Are you moving to a gorgeous new office space? Starting from a blank slate can be both overwhelming and exciting. You want to make sure you get the best furniture to support your team and create a beautiful office people love to work in. We’ve been doing this since 2002, so we know a thing or two about this.
Our design resource group seamlessly configures architectural walls, acoustic elements, and office furniture so a space can gracefully serve its intended functions. This trusty planner pulls back the curtain on our office design layout process. Here, we cover the design layout process step-by-step so you don’t miss a thing.
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Office Design Layout Steps |
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Getting into a new space is exciting! Our approach to exploring a new office space includes a detailed walk-through to take a look at permanent fixtures and light sources and identify anything that may need a bigger fix. We also like to take measurements at this point so we can refer back to them later in the layout process. |
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The fun really starts when you begin to gather inspiration for your new office vision. Scroll online or visit other office spaces to find inspiration. What do you love? What do you want to avoid? Start collecting images of office design layouts that excite you. We’ll help! |
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Offices often need to do it all—provide space for privacy and collaboration. Look around your current office and envision how you use the space the most. Now, picture your new space: what’s different? Do you need flexible desks? Less coworking spaces and more heads-down workstations? Figuring out your priorities will help you design your office to maximize the space you have, and then our team can help you find the solutions to strike the perfect balance. |
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We’ll create a mood board of your favorite styles. Do you want clean, modern lines and all-white furnishings or a cozy, lived-in look with wood furniture, colorful rugs, and lamps? We’ll help you lock in on the design aesthetics you want your office space to feature and make sure you end up with a cohesive look you love. |
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Sit down with your team and hear them out. What do they want from their new office space? What are the current pain points that are making their day harder or less comfortable? Now’s the time to zero in on what isn’t working and what the dream is so you can tailor your office design layout just for them. |
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Time to go shopping! Your dedicated project manager will escort you to our manufacturers’ showrooms and help you curate a collection of furniture you love from our 300+ furniture partners. |
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Try before you buy! Our AI-powered tools allow you to visualize your space in 3D. This allows you to make sure the office design layout and furnishings feel right before making any big purchases. You can move things around and switch furniture products out so you can get a feel for how different options might look in the space. |
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Explore the Space
Before you can create a stunning office design layout, you have to become intimately acquainted with your space’s features and quirks. To do so, you’ll need to request floor plans of the space, including exact measurements, from your landlord. An architect can also measure the space and provide a floor plan, or we can create the plan for you.
We recommend bringing an architect and/or our team in to inspect the space as soon as possible. Even if you have existing floor plans, a professional's measurement and walkthrough of the space can help you date earlier renovations and find any inconsistencies from the original plans. Plus, it can help you identify any major fixes that need to happen before you move in.
Our eagle-eyed designers are experts in New York City codes and the common idiosyncrasies of the city’s architecture, so we know how to troubleshoot potential hurdles proactively. Hiring our design resource group can save you precious time and money; we’ll point out trouble spots and help you get to know your new office space so you can get the most out of it.
Review Inspiration
Offices come in all shapes; there isn’t a one-size-fits-all layout option. Visit our showroom to start brainstorming possibilities, tour other office spaces, or review lookbooks to get an idea of different designs. Talk to colleagues and other business professionals to learn more about the pain points in their existing office spaces and what they love most about recent improvements they’ve made.
Here are a few common layouts you may consider throughout the design process:
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Common Office Design Layouts |
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Features |
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Traditional |
When you picture an office, you are probably picturing this type of layout: permanent or semi-permanent individual workspaces, private offices for upper management, group meeting spaces, and open reception areas separated by walls. It’s a classic for a reason: it’s functional and looks great! |
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Workstations |
This is an open floor plan adapted to semi-private workspaces using partitions and temporary walls. This option is often more cost-efficient than a traditional office. Workstations have a reputation for being boring, but we’ve got modern solutions that will make this type of layout feel fresh. |
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Team-centered |
This layout includes separate workstations and meeting rooms for departments to easily work and collaborate together. We’re fans of this because it flexes when necessary and puts your team’s best interest at the heart of the design. |
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Open floor plan |
Nothing screams, “We’re a cool company!” more than an open office layout. Walls are removed, and workspaces are separated only by furniture elements. Stations are organized by groups of desks called pods and floating meeting rooms for maximum collaboration. |
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Hybrid |
The office of the future mixes the best of all worlds. Hybrid spaces borrow elements from all the above office layouts, so teams can choose the workspaces that best fit their needs. Why choose one when you can have it all? |
When you work with us, our office design layout experts will meet with you to discuss your business’s precise needs. Then we’ll craft a layout that inspires your team, allows them to focus and collaborate, and invites them to enjoy their office time as much as possible.
