Top 7 Trends in High-End Office Refurbishment

If you think of how much time an average worker spends in their workplace or office, you will know why the work surroundings are as important as the comfort of our homes. To achieve as much comfort and a homey atmosphere, you, either in the role of an employer or a landlord in London, should consider undertaking a high-end office refurbishment. 

This could be a great opportunity to revitalise, transform and modernise your workplace and take advantage of all the benefits of having a fresh new office layout from your existing one and leverage improved workers' performance, enhanced company culture, long-term cost-efficiency and many more.

Successful office refurbishment is both a challenge and a blessing as long as it is completed on time and on budget and meets all the goals you set in advance. 

In today's article we are going to put a focal point into answering the following questions:

• What is an office refurbishment and why choose it for your existing space instead of office relocation?

• Why is it important to plan your office, and maintain and upgrade the office environment?

• How to ensure your office refurbishment follows good working practices?

• What are the current top trends which influence high-end office refurbs?

Keep reading! 

Table of Contents:

• What is Office Refurbishment?

• Why is it Important to Refurbish Your Office Space?

• Top 7 Trends in High-End Office Refurbishment

  • 1. Flexible Workspaces and Open Office Layout

  • 2. Biophilic Design Elements for Improved Way of Working

  • 3. Sustainable Materials and Eco-Friendly Practices in Office Interior Refurbishment

  • 4. Art and Wellness-Focused Spaces for Mental Health and Safety

  • 5. The Role of Colour Psychology & Aesthetics for Personal Well-Being 

  • 6. High-Quality Brand Design Customisation for Your Refurbishment Project

  • 7. Office Interior Design that Elevate User Experience 

• Conclusion

What is Office Refurbishment?

Definition:

When we talked about property refurbishment we mentioned it includes upgrading and less intrusive activities related to changes in interior design, ceilings, floors, lightning, changing furniture, painting walls, plumbing upgrades and windows repair, for example. In this context, office refurbishment includes the improvement of collaborative and kitchen areas, planning new zones for agile and hybrid working, improved acoustics in meeting rooms, etc.

In addition, we highlighted the main differences between refurbishment, renovation and retrofit, and now we need to mention office fit-out as well to outline better what exactly office refurbishment is characterised for.

5 main characteristics of office refurbishment: 

• Lower intrusiveness: small improvements that make a big impact;

• Fewer limitations: no need for any space planning permissions and following regulations;

• Added value: even small changes like ambient lightning or a fresh lick of paint can make a difference and add a big value to your property;

• Project on a smaller scale: create a new layout, put some new pieces of furniture and equipment, or replace flooring;

• Redesign of an existing setting: small repairs, upgrades, and cosmetic changes are made to an office that is already in use, unlike the office fit which is a transformation carried out on a new empty space so that it can be used.

Reasons why you should consider office refurbishment:

Before you dive into refurbishment planning and get in touch with an office refurbishment company to help you through this process, you need to define the reasons why you undertake it clearly. The clearer your vision and motives, the easier the project will be completed within a particular time, budget and quality needed.

As we mentioned, whether the office is your property or you are a landlord planning to refurbish it before leasing to maximise ROI, it's crucial to carefully and honestly assess the current state of the premises and clearly define your expectations for the newly refurbished office.

Here is a list of the most frequent reasons one should consider before an office refurb:

• Your existing leading office is tired and outdated;

• Your workers need more collaborative and hybrid workstations and zones;

• Your staff is growing and the office layout and area don't suit their needs;

• Your current premises are constantly under repair and have different problems with plumbing systems;

• Your company has just rebranded and the current spaces should be rebranded accordingly;

• Your current office is dull and doesn't respond to your company identity and who you are as a company;

• Staff surveys show your employees are unhappy, unmotivated and underperforming;

• Your team has trouble communicating with their remote working colleagues or there is a shortage of enough well-equipped meeting zones and rooms;

• Your lease contract expires and your landlord has offered to update the place.

There's no universal answer for designing a workplace that suits every need, so it's crucial to keep these reasons in mind throughout the whole project, to remind your refurbishment specialists from time to time to ensure minimum disruption to your business.

Why is it Important to Refurbish Your Office Space?

Now that you have defined the reasons behind your office refurbishment project, it’s time to get to know the most important benefits you can leverage from:

Boosted Employee Productivity

There is no doubt that a well-designed office environment enhances employee's efficiency and motivation. The office isn't and there is no need to be our home, but bearing in mind we spend there at least 8 hours daily, 40 hours per week, we should take care that our employees feel comfortable, relaxed and secure at their workplace.

