Office Design Guide

If you own or manage a business, you likely spend more time in the office than at home. According to Harvard Business Review, CEOs work an average of 62 hours a week, and about half of that time is spent at the company’s headquarters.

But whether or not you’re the CEO of your company, the way your office space layout can impact your productivity and overall job satisfaction.

A modern office should be designed to improve the health and well-being of everyone who uses the space. With the right office layout, design elements, and office furniture layout, you and your employees can feel more inspired and motivated to help your business grow. 

We’ll help you start the process of revamping your offices with this handy guide, which covers topics such as:

• How to choose the right office space layout
• How to buy office cubicles that promotes productivity
• How to decide on your office furniture layout

From the planning to installation, we’ll take you through each step to help you create an office that works for you. If you run into any questions along the way, give us a shout at Arnold’s Office Furniture. We’ll be happy to help.

The History and Evolution of Office Space Layout

Working in an office building can be traced back to the 18th century with the East India Company in London. Back then, office workers complained of feeling like prisoners, struggling with tight office space layouts and a lack of privacy.

Things were not much better for office workers during the early 1900s when buildings often housed a bullpen office layout. To create a bullpen layout, companies typically arranged desks in rows and did not use any partitions to separate them. 

Workers lacked privacy and proper lighting, and these offices were usually noisy places. Companies also did not bother giving workers ergonomic desk chairs. As you might imagine, offices used to be uncomfortable places to work.

Fortunately, things started to change in the late 1950s when German office designers promoted an “office landscape.” Office landscapes were spacious, flexible, and equipped with high-quality furniture. 

The goal was to create work environments that were more tailored to individual needs and reflected a democratic management style. This design philosophy made its way to the United States during the 1960s.

Today, business owners take a worker-centric approach to office design. Companies recognize their employees as their most valuable resource and view the workspace as a tool to help them reach goals. 

As a result, modern design trends focus on comfort, productivity, sustainability, and fostering employee health—but which office layout is right for your company?

Choosing Your Office Space Layout

The first step to creating a welcoming, thriving office environment is to choose a building that works. In this section, we’ll show you how to pick the right office space layout.

Note: If you already have your office space but need a new layout, check out our workstation options.

Things To Consider When Choosing An Office Space

When it comes to choosing an office space, you want to consider your needs and goals carefully. How your office building looks and feels will impact your employees and make an impression on your clients. 

So, what are your office space layout criteria? Knowing what you need will help you narrow your options. Here are the factors you’ll want to consider:

• Location & Access:
  • Location
  • Accessibility
  • Nearby housing
• Building Features:
  • Security
  • Building quality
  • Windows
  • Desired layout
  • Facilities
• Cost Considerations:
  • Rent
  • Utilities
  • Taxes
• Environment:
  • Noise
  • Space
• Regulatory:
  • Local zoning ordinances
• Support Services:
  • Workforce resources

Should You Rent Or Buy An Office Space?

Maybe you’ve found the perfect office space that has everything you need. But, perhaps this office paradise is for sale, not for rent. Should you leap and become an office owner rather than a renter? Owning an office is much different than renting one. 

Here are the pros and cons of each.

The Pros And Cons Of Buying An Office

The pros of buying include:

• You can build equity
• You’ll face fewer restrictions on remodeling and decorating
• You can rent out extra office space
• You may pay less for the space over the long haul
• You won’t have to worry about escalating rent amounts

Cons of buying include:

• It typically costs more upfront
• You’ll need to maintain the property
• You’ll have to pay property taxes

The Pros And Cons Of Renting An Office

The pros of renting include:

• You’ll have greater flexibility if you plan to change locations 
• You’ll face minimum property maintenance
• You may be able to rent in a good location
• You can typically expect lower upfront costs

The cons of renting include:

• Your rent may increase over time
• You may have to deal with a landlord
• You’ll have less control over how the office looks

If you feel stuck, working with a real estate agent who is familiar with the area and the local market can help you make the right choice.

Buying the Right Cubicles For Your Office Space Layout

Now that you have your office space layout planned out, you need to decide if you’re going to want cubicles, an open floor plan, or something in between. Luckily, we have options that fall into each one of these categories!

Here’s how different types of cubicles cater to varying office space layouts:

• High-Wall Cubicles: These are your full-privacy cubicles. High-wall cubicles extend up to 65 inches, creating an enclosed space reminiscent of a traditional office. They’re ideal for roles that demand high concentration and confidentiality, effectively minimizing distractions.
• Mid-Wall Cubicles: These are often referred to as semi-private cubicles. Standing about 53 inches high, mid-wall cubicles provide a reasonable level of privacy while still promoting accessibility and communication among team members. This setup suits environments that value a mix of solitude for focus and lower walls for easy collaboration.
• Low-Wall Cubicles: These types of cubicles are better for that bullpen office layout. these lower partitions encourage a highly collaborative atmosphere by making it easy for employees to interact and share ideas without standing up. Low-wall cubicles are perfect for dynamic teams that require frequent interaction but still appreciate a designated personal area.
• Drop-Down Cubicles: If you’re looking for more flexible cubicles, these are designed for maximum adaptability, supporting a variety of group tasks and discussions. With their convertible setup, drop-down cubicles can transform a private space into a collaborative zone in moments, ideal for brainstorming and project meetings.

The type of cubicle you’ll need depends on your office space layout and more importantly, your work environment. 

Remember Your Office Furniture Layout

As you choose the best cubicle layout for your office, make sure to plan your office furniture layout as well. 

This involves considering the dimensions and type of desks, chairs, and storage units, along with how these pieces will interact within the cubicle configurations you select. 

For instance, in high-wall cubicles where privacy is prioritized, you might opt for larger desks that can accommodate multiple monitors or extensive paperwork. In low-wall or teamwork cubicles, more compact, modular furniture might be better to facilitate collaboration and save space.

Remember to consider the placement of shared resources like printers, filing cabinets, and office supplies. These should be accessible to all employees but located in areas that do not disrupt the workflow or crowd the cubicles.

Check out our wide selection of office furniture made to fit any cubicle configuration here.

We hope this guide helps you decide on the best cubicles for your office space layout! If you run into any questions along the way, give us a shout at Arnold’s Office Furniture—we’ll be happy to help.