Bringing your team in and getting their opinions when planning an office space redesign is a great move.
Redesigning an office space is much more complicated than it appears at first glance. The process is tricky and involves a lot of moving parts. However, if you’re made aware of some of the problems people have faced when planning an office redesign in the past you can learn from them and avoid making those same mistakes. Here are 5 common mistakes people make when planning an office redesign.
1. Underestimating the Budget
Although it seems fairly obvious, you’d be surprised how many people don’t have an accurate budget when setting out with an office redesign. Take into account everything, including any lost productivity or temporary relocation costs, when planning your budget. Most importantly, stick to the budget once you have set it.
2. No Scalability
Another mistake people make is not accounting for future growth in your office space. According to experts, you should allow an additional 10% of office space to allow for growth over the next few years. This will help you avoid having another redesign project later on down the line.
3. Selecting Lighting Fixtures Too Soon
The only way to understand how your office will best function is by working in it for a short period of time. Different parts of your office will require different lighting patterns to allow the best functionality, so try to work in the redesigned space for a few days before picking and installing new lighting fixtures.
4. Overbuying
This goes hand-in-hand with your budget. It can be pretty exciting to get fresh new office furniture in your space, from adjustable height desks to new ergonomic chairs and collaborative furniture. But it is easy to overdo, and this will result in an overcrowded space, not to mention the likelihood that you’ll go over budget.
5. Not Soliciting Input from Employees
While your employees aren’t in charge of your office redesign, they will be the ones most affected by it. Soliciting opinions from them is a good way to boost the return on investment of the redesign and can help foster a sense of ownership within your team.
Ready to Transform Your Office Design with Some New Furniture?
American Design Associates, Inc. is a furniture dealer and design firm serving clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. We strive to ensure that every customer ends up with the office design and furniture to help their business run for years to come. We have the expertise and resources to help you get your move off to a great stress-free start. Visit us online to see what we can do for you, or give us a call at (410) 823-5500. To see examples of our work and get more advice on furnishing your office space, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+.