How to Design a Small Office Space

If you have a small office to work with, it can be difficult to know how best to utilize the space. You don’t want your employees to feel cramped and in turn, unproductive and unmotivated to work. Every square inch of your space matters and even the smallest of offices can be turned into a creative and collaborative working space if you just have the know-how.

Without effective interior design and organization, a small office can limit the number of amenities you can install, and feel a little cluttered. This can have a significant, negative impact on your employee’s wellbeing, and quality of work.  

So whether you are a small business just starting out or only require a small space to house several employees who need an office base, here are some top tips on how to design a small space. 

Introduce hot desks 

Hot-desking has become a significant part of modern working life, as more people prefer to work collaboratively, and remotely. Not only does this create a sense of freedom and flexibility in the office, but it can also ensure tidier workspaces. When an office is tidier, it feels much more spacious. Hot desks tend to be free of clutter and personal items, as they are not owned by any one person. It also means that you can have fewer desks and need for designated areas (such as quiet zones, personal desks, and collaborative spaces) as your employees can adapt the hot desks whenever their needs change. Hot desks come with many other benefits, such as increasing collaboration, circulation of knowledge, and a sense of community, all of which outweigh the need for a bigger office space. 

Install innovative storage solutions 

Even if you pride yourself in being a green, and paperless company, there is still going to be a need for smart storage solutions. This is because there are still plenty of items that are going to be hanging around the office, and can quickly clutter the space and change the atmosphere, for example, personal items of employees such as coats, bags, lunches, umbrellas, as well as important files, notes, files, stationery, etc. This does not mean you need some old, clucky filing cabinets though. Many different innovative and smart storage solutions fit seamlessly into any space, as they can be tailored to suit any size, and can even extend from the ceiling to the floor. 

Light and colors 

The amount of light you have in the office space, and the colors you paint your office will have a huge impact on how small the office feels. If possible try to let in as much natural light as you can, and clear the areas around the windows so employees can use them to spend time. There are many types of window covers that you can opt to use, such as translucent blinds or shades, which will assist in reducing glare on computer screens, without removing the natural light out of the space. Natural light will bring warmth and vitamin D into the room, keep the air nice and fresh, while making the office feel more comfortable. A natural light boost can also create a more lively atmosphere, improve mood and enhance wellbeing. 

Add a mirror or two, if appropriate, into the room as well. This is a great tip to help the natural light bounce around the room better. Commercial painting contractors will be able to help you find the right colors that will enhance the space for you. Lighter colors are best here because they will highlight the features of the room while making it feel brighter and bigger. This is because the natural light combined with light colors make the walls more reflective, creating the illusion of a more open and airy space, whereas darker colors will make the space feel much smaller and more boxed in as darker shades of color tend to absorb the light. You can use contrast colors in your office supplies and equipment, to help make the room look even bigger, for example, with blues, greens, and off-white. 

Minimalist design 

Keep the interior decor and equipment to a bare minimum, enough that will keep the space welcoming, aesthetically pleasing, and functional, without going overboard. Keep things out of sight with storage solutions, or organize them neatly to the side. Try to avoid lots of pictures or paintings, rugs or shelves, anything that is unnecessary, as it can quickly make a small room feel more cramped. 

If you have a small office space, there are plenty of ways that you can design it that will keep your employees happy and motivated.