Good small office design, when done properly, can create a pleasing atmosphere and lead to increased productivity and good overall wellbeing. But when your office space is particularly small, this can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re planning an office refurb. So if you have a relatively small space but want to maximise your office, then we’re here to help. Don’t worry – all of that beautiful furniture you want will still fit with our help!
Whether you want to make your office more accessible, use your space wisely or incorporate traditional or minimal office design – we’ll talk through how to arrange furniture in a small office, as well as tips on interior design to ensure your smaller rooms still feels as spacious and practical as possible.
Can furniture really transform a small office?
Absolutely! Switching from bulky and impractical office furnishings to eye-catching and functional ones may seem overwhelming, but it’ll seriously open up your office and have it looking and feeling great.
Since you and your team interact with your furniture regularly, transforming an office to ensure comfort and tidiness is a top priority. At the same time, injecting some uniqueness into your space is important too, as your office should reflect your company’s personality and brand, which is why you shouldn’t just treat office furniture as an afterthought.
Tips for small office furniture solutions
1. Figure out what you need
If you want to move existing furniture around (or invest in new pieces), it’s a good idea to get to the bottom of what you need, as well as what you’ll really use your office for:
- Will clients visit your office?
- Do you need a lot of storage space?
- Is it just a space for yourself, or a team?
- Are you hiring new staff?
- Does everything just feel a bit… cramped?
If you’re meeting clients, it’s a good idea to make your small office feel as wide open and welcoming as possible. You may also want to think about how your industry impacts office design, as your aesthetic will often give away what your business is about.
Consider a small seating area with comfortable chairs (or a sofa). Or, if you’re using an office alone or with a small team, consider encouraging yourself and others to add home comforts to the office.
If storage is a requirement, it’s a good idea to measure out any empty space between desks, tables, cabinets and the like. Can additional storage (safely!) fit in these areas? Or can your storage solutions safely stack vertically to make more space around you and other furniture in the office?
One technique we use a lot is something known as “room zoning”. With clever use of storage solutions such as lockers with planters on top, we can create a new zone or space for separate usage, whilst also helping to reduce clutter on desks and provide more storage too! Read more about how we incorporated this with our office relocation project with Beyond.
If more space is required, consider what could be digitised – do you really need a cabinet of physical files? Or can they be sorted into digital files with multiple backups? This is also an incredibly simple way to declutter and free up some space.
2. Consider vertical storage solutions
We touched on this briefly before, but vertical storage can seriously free up room, and in some cases, stack up on one another – depending on the furniture’s integrity and the look you’re going for, of course!
Fit some wall-mounted shelves, or desk shelves if you’re not able to drill anything into the walls. They can stop desks from getting cluttered, and also double up as decorative pieces. They can be used to house documents, folders, or even features like plants. Or how about a tall bookcase? Not only are they great for storage, but you can create a minimal look by incorporating baskets that can house all of your items.
Alternatively, if space allows, installing storage walls can really help keep your small office space clutter-free, provide a practical storage unit within narrow spaces such as corridors and even separate spaces into different zones.
3. Pick multi-functional furniture
Multi-functional furniture is a saving grace for small offices and can aid ergonomic office design. Consider investing in small office furniture such as desks with built-in drawers, side tables with drawers, or storage units with enough room to stack neat files vertically.
In terms of seating, multi-functional furniture such as certain office chairs cater to a variety of needs, from large meetings and office activities to lunch seating. Multi-functional furniture not only impresses clients and employees by enhancing mobility but also ensures comfort. So if you’re looking for something cost-effective but comfortable for both employees and clients – this is definitely something to invest in. Don’t forget to get creative – particularly if you want a quirky office design!
4. Tidy your cables
Whilst arranging office furniture, you may want to turn your attention to loose cables. There’s nothing more of an eye-sore than seeing loose cables on desks and floors. Not only are they unsafe, but they can make an office look cluttered – so you can imagine the impression it would give in a small office space!
Something as simple as a cable basket or cable tidy can work wonders in hiding your cables away – especially if you use extension cords.
5. Incorporate flow into your space
Placing desks by windows or areas with high levels of lighting can do wonders for productivity. You could also consider placing desks against longer walls to create the illusion of more space in your office. Just ensure ventilation, walkways, doors and windows aren’t obstructed by your office furniture!
6. Opt for slim (but comfortable) furniture
Small office furniture that’s more on the slim side will make your small office space look less “busy”. Think glass desks, acrylic chairs and other types of transparent furniture that can give the illusion of an opened-up space. Look out for “narrow” furniture, which may be available as an alternative design to the standard furniture pieces you’re looking for.
7. Place mirrors in strategic places
Adding mirrors to a small office can create the illusion of a larger space. This is because mirrors reflect light and can visually expand the room, making it feel more open and airy. However, mirrors come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and thickness – so it’s important to find one that truly fits your office space.
We find that round mirrors can add an element of softness to a room, whilst bigger/rectangular mirrors can make a large bare wall look more interesting. Depending on your branding, you may wish to opt for more modern-looking styles or one with frames that look a bit more rustic. Check out our creative office ideas for your next revamp post to find out how you can incorporate mirrors and other elements into different styles of office rooms.
Need more tips on how to arrange furniture in a small office? Get in touch with our team for specialist advice today. With a variety of services available, from office fit-outs to office design, we can work with you to make your small office both functional and aesthetically pleasing!