As London grows its reputation as the place to be for start-ups, especially in the tech and communications industries, the shared office space is on the up. Shared offices, or serviced offices, allow flexible short term agreements for organisations which are experiencing rapid growth or can’t yet budget for building operations. Shared offices also give smaller and growing firms access to the prestigious London postcodes they could not otherwise afford.
So why is it important to decorate these spaces well? The temptation for landlords is to keep it very basic since the tenant turnover in these spaces is often high. However, with thoughtful decoration, a serviced office can become an expert in its field and find itself in demand. This can only bring benefits to a landlord’s income so what’s not to love?
Appeal
A serviced office space should be kitted out to be appropriate across many different industries. This could mean a tech start up or a temporary overflow for a large corporate. So when you decorate your flexible office space, it’s important to make careful choices. This does not mean basic furniture and battleship grey walls, however. By creating a modern and coherent concept, your variety of tenants will be able to adapt the space to suit their corporate identity whilst enjoying a vibrant space from day one.
Colour or Neutral?
So should you go for a bold colour or neutral hues? Of course, you don’t want to alienate firms through your decor. However, the answer is not to become shy of colour. Go for a mix of tones, with vibrant shades working especially well in reception spaces and social areas (including hub spaces that accommodate informal meetings). These areas lend themselves to creative ideas so consider accents of yellow and orange to encourage that side of the business.
Facilities
It’s not just desk space and wi-fi that an organisation expects from their serviced or shared office. Shared toilet facilities, meeting rooms, reception and social spaces all add value to an organisation seeking a good serviced office. Where a business will undoubtedly want to add their own stamp to a space, in all likelihood they won’t have a huge budget. So make your shared space memorable by furnishing shared areas with art or decor based around common ground. Perhaps past uses of the building if it’s a renovation or the history of that London postcode.
Funky Furniture
Furnishings are a sure sign of quality in an office space. So, build a coherent concept with matching chairs and desks for working space, and consistently furnished meeting spaces or pods. Including a good number of soft furnishings to accommodate informal meetings is a must in today’s growing start-up field. Ensure that any booths and lounge areas tie-in to the look of desk spaces. Natural materials are great here, with ice cool metallics and warm woods enjoying appeal for most sectors of business.
Maintenance
A key benefit to businesses seeking a shared office space is the management of building operations and maintenance. And tenants do expect their space to be maintained on their behalf – it’s all in the rent. Keeping your decor fresh is super important and will lift your serviced office from the every day to the spectacular. It can seem impossible – since the nature of the flexible office means that workers from different organisations are present at different times. However, for an ongoing decorative maintenance programme that occurs as if by magic, all you need is a decorator who is clever with their scheduling. That’s certainly something we can boast of at HL Decorating!
With specialised businesses making the shared or serviced office space an art form, investing in the look of your space can reap rewards for your turnover. You’ll even find that tenants who would ordinarily be transient are keen to remain in your office for longer, which minimises any downtime for the landlord.
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