Work shouldn't be only boring chores and demanding responsibilities - it should bring us moments of pleasure, and boost our well-being and self-esteem. An office refurbishment can enhance workplace well-being by integrating more natural light and offering employees a variety of areas that allow them to focus, collaborate, relax, or simply recharge.

Enhanced Brand Image and Corporate Culture

Aligning the office with your identity and corporate values is crucial. Bespoke office refurbishments should highlight your unique image and incorporate your identity in the surrounding areas. 

Your office premises serve as a reflection of your business, playing a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top talent in today’s competitive market. The importance of offering a workplace where both current and potential employees feel valued and enjoy working has significantly increased and your presence should resonate through every aspect of your workplace.

Cost Efficiency and Sustainability

Environmentally friendly office refurbishments can bring you long-term financial and environmental benefits. New technologies implemented that increase performance and boost staff motivation, noise-insulated meeting rooms with improved acoustics, enhanced workplace well-being embracing artwork in your office premises.... Your organisation can avail of the numerous advantages a well-done refurbishment work brings to your office.

Top 7 Trends in High-End Office Refurbishment

Before we reveal to you the top tendencies in high-end office refurbishment, be sure once again that you define your wish list and know exactly the reasons behind your desire to redesign your existing office.

Today's office design is quite different to what it was 10 or even 5 years ago. Significant world events like the COVID-19 pandemic times, the technology boom and others have been driving changes in office layout and employees' needs for a more flexible way of working. 

If you are striving to fulfil the following needs, you probably need a complete office refurbishment:

• Your staff want to work more collaboratively and speak with the other teams located on the other floors or opposite sides of the office;

• You want to adopt a more flexible way of working for your staff - entirely remote, from the office, or hybrid;

• You see your employees struggling to find a comfortable place to prepare and eat their lunch; 

• Your workplace is noisy, your teams are working in huge open spaces and even you find it difficult to concentrate on your tasks without listening to the constant phone calls of the Sales team;

• You don’t have anywhere to speak privately on the phone and usually go outside the whole building to call your kid.

Let's dive into more detail into the top 7 trends of luxury office refurbishment and find out how to maximise your office renovation.

1. Flexible Workspaces and Open Office Layout

• Adaptivity and multi-purpose areas

Offices are not what they used to be some years ago. Flexible workspaces, modular interior and office furniture solutions and adaptable, multi-purpose areas take a peak over boring fixed workspaces and assigned desks. Activity-based working areas ensure the setting of more flexible workstations depending on the specific need thus fostering easier collaboration, communication, co-working or focusing.

Imagine your company is working on a six-month project that requires a temporarily formed Agile team. Refurbishing the office can help you create a dedicated place for this team, allowing them to work in a more private area, separate from the general floor. Movable walls, acoustic dividers, and multi-purpose office furnishings allow you to quickly adapt spaces as needed.

• The role of acoustics 

Good office acoustics is something you shouldn't underrate. Employees' effectiveness and concentration can drastically get worse if people are distracted by surrounding noise - be it from ever chatting with colleagues, phone calls, meetings, etc. And you don't want your people to be less efficient and less productive, right?

It's highly recommended to take care of the sound insulation if this is something you have never thought about before. The noise levels can be lowered by installing acoustic components and sound-absorbing surfaces in the areas where the noise originates. 

PRO TIP: 

If you have some extra space in the office, consider creating a relaxation area, a gaming room with options like board games and darts, or even a quiet library instead of filling it with another desk. This functionality of spaces can enhance employee motivation and improve overall well-being at work.

2. Biophilic Design Elements for Improved Way of Working

Another great way to enhance well-being at work is by incorporating natural elements into your current office. The concept of biophilic design or bringing the outside into the office has been gaining rapid popularity in recent years. The more time we spend behind the walls of our apartments and offices, the more tangible our inherent need to connect with nature becomes. It's amazing what a huge positive effect some green plants, natural light, and organic stuff could have on people's effectiveness, relaxation, and creativity.

The popular trend to apply biophilic design solutions to your office as part of your refurbishment projects is a highly adaptable way of incorporating small touches like:

• potted plants;

• larger natural elements such as green or living plant walls;

• flowing water like a fountain or stream in the atrium or main entrance;

• natural elements like real wood for the office desks;

• increased natural light by installing new, bigger windows.

The "Bringing the outside in" method helps create more welcoming and productive workspaces that align with our natural connection to the environment. And the benefits are countless! From stress reduction, through improved cognitive well-being, and increased performance to improved air quality in the office setting. 

If you are curious to learn more about the biophilic design concept in architecture and its role in human well-being, you can check the article of Natalia Giacomino for Elysium magazine.

