Open Vs. Closed: Which Is Best For Your Office Fit Out?

Now a standard in office buildings around the world, open office design allows workers the freedom to move away from cubicles and stuffy environments into vibrant, creative spaces. This type of office fit out is ideal to cater for collaboration between workers, being a fraction of the average office expense too.

However, closed office layouts are not without their benefits. Whilst the open office is great for networking and teamwork, some people may prefer to work in private or have their own space.

The advantages of an open design for your office fit out includes:

• Faster communication. With no barriers in the way, an open layout will make it easier for workers to ask questions or to hold spontaneous meetings. A common desk layout in open space sees workers all sharing the same table, just to aid their communication.

• Greater levels of teamwork. Thanks to the easier communication, collaboration will flow like a mountain stream. The design of the space will empower those who work within it, further pushing them on to work together on projects.

• Cost-effective. When compared to a'traditional' office space, open plan offices generally need less space, saving much in the way of cost. Money that can be repurposed in other important aspects of the company.

However, open offices do have their disadvantages, which include:

• Lack of privacy. If a worker wants to talk to someone about a sensitive subject or needs to pass on confidential information, an open office in which ears are everywhere isn't conducive in doing so. Not just that, but the close proximity to others may also lead to such information being seen, even if you're typing it up on a laptop.

• Noise levels. With so many people in a single space, open office layouts can occasionally provide a frantic, noisy experience. For workers who need to work in silence (whether to concentrate or to make a phone call), such an environment can prove to be a distraction.

• Privacy. The main reason, of course, to adopt a closed office layout is for privacy and the protection it brings for information,equipment, belongings and allowing you to get on with your work unhindered. You'll still likely find such set-ups in the finance, law and healthcare sectors, for example.

• Personalisation. Every one of us has different comfort levels; we all work at our best when we know we're in a secure and relaxing environment. A way to create such an environment at work is by allowing employees to take ownership of their space and/or include thoughtful company branding that can have an impact on their creativity and work ethic.

• Productivity. Dependent on the person, a closed office design may prove to be more productive, what with it being a controlled, private environment. The private office can cut out distractions and allow the worker to get on with their tasks in a space that has been set up for their comfort levels.

In terms of disadvantages of a closed office:

• Lack of contact. With the closed office cutting people off from one another, workers will tend to stay and work in their offices for the majority of the day, leading to an isolated experience.

• Costs. With the need for cubicles and walls, closed office fit outs generally cost more to rent; for a start-up or small business, this can provide a major detriment to their budget going forward.

So that was our guide to open and closed office spaces. Would you like to learn more? Then please feel free to get in touch with our expert fitters today.

Expert office design in South East England

Throughout the last three decades, the team here at Oaktree Interiors have been designing modern office fit outs that have helped our clients to get the most from the spaces they work in.

No matter your particular needs or budget, we are able to use our leading experience to help your business establish a bespoke-designed office fit out that will meet the challenges presented by the expectations of employees and clients alike.

If you would like to learn more about how your business could benefit from intelligent office design, please feel to get in touch with us by calling 0345 21 86955. Alternatively, you can send an e-mail to hello@oaktreeoffice.com and we'll be in touch as soon as possible.