Taking on new staff is a positive step, generally signalling that you are doing well and that business is good. However, for small businesses and start-ups in particular, moving to a larger office space might not be an option, making it necessary to find a way to adapt your existing office to accommodate a newly expanded workforce. Our tips will help you make the most of the office space you’ve got.
If you are taking on a significant number of new employees or if your existing office is particularly minuscule, then your options will be limited, however, even when a space is perceived as being ‘full’ there are many tricks you can use to make the absolute most of the space you have. By using clever tricks, you’ll effectively be able to squeeze in that extra desk, without having to make too many compromises.
Make Use Of Walls
Unless your office is located within a greenhouse, you’re likely to have a number of walls available that you can utilise for storage purposes. By putting up shelves or using wall mounted cabinets, you can reclaim valuable floor space.
If you have only weak partition walls, this may not be a suitable option, so do ensure you have checked to make sure the walls you intend to utilise are able to bear the weight of loaded shelves and book cases! Likewise, make sure you check with your landlord before fixing things to the wall.
Make Space Multi-Functional
Having space that is multi-functional is a great idea. Modular furniture makes this super easy, so consider buying draws and cabinets on wheels that can easily be moved, to create additional space as and when needed, for example if a client comes in for a meeting.
Rethinking the existing layout of desks can make a big difference too. You might need to downsize if you currently have particularly large desks, but consider putting desks against each other and erecting a small desk partition, using corner desks, or choosing slightly smaller or irregular shaped desks.
Sharing resources is also a great way of cutting down on the number of physical items needed in an office, for example, does every employee really need a waste paper bin by their desk, or would a single larger bin for the whole office suffice? Likewise, think about the number of printers, scanners and fax machines you have – do you really need them all or would having single communal items make more sense?
Reduce Office Clutter
Messy desks stacked high with paperwork and various other items can instantly make an office feel smaller. Whilst I’m in no way advocating use of a soul-destroying, personality erasing ‘clear desk’ policy, ensuring that your employees have appropriate furniture, files and storage available to them, will give them a place to put the things they need, helping to cut down on the visual clutter.
Make sure you also think about colour too as dark colours will often make an office feel enclosed and smaller than it really is. If your office is dark, or just looking a bit grubby, think about a fresh lick of paint in a light or bright and vibrant tone. Reducing clutter and paying attention to colour will help even a small, cramped office feel bigger, helping to induce a sense of well-being in your staff.
Get Rid of What You Don’t Need
If you are holding on to ancient printers, instruction manuals for long-gone pieces of equipment or old vertical hanging file draws that you no longer use – have a proper tidy out and get rid of them!
By clearing out the clutter and making sure all of the equipment and furniture in your office is in working order and of practical use, you’ll effectively be able to reclaim space that can be re-purposed and put to good use.
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Crate Hire UK – Making The Most Of A Small Office Space
