Let’s face it, in today’s competitive employment market, companies vie not only for business and work contracts but also to attract the best candidates. You may be the best graphic design company in your area, but if your office looks like a throwback to the 80’s, with fabric partition walls, dimly lit desks and uninspiring decor, then you’ll not only turn off potential customers but also fail to attract the best candidate for the job.

You may be the best graphic design company in your area, but if your office looks like a throwback to the 80’s, with fabric partition walls, dimly lit desks and uninspiring decor, then you’ll not only turn off potential customers but also fail to attract the best candidate for the job.

So what can you do to brighten up and improve your office? How can you create spaces that not only impress potential clients but also inspire the workforce, allowing them to collaborate in a comfortable yet stimulating environment? In a previous post, we’ve discussed the most popular office design ideas for 2019, and here we’ll give you the top ten tips to brighten up and fast forward your office into the 21st Century:

1. Open up the Space, to Let in Light

Rather than put up with a warren of closed off cubicles, in recent years many businesses have moved to open plan configurations. But if you really want to create an open, bright, airy atmosphere then you should allow more natural light in. One easy way to do this is to remove dark window shades and install intelligent shades that can be controlled remotely or be set to close at a particular time, depending on the direction that your office faces. If your budget allows, you can install floor to ceiling windows or even add skylights to maximise natural light.

2. Think Glass Partition Walls

One of the most popular ways to let more light into an office is to remove solid walls and doors and install glass partition walls. These can also be suspended from the ceiling, meaning that the office becomes an organic space, one that can easily be reorganised according to your business needs. There’s really no better way to give your office an instant facelift and make it look uber cool and chic.

If you need privacy in certain areas, say for a meeting room or boardroom, then you can install smart glass. This amazing innovation allows you to change the glass from clear to opaque at the flick of a switch, using liquid crystal technology. It doesn’t have to break the budget either as you can either splurge on glass with the built-in technology or simply purchase film that is applied to the glass. Easy to clean and virtually invisible to the human eye, this is a really popular option when budgets are tight.

3. Bring nature in with a living wall

Hard edges and sleek designs are fantastic, but in order to really improve the mood of any workplace, you need to think about bringing the outside in – not just light but also nature. Some interesting planting will not only make your office look more appealing but also really help boost the mood among work colleagues – and no, that decrepit spider plant in the corner really won’t do it. 

Forward-thinking business owners are going one step further and using ‘living walls’ to incorporate nature into their urban environment. These self-sufficient vertical gardens can be attached to an exterior or interior wall and are easy to customise to most spaces. Rather than simply a façade that’s rooted into the ground, these plants are actually rooted into substrate and will have a built-in irrigation system. Not only are these sublimely beautiful to look at, but they can also improve air purification and help to humidify a dry office atmosphere. Health and wellbeing are now really important considerations for business owners and this is a great way to improve the office ambience and working environment. Happy workers are known to be more productive and have lower sickness rates, so this really is a win-win option. 

4. Create break out spaces and focus zones.

In order to boost creativity, see if you have room to create break out spaces – or focus zones – within your office. Rather than remain bound to a desk, or sit in a formal conference room, these smaller zones are great for individuals to get away from their usual workspace. They’re really important as they’re a great space for employees to relax and reenergise, find inspiration when they’ve hit a mental block, or collaborate in smaller groups. 

There are so many options available, depending on the space available and your budget, from a simple sofa and chairs to benches and whiteboards. This option is really easy to achieve and will dramatically increase productivity and happiness in your workplace.

5. Don’t forget branding and messaging

If you have clients visiting your offices then a great way to brighten up the office and remain on brand is to jazz up your internal signage. You can create bright acrylic signage, or go for the lower-cost option of vinyl wall lettering. This is not only visually appealing, but helps reinforce your brand messaging. If you’ve installed glass partition walls, consider having your logo frosted into the glass. 

6. Improve the storage

There’s nothing more off-putting than a cluttered office. So invest in some modern storage options and help update your tired office space. A simple trip to Ikea and those best-selling Billy Bookcase could be all you need to spruce up your tired décor. There’s also some great modular furniture out there that can be ordered to fit your office layout, consult a design team for the best options. Think about something other than boring white or grey as well – a splash of primary colour can give the office a real facelift and help it appear bang on trend. 

7. Look at standing desks

Updating your office is about more than sprucing up the walls and layout, you need to look at the furniture you’ve installed as well, especially the desks. 

