Office renovations can be stressful and disruptive to work. Some renovations are quick and painless, but some are not. If your office is being redecorated, or you are considering doing it yourself, there are a few things you should expect.
Before any major renovation project is taken on it is important to clearly define your goals. Try to pick three words to describe the look you want to achieve, and chose one phrase that defines the function of your office. This way you will be consistent in your descriptions as you go from store to store for supplies and ideas.
Renovations can range from large projects to minor redecorations. Either way, you should expect the office interior or exterior to be painted. You may want your walls to be a different color, or just want a fresh coat of paint on the color you already have. If your interior is being painted, you will have to move all your furniture away from the walls, and out of the room completely if possible. Talk to your contractor and decide what needs to be done prior to painting.
When you are satisfied with the color of your walls, the next step is hang art. Even a freshly painted wall could look empty, especially if the wall is long or narrow. Paintings come in every size and style, so it is easy to customize an office through art. Other ways to add to your walls are to install decorative sconces and shelving. Shelves can hold books, statuettes, or any thing else you can think of.
Adding or replacing furniture can be important. If you gut and rebuild the interior of your office, but put the same mediocre furniture back in you are not going to see the change you hoped for. Keep in mind the color of your walls and the size of you office when picking out new furniture, and if possible, bring in samples of your wall colors and other textiles so you can be sure the furniture you are looking at will match your office.
Large, unused spaces can be filled in with any number of objects. Consider installing a fish tank in the center of a room or against a long wall. Adding something like this can be good for your employees because it gives them something to look forward to, especially if people can add a fish or name one. Another way to fill a large space is to add a table with large vase full of flowers. Fake flowers are durable, beautiful, and inexpensive.
Your office may need more than a fresh coat of paint and some art depending on what your needs are. Adding walls can divide a space and create privacy. Walls can be erected to add an office or eliminate those dreaded removable cubicles, giving the area a look of permanence. Walls can go all the way to the ceiling or they might stop a few feet short of the ceiling. If your privacy needs permit it, keeping walls a foot or two short of the ceiling makes your office look much bigger.
It is possible to visually divide sections of your office without adding walls. Different sections can be floored differently. Changing the texture and type of the flooring from one area to another is a good idea, and is more defining than simply using different colors. Go from carpet to wood or tile, or add a large rug if your floor is concrete. Faux wood flooring and tile are easy to install, and often can increase the market value of your space as well.
What would an office be without office desks? In our office, we have three desks. Office interiors are important as they help keep you focused on your work.