Thursday, November 11, 2010

Simple Ideas For Office Renovations

By Syd Jacobs

Office renovations can be stressful and disruptive to work. Some renovations are quick and painless, but some are not. If your office is being redecorated, or you are considering doing it yourself, there are a few things you should expect.

The first step in any redecoration project is to determine why you are doing the project. People renovate for many different reasons, and your decorating choices be taken in consideration with your needs. For instance, are you buying a space that was previously used for another type of industry, such as a boutique, but you intend to turn it into a tanning salon? Do you want to create space or divide space? Is the office just old or boring looking? Updating an office space can be a great way to improve employee morale and attract more customers and clients.

Painting is a fantastic way to spice up an office. Most office spaces are barren and white, so adding a splash of color can completely change the aura of the room. Painting is laborious but simple, which makes it the perfect starting point. Plus, there are several stylistic techniques if you want to do more than just a solid color. Rooms may be painted with vertical or horizontal stripes to add some dimension.

When you are satisfied with the color of your walls, the next step is hang art. Even a freshly painted wall could look empty, especially if the wall is long or narrow. Paintings come in every size and style, so it is easy to customize an office through art. Other ways to add to your walls are to install decorative sconces and shelving. Shelves can hold books, statuettes, or any thing else you can think of.

Depending on the function of your office, you might try adding some more stylish furniture. This technique is great for offices that have a waiting room area. An overstuffed chair in a corner can really bring a room to light, and is easy combined with coffee tables or end tables for a fuller look. Buying new furniture does not have to be expensive, there are hundreds of consignment companies and second hand stores carrying quality pieces for reasonable prices.

Take advantage of the chaos by having the employee areas touched up if possible. Installing senor toilets and facets and adding a hand drier to the bathroom are great ways to cut down on overhead expenses and can help the environment as well. If you bought a new refrigerator for the break room, you should discuss disposal of the old one with your contractor. You may need to pay a disposal fee, or you could attempt to sell the refrigerator. Contractors frequently do this with the appliance they remove from your space, so why not sell it yourself?

Adding or tearing down walls can drastically change a room, and it can be messy during construction. If you are changing a room you might need to discuss the electrical needs of the room, such as the number of electrical outlets needed, the type of lighting you are going to have, and if you want a ceiling fan installed. If you do not share this information prior to the start of construction, you probably will not end up with the correct wiring for your needs. Some machinery requires larger breakers, so be sure to bring it up.

The final tip to think about when renovating an office is the flooring. Floors are generally tile, wood, concrete or carpet, but within each category there are infinite options. For example, wood floors can be made out of real or fake wood, and are offered in a variety of colors. Concrete floors can be stained, sealed, or painted. You can switch from one flooring type to another to divide a large space or stick to one type through your entire office. There is no limit to what can be done during a renovation period, so be sure you view many options before you make your decisions. - 42635

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