Hello World! Welcome Friends! Want to fit out in a new office but confused about how to do it? Then read this article to find out all about it.
Fitting out at a new office in Australia can cost your company a lot. So, you must get it right the first time. You should consider what will increase staff productivity and improve your company’s brand image, from the look and feel of the office to the available facilities. Moreover, an office fit-out is essential and tough at the same time in developed countries like Australia and New Zealand because of the options and the competition out there.
However, design and planning are mostly the critical components of any office fit-out venture. To maximize your office space, you must plan exactly what, where, and how to place things. Along with that, you need to create a design that complements various corporate aspects.
Any workplace fit-out project requires careful planning. A well-designed office space produces a stress-free environment that your staff and customers will enjoy. Still not clear about the whole idea of office fit-out? Then, here are six things you should consider before you take that step to make your new office fit-out entertaining and effective.
1. You Need to Ask Yourself the Big Questions
A new office fit-out, whether that’s a refurbishment of an existing office or a relocation to anywhere in Australia, will benefit your company in various ways. From improved employee performance to improved workflow and lighting, your movement will become much easier throughout the office space; there is something for everyone. Then there are the more obvious advantages, such as showing clients and customers a more modern space.
You should know exactly what you want before starting your new fit-out. Consider asking yourself the following questions before starting:
- Why do you exactly need a new office space?
- What kind of fit-out are you looking for?
- What will be the location of your new office?
The answers to these questions would help you identify your budget, the time it will take to finish the fit-out, and provide you with guidance for functional and aesthetic choices. However, if you feel that you can’t do so on your own, you could seek professional help. Many companies do office fit-out well in Melbourne, Australia. You can consult with professionals like officefitout.melbourne to get specialized office fit-out help.
2. Plan For the Future
While your workplace should reflect the current state of your company, it should also be adaptable to future changes. Including the answers to the ‘big picture’ questions above, write down the following ‘future direction’ for your business plans:
- How will your company/industry change and grow in the coming years?
- Is your current space large enough to accommodate company growth?
- What effect will technological trends have on the size and shape of your office?
- Is your space adaptable enough to deal with rapid change?
If your current office facilities are old-fashioned and unsatisfactory, you should begin looking for a new location. A refurbishment, on the other hand, might be the answer if you have the space but want to upgrade your workplace environment to improve company image and productivity. You need to do these things even more if you live in countries like Australia or New Zealand because, in those countries, the competition in the corporate world is fiercer than in many second and third-world countries. So, Your company’s improved image and productivity will only keep you ahead in that competition.
3. Know Your Budget and Get a Comprehensive Quote on That
When you have a budget in mind, looking for quotes on office fit-outs is easier. While you may need to do some preliminary research to determine a rough price range for a fit-out that reflects your goals, identifying how much you will need to spend will help you avoid wasting time dealing with contractors who are over budget or unable to meet expectations.
Your budget should include the following items:
- Moving expenses
- How much and how long you may need to store your equipment and furnishings.
- The fit-overall out’s design.
- The expense of purchasing new furniture.
- Infrastructural IT and telecommunications
4. Be In Sync With Your Brand Identity
Your company’s vision, mottos, ideas, values, culture, and desired appearance should all be reflected in the design of your office. It should be a supplement to your advertising and marketing materials (and vice versa). This means that the customers will get a similar impression when they walk into your office as they do when they view your company’s website or marketing materials.
It is ideal to incorporate your marketing department in this procedure as they are likely to be the most familiar with your brand. Begin the collaboration process as soon as possible, and make sure your office reflects your company’s values.
5. Restructure the Space and Staff Needs
As now technology is advancing to such a point where several people can do the majority of their work from anywhere where there is an internet connection, a new office fit-out could be the ideal opportunity to restructure your office layout, downsize, or transition from cubicles to more collaborative workspaces.
You can also save some money on total floorspace by having some employees work remotely from their home or part-time, but it’s often better to repurpose that space into conference rooms, client areas, breakout areas, or even a recreational area.
How much room do you need for your employees? To comply with building regulations, office workers should be allowed 6 meters square per person, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best advice is to plan your floor plans according to your busiest days. Have you considered the aisle space, meeting rooms, and breakout areas with all staff on deck and functioning smoothly? If you plan to expand shortly, err on the side of caution.
6. Follow the Office Design Trends
Before hiring an interior designer, do some research on the latest office design trends, so you’ll know exactly what you want and how that will benefit work efficiency. The open-plan office is still a popular layout to go for, but new designs that focus on accommodating the workgroups, collaborating your teams, and remote working are becoming more popular in forward-thinking workplaces.
So you should take a look at some of the following trends:
- Moving desks: Valve, which is a highly profitable software company, provides all of its employees with mobile desks that allow them to set up and work wherever and with whomever they need to. You can take inspiration from that and implement that in your office.
- Standing desks: Convertible standing workstations have demonstrated a considerable gain in productivity and health.
- Authentic Design is a movement that tries to include interior design choices, from materials to design branding, to communicate the business’s “story.” This is a one-of-a-kind process that requires close collaboration among all design stakeholders.
- Two trends that improve workplace health are the use of natural materials and the utilization of natural light.
- Cubicles are giving way to multipurpose rooms. Benching and shared spaces encouraged teamwork and inter-office interaction.
Making the business area, lobby, and entrances of the building warm, attractive, and inviting are also on-trend office designs. Because these are the first areas that your prospective clients will see, you want them to leave a good impression.
6. Aim to Impress Your Clients With Your Design
If you have a client-facing business, your office sells your company just as much as your employees do, and first impressions are everything. Before you begin your new office fit-out, keep in mind that you have got a blank canvas to work with, so you need to make the most of it by considering all aspects of design and resources that you can deliver to a workplace that impresses clients. This is more essential if you’re running your business in countries such as Australia and New Zealand to leave a good first impression on your clients so that you can always be one step ahead of your competition. You could include the following to achieve that:
- Reception areas that are both comfortable and interesting.
- Cafes can be public or private.
- Atriums and public roadways will inspire people who walk by your place of business to feel good about it.
- Floating staircases, indoor gardens, and other architectural and design flourishes that will make your office space look better.
Consider the kinds of clientele you usually or want to attract at your new workplace. Create an interior design that will leave guests with a lasting impression. Positive word of mouth is the most valuable asset you can have for your brand; it is the best sort of advertisement you can get.
Bottom Line
You need to always remember “First impression is the last impression” both for a person and place. So, you should make sure that your office’s ambiance is such that it leaves a long-lasting impression on anyone who’ll visit it for the first time. To do so, you need to do good work with your office fit-out, and I hope this article will help you in that regard. Best of luck!
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
How to Store Your Stuff During a Renovation
Tips to Help Keep your House Clean and Organized
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Toodles,
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