The dos and don’ts for making your commercial space work

When it comes to designing your commercial space, no matter how large or small, there are invariably certain key factors you instantly account for, such as time constraints and your budget.

While it’s important to consider these core elements, it’s equally important to widen your focus and contemplate other aspects of your project that are just as integral to delivering the best possible results.

Here are our dos and don’ts for broadening your approach and making sure your commercial space works, whatever the circumstances.

TIP 1: Do use a professional designer

As obvious as it might sound, it’s actually a point that a lot of people tend to overlook, perhaps because they’re working to a tight budget, haven’t got time to shop around for a good designer or simply haven’t thought about using one. Yes, it might incur additional cost, but investing in a professional designer will ensure that the end result doesn’t just look good, but works on a practical basis too. Plus, it’ll probably save you money in the long run as your space will be fit for purpose, meet your requirements and be designed to last.

TIP 2: Don’t get too bogged down by the design

While the design of your commercial space is obviously key to ensuring your company ethos and brand look and feel are well reflected, all too often, we see people falling into the trap of overthinking the design element of their project, especially if they haven’t enlisted the help of a professional designer. What we mean by this is over focusing on either the visual impact or use of space at the cost of appeal and practicality. A great working space should be inviting, durable enough to last, attractive, and easy to clean and maintain.

TIP 3: Do choose the right materials

If you’ve taken our advice and enlisted the expertise of a professional designer, it would be a shame to get your design right, but then get your materials wrong. When choosing your materials make sure that they’re fit for purpose and are made to last, and if you’re not sure, always ask your supplier, they should be able to advise you on this. Invest in the right materials and you won’t just benefit on a visual level, but financially too. For example, porcelain tiles will last the lifetime of your building while carpets wear out in just a few years.

And as tempting as it might be to want to buy cheaper substitute materials because it’ll bring your project within or under budget, it should be avoided at all costs. There’s nothing worse than having a great design, only for it to then be compromised by cheaper quality products.

Trust us, you’ll end up paying the price for it, just like a client of architectural design firm, Clear on Black, did. They had a client who did a full renovation and had their hotel filled with what turned out to be inexpensive and ‘cheap’ case goods. Two years into what should have been a 7 to 10 year lifespan, the case goods failed and needed to be replaced.

TIP 4: Don’t overlook continuity in your design

There’s nothing more disjointed than seeing a mix of designs, all in one commercial space. For instance, exterior signs in one design that doesn’t complement what people then experience when they venture indoors. As simple as it might be, it’s a basic mistake that tends to catch a lot of people out. Ensuring there’s continuity in your design will add to the overall appeal, creating more of a streamlined and consistent finish in the process.

We’ve listed just four of the main ways you can help ensure your commercial space works, which extends far beyond simply focusing on core factors such as your budget, resources and time constraints. We hope you’ve found the points useful, for more practical advice, why not check out our blog ‘How to deliver compliant commercial flooring projects with the wow factor.’