An office refurbishment is a big move. But it’s also a strategic one. It can create a workplace that better supports your people, culture and future ambitions. It should therefore come as no surprise that it requires a lot of careful planning and a thoughtful approach. Before you dive in, here’s what you need to think about to get the most out of your investment.
Tip 1: Have a Clear Brief
Before you even start to engage with a fit out contractor such as our team, you need to have a clear vision. We recommend that you get your team involved early on. What do they like about their current space? What could be improved? What’s missing? You’d be surprised what your employees think could make a huge difference. Start with their voices; after all, they’re the ones who’ll be using it.
Once you have their input, add the bigger picture. What’s important to the wider company? What are your business goals for the next 5 years? How can your office design support those? This brief will act as a roadmap, keeping the entire project on track.
Tip 2: Find Office Inspiration
We know you’ve seen some great offices on Pinterest. But we encourage you to dig a little deeper. What is it you really like about those spaces? Is it the layout? The lighting? The flow? Zeroing in on those details will help build a clear idea of your vision and style preferences, making the design process smoother.
Tip 3: Plan and Manage Budget Expectations
Budget management is often one of the most challenging aspects of an office refurbishment. There are so many variables in terms of price point across everything we put into our projects. At Gravity Office Interiors, we’re completely transparent with the process. We’re here to support you by guiding you in the right direction to understand where you’re spending your money.
We’ve also got some key tools to help manage expectations and stick to your budget:
- Office Fit Out Calculator – Choose from a number of interior schemes for your office and this handy tool will provide an indicative figure for your office fit out.
- Fit Out Financing – If you’re looking to conserve capital, we’ve partnered with finance broker, Focus Finance – just like us, they’re a family-run business with shared values. They offer our clients flexible financing options, such as monthly or quarterly figures for financing your office refurb over a 3 or 5 year period, just for example.
Tip 4: Futureproof Your Office Design
An office that works today might not serve your needs in 5 years’ time. That’s why it’s important to design a flexible workplace that can grow or downsize your business. Our commercial designers listen and understand your business goals to create a space that’s as flexible as possible. That way, you’re not spending more money on another fit out in 3 years’ time.
One way we achieve this is through the products we specify. For example, we might not build physical walls, but instead use zoning products that can be moved and adapted to suit your changing needs. It’s the little details we put into our designs that ensure your space is still as relevant in the future as it was on the day we installed it.
Tip 5: Identify Sustainable Solutions
As a company, we recognise that each organisation has its own set standards for what it wants to achieve in terms of sustainability. To us, it’s important that we source our products to match these expectations.
Whether we use natural materials, real planting as part of the biophilia we specify or consider the project journey – reducing the carbon footprint of what we’re buying as far as we can – there are many ways to make your office more eco-friendly.
If sustainability is a key consideration of your office design, we’ll ensure it’s a core part of the plan, from sourcing to final installation.
Tip 6: Consider Company Culture
We recommend that you have a deep think about your company’s culture and how your values reflect what your people need from their space. Do you want a collaborative, open working area that promotes communication or teamwork? Would you rather divide departments or create distinct areas for focused work? Maybe a balance of both?
Consider whether your office should reflect aspects of your company’s identity, such as offering spaces for socialisation, wellness (eg., gyms or lounges) or encouraging a more flexible work-life balance.
All of these considerations feed into the design of each individual space.
Tip 7: Plan for Disruptions
We recognise that with any office refurbishment of an existing space, there’s going to be some sort of disruption. Luckily, we have highly experienced project managers within our in-house team who will work with you to ensure that disruption is minimised. We’ll agree on a start and end date, and if there needs to be flexibility in between – that’s no problem! Remember: whilst there may be some short-term disruption, there are such tangible long term benefits.
So, What’s Next?
With a clear plan, careful budgeting and a focus on your team’s needs and future goals, the process towards your office refurbishment becomes much more manageable. Armed with this knowledge, the next step is to get in touch with our office experts to discuss your requirements and get the wheels in motion.
