Preparing for the return to work: Getting the most out of your post-COVID office

With the roadmap out of lockdown and the continued roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine giving us all a much-needed boost of optimism, all eyes are pointed towards the goal of returning to the office. Many of us are itching to return to our workplaces, citing feelings of 'fatigue' with the work from home lifestyle and when possible, we all want the transition back to our offices to be smooth and enjoyable.

And this is where we can help. Here at Oaktree Interiors, we are vastly experienced designers and builders of office environments that allow our clients to establish a stable base from which to grow. Whether you're moving to a brand-new space after lockdown, or if your current workplace could do with some much-needed TLC, our office design, refurbishment and fit out experts can work with you to get the most from your workspace. This is why here, we're going to discuss just how you can achieve that.

Getting the most out of your workspace

With most of us having to re-evaluate how our workspace works for us, proper office space planning is a skill in high demand. If companies can make their workplaces safe, engaging and inspiring, it's far more likely that their employees will be driven to achieve great things, while also increasing overall productivity.

To help you on your way, we've taken 5 top tips from our own office space planning methods, which will hopefully help you get the most out of your workspace when we return to work.

1. Prioritise flexibility.

Having flexible office space will allow you to perform several different functions without you going to the time and expense of having to create dedicated space for each activity. A good example of flexibility at work within office space planning is modular design; this is the concept of combining a variety of interior components to create a workplace that is cohesive and adaptable. Such components may include seating, tables, acoustic fittings or partition walls – basically anything that can be used to add a degree of flexibility.

2. Place value on minimalism.

Keeping the design simple is not only a good way for employees to adapt to the set systems of work, but it also streamlines how they work too. This allows the business to understand what their employees need and when; cutting down on items they don't need while concentrating on the things they do need.

3. Think about storage.

Rather than think about expanding the current space or moving to a larger building to cater for increased storage, thinking about how things are stored first may help you to save much time, money and upheaval. Rather than introduce huge filling systems that take up space, the hire of secure self-storage units can offer a better, cut-price solution (as would furniture that includes its own storage compartments for personal effects).

4. Keep the office clean and clear.

On a similar theme, intelligent storage solutions not only helps to free up some much-needed space around the office, but it can cut down on clutter too. As the pandemic has shone a light on the sanitary aspect of our work environments, it's never been as important that public areas are kept clean and tidy. If you think about the heightened cleaning regimes that our workplaces will be subjected to going forwards, having cleaner and clearer environments will lessen the work that maintenance teams will have to do; reducing their costs and maximising their efforts on areas that need their attention.

5. Be more sustainable.

Going forwards, there is likely to be an increased focus on us all to be more eco-friendly. Being sustainable helps to make the most of what weal ready have, driving costs down while saving energy we use. Not only that, but concentrating on having a more 'natural feel' within the office can help to boost the performance of employees; increasing their collaboration, productivity and general happiness too.

This doesn't have to be an expensive undertaking, either; 'going green' can be achieved by introducing larger windows, more in door plants or by using energy-efficient lighting displays.

Considering an office design or refurbishment? Book a free consultation with us

If you're looking for a new office space or searching for advice on how to get the best out of your current one, a free office design consultation with the team Oaktree Interiors can get you on the road to your dream workspace.

From brief to build, Oaktree can help you every step of the way with our network of trusted partners and our impressive back-catalogue of office design expertise. Book a free consultation with us today, all we ask that we are given the opportunity to provide you with a full proposal.

To learn more, call us on 034521 86955 or by sending an e-mail to hello@oaktreeoffice.com

Preparing For The Return To Work: Getting The Most Out Of Your Post-COVID Office

Getting the most out of your workspace

Read more about our COVID return-to-work office adaptations

Considering an office design or refurbishment? Book a free consultation with us

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