Sunday, August 29, 2010

How To Spruce Up Your 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.

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.

If your only goal is making your space look new and fresh, painting the walls would be a great place to start. Many offices have boring white walls, so adding a little color can go a long way in making your area stand out. If your area is small, you may consider choosing two shades of the same color. This way you can paint three walls the milder color and create an accent wall by painting one wall the darker color. Small areas can appear even smaller if all four walls are painted a color that is too dark, so keep that in mind. If you have a large area and wall space to play with, you will have a lot more color options available to you. Consider stopping by the paint department at your local hardware store for more fun ideas.

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.

Adding or replacing furniture can be important. If you gut and rebuild the interior of your office, but put the same mediocre furniture back in you are not going to see the change you hoped for. Keep in mind the color of your walls and the size of you office when picking out new furniture, and if possible, bring in samples of your wall colors and other textiles so you can be sure the furniture you are looking at will match your office.

If you employ a receptionist, you might be wondering how to make their desk blend in to the room more. This is a common problem because many reception desks are added after the room was originally designed, making the desk look as if it were thrown there hastily. Eructing a low wall in front of the reception desk gives the space the illusion of purpose. If you are not feeling that brave, call in a contractor. Small additions like this are not overly expensive.

To change the interior layout of an office, walls can be built or removed. Knocking down a wall can open up your office, creating a more teamwork oriented environment. On the other hand, adding walls can create the privacy that is essential in some industries. To make a new wall more formal you can add crowning to the top, or you can have a custom doorway designed.

It is possible to visually divide sections of your office without adding walls. Different sections can be floored differently. Changing the texture and type of the flooring from one area to another is a good idea, and is more defining than simply using different colors. Go from carpet to wood or tile, or add a large rug if your floor is concrete. Faux wood flooring and tile are easy to install, and often can increase the market value of your space as well. - 2364

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