We are often asked the question: How much does an office renovation cost? Unfortunately, we can't give a direct answer. Much depends on the existing conditions of the space, the requirements of the people working in it and, of course, the budget.
For some, money is not an issue, which leads to high-profile design projects that employ an approach of endless possibilities. For others, there are financial constraints, but there are still a lot of leniency treatments, and these tend to be mid-level office renovations that cost around £350-600 per person. Of course, this also depends on the scale of the work – from furniture renovations to complete renovations, which may include the removal of walls and the installation of air conditioners.
How to renovate an office on budget:
Set clear goals from the start – if you start a renovation project without a clear understanding of what you want to achieve, you risk making mistakes, and further correction of those mistakes can be costly. There's a lot of discussion around branding, health and safety, growth plans, and employee requirements to determine where your budget fits best.
Seek the help of a professional – as the saying goes, some things are really best left to experts, and planning office renovations on budget is one of them. Working with an office fit and/or interior design partner will ensure you make the most of your budget and available space with block plans, layout drawings, and product recommendations.
Don't be afraid to reuse existing furniture – office renovation doesn't always mean starting from scratch. You can build around existing design elements you like or find useful, such as chairs and tables, to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Consider open workspaces – If you're currently working in a segmented workspace separated by doors and partitions, an office renovation plan is the best time to consider an open workspace. This unstructured setup will give you more flexibility to adjust the space as trends and requirements evolve, further saving you refurbishment costs in the long run.
Catering to more modern work patterns – Workdays are more diverse than ever, which is great news for your office renovation budget. Each employee no longer needs their own dedicated workstation, so taking advantage of features such as mobile work, focus pods, and collaboration spaces will benefit your bank balances and productivity.
Make your space more versatile — Rather than designating the only purpose of staying empty when not in use as space, create more versatile settings that can be used for a variety of tasks. For example, installing Google Jamboard and some modular furniture into your video conference room can double as a great training area or studio space.
Don't choose style over substance – when budget is tight, the last thing you want to do is waste money on novel office design fads. Understanding when quirky office design becomes a gimmick is an important part of budget allocation and spending control for modern office renovation projects.
Last but not least... Have you ever thought about MPS?
In addition to considering the actual design of your new office space as part of the renovation process, you might want to consider implementing a cost-effective managed printing solution. This helps reduce spending on consumables (ink, toner, etc.) and print volumes.