Whether your employees have returned to the office full time or in a hybrid capacity, it’s essential for business owners and facility managers to keep an eye on office operational costs.

This is particularly important with the costs of utilities, premises, equipment and more continually on the rise. But help is at hand.

In today’s post, we’re sharing some office design ideas that can help your business save money on day-to-day expenditures without having to invest heavily in full-scale renovations.

Consider relocating your workforce

Before implementing any physical changes to your workspace, take the time to assess how well your current location serves you.

The last thing you want to do is spend valuable time and money on making changes to your existing workspace only to find that those updates don’t serve their purpose in the long run.

A few things to consider as part of this are:

• Capacity: do you have too little or too much office space for the size of your business? Naturally, you’ll want your business to expand and grow – but be realistic about the timeline. If your office is too big for you currently, you may want to consider downsizing, as the money you’ll save on reduced office overheads can be invested back into the business elsewhere to drive growth
• Usage: if your workforce doesn’t use the office full-time, this could indicate an opportunity to downsize to a cheaper, smaller office space that gives employees the opportunity to reserve a hot desk on the days they want to be in the office
• Facility costs: rental costs and utilities are, of course, a major outlay for businesses – and there are various factors, such as location and size, that drive up these costs. Making the move to a cheaper office and location could free up capital to invest in other areas of the business. Don’t forget to consider other financial implications that come with an office move, though – these include accessibility for employees and clients, additional transportation costs, and facility charges

 

Maximise natural light

Office lighting can be a huge drain on energy consumption in modern offices, but effectively making use of natural light could be one avenue to explore. Natural light provides a free source of illumination, helping to reduce the electricity used on additional lighting.

In order to optimise natural light, think about your office colour palette – light hues and reflective surfaces can instantly make spaces feel lighter and brighter. Secondly, make sure natural light isn’t blocked out by furniture or obscured by bulky window dressings such as curtains and blinds. Instead, think about introducing a pared-back, minimalist office design when it comes to furniture. Don’t worry, though – you can introduce design accents and decorative features to bring colour and character to the space.

Of course, natural light does come with some drawbacks, as it can cause sun glare and excessive heat on hot, sunny days. However, these challenges can be overcome at minimal cost through retrofitting solar glass vinyl on external windows which filters harmful UV rays – meaning less heat and glare, plus no fading on furniture or carpets.

Opt for energy-saving design features

From heating to sanitation, offices can guzzle energy throughout the year, meaning expensive utility bills. However, there are a few tricks you can implement that can contribute to a more energy-efficient office.

For one, regulating the sun and heat that comes through your office windows using vinyl film or traditional blinds can also help to better regulate the internal temperature. As a result, you’ll naturally use less energy to cool down the office.

You can also bolster your natural light with more energy-efficient lighting throughout your office building. Switching to LED options, which use less energy and last longer than halogen alternatives, can drive significant energy savings in the long run. Equally, introducing sensor or timer-activated lighting in certain areas will ensure lights aren’t left on unnecessarily.

Finally, in communal bathrooms and kitchens, consider upgrading to low-flush toilets and aerated taps with sensors, all of which contribute to using less water in your building – saving you money and boosting your sustainability factor.

Update furniture – don’t throw away

Office furniture sees its fair share of wear and tear, and regular replacement can be an expensive outlay. However, there are ways you can revamp your office furniture without having to buy all-new pieces.

If many of your furniture pieces – such as work desks, tables, worktops, shelving and cupboards – are functional but beginning to look tired, you could look to update them rather than replacing them by making use of a stylish, durable vinyl film wrap.

Affordable, quick and sustainable, vinyl wrapping old but functional pieces can provide a cost-effective solution to revamping your office space on a budget.

In order to make sure your business premises are running as efficiently as possible, it pays to take the time to assess your current needs and whether your current office design meets these requirements.

With a few strategic hacks to your office design, it’s possible to create a space that works for your business now and in the future – all while saving you valuable money.

Author bio:

Jack Carr is the Marketing Executive for Architextural, who stock the UK’s largest collection of high-quality architectural vinyl film wraps used by interior designers, architects and specifiers.

This entry was tagged: office design