5 Things to Think About Before Redesigning Your Office

If you are considering an office redesign then you are probably worried that you may inadvertently change things in a way that makes your workday harder than it needs to be. There are many pitfalls that you can find yourself in when doing an extensive redesign. There may also be different things to consider depending on whether you are redesigning an office space for a large business with many workers, a small office space for a small team, an office for a single person, or a home office. So what are some things to think about before undertaking an office redesign?

1. How much space is required?

Your day-to-day activities within the office will require a certain amount of space. If you are redesigning an existing office then you probably won't be able to change the amount of space available, but you can try to use that space more efficiently. Objects within the office generally require a certain amount of space to navigate around them so consider whether placing some objects against a wall would open up more space. Couches and benches are a good contender for this.

You should also consider whether you have enough space for clients or other visitors to sit and move around as needed. Do they have enough leg-room to be comfortable? What is the eye-line between you and them as you sit talking to them? If you plan on talking to them from your desk then you will need less room than if you sit with them in a more personal space, so you will need to factor this in.

2. What is the flow of foot traffic within the workspace?

Consider which parts of the office space you and any other office workers will need to interact with during a typical work day. First you'll need to get to your desk. You may need to get up from your desk to interact with printers and other office machines, and to get any paperwork or other resources you need from cabinets within the office. As you take breaks throughout the day you'll need to get to the kitchen, breakroom, bathroom, or to a coffee maker within a self-contained office. Consider your traversal routes and the things that may impede you while walking around your office, and set-up your office space accordingly.

3. How will the lighting affect your workspace?

One of the most distracting issues that can occur as a result of an office redesign is light glaring off computer screens making it difficult to see what you are working on. If your desk is setup so that a window is behind it then you need to consider if the sun will become a problem at certain times of the day. If this is a major issue then you will probably need to consider changing the position of the desk. If the problem only occurs for a short period as the sun moves past the window then you might be better off ensuring that the window has curtains or blinds that can be easily closed and opened to block the sun as the need arises. You should also consider the lamps and lights in the room and ensure they are positioned and angled so that they don't create screen glare.

4. Do you have enough space for your office chair?

The thing that you interact with the most in your office is the chair you sit on, so it's important to factor the chair you will be using into your office redesign. This is particularly true if you are upgrading to a new chair that may have special requirements. A large chair or one that you will move about on a lot will require some extra space and you will need to allow for that space in the positioning of the desk and surrounding items. If you use a zero gravity office chair or a chair with a similar lay-back feature then you will also need to allow space for the chair to switch to its horizontal configuration.

5. What are the safety requirements of your office space?

If an emergency occurs then you will need access to items such as fire extinguishers and you will need to be able to evacuate the office space quickly if needed. Ensure that emergency items are placed where you will have clear access to them and that doors can all be opened from the inside.

A bit of careful planning before starting your office redesign can save you a lot of headaches once you start working in that new space. Take the time to consider your needs when planning the new design and think carefully about how the office space will be used. You'll spend a lot of time working in that space so ensuring that it is a productive place to work will also ensure that your workday is an enjoyable one.