No longer something to simply work on, desks are now multi-functional assets for any office. It’s a known fact that sitting down all day isn’t good for anyone – it’s important to get up, move around and get that circulation going again. That’s why standing desks are now really popular and a great way to boost productivity and wellbeing among your workforce. Employees with back issues in particular will thank you for installing adjustable standing desks; these can be raised to standing and lowered to normal desk height as required. Another option is to purchase on-desk solutions; these fit above a normal desk and allow the computer and keyboard to be raised to standing height. 

8. Invest in desk exercise equipment

We all know the mantra ‘healthy body, healthy mind’ and nowhere is this more true than in today’s fitness-obsessed society. If you have the space in your office, why not install treadmill workstations? As well as helping promote a healthy body weight, treadmill desks have also been proven to improve mood and creativity and decrease stress, as well as lower blood pressure. 

Desks with exercise bikes are also becoming increasingly popular. These will normally just house a desk large enough for a laptop, but employees love the idea of sneaking in some cardio, working the body as well as the mind, so they’re sure to be a popular option. 

9. Create hot desk zones

In recent years, the ability to work remotely has led to a revolution in office dynamics. No longer bound by the 9 to 5, certain workers can flex their hours and don’t necessarily need to occupy a desk during their working hours. This is not only good for the employee, but also means that companies are no longer limited in size – and growth – by the spaces they inhabit. Employees can hot desk, working from home and coming into the office at irregular hours, sharing a desk with colleagues. 

However, this needs to be managed – no one wants to arrive at the office and find there’s nowhere to work. So offices are typically installing a mix of full-time desks and hot desk ‘zones’. These latter areas typically have adjustable seats and desks that can easily fit the ergonomic needs of any employee. If you’re looking to update your layout, then definitely consider installing an area for hot desking, it will benefit your business in the long run. 

10. Don’t forget the finishing touches

It’s easy to blow the budget during an office refurb and neglect the small finishing touches that can really bring an office design together. You might have amazing workstations, fantastic branding and a gorgeous living wall, but add the right artwork, book storage and soft furnishings and you’ll really bring the design together. We’ve all seen this in home renovation programmes – without the right finishing touches, you’ve really only got the bare bones of any design project. So take a step back and really look at your office, even the smallest of budgets will allow for bright scatter cushions or the right print to set the design off nicely.

We hope these ideas will help provide inspiration if you’re considering giving your office a facelift. It can be hard to know where to start, so if you need help then contact our design team on 01256 769343 and we can help bring your vision to reality, on budget and according to your timeframe. 

In the past, office spaces were defined by the very structures that bound them – the position of walls, windows and power supply. Now, with the advent of suspended ceilings and WiFi connectivity, offices are far more adaptable and can easily be rearranged without the restraints of trying to work in a space created for someone else or another business. However, this is only part of the story. Just as technology has become embedded in our everyday lives, now even our walls have become smart and connected. We’re talking about smart glass, or switchable glass, where electric frosted glass will turn from clear to opaque at the flick of a switch. By installing smart glass, workspaces become extremely elegant and versatile. Not only is smart glass aesthetically pleasing, but it also provides instant privacy and security, transforming an open plan space to clearly defined work areas. 

Let’s Go through the Looking Glass – the History of Smart Glass…

The concept of smart glass was first introduced as thermochromic glass, which used heat from the sun to tint windows. Although excellent for heat regulation, this application lacked manual control. Then there was polymer dispersed liquid crystal, where a low-voltage electrical charge was used to control transparency. Similar to the technology used in digital watches, the drawback here was that a constant power supply was needed for complete transparency.

The latest version of this technology is known as electrochromic glass. This incorporates liquid crystal molecules that change state when exposed to an electrical charge. When an electrical current passes through these molecules, they align, allowing incident light to pass through and making them clear. When the current is switched off, they revert to a random orientation, diffusing the light and making the glass opaque (this is the private setting). This type of glass can also be dimmed, allowing even greater control of the environment, and only requires the electrical charge for the transition.

Even if you’ve not noticed it in any buildings yet, the chances are you’ll already have seen smart glass. It’s actually been used since the 1980s, when tech giant Gentex developed self-dimming rearview mirrors for the automotive industry. If you do a lot of air travel, you’ll also have seen smart glass on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, where it’s replaced the plastic window blinds, allowing passengers and crew to control light in the cabin. 

