If you are considering an office refurbishment you are probably aware that they are no simple task to achieve successfully, and that there are many factors involving careful consideration and planning in order to optimise your redesigned space fully.

Many people try to complete their office refurbishment project independently but find the extra, unnecessary stress this results in is simply unmanageable. Not only does your company have to continue performing at its normal standard, you will have to juggle a horde of builders and suppliers too. If one of these becomes unreliable you are left with a broken chain and possible logistical headache, hindering the smooth transition to your new office space.

Tailored package

Many people worry that the cost of using an office refurbishment company , such as ourselves at Meridian Interiors, could be prohibitive but they are not as costly as you may imagine and will save you a great deal of time and stress. We will provide a complete package tailored to your needs from the start to the finish of your project, however ambitious it may be.

We have the knowledge

We will discuss both your current and future needs and will use this knowledge, combined with our expert experience, to plan your new office to perfection with our 3D design computer software. This ensures you are satisfied with the finished design before work commences to avoid any unexpected and expensive errors occurring.

As an office refurbishment company, we also have an inherent knowledge of the complicated local authority regulations and health and safety legislation meaning we can help you avoid any issues of legality.

Design through to completion

Once you have chosen the design of your office fit out to your exact specifications we will then be able to implement the design. As we will be managing the entire process we will use only the most trusted tradesman and suppliers, resulting in a far smoother process than if you hired a selection of tradesmen separately.

Another benefit of an office refurbishment company is that we will remain working alongside you until the work is fully completed, meaning you have support and a team available for any advice you may require throughout the process.

Here to help

If you are interested in using a full-service office refurbishment company who will support you from design concept to completion contact us here at Meridian Interiors.

We are a very experienced office refurbishment company and have plenty of case studies of satisfied clients on our website so you can see just what is achievable. Contact us today and simplify your office refurbishment by using the experts!

Premises secured. Lease signed. But there’s no time to breathe a sigh of relief – not just yet at any rate.

Now there’s just the rest of it to think about. There’s the building work, the space to plan, the air conditioning and lighting to review, the IT requirements and cabling, the décor, the office furniture – not to mention how to manage ‘business as usual’ through the move…

So, here’s our office move checklist to help get you started or just to flag a few things you may not have considered.

Health and Safety

You may not have heard of the Construction and Design Management Regulations 2015 – the updated Regulations only came into force in April 2015 – but they require commercial clients to have a significant involvement in the running of any office refurbishment project, particularly the health & safety aspects.

And that’s why this is the first heading on our ‘office move checklist’… You’ll need to take into consideration these requirements at the very start of your project planning!

Whatever your size of project, you’ll need to decide how money, time and resources are to be allocated, to ensure that all aspects of health and safety are considered. The principal designer for the project will assist you in planning the safe design of the project.

Building regs

You may not be planning significant changes to the workspace in your new building but, if you are, then building regulations, planning permission, even an asbestos R&D survey, may all be items on the list for consideration – and all will impact in terms of the timeline for your office relocation.

Space planning

And, do you have a blue print of the layout of your new building? Or – if you are opting for a complete refurbishment – do you have a space plan or 3D visuals from your refurbishment/office design company to help you explore different layout options?

Think about the size of open-plan office space you’ll need. As well as the individual offices, meeting rooms, boardroom, reception and visitor space, there are the WC and kitchen facilities to consider… and you may want to allow for a more informal breakout space or office bistro/canteen area for your staff.

And plan for the future. You may not need those 5 or 10 extra desks right now, but you may need them in a year’s time.

Energy efficiency

Lighting and temperature control are two central considerations in any office design/refurbishment project – as they impact both energy efficiency as well as the comfort/wellbeing of office staff. Specific temperature and humidity guidelines have to be met for all offices and will, of course, be influenced by the direction the building faces and existing/planned windows.

Air conditioning, ventilation, thermal insulation, natural light versus LED lighting requirements – should all be considered.

You could also look for advice from an ISO 14001 contractor with a proven commitment to minimising environmental impact in any office refurbishment.

IT requirements

Have you allowed for a server room, or thought about the photocopier and printer locations? Are you intending video conferencing facilities in your executive suite, or touchscreen control systems for your meeting rooms?

And, of course, there are the power requirements of individual workstations and your reception counter – all requiring cabling for phones, PCs and monitors. As well as fire alarms and power sockets in any kitchen area.

Once you have all the elements tied down, you – or your contractor – can start to think about your network cabling needs , as well as floor boxes and power sockets.

Office relocations are a significant investment whatever your size of business, and you will want to make your mark on your new environment and effectively communicate your branding and brand ethos throughout the space.

