Office interior design shapes how your business works. It affects how easily people collaborate, how much room they have and what visitors think when they walk in. The good news is that a fresh look doesn’t have to mean a full office refurb.
Below are our top five office interior design ideas, from using your brand’s colours to adding multi-purpose spaces. Start with a quick check of what you already have, then pick the ideas that fit your space.
Planning an office refurb or makeover? Start with what you have
Good office design starts with the space you already have. Before you buy anything, walk round the office and note what works and what doesn’t. Whether you’re planning a full redesign or a quick revamp, these checks show you where to spend first:
- Movement: where do people bunch up, and which desks or common areas sit in awkward spots?
- Feedback: ask your staff. They use the space every day, so a short survey or a team meeting will tell you a lot.
- Light: see which areas get natural light. Moving desks or common areas closer to the windows can make the whole office feel brighter.
- Noise: listen for it. Carpets, curtains and acoustic panels all soak up sound if the office feels loud.
Then turn what you found into a plan:
- Pick the main problem you want to fix, such as cramped walkways or nowhere quiet to work.
- Set a budget, so you know whether this is a quick refresh or a bigger project.
- Measure the room and sketch the current layout, with doors, windows and sockets marked.
- List the furniture worth keeping. Good desks and storage can often stay in a new layout.
- Try the smallest useful change first, then build on what works.
| Problem | Quick win | Bigger project |
|---|---|---|
| Cramped walkways | Rearrange the furniture you have | Replace bulky pieces with compact ones |
| Distracting conversations | Move noisy and quiet activities apart | Add screens, a booth or an enclosed pod |
| Poorly lit desks | Move desks or add desk lamps | Rethink the lighting layout |
| Clutter everywhere | Clear out and add under-desk drawers | Plan storage for each team or zone |
Get the light right
Good lighting comes in layers. General lighting lights the whole room evenly. Task lighting, such as an adjustable desk lamp, adds light where close work needs it.
Check for glare on screens at different times of day. Turn screens side-on to windows where you can, and use blinds and lamp direction to cut reflections. Put the desks that need daylight most near the windows, and use the darker corners for storage or meeting areas.
1. Make use of your brand’s colours
Your office should look like your business. A colour scheme built around your brand colours makes the space feel consistent and tells visitors who you are as soon as they arrive.
Colour is also one of the quickest wins in office interior decoration, because it sets the tone for everyone who works there. You don’t need to paint every wall in your logo colours. An accent wall, a run of chairs or a few soft furnishings can be enough, so try it in one area and see how it looks.
Carry the scheme through the furniture too. Repeating one wood finish across desks and storage, and sticking to a small palette of upholstery colours, ties different pieces together. Start at reception, where visitors form their first impression: match the seating to how many visitors you usually have, and the desk and storage to what your receptionist does.
2. Incorporate multi-purpose spaces
Modern offices need spaces that do more than one job. A multi-purpose area gives people somewhere to collaborate, meet or step away from their desk, without adding floor space.
Start with casual meeting areas where small groups can talk things through. Lounge areas work well too: they serve as meeting places during the day and somewhere to relax at lunch.
Plan for quiet work as well as teamwork. Shared worktables suit collaboration, while desks in a quieter corner suit people who need to concentrate. A separate quiet spot for a short break helps too. Keep the social areas, such as the kitchen and lounge, away from the desks where people focus.
How much separation you need depends on the activity:
| Option | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Desk screens | Mark out space and cut visual distraction; some absorb a little sound | Rows of desks in an open-plan office |
| Meeting nooks | High-backed seating that feels private and softens noise, but stays open | Informal chats and quick catch-ups |
| Pods and booths | Enclosed or semi-enclosed space away from the floor | Calls and conversations that need more privacy |
None of these is soundproof. Screens and nooks reduce distraction; only a well-sealed enclosed pod or room keeps most of a conversation in. Our guide to office pods explains how quiet they really are.
3. Free up space with modern furniture
If your office feels cramped, old and bulky furniture is often the reason. Space is everything in an office, so swapping it for modern alternatives can make a big difference.
Think small and simple. Replace big, heavy desks with compact ones. Whether you choose fixed or adjustable height desks, compare the dimensions before you buy, and leave room for chairs, your technology and moving around.
Trailing cables are the other common problem. Cable management accessories keep wires tidy and out of walkways, so the office looks neater and there’s less to trip over.
Choose chairs with the same care as desks. Look for adjustable seat height and backrest, and check the chair fits under the desk it will be used at. Our guide to the features to look for in an office chair has a checklist.
In rooms that change use, pick furniture that moves or does two jobs. Mobile desks and pedestals on castors can be pushed aside for a team meeting. Storage ottomans and benches give extra seating and somewhere to put things. Modular pieces let you change the layout without buying again.
Storage keeps a refreshed office from filling up with clutter. Use under-desk drawers where there’s still enough legroom, tall cupboards where floor space is short, and shared storage close to the team that uses it.
Make it last: reuse and buy for the long term
A refresh doesn’t have to mean throwing everything away. Reuse pieces that are still sound, perhaps in a new position or finish. When you buy, look for sturdy frames and parts that can be replaced, such as castors or desktops. Check what a product is made from and whether it can realistically be recycled at the end of its life.
If you see an FSC label, check which part it covers. Some of our desks, such as the One cantilever crescent desks, list FSC certification, so ask whether it applies to the desktop or the whole desk if that matters to you.
4. Create an active environment for employees
An active office gives people reasons to get up from their desks during the day. Open up the floor plan so there’s room to walk around, and make breaks easy to take.
A break room helps here. It gives staff somewhere to step away from their desk and catch up with colleagues. A makeover of the staff room or canteen, with a coffee machine or some healthy snack options, makes it somewhere people actually want to go.
Comfortable breakout seating is the starting point. Some teams like a shelf of books or magazines, or a few games or puzzles: ask your staff what they’d actually use. Keep the livelier activities away from any quiet break space.
5. Add natural elements to your workspace
Natural elements bring colour, texture and life to an office. Plants are the easy place to start. Stone accents, wood and even water features take the idea further, an approach known as biophilic design.
Choose plants that suit the light you have and the time you can give them. Low-maintenance options such as succulents are a good start if nobody wants to be in charge of watering.
Keep your refreshed office looking good
A makeover only lasts if the space stays tidy. Give everyone enough storage to keep their desk clear, and set a regular cleaning routine.
Check in with your staff a few weeks after the changes. Ask what works and what doesn’t, and adjust the layout if you need to. Keep an easy way open for people to raise problems later, and look at the layout again whenever your headcount, the work or your working pattern changes, such as a move to hybrid working. It also helps to let people add a few personal touches to their own desks, such as a plant or some photos.
Ready to refresh your office?
If your office is due a makeover, try one of these five ideas and see how it changes your workplace. You’ll find a wide selection of office furniture to suit any workspace here at Office Supermarket, including modern office chairs and desks. Browse our commercial office furniture now, or contact us if you’d like help choosing.
