How To Effectively Maximize Space In Small Offices

Most business owners, especially those with start-up companies, find the process of moving into a commercial office area interesting. It signals a great milestone for businesses as most start running their companies from a home office.

Also, it indicates the growth of their business, therefore, the need for a bigger working space that has all the necessary facilities to accommodate the employees and office equipment comfortably.

For this reason, planning office space is crucial to maximize your available work area. Small offices must aim for less wasted space to promote creativity, collaboration, and productivity. Furthermore, it must be safe and conducive to workers’ health.

With zero wasted space, a business becomes more sustainable and profitable.

In the recent past, most business owners opted to have additional working desks. Others considered shuffling to bigger offices. Both of these options are outdated, especially bearing in mind the pressure that comes with moving offices. Finding the right office space and qualified office movers can be an extremely tedious process.

Nowadays, people choose to work with whatever is readily available. Thus they look for ways maximise the space that is already available. Below, we discuss ways in which someone can effectively utilise the area in small offices.

Dispose of the Clutter

Where there is a lot of unnecessary furniture or other office supplies in your working space, the area might seem too congested to allow effective working by employees. To de-clutter your working area, you need to carefully go through your space and get rid of all the things you no longer use.

Keep your desk clean and organized. Use desk organizers, trays, or containers to store pens, notepads, folders, and other frequently used items. You also minimize clutter by keeping only the items you regularly use on your desk.

Hang a whiteboard, corkboard, or bulletin board on the wall to track important notes, reminders, or to-do lists. That way, you can free up desk space while keeping important information close and visible.

If your small office space allows, create different zones for different activities. For example, have a dedicated area for computer work, a separate area for reading or brainstorming, and a designated space for storage.

Also, there may be things you rarely use but are still important. You can rent out storage space to hold them. It is also possible to donate the stuff to schools and other start-up offices that would make great use of them. Keeping your area decongested can help reveal additional space that can make the office seem more spacious.

Utilise the Common Area

When choosing an office space, it is crucial to consider how functional and flexible the common areas, such as meeting rooms and cafeterias are. At times employees might be unproductive when working in small crowded spaces. Meeting rooms can offer them a change of environment and give them some personal working space that can increase their productivity.

You can also choose to hold your short informal meetings in the cafeteria. Maximum utilisation of available common areas ensures that your office space creates an illusion of being more spacious.

Choose to Go Paperless

Copies of documents such as employee contracts, office lease documents, and partnership contracts carry vital information. It is important to have them covered in your moving checklist when relocating offices. The office space might be small, thus the need to free up space occupied by these documents.

To efficiently do this, you can install software programs that digitise the entire process of making business and employee agreements. You can also use a digital data storage system to keep all the necessary information safe. All these approaches will enable you to get rid of the space occupied by storage cabinets, thus maximise the available space.

Embrace More Lighting

A small office with poor lighting can make employees feel lazy and unproductive. The area appears dark and smaller if there is not enough natural lighting penetrating the room. You should keep adjusting the roller blinds to ensure that your office remains well lit.

If the office space you are occupying does not have enough windows, you can use overhead down-lighting. This entails the use of LED lights and LED desk lamps. You can go for lamps that have an impression of sun rays. Proper lighting does not only increase productivity but also makes the room seem more spacious.

Choose Size-Appropriate Furniture

Office designers are coming up with effective furniture solutions for small office spaces. Company and business owners should take note of the size of the space they occupy and go for more miniature office furniture that has enough compartments to keep office stationery.

Preferably, most office documents should be computerised; therefore, bulky cabinets and drawers are unnecessary. Size appropriate furniture leaves just enough room to maximise the area.

When working in a small office, it’s essential to have furniture that enables you to work comfortably for extended periods. It minimizes the risk of discomfort or injury.

Ergonomic chairs can enhance productivity, letting you focus on your work without distractions. If you can find compact, ergonomic furniture pieces, go for them.

Compact furniture is designed to make the most efficient use of limited space. It allows you to have functional workstations, storage solutions, and seating options without overwhelming your total area. You can find compact desks with integrated drawers or shelves, file cabinets with small footprints, or modular storage systems that can be customized to fit your needs.

Appropriate Interior Décor

Choosing the right office décor is important. If your office space is small, there are multiple options you can go for to make it appear bigger. Picking wall to wall flooring instead of carpets ensures less space is occupied. You can also go for a wood floor that is easy to maintain, and unlike most tiles, they do not hinder communication by producing an echo. Decorative mirrors are also a great way to make the office space seem bigger.

More than decorations, you can fully maximize a small space if each area has its purpose. For many small offices, having an office partition can help divide the room while ensuring higher productivity in the work area. According to Office Fitout Professionals, office partitions are cost-effective, reduce noise and distractions, and create a private meeting room.

Conclusion

Being stuck in a small office can be frustrating. The option to move out is neither easier as it is an energy-draining activity. The best option to consider is maximising the space you are in already. You should carefully inspect your office space and analyse the options that offer effective solutions and suit your working area most. Please discuss with your employees the changes you want to make and let them give their opinion.