs are not practical for everyday companies. Keep your design simple and you will be happier in the long run. Try to be creative in simplicity, however, do not get sucked into the mundane or boring.

Look to your product or services for design inspiration

The products that you offer can serve as an inspiration for your office design. What colors and styles are in your logo? Is your company industrial-based, or more of a family-friendly workplace? Consider your customers and the products you sell as inspiration for your design. If you sell industrial supplies, consider adding a warehouse-like feel to your office, with metal furniture, overhead lighting, and bright colors. A company that makes baby products may want to use soft pastels, plush furniture, and gentle lighting in the office.

Speak to professional designers

Even if you cannot afford to hire a professional designer to complete your design, many designers will offer consultations for a small fee. Ask the designer what they recommend for your company and space. A professional designer can take one look at a space and determine the best way to arrange furniture, highlight the best features, and hide the problems with the space. This consultation advice can be invaluable to a newbie.

Think of how you use the space

Each space requires its own unique use. You would not want to decorate a factory floor with fancy tapestries and plush furniture. A doctor’s office should not have a warehouse design that would make it look like a back-alley operation. A phone call center should not have noisy furniture or an echoing ceiling. How you use the space affects the design elements that you will put in the room. Always consider the use of a space before completing any designs to avoid a design use mismatch.

Use inspiring colors and open designs

Open spaces are almost always better than closed spaces, especially in an office. No one likes to feel like they are stuck working in a closet, which the typical cubical can often make you feel like that. Employees want to feel like they are valued and bring something important to the company. Using an open design can make employees feel necessary and appreciated. The colors you choose can also influence worker’s moods. Bright, bold colors can spark creativity and inspire new ideas. However, they can also cause anxiety. Soft, cool colors eliminate stress and worry, but they can also cause employees to feel sluggish. A good balance in colors is necessary to maintain optimal creativity and work output.