Contrary to popular belief, an office fit-out is an exciting journey that can influence your business’s performance, brand image and work environment. It stands as an opportunity to shape your brand’s identity and transform the working environment with design that encourages productivity and boosts employee lifetime value.
At Spaces, we transform how businesses feel and function with environments that speak their mission and always exceed expectations. We’ve seen firsthand what works and, more importantly, what doesn’t. We work with businesses to make thoughtful decisions and not cut corners, avoiding the costly mistakes that are so easily made.
The fastest and easiest way to waste money on your office fit-out is to dive in without a clear plan. From expectations to technical requirements, your brief acts as the powerhouse of the project, guiding the design, planning and delivery. Why is a clear and definite brief so important in a fit-out project? Without one reference point for all questions and complications, internal teams struggle to streamline their work and, by doing so, create spaces that, in most cases, aren’t appropriate and, at worst, leave businesses stuck before they even start.
What to do instead:
Start with a thorough design brief, outline your business goals, objectives, technical requirements, budget and timeline. With clear direction, your office fit-out should serve your business both today and tomorrow.
Tip: From day one, work closely with your design partner (hopefully us) to develop an in-depth plan considering everything from space allocation to technology integration. A good team will surprise you with questions you might not even think of.
First impressions matter, but function should always drive the way you work. Sure, the glass walls and clean-design desks look good, but when it comes to using these spaces, a private space or an area to collaborate is essential, and the good looks won’t cut it.
What to do instead:
Design with people at the centre. Watch how your staff work, how they use the space and ask questions to understand exactly what works for them. The goal is to design a space that blends comfort, energy, collaboration and personal space.
A helpful resource for understanding workplace needs and how to support employee productivity is the Leesman Index, a global standard for measuring workplace effectiveness. It asks employees about their daily work activities, their physical environment and the services available to them.
How we work, both culturally and operationally, is prone to growth and change; our work environments should be designed to adapt and suit these changes. Most businesses already exist with a handful of different workstyles, each benefiting from a different working environment. Flexible design can evolve to suit each unique style as well as accommodate for growth, restructure and hybrid working models.
What to do instead:
A great first step in tackling workspace flexibility is designing modular, multi-use spaces that cater to the needs of your employees, supporting both focused work and co-working sessions. Planning for hybrid and remote working with hot desks and video call set-ups is another forward-thinking way to keep ahead of the curve.
Investing in extravagant features that don’t work to improve productivity or well-being can lead to inevitable financial regret. Whilst we encourage drawing inspiration from the glossy brochures and showroom tours, if you’re truly putting your employees first, essentials like ergonomic furniture, collaborative zones and sufficient lighting should be prioritised above all.
What to do instead:
Avoid overinvesting in features that don’t add functional value. With a realistic budget, ‘wow factor’ elements can still be included once you are certain that your space will ehance productivity and not hinder it. A smart budget will invest in durable, quality materials and avoid cheap solutions to make better long-term savings.
Managing your own office fit-out project without a design and fit-out contractor can lead to missed opportunities, burnout and delays. What might seem like a budget-friendly approach is often more costly in the long run, with inexperience leading to significant errors and inefficiencies.
What to do instead:
Bring in professional project management. At Spaces, we offer a complete end-to-end solution to project management, managing every step of the process from design to delivery. Trained to deliver projects with strategic planning, clear communication and strong commitment to health and safety, our project managers are certified in PRINCE2 and SMSTS.
Technology today is core to the way every business functions, yet, all too often, we see businesses get it wrong, offering their employees unstable Wi-Fi connections and awkwardly placed power points.
What to do instead:
Start with connectivity. Plan for accessible power points with strong Wi-Fi coverage and charging facilities built into desks. Businesses excel with smart extras like meeting room booking systems, smart lighting and climate management systems – features now expected in modern workspaces.
Rarely discussed and often avoided, the emotional response to office design holds the answer to creating a thriving workplace culture. Without considering how the design elements in your office fit out will make people feel, you’ll be left facing a space that feels impersonal and lifeless.
What to do instead:
Design for emotion and efficiency. It might start with asking yourself, How can I create feelings of comfort, motivation, and connection? Consider colours, light, textures and layout. Embracing the emotional dimension of office design creates environments that draw a genuine reaction from your workforce and support a sense of belonging.
Overlooking the significance of lighting design in an office fit-out is a costly slip-up that can influence day-to-day productivity as well as how teams work and collaborate. Poor lighting choices can lead to eye strain and fatigue on top of higher energy consumption from additional lighting or inefficient bulb choices that add to energy charges.
What to do instead:
Approach your lighting design with consideration. Maximise natural light with glass partitions and reflective finishes, and use ambient lighting to create a comfortable, well-lit environment. Avoid harsh or direct lighting like overhead fluorescents to minimise eye strain and headaches. The most inspiring office fit-outs for employee satisfaction feel inviting, balanced and most importantly, adaptable.
An office fit-out is one of the most important investments you’ll make in your business environment, and if done well, can be a useful growth tool and not just a cost. An office space designed for function and inspiration sends a distinct message to your employees that their comfort and productivity are valued and, in turn, promotes future growth.
If you’re launching your office fit-out project and are committed to getting it right, talk to us. We’re dedicated to providing direction throughout the process, navigating the pitfalls along the way, and building a space that’s focused on your vision and tailored for your people.