How to optimise space in a small office

Merino Laminates, November 22, 2024

Different industries have offices operating on varying scales and due to the increased land prices and demand for land in good locations, many organisations are scaling down the space that they have for their office. Here are some simple tips that you can use to optimise space in a small office and decor tricks that you can use to make it look large and spacious:

1. Spatial planning

As you go about designing an office space, make sure that you opt for an open plan rather than having completely closed cabins or full length partitions. You can either go for a completely open plan or go for shorter partitions in the open workspace and full glass partitions where it is inevitable to create cabins. You can have frosted glass and pair it with louvres to offer more privacy to cabins, but getting rid of solid, full length partitions will give you an opportunity to create a large, open space that will look airy and appealing.

2. Opt for lighter colours

When you zero in on the colour scheme, make sure to choose lighter colours as they can further help you create an impression of space. Dark colours tend to make the space look smaller and compact, thus making them a poor choice for a small office. You can either stick to white, beiges and off whites, greys or have a hint of pastel colours to compliment a neutral colour palette. Colours like light blue, light green, lemon yellow, lighter shades of grey are highly preferred as they create a pleasant and friendly atmosphere where one can focus on their work without the jarring or overpowering effects of brighter or darker colours.

3. Go for a monochromatic theme

It is also a great idea to go for a monochromatic theme in order to create an illusion of space and continuity. You can go for shades of beige, grey, blue or green to design a workspace that is smart, elegant and user friendly. This also helps create layers in your design without having too many design elements which can be distracting for the users. It is also advisable to go for glossy, plain laminates like the stunning Glossmeister laminates High Gloss PU+ Coating Panels – Gloss Meister | Merino Laminates from Merino as they are highly reflective, easy to clean and give a sleek and modern look to the space.

4. Closed storage vs open storage

Storage is extremely crucial in every office space and the more storage we can create, the better. When you are creating storage for a small office space, go for closed storage rather than having open shelves as they tend to not only make the space look small, but they also make it look very cluttered. You can go for under the table cabinets, storage units that double up as partitions and have concealed storage aligned with columns in order to make the space look tidy and spacious. Make sure to also conceal wires and any unpleasant items that may make the desks or walls look cluttered.

5. Ensure you have good ventilation

Lighting and ventilation are extremely important in a wholesome work environment. Good lighting and air circulation creates a healthy work environment, which will ultimately reflect in the productivity of the users. Poorly lit and badly ventilated spaces cause posture and vision issues and can also cause a range of health problems in the users who spend prolonged working hours in the office space. Thus, it is important to ensure that there is ample natural and artificial ventilation in the office space irrespective of its size. Go for large windows to bring in as much natural light as you can and pair it with a balanced mix of ambient and task lighting. You can also add table mounted lights if the office is used by professionals like lawyers, architects, accountants etc as they spend long hours scrutinising documents and drawings. If the space is completely air conditioned, ensure that the air circulation is thorough and every part of the office is air conditioned to create a comfortable work environment.

6. Choose the right furniture

Irrespective of the scale of the office, one must never compromise on comfort and the quality of the furniture as the users are spending many hours seated at their desks. Ergonomically designed chairs are mandatory and these can be paired with well designed, smart work desks that offer ample closed storage and work space to the users. You can go for a sleek visiting or lounge area and smarter seating options rather than opting for bulky sofas or reception tables.

The right spatial planning and finishes can do wonders for you and help you create a space that is modern and sophisticated, thus offering quality spaces to the users to work out of. By using these simple design tips, you will be able to create an office space that is smart and highly efficient, even if it’s housed in a small space.