Office, workspace, retail units, warehouses, you name it, all house a range of important functions. With comfortable surroundings that aid productivity, as well as comfort and accessibility, a work space that is light and airy has more appeal.

Changing, modifying and updating a workspace can often some at great cost. But rather than seeing it as an expense, seeing as an investment that will reap rewards is important.

Be Practical

This is a re-design or re-vamp that must be thought through objectively. It is easy to get carried away, especially when doing something as creative and pleasant as improving and re-designing a space.

With examples of other big businesses creating amazing spaces for their employees – internal ‘treehouses’, beanbags, interior slides and so on – it can be tempting to assume that these interior design ideas are exactly what you want.

Although there is an argument for creating different zones and spaces, if your employees are not in need of beanbags, floor cushions, treehouses etc., why add them? They may want something else, far more practical and useful.

Think Flexible

What suits your commercial space today, may not suit it in 12 months’ time. The fact is that as your business grows, your need for space and how it functions will change.

In many ways, updating your workspace now is about considering the future too. What changes are on the horizons that could impact on it? For example, will staff numbers increase or decrease? How will changing technology in the workplace affect space?

Creating an ideal workspace means including adaptability and flexibility within the scheme.

Be Careful with ‘Trends’

Interior design trends, like fashion, come and go. However, opting for a trend that has a short life will leave you with an interior that potentially could look dated within months.

Not all trends are practical in your space, either. Carpeting may look great but are ceramic floor tiles more appropriate and practical? Don’t sacrifice practicality and function for style, assuming this will make your workplace ‘better’ because it looks trendy for the time being.

Involve Staff

Before you start knocking walls down and buying furniture, you really need to ask your people what they think will work in the space to improve it, what they need and what they don’t need.

Other companies who have re-designed their offices have found that their employees mentioned five key improvements;

      i.         More social/informal space – they want somewhere where they can collaborate and share ideas and it doesn’t always have to happen at a desk.

     ii.         Heat and cold – too hot and stuffy makes a workspace uncomfortable, as is when it is too cold. Pay attention to the heating and cooling of the space as part of any re-design.

   iii.         Food and drink – even if a business is located on a high street surrounded by cafes, bars and restaurants, it seems that employees want space to eat in their day, and not always have to leave work or sit at their desk for lunch.

    iv.         Quality of furniture – as well as practicality and comfort, employees also like quality furniture that can be moved/adapted to suit different work tasks and activities.

     v.         Coffee – the quality of the coffee was the fifth improvement that came up time and time again, or so say major employers. It can easy to dismiss this as frivolous but when the quality of the coffee is good, employees feel that their work place is of a certain quality too. So maybe better coffee in a pleasant kitchen, with a relaxed space in which to enjoy it could be the one improvement that has a major impact…?

Lighting

In some premises, natural light pours through the windows to such an extent that an array of blinds is needed to shield the interior from too much heat.

In other premises, natural light is in short supply, therefore ambient lighting is the solution.

The lighting of a workspace is possible one of the biggest factors to consider when improving a commercial space.

There are many lighting options. LED lighting, for example, uses far less energy but has a high luminosity. Neither do LED bulbs generate heat making it an ideal solution for a work space where the lighting is on for long periods of time.

Consider Reception Space

Most businesses assume that they need reception space. And yet we are seeing major changes with many companies doing away with the ‘front of house’ desk.

This is entirely dependent on your business and its nature. If you regularly have clients visiting, it may be essential. Even if it is, it doesn’t have to be a huge space as this is wasted, in many respects.

Many companies who don’t receive clients or customers regularly create a ‘holding’ type room with a few chairs and partitions walls.

Be Creative

Consider the amount of time you and your staff spend at work. In any given week, someone working full time could potentially spend more time at work than at home.

As well as comfort and practicality, you also want it to be pleasant. There is nothing wrong with being creative in finish and style.

Without comprising on a timeless appeal to the interior design scheme, add creative touches that are pleasant. You may have staff members who can add the finishing touches for you.

Consider full wall customised wall papers, plants, photos and other creative additions that make the space pleasing on the eye.

Maintain It

For any workspace to remain a comfortable and practical space, it needs to be maintained and yet so many businesses fail to factor in maintenance costs.

With all these options, and the benefits that come with improving your premises, how will you update your commercial premises?