Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

By Henry Brown

Whether you’re just moving into a new office or are looking to enhance a base that your small business has already enjoyed for some time, getting layout right is imperative not just for functionality, but also for sending the right impression to clients. After all, this is the first impression that they’re going to have of your company, and you want it to be a good one!

The trouble is that even if you’ve been getting by with make-do layouts until now, knowing precisely what the ‘right’ layout looks for your needs can prove difficult. This is especially the case considering that no one but you knows how your company operates, or even the message that you’re trying to get across. Luckily, organizing your office right doesn’t need to be the headache that it can seem from the outside, and we’ve got a few simple tips to get you started.

Know your style options

Before you even think about furniture, it’s important to realize that there’s more than one style option to think about here. In fact, businesses are increasingly branching into a range of layouts that include everything from traditional open plans through to cubicles, low partitions, hybrids, and everything in between. It can certainly seem daunting, but there’s no need to get stressed out. After all, the answers to the right solution are already at your fingertips, and include simple considerations such as:

– The size of your team

– Collaborative work needs

– Employee preferences

– The space you’re working with

Plan efficiently

Once you’ve settled on the right style, you’ll likely be keen to stock up on office supplies like Bush furniture to bring it to reality. However, it’s worth stepping back once more and thinking a little more practically about where you want things to go. After all, inefficient plans will inevitably lead to large gaps between desks, office bottlenecks, and other issues. Instead, measure your office in advance, then use masking tape on the floor to vaguely map out where everything should be, and move things around until you get that just-right feeling.

Think about flow

For employees and clients alike, an office that doesn’t flow well could soon pose problems, especially if you have to walk past desks to get to the reception or double back on yourself for any reason. Instead, you want to think about the most natural flow possible in a space like this, including a reception at the forefront along with seating areas, HR or customer service desks after that, and then the rest of your office in an order that makes sense to you. This more intuitive focus on flow is guaranteed to improve efficiency both in work, and when handling clients who need to see you at your best if they’re to stand any chance at converting.

Getting your office right matters, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be a daunting task. Just keep these pointers in mind, and the office of your dreams should be within reach in no time.

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Henry Brown is an online marketing executive. When he isn’t talking shop, he’s roaming the streets of London, uncovering the extra-ordinary in the ordinary.