Smart Glass – the Options

There are two types of application possible, when it comes to installing smart glass tech:

Switchable smart film

Switchable film is a self-adhesive, opaque smart film that can be retrofitted to existing glass partition walls. It is relatively inexpensive and therefore the most cost-effective option for offices that aren’t looking for a complete refit. However, bear in mind that although the film can be applied to most glass surfaces, it is exposed to the elements and therefore vulnerable to humidity, chemicals and accidental damage. 

Switchable Smart Glass

This is a more permanent solution, for those with a higher budget, or buildings where external conditions such as humidity are an issue. Switchable smart glass has a layer of liquid crystals embedded within a laminate of the glass itself. The best time to fit smart glass is definitely during construction, as it requires an electrical cable to be run from each pane of glass. However, if you think that office buildings tend to be mostly made of glass, and can contain thousands of staff members, the cost-saving benefits definitely outweigh any initial investment in the technology.

Just as there are options for the type of smart glass technology you use, there are also several options available for controlling transparency. You’re not limited to using a physical switch, privacy can also be controlled using daylight or motion sensors and even from your smartphone, using an App. 

Additional Benefits of Smart Glass Technology

It’s not just versatility and instant screening that make smart glass such an attractive option for forward-thinking designers. Smart glass also has the following benefits:

• By being able to control the amount of light that enters and passes through your office, you can maximise natural sunlight to improve employee wellbeing

• Smart glass also blocks more than 98% of UV rays, so is good for your health. 

• It reduces heat waste, this means not only is it eco-friendly but also that it’s energy-efficient, reducing your electricity bills.

• Unlike sliding doors or blinds, there are no moving parts so there’s less wear and tear.

• Installing smart glass will add to the resale value of your property, and make it far more attractive to potential tenants.

• If you have works of art or precious furniture, blocking out UV light will also help protect these items.

Further Office Applications

Smart glass can be used to create partition walls, opening up spaces and instantly making them private, but the technology can also be used on external windows and skylights. In addition, the opaque glass can be used as a projection wall for presentations, offering ultimate versatility for your workspace. 

What’s the Future for Switchable Glass?

Smart glass technology is already infiltrating the automotive and aerospace industries. As we see more switchable glass around us in commercial and office buildings, the trend will also inevitably trickle down from the corporate world to hospitals, schools and universities, as well as residential properties. Although the majority of us will have only seen it on renovation programmes such as Grand Designs, where forward-thinking, eco-friendly home owners look to incorporate cutting edge technology in their new abodes, undoubtedly at some point developers will begin to incorporate smart glass in their new builds, bringing the application to the mainstream. Who knows, as smart glass moves from being a luxury to a necessity, the future may even be one where curtains and blinds are a thing of the past, as is the case for the lovely old typewriter. One thing’s for sure, the future for switchable glass is definitely a bright one.

Here at Sandhurst Interiors, we can advise on the best design and installation options for your office design or refit. We’ve been providing office and commercial refurbishment services since 1988 and pride ourselves on delivering a bespoke service for our clients. Contact us on 01256 769343 and see how we can help you create the perfect office, one where functionality and aesthetics meet cutting edge innovation. 

If you’re planning an office refurbishment or a complete fit out and need some inspiration, we’ve put together the most popular trends we’re seeing in 2019. Follow our advice and whatever the space you’re working with, you’ll find ideas to improve your office environment. A happy workforce is a productive workforce, and there are key improvements you can implement to ensure your coworkers and employees are at their happiest.

Create Experience Driven Spaces

When designing an office, businesses are increasingly looking to create experience driven spaces. Creating a quirky and fun breakout space is a great way to boost staff morale. No matter the size of the office or your budget, you should think about incorporating a separate space away from workstations for your staff to kick back and relax. Not only that, but you can also hold informal smaller meetings in these spaces, so they’re multi-functional. Here are some great ideas we’re seeing incorporated into commercial office designs:

• Private cubicles with soft furnishings – from low level garden style seating to bean bags or even shipping containers with glass walls, creating personal spaces is great for helping staff reenergize.

• Gaming zone – you can go crazy with this one and install snooker tables, ping pong tables or even retro arcade games.

• Coffee station – forget a sterile kitchen, why not provide coffee and tea making facilities with coffee-shop style island seating?

• Library area – be it screen time or magazines and books; a quiet reading area is great for getting some peace and restoring the senses.

