Designing your office space from scratch? Here's what you need to know...

How your office is designed says a lot about your business. It’s also got the power to motivate, or drain, your team.

So when you sign a lease on an empty shell of an office space, where do you begin? Unfurnished offices are like a blank sheet of paper: intimidating at first, but offering so much creative potential.

It’s all in how you approach the design challenge. And this checklist will help guide the way....

Step 1: Decide on a budget

Business is business, so how much of the company’s budget can you spend on this office fit out? $50,000? $5,000? It’s always good to start humble, that way you can splash out on added extras without worrying about the bottom line. 

And if your budget is a little tight, don’t let that restrict you! As they say, creativity benefits from constraints. With a firm figure in mind, you’ll quickly be able to hone in on the options that suit you best.

Step 2: Assess how your space will be used

This section is all about your brand personality. Your company, its values, and the way that you like to work. 

Do your teams work collaboratively, holding regular “stand ups” and “ideation sessions”? Would they benefit from personal desks and co-working areas, too? Be sure to include comfy seating, and long communal desks, when you draw up your blueprint — and hive-mind thinking will come naturally for them all.

Perhaps your teams work better in deep concentration? Then individual “pods” and cozy enclaves might work best. Perfectly designed spaces that filter out distractions and noise can help assist even the most easily distracted team members.

Got the space and budget for both? Then go for it. Different employees have different working styles after all, so why not cater to everyone’s needs?

Step 3: Design a virtual floor plan

Once you’ve identified what your office should include, it’s time to work out how it’ll fit into the space.

Let’s start from the ground up, literally. Working on a virtual floor plan is essential to get those basics just right.

It may sound obvious but moving things around on a screen is far easier than getting things in place in your space and realizing it just doesn’t work. Floorplanner or RoomSketcher are a couple of our favorite software tools for “building” your space online — check them out!

Step 4: Gather inspiration

If you’re a business founder or CEO, browsing office design trends is probably something that falls beyond “essential daily activities”. But the good news? There’s much worse ways to spend a Sunday morning. Brew a pot of coffee, pull up Pinterest, and start exploring.

Like the style of one table, and then the color of another? That’s all good. Think of your saved posts as a virtual mood-board. Right now, your ideas may not fit together into one space, but this is just blue sky thinking. Refine later (or leave it to the experts!).

Step 5: Select your furniture

Furniture is one of the most important things to get right in an office.

The right furniture, in the right place, makes all the difference to teams. Whether working together or flying solo, desks, tables, chairs and sofas make the experience not just easy but enjoyable, too.

Furniture is not just about what looks great (although, yes, that’s important too!). Here you’ll want to merge function and form together, to spend your money well. You can always jazz up the surroundings with artwork and soft furnishings. Don’t scrimp on solid, adaptable office furniture — that’s our professional opinion.

Step 6: Layer in your brand colors

With the skeleton of your office furniture in place, it’s time to dress the space to fit your brand! Apply your brand color palette to the walls and furnishings. Think about ways to bring your company values to life through interior styles. 

Not sure what we mean here? Here’s a couple of examples:

• A tech or SaaS business might want a blank canvas of white with splashes of color, à la Google. 

• A beauty or wellness brand might want lots of soft pastels and nudes, with hints of rose gold or chrome, as Glossier has done.

Step 7: Accessorize!

The best part of designing your office from scratch is that you can choose everything, from floor to ceiling. What inspires you? What makes you feel motivated? How do you want employees to feel in the space?

Whether it’s small, fun features (like a pinball machine) or large artistic additions (like a mural you all paint together), your office accessories will help build an image that your team loves to be part of.

Need a helping hand along the way?

At Titanium Space, we’re experts in commercial and residential design. Got a clean slate office space to fit out? We’d love to help you get it done. Contact the team today and get a free interior design consultation, too.

Interior design is our day-job, leaving you to focus on yours!