Getting the decoration of your office or business promises right is essential to both provide staff with a pleasant and stimulating workspace and create a positive impression to clients. In today's tough marketplace, investing in an inspiring and fresh office design can help achieve greater levels of productivity and creativity, win more contracts and hold on to existing clients – all helping to improve a company's bottom line.

When redecorating your office, there are five main things to consider.

Wall Decoration

When faced with an expanse of blank wall, the possibilities for decoration are endless. The full spectrum of paint colors and finishes are available to you, as are the many patterned paper alternatives. So how do you go about choosing the office design that's right for you?

Within an office environment, a number of factors need to be considered that may not necessarily feature in any home based decorating decision;

  • How many people a likely to use the rooms / corridors on a daily basis?
  • What is the age demographic of the majority of users?
  • How much and what sort of hardware or equipment will be moved through the rooms?
  • Will the walls be dressed with pictures?
  • Will you be using an OHP on the walls?
  • Will the walls be used for signage or display purposes?
  • Will the walls need to be re-covered often?

Answers to all of these questions will help you to decide upon the type of wall covering that is most suited to your office or workspace.

There are many different types of wall covering available, from simple paints to strong, fabric backed wall coverings which are extremely durable. For heavy traffic areas like reception areas and stairwells, these are ideal. Paper backed wall coverings are well suited to lower traffic areas like offices and boardrooms etc.

Some companies are even able to supply a range of wide, paper backed wall coverings that have been specifically designed for the purpose of decorating office partition systems. These coverings, when used in conjunction with a specifically patented fire protection system, will meet Euro Class B fire certification requirements.

Beyond the paper and fabric backed products available, there is also a range of modern, eco-friendly alternatives using high-end materials such as woven grass and fiberglass. These environmentally friendly materials are extremely durable, attractive and fire retardant.

Turn your walls into whiteboards and scrawl all over them. A wall covering exists that will let you do just that. This is ideal for boardrooms, meeting rooms, training rooms and educational establishments from junior schools to universities.

You could even turn your large blank wall space into an art installation, your company logo could be repeated across the wall ad infinitum or blown up and centralized as if one giant advertising hoarding. The possibilities are endless and the effect is really amazing.

Color Schemes

Your office color scheme needs to portray the right image for your business and it is therefore important to choose colors that reflect the style of your business, its role within the marketplace and your target audience. The company image must speak to your target audience.

Ad agencies and creative types can get away with fluorescent pink, undertakers, possibly not. Advisor type businesses such as legal firms or consultants need to exude an air of professionalism and stability, so neutral colors such as white, cream, beige or light green make good choices here.

Office color schemes, designed around corporate colors can also aid in staff integration, making them feel part of a team, which can reduce staff turnover.

Lighting

Natural lighting has been proven to have beneficial effects on the morale and productivity of staff and therefore, a natural light scheme should be integrated in to your office and workplace design wherever possible.

If the use of electric light can not be avoided and it is needed to assist those working in windowless offices or into the evening and through the night, it is best to steer away from fluorescent lighting, which can be quite harsh. Use track or pendant lighting instead or individual desk lamps if possible. These will deliver a stronger, more directed light that will reduce the risk of eye strain, particularly for those working at computers.

Office Flooring

The addition of new flooring to your office will make a huge difference and instantly sharpen up your workspace. The wide range of flooring options available include carpeting, laminated flooring and vinyl flooring and much like the wall coverings mentioned above, these too come in a wide array of colors and styles. Prices will vary tremendously depending on durability and quality.

If carpet is chosen, a hard wearing design in a reasonably dark color is the most cost effective option as it will need replacing less regularly than a lighter color.

Other options include vinyl, which is hard wearing, or for a modern, contemporary look consider using laminate flooring. This also lasts a long time, looks great and is much less likely to scratch, than real wood floors.

Window Coverings

It is very unlucky that curtains or any kind of fabric window covering, would be used in an office or workplace environment. In a relatively short space of time these will become grubby and need washing. The removal and replacement process may well result in damage and once up, it is illegally anyone will volunteer to remove them anyway.

Window blinds or shutters are far more effective as window covers for the office or workplace and much easier to maintain. If set up at exterior windows, the amount of natural light allowed into a room can be easily regulated and if set up between departments, in conjunction with office partitioning, security and privacy can be regulated too.

Office Furniture

Choosing new office furniture requires careful planning in order to maximize the comfort and efficiency of your employees and make the best possible use of the space available. One of the first things to consider is the legroom your employees will need in order to perform their duties comfortably and to the best of their abilities.

Another equally important consideration is that of safety. There must be sufficient room to enable any and all employees to escape the room quickly, in case of emergency. A tip is not to rush out and buy the first desk, chair, or workstation that you see; instead, properly evaluate your office furniture needs along with the safety of your employees and install your office furniture accordingly. Or better still, have your office refurbishment company carry out an assessment and let them source and install the appropriate furniture for you.

The finishing touches

Often times it's the finishing touches that make all the difference in an office refurbishment project. Here are some ideas to complete your new office design:

Company success stories, such as framed press coverage or client logos given pride of place on a wall are great finishing touches. These will help to motivate staff and are sure to impress visitors to the building.

Other inspiring artwork can include natural imagery to bring a sense of peace and tranquility into the office environment, or motivational pictures with inspirational messages.

Well cared for plants also help to soften an office interior and provide color and stress reducing properties.

Magazines featuring company articles can also be added to the reception area coffee table to boost credit with visiting clients.