How to Create an Office Floor Plan That Employees Will Love

If you’re looking to get people back into the office you need to create an office space that people want to be in. When people can work from anywhere it's important the office has a purpose. Think: collaboration, productivity, and motivation.

If all you’re offering is a desk and a computer, people will stay home or work from another location. But if you give them something they can’t find anywhere else like comfortable furniture or new technology, they’ll be more likely to come in.

Whether you’re using a traditional office layout or employing a hot desking or hoteling model, you should be intentional about the way you set up individual workspaces, conference rooms, and meeting areas.

The whole office floor itself is evolving and it's time that yours does too. Here are some tips to help you design the right office floor plan for your team.

Assess Your Current Office Space

For a long time, a desk-to-employee ratio was all you needed to have a successful office floor plan. There were private offices for execs and meeting rooms for team collaboration. Now as we experiment with hybrid work there are more elements we need to consider when building out an office floor plan and layout.

Assessing your current office space will give you a chance to look for areas of improvement, so you can design the best layout for your teams. What's the best way to track your progress? Looking at data.

There are two types of data you can rely on to get the information you need.

Space Utilization Data

Space utilization data tracks how people are using your office and shows if it's being used to its full capacity. You'll be able to identify if there are areas in the office that are being underutilized or not being used correctly. You might find that you’re short on desks or meeting rooms, or that you don’t have enough space for focus work.

Finding out how people are using your office will help you understand what the office floor plan needs.

Employee Survey Feedback

If you’re renovating or reorganizing an existing office blueprint, another place to start is by surveying your team. No one knows what your people need better than them, and an employee survey is a great way to check what you're missing. Ask questions about things like :

• Seating areas
• Noise levels
• Amenities
• Accessibility

These insights will inform your office floor plan and help you design an office space that meets the needs of everyone on your team.

6 Ways to Enhance Your Office Layout

Your office layout should be a welcoming space that encourages people to do their best work. There are many details to think about when enhancing your office floor plans and layout: furnishings, office dimensions, and security are just a few. Just remember that every office floor plan will be different just like every team is different.

Enhancing your office can be a fun and creative process. As you reimagine your space, here are some important suggestions for you to consider:

1. Flexible Layout

Let your teams decide what they need to be productive in your office. Trust that they know what tools will help them do their best work. Hot desking or desk hoteling offers your teams the flexibility to choose where in the office they want to work and when.

Near coworkers or in a focus area - they can pick the seat location or room type that best fits their needs. Add modular office furniture so people can easily convert spaces and create ideal setups. Flexibility is key to a successful hybrid office.

2. Easy Office Navigation

Simplify workplace experience as much as possible by removing any hurdles people may face when coming to the office. Ensure that everyone in your office can easily find what they need. Clearly mark things like photocopiers, printers, kitchenettes, and restrooms. Maintain open hallways and label exits for fire safety.

Adding an office map by the elevators or stairs will immediately help guests know where they're going even if they've never visited your office before. Provide as many helpful resources as possible so people don't get confused.

3. Diverse Workspaces

While many companies are moving to open office layouts, you still need space for quiet work; one-on-one meetings, phone calls, and projects that require deep concentration. Incorporating different room types into your office layout, like private and semi-private rooms, will help employees stay productive. 

Depending on the size of your office you may need to get creative when diversifying your space. Using tools like moveable walls and office dividers gives people the opportunity to create private space when needed, and open up the office floor plan when they want to share and collaborate.

4. Natural Light

Nobody wants to work in a dark office. Whenever possible, maximize the number of workspaces near windows to give people access to natural light. Research shows that factors like lighting, noise and air quality can affect your employees’ concentration and productivity.

Large windows will help brighten your space no matter how small and will keep people focused and happy no matter the season. Plus nothing brightens your day like a gorgeous view.

5. Company Branding

Your physical space is an opportunity to build your brand. You can display your logo on walls, use your brand fonts in signage, and even select office furniture in your brand colors. Your office design should represent your company's mission and goals. Don't be afraid to get creative in your layout! Adding a motivational poster here and a plant there will go a long way.

6. Workplace Amenities

Wow your guests and boost morale with great perks and amenities. Make sure your office plan has a beverage station, comfortable seating, plenty of outlets, and free Wi-Fi.

Some offices provide larger benefits like onsite fitness centers or an in-house chef. If you have a limited budget, simple perks like complimentary snacks or an office TV can go a long way.

Essential Technology to Help You Enhance Your Office Floor Plans

Even if you’ve spent a lot of time drafting your new office floor plan, you’ll inevitably need to update and make some tweaks along the way. If you need some inspiration or guidance, you can find plenty of office layout examples and templates that are already working for other companies.

Whether it’s converting an under-utilized conference room or boosting your Wi-Fi signal, don’t be afraid to make changes. Hybrid work isn’t a one-time project, it's a continuous evolution. Build the best possible workplace by listening to employee feedback and making adjustments as needed.

While collecting data may seem like a daunting task, you may just need an upgrade. Tracking space utilization can be easier than ever with the right software and technology. Workplace analytics is a great way to see how efficiently your teams are using your space and what may need some improvement.

Not only that, but the right tools can help you streamline desk booking and resource management, so getting right to work can be your main priority.

Want to learn how Robin can help you improve your workplace layout? Schedule a demo or start for free today to learn more.