Understand that Privacy Matters

Open plan offices became the norm in the ‘60s and many businesses have stuck to this space-saving approach, adding on the odd meeting or conference room. But in today’s more mindful society, businesses are investing in privacy pods or modular booths, so employees can work collaboratively in a more focused space. Using space intelligently makes construction of private booths straightforward and achievable for even smaller or medium sized businesses.

Maximise Space and Light

Gone are the days of grey or blue partition walls and dim, artificial lighting. Today’s offices are zoned by glass partition walls, breaking up corporate spaces no matter how large or small. The glazing not only preserves natural light but also provides excellent sound proofing. Suspended ceilings are also increasingly popular, allowing for flexible lighting options and work fantastically with glass partition walls.

Ensure Health and Wellbeing

According to the World Health Organization, by 2020 cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders will be responsible for the majority of non-communicable disease. Forward thinking business owners are therefore becoming increasingly mindful of ways in which to improve the working environment for their employees, with an aim to improving health and wellbeing.

As a result, many businesses are moving toward biophilic design and incorporating soothing elements such as living walls into their office designs. This concept acknowledges that in today’s busy urban world, many of us are losing our connection to nature. Incorporating elements of nature has been proven to reduce stress, decrease blood pressure and heart rates, greatly improving productivity and creativity.

A living wall – or vertical wall – grows plants on soil or substrate, and usually has a built-in irrigation system. Not only aesthetically pleasing, it also improves the environment, helping control heat and humidity. Let’s face it, it’s a far nicer approach than having the odd potted plant, desperate for light and water and standing out incongruously against partition walls. If you don’t have a big enough budget or a space fit for a living wall, then think of using moss walls. These can be equally effective and can survive in areas with little to no sunlight.

Make Sure First Impressions Count

Your reception area is incredibly important for setting the right impression to clients and customers. It’s where you set the tone for your business – your ethos, culture and services.
Instead of plain seating, many companies are including quirky statement pieces, and incorporating design features such as living walls or digital wall images. Including charging stations is also becoming increasingly popular, and will show visitors you’re a forward-thinking business that puts your customer’s needs first.

Embrace the Hot Desk Revolution

In recent years, the way we work has changed immeasurably. Hot desking and home working are now the norm for many companies. According to the BBC, who’s own hot desking policy was satirised in the comedy series W1A, hot desking can reduce office running costs by up to 30%, improve cross-department communication and stimulate productivity. Not being shackled to the same spot can definitely be a mental breath of fresh air. Businesses implementing hot desking into their ethos install desks, chairs and computer monitors that are easily adjustable and will fit the ergonomic needs of everyone in the office. Plenty of breakout spaces are also provided, so teams can still easily convene for meetings.

Combine the Old with the New

This is a trend that’s been emerging for some years. Sympathetic architects are blending original features such as steel beams and exposed brickwork with modern furniture and décor. This is supremely soothing for the mind, and links your working space to an interesting past. If you’re not lucky enough to have beautiful brickwork, a quick and easy way to add an element of interest to your office is to install feature wallpaper with a distressed brick design.

Incorporate Collaborative Co-worker Spaces

According to the Office of National Statistics, there are over 4.7 million self-employed people in the UK. While working from home suits some, the loneliness and lack of work-life balance leads many to seek a shared office space. There are many benefits to this arrangement – not only does this earn rent for what would otherwise have been dead space, but for the tenant there’s no need to commit to long term leases and the associated running costs. Savvy landlords and business owners are definitely seeing the benefits of this type of office arrangement, with many creating smaller, collaborative spaces to suit these short-term needs and foster collaboration in today’s Gig economy. Go creative and unusual to appeal to millennials and Generation Z – after all, these account for 50% of today’s workforce. Think cosy work pods, inspiring breakout spaces, phone booths or even a roof garden, if you’re lucky enough to have one!

We hope these ideas help inspire you with your commercial design project. If you need any help or advice with the planning, we have experts on hand to make sure you get the optimal design for your workspace. Our highly experienced team will manage the whole process for you, giving you peace of mind that the project will come in within budget and on time. Call us on 01256 769343 to discuss your requirements. Whatever your needs, we have the expertise and vision to deliver.

