Redesign Dos & Don'ts
Remodeling and furnishing an office is expensive. There is no way around it. Many ways exist to cut costs but at the end of the day, to complete the job you could end up spending thousands of dollars. For some people and some businesses it is a great way to spend some extra cash at the end of a fiscal period, but for others a new office is an expense that is not feasible. However, that does not mean that you are stuck with a completely outdated office.
Small Changes
There are many simple and affordable things that can be done to a workplace to breathe new life into its furnishings or design. A new paint color, new carpet, or a new rug is the easiest way to turn a dated feeling area into a modern sanctuary. The dated feeling we get from old pastels that were popular decades ago is often unnoticed and color is one of the most important features of design. In fact, you can change the tone and feel of a room without any major projects. Consider changing or moving around pictures and other wall mounted accessories. Changing the layout of the furniture can also make a huge impact without spending any money. Sometimes simple things like this have zero cost aside from labor and hard work. Finally, experiment with the lighting. There are a number of types of light bulbs with different color profiles. A change from daylight style lamps to something with a different hue can make a room feel completely different. So when you think you need a change, start with the simple things first. It could help you save a lot of money in the long run.
New Furnishings
To redesign and modernize an office it is sometimes necessary to purchase new furniture. Desks, conference tables, waiting room chairs, and conference rooms are all important to the décor of an office. That being said, there is no rule saying everything has to be modernized at once. To decide what to do first, an evaluation of your office is necessary. You must ask yourself, what area do you dislike the most and how can you change it. If you are not satisfied with your office, you can look into upgrading your desk or you can take a less conventional option and modernize your chairs. A couple new guest chairs can drastically change the look and feel of an office. Just remember it is crucial that they match your existing furniture. Putting midcentury modern chairs in a traditional office could damage the aesthetic more then it helps. In contrast, often times a desk upgrade is needed. Desks are typically the largest furnishing in any office and the most impactful. However, as stated earlier you might be able to modernize your desk and keep your other furniture pieces, especially if you have basic chairs. This rule holds true for just about any room. Conference rooms can get new chairs, a new table, or both. No matter how you make the change, changing something can make a huge impact.
Complete Redesign
So in any office, home, or miscellaneous work place there comes a time where technology and work method changes render a space inadequate. It is not uncommon, especially in the modern technology area. If we go back 50 years, filing and storage was essential to any workplace. Now all you really need is enough computer memory. Rooms dedicated to storing reference material and old documents are no longer needed, they have been replaced by desktop computers and servers. So an older office that has not been properly remodeled for years is wasting a lot of space. If you are in this situation, it is worth investigating reallocating offices, work areas, and other room usage. A large file room can be converted into a training room, a break room, more private offices, or just about anything. However, it is important to realize how big of a job this actually is. Repurposing entire areas is essentially the first step in a total remodel. Once you start down this path you either need to match existing design style or redo the entire office. It becomes a major project and often takes a larger commitment then most of us want to peruse.
Get Help
As stated above, repurposing rooms and full remodels are major jobs and require a significant commitment. Most people think about the cost commitment first, but it is critical that we do not forget about the mental commitment. We have to spend time and energy designing the area, making purchasing choices, and ensuring everything matches and looks great. All of this can interfere with getting our own work done, but do not worry there other ways. The most practical way to get an eye opening workspace is to hire a professional. The world is full of interior designers and some even specialize in work spaces. The upside to using one is you get a great looking office; however, the down side is cost. Hiring a designer adds another dimension to your proposed project and this costs money. To hire someone or to do it yourself is a difficult decision. The only advice I can give you is to ensure you know the scope of the project first. Finally, there is one other option; you get some assistance from a furniture dealer. Furniturewholesalers.com and many other furniture dealers are happy to provide you with some basic advice. We can point you in the proper direction and offer some suggestions based on what you like. So feel free to contact us at sales@funiturewholesalers.com and ask some questions. We can give you perspective on the cost items and what series match each other. You will never learn until you ask.
In conclusion, changing the style of your workplace can be simple and cheap or complicated and expensive. It depends on what you want to achieve and how big of a financial commitment you want to make. Just remember your office needs to be comfortable for you to work in. At the end of the day your opinion of it is what matters the most. Everyone else’s thoughts are of little consequence. So next time you feel like your office isn’t providing the best environment possible to be productive think about an upgrade, it could be the change you need.