The layout of your office says a great deal about your style and also about your position with the company. The larger offices with the better views are reserved for top executives. Yet that doesn’t mean you can’t get a great set-up in your office. When you do, people who come in to discuss business with you get a very good impression. They will feel comfortable, and they will get the impression you are a business they can trust.
If you have a business where you offer free consultations, you definitely want people to feel very comfortable. Otherwise, they are going to get their free time with you and then hire someone else. When you have a good set-up, they see you as a viable option. They can also make a connection with you on a subconscious level. When someone is comfortable, he or she is more likely to do business because of that emotional connection.
Don’t Do It Alone
You can be hard-pressed to get your office creative, efficient, and also appealing to those coming in to do business with you. With the help of office interior designers in London, you can get those final touches taken care of. You can give them your input about what you need and what you are after. You can even give them your budget and allow them to see what they can do. Work with them closely to create a plan you are going to enjoy seeing day after day for all of the hours you spend in the office.
Make sure you are selective about whom you hire for such a job. You need to know you can communicate with them, and you can get good feedback from them. Are they going to show up to do the work with quality materials? Are they going to finish up on time? What do you do if you have additional requests or you aren’t happy with something? All of this should be discussed before you hire anyone.
Think about the image of the business, not just your own personal style when it comes to your business office décor. You don’t want to offend anyone you work with or potential customers due to what you put into your office. You can save those options for your home office if you wish. This doesn’t mean you don’t get to have some great choices though that reflects what you enjoy on a personal level.
Artwork for your office should be warm and inviting. It can be a theme that works well with the type of business you work for. Colours for the walls should be warm and inviting so people feel relaxed. If you are part of a law office or bank, people may get nervous just coming in to see you. If the office isn’t a place where they can relax, it makes it tough for them to discuss anything with you.
Compare Options and Prices
Don’t be in a rush to get your office design changed. Think about what you want to keep and what you definitely don’t want. Changing the wall colour and the art can make a huge difference. Maybe you are happy with that, but you want to change the furniture. Maybe an L-shaped desk will make things more accessible in your office, and you can make the most of the space. A bookshelf can give you a nice way to display books and other materials rather than piling them on your desk.
Get quotes for the cost of materials and the labour. Make sure the quotes break down each aspect, so you can see what the pricing is for the work and for the materials. You need to buy good quality office furniture, so it will stand up to the test of time. You also need to get a reasonable rate for the labour. The more difficult the design is the more labour hours it will take to complete the look. Think about the style of furniture you want too. It should look nice, but also be comfortable.
For your office furnishings, you need them to be ergonomically correct. This ensures you can sit in them for long periods of time without your body suffering from strain and stress. You want a comfortable chair that has both armrests and headrests. You want chairs in your office for others to sit in that are comfortable. They should be easy to get into and out of as well.
Who to Work with
Take your time finding the company to work with for your office design. They should be willing to listen, and they should be able to give you some creative ideas. They should strive to keep the project under budget rather than enticing you to move on to more expensive options. They should be friendly, answer your questions, and be positive about the outcome ahead.
Don’t work with any business that gives you an estimate, but then tries to push you into working with them immediately. They may offer you a discount to do so, or tell you the price they are offering is only good for a very short period of time. If they truly believe in what they offer and stand by it, they should be willing to give you time to explore your options. If they offer great value, you will come back to them for the work.
Take some time to see what customers have to say about other providers. If a business has plenty of complaints, you don’t want to work with them. Look for a business with experience, positive feedback, and great pricing.
When you are ready to work with a company, sit down and go through all of the specifics with them. All of the details of the office design process should be put into writing. This should include pricing and the estimated completion date. If the work is done in segments, it should be broken down into when those milestones will be completed along the way.