3. Sustainable Materials and Eco-Friendly Practices in Office Interior Refurbishment

Applying more eco-friendly components and energy-efficient designs in your office is a natural progression from the previous trend of incorporating more natural and biophilic elements.

Today, people are more socially and environmentally conscious than ever, and their desire to demonstrate commitment to combating climate change by participating in various causes and green practices is highly valued.

If your company culture hasn't yet embraced eco-friendly practices, consider how you can start. For example, instead of buying new furniture, think about reusing and refreshing old pieces. Or, opt for reusable elements and resources for your renewal project. There are many ways to make your work area more environmentally friendly while encouraging your employees to adopt eco-friendly habits.

Separating waste for recycling could be a great place to start.

4. Art and Wellness-Focused Spaces for Mental Health and Safety

Have you ever thought about how significant can be the role of artistry for personal and office well-being? Creating an office environment that prioritises employee psychological wellness and celebrates the local craft pieces and culture is a huge step toward an effective interior restoration project with a focal point of wellness, emotional stability and prosperity of your employees.

Refurbishing your office to comply with all safety requirements doesn’t have to mean making sacrifices or compromises. On the contrary! It could be an exciting opportunity to adapt and refresh your office, putting your workers' emotional well-being and safety first, and opening your doors to aesthetics that can foster not only employee efficiency and motivation but encourage local artists as well.

Do you still wonder how artwork and creativity can influence human behaviour and well-being in the office? 

"By incorporating art, you can transform a space into a haven of creativity and wellbeing. Studies have shown that exposure to art can reduce stress and anxiety, promoting a sense of relaxation and calmness. A positive, luxurious space filled with beautiful colours and imagery will stimulate a behaviour appropriate to it and a desire to return to it."

Paola Minekov, Salon Education Journal | May 2024 Edition

5. The Role of Colour Psychology & Aesthetics for Personal Well-Being 

Tons of research and studies prove the crucial role of colour psychology and aesthetics not only for our personal well-being but for our professional prosperity as well. Not every colour provokes the same feelings or is perceived the same way by different people. For some of us, red is a favourite colour, but for others, it provokes emotions such as danger. 

There are simple principles and rules of thumb you should keep when you choose the colour palette for renewing the hues of your office walls, let's say.

We can talk a lot about colours, but now we will mention only some interesting facts and specifics you should take into account:

• The Pantone colour of 2024 Peach Fuzz 13-1023 is ideal for office areas with its harmonious blend of pink and orange that offers warmth that enhances work performance and fosters a sense of belonging, community, and collaboration;

• Colour like red enhances alertness and provokes confidence. Red evokes not only passion and energy, but it stimulates thinking;

• Soothing colours like blue and green, can promote calmness and intellectual clarity, improve the overall work atmosphere and performance on tasks requiring creativity;

• White colour is a traditional office colour and it is perceived as fresh and clean, suitable for making the rooms brighter, achieving colour balancing and creating harmony and peace.

6. High-Quality Brand Design Customisation for Your Refurbishment Project

Your company presence and image should be part of the whole office space. Your employees and your clients/visitors should perceive your logo, slogan, and overall corporate personality. 

Don't forget that your office says a lot about your business and it’s so important that it gives a positive impression. If your clients see a not-very-welcoming and boring interior it can reflect negatively on your company reputation. So, think carefully about how to best incorporate your branding into high-quality designed office premises, pieces of furniture, and other office stuff you find suitable to play the role of your business ambassadors.

7. Office Interior Design that Elevate User Experience 

This last trend somehow summarises all the above mentioned.

Office setting design that elevates user experience focuses on creating a functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing work environment. By incorporating ergonomic furniture, thoughtful layouts, natural light, and soothing colours, such designs enhance your employees' efficiency, well-being, and collaboration. The goal is to create a work setting that not only meets the practical needs of workers but also inspires creativity and fosters a positive atmosphere.

Conclusion

High-end commercial office refurbishment is essential for creating a work zone that not only meets the evolving needs of employees but also reflects the values and culture of your company. By embracing trends like flexible workspaces, biophilic design and build, long-lasting elements, and wellness-focused spaces, you can enhance effectiveness, well-being, and overall satisfaction. Incorporating colour psychology, brand customisation, and user-centric design further elevates the office area, making it a place where employees can thrive and feel inspired every day.

Considering all the positive effects and advantages a well-planned and executed office refurbishment can bring to your business, don't hesitate and contact  Pro Pure Design for more details and a free quote for your bespoke high-end office refurbishment service - from planning to execution.