Think about how best to ‘own your space’. Where can you use the company brand colours or logo? A manifestation on glass partitioning for your boardroom; company colours within your reception, visitor seating area or within wall graphics; and perhaps using your primary or secondary brand colour for office chairs or desk-mounted screens on the office desks?

Furniture and storage

Whether you are keeping your existing office furniture and storage, or buying new, you’ll want to plan the layout and future expansion needs to maximise every square foot within your new office. Office furniture may be added to or replaced – but it can also be designed bespoke to meet a specific need – bespoke standing meeting tables are increasingly popular for example.

But if you are buying new, think long term and get advice on the best mix of quality versus value. And check the warranty: ‘buy cheap and buy twice’ is an established adage for a reason.

The office move – your final checklist

• Agreeing an office move date that will mean minimal disruption – done.
• Planning meeting with removal company – done.
• Planning meeting with IT/telecoms providers – done.
• Existing office furniture/IT equipment labelled ready for move – done.
• New office furniture ordered and scheduled for delivery to new premises – done.
• Office refurbishment completed and snagging signed off – done.
• Crates arrived for packing – done.
• Staff briefed on the move – done.
• Parking options checked and briefed to staff and removal company – done.
• Crates packed – done.
• Office move.
• Now you can breathe a sigh of relief!

Despite the growing trend of remote working, fuelled by teleconferencing and the ‘cloud’, companies are still investing in office design projects to make their physical office space more enticing. And contemporary design style is very much in vogue.

At the more ‘quirky’ end of the spectrum, Rental Cars’ new Manchester headquarters boasts an open-air cinema, rooftop ‘beach’, games room and drive-in diner and, at Ticketmaster’s London HQ employees can take the ‘slide’ down to the office bar!

But the reality is that these companies have spent a large amount of money designing and developing a very unique and contemporary space that aligns with their culture.

So how do you design your office to incorporate a more modern and contemporary feel that engages your staff, without it costing a fortune?

Use lots of glass

Glass allows light to permeate and light helps to boost energy and morale. That is why glass partitioning is widely used in contemporary office design – both to separate workspace areas and create meeting rooms and managers’ offices… Glass helps retain that feeling of space, openness and modernity.

And using glass does not have to mean a lack of privacy: manifestations on glass can provide much-needed privacy as well as being used to great branding effect.

Create social spaces

You might be accustomed to grabbing a takeaway coffee on the way to work, but many employers have also recognised the benefit of recreating that café culture in the office. Having an informal social hub for staff to relax and chat also brings with it more collaboration, idea-sharing and, ultimately, more motivated and engaged employees.

And a workplace café is also the ideal space to add a bit of contemporary style. By using modern office chairs in vibrant colours, glass coffee tables, or comfy sofas, you can create the perfect environment to break the workday tension.

Think about your walls

What’s on your office walls? Just a bit of magnolia paint? Why not get creative with your walls and inject a more contemporary ‘look and feel’ to your office design at the same time?

Art inspires creativity and hanging artwork on your office walls is a quick fix way to transform a relatively sterile office environment to a more colourful and inspiring space.

Or you could turn an entire wall in your office into a whiteboard – the perfect way to build interaction in meetings or a brainstorming session.

And finally…

For that quirky touch – on a budget – here’s the perfect way to add contemporary design style and grab some peace and quiet at the same time! Yes, we can source this cork helmet for you! Just ask.

Your workspace can have a major impact on your ability to physically grow your business, on your employees’ motivation, as well as your ability to attract new customers. If this is the case, it might be time to seriously consider investing in an office refurbishment.

In addition, revamping your existing space, rather than going through the upheaval of an office relocation, is usually the most practical and cost-effective route.

So let’s think about WHY it might be time for an office refurbishment.

1. Efficient use of space

It may be that the space limitations of your existing office environment are starting to take their toll:

• you have new staff joining but no desk space to accommodate them
• you want to relocate a team but the cabling requirements are proving problematic
• there’s a shortage of meeting areas to get together and discuss projects, creating disruption for other staff
• or you lack a ‘breakout area’, so there’s nowhere to enjoy a lunch or coffee break.

Re-thinking the use of a space is one of the main benefits of an office refurbishment. And, if this stage is carried out effectively, your office environment will be structured to meet both the current and longer term needs of the business: enhancing communication, plus accommodating future changes in headcount and IT requirements.

2. Staff motivation

Numerous studies have shown that people are happier and more efficient if their workplace is aesthetically pleasing, brightly lit and well laid out. Today’s space planning and office design process takes this into consideration: factoring in the need to:

• facilitate communication between colleagues by creating collaborative workspaces
• provide suitable quiet areas for greater privacy – away from interruptions and for meetings
• focus on employee wellbeing and creating breakout areas for ‘time out’.