Set Priorities
What does your business need on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis to ensure it operates smoothly? Do you need an intuitive conference space with telework capabilities for remote teams to discuss upcoming initiatives? Do you want an open-concept pantry space that allows your employees to stay focused while snacking? Is the vision a stylish reception area that stores everything your office manager needs to greet visitors and organize the day?
If you operate like many businesses, chances are your office space needs to smoothly juggle simultaneous priorities. To ensure you have the best office design layout for your needs, you need to take an honest inventory of your business goals.
Don’t know where to start? Talk to us. We can discuss your business priorities and devise innovative solutions to create a flexible, functional office space. We also know how to “trim the fat,” so you’re not too focused on any element that may not be in your best interest.
Create a Mood Board
While it doesn’t directly impact the mathematics of your office space, you need to identify a central aesthetic to guide your design. This is where the fun comes in! With your input, we’ll pull examples of textures, colors, fabrics, and furniture pieces into a mood board that will inform purchasing choices later on.
At this stage, don’t worry too much about making any permanent decisions; we’re just choosing examples of items you may like to incorporate later. By doing this early in the process, we establish an overall vision that guides the rest of the office design layout. Our designers then help you sort through our robust catalog of furniture brand samples. We can also coordinate painting and flooring refresh services with our sister company, Distinctive Office Interiors.
Survey the Team
Businesses with an existing workforce have the privilege of outsourcing some of the guesswork of the design process. While building out an office design layout, take the time to survey your employees and find out what resources they use the most, which ones are neglected, and anything that may make their day-to-day tasks easier.
When we work with clients on office designs, we take all the information we can get. If you provide insights from your existing employees, we will tailor our designs to those specifications. This due diligence can eliminate downtime, make auditing audio-visual and cabling demands easier, and keep your business running smoothly, even throughout the relocation and redesign process, because we can tailor our troubleshooting just for you.
Browse Furnishings
Once you have a general idea of your desired layout and aesthetic, you can shop for office furniture. At this point, you’ll want to discuss the furniture budget with your relocation or project management team and calculate how many workstations, desks, storage solutions, and other furniture you need to conduct business in your new space. Consider anything you may want to repurpose from your existing space as well.
We will escort you to manufacturer showrooms to curate a cohesive collection of furniture pieces you love. Our team lives and breathes office furniture products, and they have a direct line of communication with designers to ensure selections can be delivered and installed on your timeline and budget. The best part is that we’re one of only three Platinum-Certified MillerKnoll dealers in the city, so you can rest assured that with us, you’ll get the very best furniture for your people.
Request a Virtual Walkthrough
Your office design layout is your office’s blueprint, but it’s not the final product. As such, it’s important to thoroughly review and explore the design before you move forward.
We employ sophisticated technology that allows you to visualize every element of your office design before making any commitments. We use cutting-edge tools like CET Live Design and Yulio to create 3D renderings and life-like animations you can explore in virtual reality. These tools allow you to make real-time changes, including moving things around and switching out potential products, while walking through your space. This way, you can approve your design choices before you spend the money, time, and energy to build the space in real life.
Trust Benhar Office Interiors to Invigorate Your Office Space
While we are proud of our wealth of resources detailing the ins and outs of office design layouts and renovations, we believe a professional eye is the key to creating productive, aesthetic spaces. When you hire our team, we measure twice and cut once, so your office design can grow with your company and support your employees daily.
Schedule an initial consultation to learn more about our complete office furniture services.