Along with providing office refurbishment and full fit out services, we can also help if your commercial premises purely needs redecorating, be that repainting, plastering, or wood resin repairs. We have worked with many different types of client and have a large portfolio available for you to view. It may be that you need some ideas on how best to give your office a new lease of life? If so our skilled team would be happy to consult with you on this, we are equally as comfortable redecorating a single office or whole building.

Let us take the hassle out of giving your commercial premises a face lift, we will manage the project from start to finish, leaving you to continue your business with minimal disruption.

Our process

We endeavour to complete our projects with minimal disruption to our client’s working day, our main aim being 100% client satisfaction. The products we use are from leading suppliers and we are able to give you advice on the best paints for each area of your project. Whether it is a high traffic area or a wet area, you can be sure that we will advise on the most suitable products.

To discuss an office redecoration give us a call today: 01256 769343

Take a look at our other services, including;

• Office partition systems
• Office refurbishment
• Office fit-outs
• Suspended ceilings

If your company has expanded or your office space needs to evolve with the changing requirements of your business we can help. Our professional, skilled and dedicated team will work with you from start to finish to refurbish suspended ceilings, partitioning, decorative features and if needed source new furniture and storage. We have a wide range of project experience and a large portfolio available for you to view. It may be that you need some ideas on how best to give your office a new lease of life, our skilled team are happy to consult with you on this.

Our Office Refurbishment Services

A newly refurbished office will help boost staff morale by creating a more comfortable place to work, who doesn’t benefit from a change of scenery? We can work with you to advise what a good office looks like, to ensure that you are putting across the best impression of your business to visiting clients. By providing a full turnkey service you will not be liaising with a whole list of contractors, just our skilled and professional team.

To speak to one of our team about your refurbishment requirements give us a call today 01256 769343

Take a look at our other services, including;

• Office fit-outs
• Suspended ceilings
• Office partition systems

We work with you from the planning stage of your office fit out project to the completion of your office space, ensuring that it is a productive place for your staff to work & importantly reflects your brand. We are comfortable working with end user clients or main contractors alike, installing suspended ceilings, partitioning, & dry-lining through to electrics, data, floor coverings, decorations, storage and furniture to fully fit out your office.

A well planned office could include:

• Breakout areas for informal discussion
• Communal areas that are easy to access to enable interaction between teams to work on larger projects
• Natural light or a view of the outside
• Multiple spaces to allow for privacy, collaboration and rest at break time
• The ability for employees to hot desk, allowing collaboration between teams

Whatever your project requirements we have an extensive portfolio of successful projects ranging from a single office to complete buildings, in both the private and public sector, including schools and hospitals.

Sara Dillon, Director of the Eden Group said this about working with us:

“Sandhurst Interiors recently carried out a refurbishment of our offices in Camberley. At all times we found them to be extremely helpful and professional. They worked within our budget by making suggestions on how we could get the best possible finish that would meet our needs and expectations. The standard of work was excellent and carried out with no mess or disruption. Work was scheduled so that it didn’t interfere with us having to work in the premises whilst the changes were happening, which is essential for a business. I would therefore have no problem recommending Sandhurst Interiors.”

If you’d like to speak to us about your project give us a call today 01256 769343.

Take a look at our other services, including;

• Office refurbishment
• Suspended ceilings
• Office partition systems

Installing office partition systems is one of our specialities. Space planning & installing the correct partitioning in your workplace is essential in terms of creating the right working atmosphere for your staff. Whether you need a ‘sound proof’ cubicle for private working, area dividers within an open plan office or glazed offices & meeting rooms, please get in contact with our professional team who will be able to work with you on your project from the start through to completion.

Benefits of Office Partitioning:

• Modern partition systems are de-mountable providing a flexible working space for the future
• Create smaller work spaces within a large office for management, to make phone calls and hold smaller meetings through to boardroom sized areas for your entire workforce
• Creates segregated break out areas & tea points, changing facilities, storerooms, server rooms etc.
• Systems supplied in a variety of specification & colour finishes allowing a personalisation of your work space
• Helps to create a welcoming and productive environment

 

 

 

 

There are many types of partitioning available, glass is great for creating the illusion of open space and letting more natural light into the office. Partitions can be personalised to fit in with the office décor or to stand out as they can be finished in a variety of colours and styles. If you would like to change the layout of your office or improve the functionality of your space we are specialists in existing systems alterations of both old & new styles.

To discuss your office partitioning requirements call us today on 01256 769343

Take a look at our other services, including;

• Office refurbishment
• Office fit-outs
• Suspended ceilings