The modern office workspace has evolved significantly in recent years, reflecting changes in work culture, technology and a growing emphasis on employee wellbeing. With the rise in hybrid and flexible working styles, the typical office set-up has adapted accordingly, with good design, layout and furniture integral in shaping engaging, adaptable spaces that foster productivity and collaboration. Whether you’re setting up a new office, expanding your business or reconfiguring an existing space to better suit more dynamic arrangements, we delve into key considerations and inclusions to create an optimum work set-up. 

SEE ALSO: Expert Advice to Make Hybrid Working Work for Your Business ‍

Key Considerations For Your Office Set-Up

A man in a red shirt and a woman in a grey blazer sit on chairs at a round wooden table in an office space. the space is light and bright, with wooden floors.

Every business and space is unique, so the first step is thinking about the needs of your workplace and staff, says Nathan Carr, Workspace Solution Specialist Officeworks Business. “Consider specifics: how many people do you need to accommodate and in what capacity?” he asks. “For instance, do you need dedicated staff desking or hot desking, storage, executive offices, meeting and collaborative spaces, quiet areas or breakout spaces?”   

Bill Papas, another Workspace Solutions Furniture Specialist at Officeworks, agrees. “Determining what space each individual really requires [is essential],” he says. “[Consider] comfort, space, orientation and acoustics.”

He also recommends creating a design brief and budget early in the process. “It’s important to consider access, space and needs, [as well as] how you want the space to look and feel [with] aesthetics [and] colour trends,” he adds. “[Also], plan your budget.”

Think About Your Staff's Needs

Two women sit at a long table in an office space. The floors and ceiling are wooden, the walls are white and there are windows in the back.

As businesses compete for talented staff, Nathan says “the new office set-up” needs to offer collaborative and flexible ways of doing business to help retain and attract highly valued employees. So, for an office environment that’s stimulating, personalised, socially engaging and that promotes physical and emotional wellbeing, consider needs from a staff perspective. 

Bill says “the office as we know it is changing”, which means you need to give careful consideration to all that’s included in your new fit-out. “It no longer needs to simply accommodate assigned desks, or be seen as a 9am–5pm space,” he explains. “Consider intelligent working spaces with up-to-date technology that can impact the team’s culture, productivity and efficiency, as well as staff wellbeing.” Employee-centric designs may include wellness hubs, lounges, activity areas that foster co-worker connection, kitchens stocked with healthy food options and cafe-style set-ups conducive to casual catch-ups between staff members and clients.  

The Look Of Your Office Set-Up

A woman wearing a white jumper and pin skirt sits in a grey office pod with a HP laptop open in front of her.

Envisage the look and feel you want the business to embody, not only as a workplace but also in terms of brand identity. “If it’s a space for customers as well as employees, think about what functionality you need but also how you want to represent your brand,” says Nathan. This could mean engaging an interior designer to help develop office design ideas that are ‘on brand’, otherwise you might want to express the company’s ethos through artwork selections or the inclusion of recycled materials and sustainable systems.  

Practicality is important too, and Bill says there are some added-value items that are must-haves for every office, including cable management systems, interactive technology, desk charging solutions, desk drawers or pedestals, monitor arms and desk partitioning. 

GIF series of a selection of furniture for a work office set-up, including desks, sofas and a reception counter.

What to try

SEE ALSO: Find The Best Home Office Chair

Timeframe and Budget

Two women sit at a table near some windows with HP laptops in front of them. In the foreground are two green spiky plants.

‍When planning your office set-up, Nathan recommends anticipating both short-term and potential long-term needs. For example, it may be beneficial to opt for an adaptable design, such as incorporating reconfigurable furniture, which will offer flexibility if the business grows or changes location. Budget is also critical. Prioritise must-haves while also considering where there may be value in spending a little more. 

One thing Nathan says shouldn’t be undervalued is the importance of quality ergonomic office chairs. “It’s potentially the most important piece of furniture in the office, as it’s used for extensive periods of time by the most valuable asset to the business: the employee,” he says. 

GIF series of various office ergonomic chair options from Officeworks on pastel coloured backgrounds.

What to try

Starting Afresh or Refurbishing an Office

The challenges and opportunities can be different if starting from scratch as opposed to changing up a current office set-up. Similar to renovating a home that you’ve lived in for years, the challenge in overhauling an existing office can be continuity – matching new additions with existing elements that may need to stay. However, the benefit of time spent in the space may give you a clear idea of what works well and key changes you’d like to make, whether it be larger breakout areas, enhanced technology or more meeting rooms. 

An entirely new unfurnished office by contrast, can present a wonderful blank canvas for a complete fit-out. “The challenge can be creating a smart and functional office space that’s well-rounded and avoids dead zones or empty spaces,” says Nathan. ‍

Did You Know?

Whether refurbishing or starting afresh, Officeworks offers onsite consultation and the support of Workspace Specialists, who can provide a tailored solution for your office set-up, encompassing layout and the best use of natural light, furniture specification, any AV and tech requirements, and installation. Style experts are also on hand to help find the best office fit-out and aesthetic for your workspace. 

Keeping Your Office On Trend

Technology plays a major part in any office set-up, so it pays to keep things up-to-date. Having the right equipment for your team’s needs can have a positive impact on performance. After all, no-one wants to be spending valuable time workshopping outdated software and tech. “Intelligent working spaces with up-to-date technology can impact the team’s culture, productivity and efficiency, as well as staff’s wellbeing at work,” Bill says.

Beyond evolving colour and material trends, there’s been a significant shift in layout designs post-pandemic. Nathan notes employees are coveting more casual settings and a variety of spaces where they can work collaboratively and socially, yet also retreat for solo tasks. 

“Trends include defined breakout and collaborative spaces, dedicated quiet spaces, and casual spaces that are casual, themed and potentially slightly eclectic,” he says. “And hybrid working is still desired by staff, and managers are continuing to establish a balance between working from home and the office.”

In terms of furniture and physical set-ups, he says there’s a move towards more open and flexible layouts furnished with modular pieces, adjustable and standing desks, and movable partitions that allow flexibility as desired in office set-ups. Similarly, there’s a rise in activity-based workspaces designed to cater to specific tasks and work modes. Think quiet pods for focused activities, informal collaborative areas for team discussions and breakaway lounge zones with comfy lounges conducive to relaxation or casual client catch-ups. 

Far from bland and overly corporate, more workplaces are also embracing the principles of biophilic design with an abundance of indoor plants, improved natural lighting, splashes of colour, natural textures and finishes and, where possible, access to outdoor views and eating areas. 

According to Bill, “air quality, artwork and indoor plants” are important factors to any office set-up, before adding that surveying your space for natural lighting or light updates is important for productivity. He also suggests putting work into outdoors spaces as these are commonly overlooked and showcasing your team's accomplishments as a morale-boosting feature to the office. 

GIF series of images of office set-up equipment, including sit stand desks, partitions, artificial plants and monitor arms.

What to try

SEE ALSO: The Importance of Ergonomics for Wellbeing