15 tips for designing your company's open-plan office

Open-plan offices have become a staple in modern businesses. However, designing an open-plan office is not simply a matter of placing desks side by side: it's about creating an environment that promotes productivity, collaboration, and team well-being. In this article, we offer 15 modern and economical ideas to transform your offices into a flexible and pleasant space.

Layout

The layout of your open-plan office is the first step in optimizing your workspace. A good configuration maximizes the available space while giving employees a certain amount of freedom of movement.

• ‍Island desks: Placing desks in small groups promotes collaboration and maintains fluid circulation. ‍
• Modular row alignment: For teams that need to concentrate, linear alignment with removable dividers provides isolation while maintaining an open atmosphere. ‍
• Clear circulation: Provide wide aisles to facilitate movement and avoid congested areas.

Optimizing the layout also involves the use of modular partitions or removable panels, which offer flexibility and space savings.

Work areas

To design an effective open space, it is essential to create different work areas tailored to the needs of employees.

• Modular individual workstations: Height-adjustable desks, for example, allow employees to vary their posture.
• Collaborative spaces: Set up shared tables or co-working areas for projects that require teamwork.
• Multipurpose areas: Spaces that can be used as both temporary offices and for impromptu meetings maximize the use of furniture.

The use of economical and modular furniture makes these areas adaptable to the needs of the company, while staying within budget.

Quiet zones (acoustic booths)

One of the main challenges of open-plan offices is noise management. Acoustic booths are an effective solution for maintaining concentration.

• Individual closed booths: Ideal for making calls, working on tasks that require concentration, or conducting confidential interviews.
• Collaborative booths: For small meetings or brainstorming sessions, these isolated spaces reduce disruption for the rest of the team.
• Economical and modular units: Some models can be dismantled and moved, allowing the space to be adapted as needed without costly renovations.

Integrating these quiet zones into open-plan offices improves employee productivity and well-being, while maintaining the collaborative spirit of the space.

Informal meeting areas

Informal meeting areas encourage creativity and spontaneous communication. These spaces can be set up without investing in large traditional rooms:

• Coffee corner or lounge: Comfortable armchairs and a small coffee table are all you need for quick chats or brainstorming sessions.
• High tables and stools: These spaces facilitate quick meetings and encourage movement in the open space.
• Mobile screens or whiteboards: These allow ideas to be presented quickly and discussions to be captured collaboratively.

These informal areas complement the open space by offering alternatives to traditional meetings, while remaining economical and flexible.

Simple decoration (plants, lighting, colors)

Office design is not limited to furniture: decoration plays a key role in creating a pleasant atmosphere.

• Green plants: They improve air quality and add a natural touch that promotes relaxation and concentration.
• Adjustable lighting: Opt for natural light and dimmable LED lamps to avoid eye strain.
• Soft, stimulating colors: Light colors make the space feel larger, while touches of bright colors can energize certain collaborative areas.

Simple but well-thought-out decor contributes to a welcoming work environment without breaking the budget.

In short

Designing an open-plan office is not just a question of furniture. It's about creating a flexible, functional, and economical environment that meets the diverse needs of employees. By combining an optimized layout, adapted work areas, acoustic booths, and informal meeting spaces, you can transform your open-plan office into an efficient and pleasant place to work.