June 30, 2010

Get The Most Out Of Your Office Renovations

Interior design might not be your strong point, but do not let that stop you from starting a much needed renovation of your office. To make sure your office renovations turn out beautifully you can follow these decorating tips. Most importantly, have fun with your renovation! Build on the ideas given here to make your office unique for you.

A good contractor should know the purpose and function of the office because many of the options available need to be customized to your specific needs. Make sure you give your contractor or decorator specific information on what you want. If you do not do this, you might not get what you expected.

Renovations can range from large projects to minor redecorations. Either way, you should expect the office interior or exterior to be painted. You may want your walls to be a different color, or just want a fresh coat of paint on the color you already have. If your interior is being painted, you will have to move all your furniture away from the walls, and out of the room completely if possible. Talk to your contractor and decide what needs to be done prior to painting.

Redecorating is common, and probably a good idea. Your contractor might handle this, though it is more likely they will leave it up to you, or recommend an interior decorator. An interior decorator usually will suggest adding paintings to your walls, or offer suggestions for window dressings. Spending time and money on interior decorating may not make sense depending on the size and function of your office, but if you are remodeling to make the space nicer, it might be worth it.

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.

What would an office be without office desks? In our office, we have three desks. Office interiors are important as they help keep you focused on your work.

Filed under Work From Home by Cory D Patterson

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