Office interior design in the XXI century solves not only the problem of ergonomics, as it was a couple of decades ago. Competently thought-out office appearance shows customers the concept of the entire company. The interior should sell products before the potential customer sees them. A cozy and beautiful office makes job seekers want to work in that firm, which means the design solves the issue of hiring employees.

Global corporations often allow employees to work freelance hours. Including at night. And everything in the office should be arranged so that a person would feel comfortable to be in it as at home.

Taking care of employees’ health, large companies arrange gyms near their offices.

Ergonomics of the workplace is aimed at productivity and, consequently, at the development of the company as a whole. Thus, the office today solves many problems and the design project should take into account each of them.

The main differences in the design of office and living space

It is important for the designer to understand that working on a commercial project is different from the process of designing a house or apartment.

1. Office renovation has a clear deadline. Any delay means unnecessary costs. Therefore, the work of design is regulated and threatened by large fines in case of schedule violations. In the design of private homes, there are no such boundaries.
2. Work on the interior of a commercial facility begins most often without a contract. This is due to the peculiarities of the coordination of all processes related to the legal side of the issue. The contract is signed about a month after the customer has confirmed his agreement to work with the designer. In order not to lose time, the performer begins work on the basis of a letter of guarantee.
3. Unlike private clients, corporations have virtually no emotional component when making decisions.
4. Office design in general has a clear structure. Work on a commercial project is faster if it is broken down into tasks and parallelized processes.
5. When working on an office, the designer has fewer meetings with decision makers than with private clients. But he is obliged to get these meetings, not to solve serious questions through intermediaries.
6. If a designer makes mistakes in a commercial project, it will affect his reputation. For several years, he will not be able to participate in tenders.
7. For a residential project, money can be received more quickly. Companies can pay only 3 months after the project is delivered.
8. Commercial objects for the designer are more profitable than residential.
9. Realized office interiors are easier to place in the portfolio because they are not private.

Layout: defining zones

Developing an office plan, the designer takes into account the interests of the company executives, all employees and customers, whose reception will take place in this building. It is necessary to maintain the general style, but keep in mind the tasks that each zone solves.

Reception

Reception introduces clients, partners who come to negotiate, and potential employees to the company. Everyone who is unfamiliar with the company makes the first impression by this area. Therefore the design should evoke only positive emotions.

The interior of the reception reflects the corporate style. For the receptionist, a counter is set up that is convenient for the employee and guests. This is the main object and it is often made to order.

It is necessary to create a corner where guests will spend their waiting time in comfort. It is better not to use partitions designed for the working area, and replace them with live plants in tubs.

Conference room and meeting room

The meeting room differs from other office spaces with its strict design. Minimal decor – all the attention of visitors should be focused on the issues at hand. The area of the conference room is calculated on the maximum number of participants of large meetings.

The central object in the interior of the hall is a massive negotiation table. For safety reasons and from a psychological point of view, it is better to have a round table. This also applies to furniture for the meeting room. At a round table there are no dominant faces, everyone speaks as equals.

Office of the head

The interior should distinguish the head of the company, but it is important not to overdo it. It is unethical to put leather sofas for millions in the office and cover the floor with expensive carpets, when all the other rooms are equipped with chipboard furniture and sustained in a minimalistic style.

The design of the executive space should be quite austere. Business processes allow company heads to receive clients in their own office, but not at their desks. In this room, there should be a corner for receiving guests. Zones can be divided by mobile partitions, screens, furniture.

It is appropriate to hang award sheets on the walls, set aside a corner for the appropriate items.

Do not forget about personal space. Ideally, if the study provides an enclosed area for rest, where you can place more decor than in the rest of the room.

Recreation room, relaxation area, gym

Most often, employees of companies rest in the kitchen, where they can talk about personal matters over a cup of tea or lunch. Here the interior design should provide storage areas, installed appliances. A refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, kettle are the necessary minimum. Tables, sofas and chairs are installed.

The main principle in the planning of areas: relaxation is both a change of place and a change of activity.

In the offices of large corporations, in addition to the kitchen is allocated space for relaxation areas and / or gyms. The relaxation room can only partially match the overall style of the office. The decoration, furniture, sound and light are all aimed at allowing the employee to forget about the work processes for a while and switch their minds to another direction.

A sports hall is equipped according to the area allocated for it. A running track is installed, a place for exercises with free weights is determined. Often a separate room is arranged for yoga classes. If such rooms are provided by the project, one should not forget about the rooms where employees can change their clothes and take a shower.

Working place

In the working areas all the principles of ergonomics are used: safety, functionality, aesthetics, health care.

Most often, offices are planned according to the principle of open space, but even with such an arrangement, each employee has the right to a personal area when no one disturbs anyone. Places are divided by mobile partitions with soundproofing. You can separate the desk of each employee or divide the room into microzones of 4-5 jobs. It should not be allowed to feel that the room is cramped.

Desks are organized so that the surface looks neat and there is no sense of clutter. The task is solved with the help of thought-out organizers on the desktop, drawers for storing personal belongings. It is important to understand what office equipment each employee needs and to consider its location.

The world factories that produce office furniture for several years offer a collection of mobile models and furniture-transformers. First of all, pay attention to desks, the height of which can be changed without taking away from the work process. The employee can change the position of the body, to work standing or sitting, which has a positive effect on health and improves performance.

Color in the interior of the commercial space

A neutral basic palette is often chosen for the office. But the interior in a solid pastel palette looks boring and leads to despondency. Accents can be placed with the help of corporate colors, and pay attention to the colorful decor. Intense shades of blue, lemon, turquoise and green enhance performance.

Strict interior design is well supported by the beige and chocolate palette. In such a range is easy to fit the furniture made of natural materials. Shades of gray is harmoniously diluted with orange, lilac or blue.

Take into account what side of the building the windows face. If on the north side, take as the basis of warm colors. For the south side it is better to take a cool palette.