A lot of things have changed the world of work over the years. From the pandemic promoting remote working to the rise of startups and collaborative spaces, there are a million different factors influencing how we work, which means they’re changing where we work, too. This is impacting the optimal layout of offices, including yours.
If you’re in the middle of an office move, you’re likely thinking about the finer points of workspace design. Moving is the best time to bring new life to your office space because you’re already starting with a blank slate. When it comes to office layout planning, it helps to have some help. As professional office furniture movers, we’re here to help.
Read on for a full breakdown of our top office space planning guidelines, so you can create the space that’s best for your business.
Figure out what’s going on right now.
The first and best place to start is with what’s working right now. Take stock of your current office layout and explore how well it serves your needs as a business. Does your office space give employees areas for focus and collaboration? Do they have spaces for relaxation on their breaks? Is the office set up in the best way to encourage productivity, or are there regular complaints that crop up amongst your staff?
Write out what’s working and what isn’t; these groups will form the foundation of any changes you make in the future.
Include your employees.
Speaking of which, one of the best places to gather data about what you might want to change is from your employees. If you have time, open up the floor for suggestions about updates to the layout your employees might want to see.
Start with your biggest blocks.
Our top suggestion for office space planning guidelines is to begin with your big blocks. Departmental pods, large server banks, breakout areas—whatever is essential in your office space and occupies a lot of space, prioritise it. Lay those blocks in your workspace design first, then begin filling in the rest with other pods, smaller areas, and other vital pieces. From there, you’ll know how much space you have left for anything that can improve the space.
Consider creating focus and collaboration spaces.
Modern office layout planning often relies on having spaces for focus and collaboration. What this looks like will depend on the kind of office environment you’re building. For example, if your team works in an open-plan office, focus spaces like small rooms can be a powerful way to invite employees who need a quiet space to get some extra work done.
On the other hand, if you’re creating an office-centric space with separated workspaces, you might want to include spaces for collaboration and brainstorming. Large meeting rooms, open-plan breakout spaces, or even a kitted-out kitchen can all serve this purpose.
Look to the future.
Finally, consider how you might want to scale the space. The best office space planning guidelines incorporate the future growth of your business, which is why we suggest considering your goals for the coming five years. How will achieving said goals impact the space you’re in, and what kind of flexibilities will you need to lean on to ensure you won’t have to move within another year?
There you have it! These office space planning guidelines will get you started crafting the office that will keep your team on-task, your business on track, and your move on budget. Remember to assess what’s working now, include your employees in the process, and look to the future to ensure scalable choices.
The final step: involve the professionals.
Let us take the stress out of your office planning and moving. At Business Relocations, we’re a business moving company that prioritises the growth of business owners like you. We have a team of office movers ready to relocate your space according to the new layout you’ve designed.
Get in touch with us to schedule a consultation and explore how we can make your office relocation as efficient, cost-effective, and worry-free as possible.
