An office renovation should be a major milestone in your company’s history: one that establishes a new chapter, and represents progress, growth and evolution.
However, as with any other significant undertaking, there are potential pitfalls along the way that can turn an exciting undertaking, into an unpleasant ordeal. And one of the biggest sources of unexpected costs and frustration has to do with furnishings.
Below, we highlight the 4 major, yet common furnishing-related mistakes that some businesses make during an office renovation:
- Not realizing that refurbishing is an option.
Some businesses are not aware that many of their existing items could be refurbished. For example, chairs can be reupholstered, cubicles can be deep-cleaned, desks and workstations can be sanded and repainted, and so on. Re-furbishing can shave tens of thousands of dollars from an office renovation budget — and it is good for the environment, too!
- Not realizing the space planning and furniture deployment are connected.
Some businesses do not realize that how they plan their space, and the furniture that they deploy in that space, are part of the same strategic process.
In other words, there is a science and methodology to furniture deployment that the vast majority of businesses (whether they are renovating their office or not) do not leverage, because they simply do not have the in-house expertise to make sure that workstations, desks, cubicles, and even lighting and vents all have an optimal place and position.
Without this expertise and insight, these businesses undermine or diminish their productivity, drive up maintenance costs (e.g. energy, utilities), and so on. In other words: they pay more, but get less.
- Not realizing that storage is an option.
During and even after an office renovation, some businesses have furniture that they do not want to decommission, yet do not currently have a use for. Often, they store them in an ad hoc manner – usually by commandeering a meeting room, or pushing them into a warehouse, etc.
However, storing office furniture is easy, flexible and affordable, and businesses can access an updated inventory at anytime – which means they know when they need to buy new furniture, and when they have something on-hand. This knowledge can lead to substantial cost savings, both during and well after an office renovation.
- Hiring a project manager instead of and interior solutions specialist.
Project managers are vital for the success of an office renovation project. However, even the most experienced project manager will be the first to admit that he or she is not an interior solutions specialist – and will therefore not be able to provide the level of furniture selection/deployment and space optimization expertise needed to achieve the vision as cost effectively as possible.
Learn More
If you are considering an office renovation, then contact the interior solutions specialists at Key Interiors today. We have over 30 years of experience in helping our clients avoid costly mistakes and pitfalls, including those that are furnishing-related. Your consultation with our team is free, and there is no risk or obligation.