This strong correlation between office design and business performance can also be tangibly measured: you may see fewer absences/lower levels of sick leave, improvements in company culture and interaction, greater productivity and improved financial health… let’s not forget that staff turnover is costly!

3. Competitive advantage

Standing out from the crowd in any sector is a great way to remain ‘front of mind’, win new business and keep your existing customers coming back.

So, just how ‘people friendly’ are your offices? And do they effectively convey your corporate values?

A tired and drab reception area, outdated bathroom or kitchen facilities or broken office chairs will not communicate a positive message about your business – either to your staff or to current / prospective customers.

But if the workspace clearly communicates your brand values, provides a welcoming reception area, a well-lit, collaborative environment for staff, modern bathroom and kitchen facilities, and office furniture designed with employee comfort in mind – that will go a long way in helping to keep you one step ahead of your competition!

Your office reception area makes a statement about your company. Meridian Interiors can help make sure it’s a lasting one.

The reception area is your customers first impression of your business and provides you the perfect opportunity to convey the image that you want visitors to have and gives you the chance to make a strong lasting first impression. Having a professional, clean and tidy reception area will inspire confidence in those who come into your building and reflect much better than a tired looking office reception area.

Your office reception area makes a statement about your company. Meridian Interiors Ltd can help make sure it’s a lasting one.

The reception area is your customers first impression of your business and provides you the perfect opportunity to convey the image that you want visitors to have and gives you the chance to make a strong lasting first impression. Having a professional, clean and tidy reception area will inspire confidence in those who come into your building.

Depending on what kind of impression you are aiming to achieve will depend on the style of your reception area, but it should reflect the principles of your company. Here at Meridian Interiors Ltd, we understand how important your office reception area is and the statement it makes about your company. We provide a complete and comprehensive service to design and create by expanding or upgrading your workplace environment, from knowing the reception furniture your business needs for security issues or to accommodate accessibility to branding your office reception area with company colours and logo branded carpets. We make sure we can utilise your office reception area to it’s best potential just like we have for Thrive Homes Ltd. Click here to read case study….

From the initial first stages of contact, we will survey your current office reception area  and work with you to determine what you need from your space and how to get the best use to create that impact appropriate to your company’s individual office requirements and budget. At Meridian Interiors Ltd we also have an in house designer that can turn your office reception area concept into a stunning visuals using our design software , so you can see how your space will be transformed.

Equally, if you are looking for high quality and value for money contemporary office furniture, our sister company Meridian Office Furniture can provide modern and stylish office furniture backed by a 10 Year Guarantee to offer a complete transformation into a fully functional, welcoming office reception area.

Our initial discussions are aimed at understanding your needs. We know that thorough and detailed planning, pays dividends, whatever the size project. If you would like a no obligation consultation or just more of an idea of our services, please visit www.meridian-interiors.co.uk.

Office Flooring

Different types of flooring are best for different functions – you probably wouldn’t have carpet in your kitchen, but might prefer carpet to warm up your bedroom. When you decorate your house you will most likely put a lot of thought into your choice of flooring, depending on what look or functionality you are going for. Choosing office flooring is no different, and when using office fit out companies you can ask them to source virtually any flooring you desire.

So, what office flooring is best for you?

Carpet

Having carpet in an office is often best for much the same reasons as it is in the house – warmth and noise insulation. If it is important to keep the warmth in – perhaps you have strict heating budgets – then carpet may be the ideal choice for you. If it is important you have maximum noise insulation then carpet might also be the best option for you. One thing to consider, however, is that carpets can be easy to stain and both difficult and expensive to clean so take this into consideration when using carpets. If carpet is a must, then consider using carpet tile as this allows you to easily replace parts of the carpet that are stained, without the cost of replacing a whole carpet.

Vinyl and Rubber

Having a vinyl or rubber office flooring is often best if you need a durable floor. If there is a lot of foot traffic in the office then vinyl or rubber might be the best option as they resist wear and damage. As with carpet, vinyl and rubber are sound absorbent and so are ideal in noisy office environments. Perhaps most importantly, vinyl and rubber are also much easier to clean than carpet, as spillages can be easily wiped up.

Wood

As with vinyl and rubber, wood is also a good choice if you want a floor that is easy to clean. It is also durable and resistant to damage, although there is a risk of moisture damage if it is not installed properly – not a worry if you use office fit out companies. Whilst wood is not as sound absorbent as vinyl, rubber or carpet, there is no denying that wood is the most aesthetically pleasing of the four. Wood always looks good, and it never goes out of fashion, so you might pay more now but you’ll likely never need to replace it.

All in all, each floor type has its merits so it’s important to decide carefully. For more information on office flooring types or office fit out companies visit meridian-interiors.co.uk.