10 Office Design Tips from SmartDraw

Whether creating an office plan for your cozy suburban home or spacious urban high rise, SmartDraw's tips, templates and tutorials can help. Try it free today!

Lighting. If your work includes a lot of face time with a computer screen, it's best to dim the fluorescents and bring in more natural and ambient light. Ideally, a table lamp mixed with a dash of sunlight will keep your eyes, and your head, alert for the long haul.

Profit Before Loss. If this is your first office, it's advised to keep to a strict budget on its furnishings. It may be tempting to trick out the new digs in matching titanium desks, but wait until you get your first check for services rendered before calling in the costly designer. However, it may be a good idea to invest in a comfortable, ergonomic chair for yourself and other employees who will be spending long hours working on ways to bring in that profit.

Click here to see office design templates available in SmartDraw.

Treasure Hunt. Used office furniture stores are great places to save money on standard office equipment including bookshelves, file cabinets, lighting and more. Since these are usually utility items that you can hide in the back, it doesn't matter as much if they show their age or have a ding. Also, you can find newer looking desks and accessories too, at much lower prices than new.

Colors. Neutral colors tend to be favorite choices for office design as they are free from distraction. Some experts contend that greens and blues are ideal colors for work areas because they induce better concentration and less strain on the eyes. Steer away from the bright white high gloss paint - it will only create a harsh glare from any of the light coming into your office.

Click here to see office design tutorials from SmartDraw.

Plants. Having a little greenery in the office is always a nice touch. If you are a self-described black thumb, you can research plant care companies who will come into your office and water plants for a nominal fee. Ask your neighbors, they may already employ such a service and you may get a price break as a referral. If you decide to have plants, it's important they are well-cared for because your clients will judge you on all aspects of your office, including the vibrancy of your indoor garden.

Bigger is Sometimes Better. When deciding on how much office space you need, it could be costly down the line if you don't plan ahead today. You may only have 6 employees right now, but if everything goes according to your master plan you may have 9 by the end of next year. Securing an additional 25% more space than you actually need could pay off in the future.

Separate Home from Work. If setting up a home office, it's important to create a distinct line between work life and home life. Ideally, have a separate phone line installed for business calls. Don't put your office in the laundry room, or all you will think about is how much laundry you still have to do. Keep the space clear of all distractions (this includes kids toys, animal toys, home bills, etc.) so you can be as productive as possible.

Click here to see facility plan templates available in SmartDraw.

Electrical Outlets. To be on the safe side, have a professional electrician come into your home office to survey that it has the amps necessary to operate all of your office equipment (computers, copiers, faxes, fans, scanners, lighting, etc.)

Neat & Pleasant. If you have clients or customers coming into your office, it's best to prepare for them in the same the way you would if you had company coming over for dinner. Your office should be free of clutter as a sign that you are organized and in control. The atmosphere should be calm and quiet so you can discuss business without distractions. Your office should also give off a clean and fresh smell, so get that Febreze out and start spraying.

Ergonomics. Whether you are your only employee, or you have several, it's important to make sure that you listen to what your body (or your employee) is telling you. Neck aches, headaches, wrist aches and backaches are a few of the common complaints of working at a desk all day. These are real issues, and the faster that monitors are positioned correctly, desks are raised or lowered and lights are adjusted, the faster your most productive work can begin.

Click here to see all office and facility plan templates available in SmartDraw.

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