Your office is an important place. It’s where careers are made, meetings are held, deals are struck, exciting projects competed, pivotal presentations are delivered and office banter ensues. It's a space where your employees need to feel comfortable in order to be productive.

CIPHR warns that untidy personal work stations can make it a struggle to work. Your office needs to have ample space for storage of files and folders so your employees' desks can remain clutter free. Meanwhile, Area Sq recommend checking that the office air con works well to avoid dehydrating workers and to ensure they have access to natural light via large windows or SAD lamps failing that. This ensures they get enough Vitamin D and increases productivity levels.

When you choose to refurbish your existing office it's a chance to tick all the boxes to make your new office a pleasure to work in. But there's a lot to consider. Where do you even start? Having helped many company's with their office refurbishments, we've put together a list of 7 steps to take to ave the way to your perfect office.

#1 Choose the right Office refurb team! If you choose to work with a high quality, skilled project team from the word go, you're less likely to have problems further down the line. Do your homework: Do they boast good reviews and testimonials from previous office refurbishment work they have carried out? Do they hold relevant health and safety accreditations and qualifications? Did you seem to 'gel' with them when you met? If they appeared experienced, professional, like they knew-their stuff but were willing to listen to your ideas then you're on to a winning refurb team.

#2 Have a Plan A...and a Plan B. An office refurbishment is a big job, even if you're a small company, and requires meticulous advanced planning to ensure it runs smoothly. You need to work with your project team to set deadlines for certain jobs and priorities what needs doing first in what order. Only then can you achieve your office refurb goals. The last thing you want is for one aspect of your office refurbishment to delay another. Risk Assessments need to be completed too.

Part of good planning is research. Ask yourself what your office needs to provide you with in the long-term and short-term What elements of other offices you have visited do you like? What will work for you and your employees?

#3 Optimise your space. Though this stage falls under planning, we thought it needed its very own step given its importance. An office refurbishment is an investment in the future; it's not something you do every few months (unless you have lots of time and money on your hands!) Your contractor will assess your premises and the available options architecturally, mechanically and electrically, and financially. They will also help you to identify what function your rooms need to provide in order to serve your company well.

How many conference rooms do you need? How many meeting rooms, staff break rooms, client waiting lounges, reception areas do you need? What storage options are necessary and what infrastructure for your network and telecommunications do your require? Where would you prefer these rooms to be laid out and how big do you want each room?

#4 Design & Transform! Often considered the 'fun' bit, you need to collaborate with your interior designers to decide on a colour scheme, decor and furniture that will suit your company's branding and echo its values. Make sure the decor is appropriate for the important people, such as productive clients, who are likely to visit your business on-site.

#5 Bring it to Life. After all the planning and designing have taken place it's time to install and build. Before your contractor begins the refurbishment, it is important that you seek permission form your office landlord. This legal requirement is known as License of Alteration. You can read more about this approval you need to secure here. 

#6 Be nosy! Ok, perhaps avoid hovering over your contractor project leader and bombarding them with questions throughout the project but do communicate with them. Be proactive, provide honest feedback, check in regularly, supervise where you can. It might be tempting to kick back and relax once all the planning stages are complete but your project still requires your watchful eye to ensure it is completed efficiently and to your standards.

By keeping yourself well informed of the project's progress you can keep your employees in the loop, which they will no doubt be very grateful for and keep disruption to a minimum.

#7 Your verdict As an employer you'll know the opinions of your team are important. Once the dust has settled after your office refurbishment and business is back in full swing, get your staff together for a detailed refurbishment review. If any issues are bothering you or any of your team, and faults causing a hindrance to the way your business operates, they are more like to be remedied by your contractor if you flag them up early. Have your review fairly soon after the refurbishment is complete so it doesn't fall off the to-do list.

All that's left to do is to enjoy your new office! If you would like to discuss an office refurbishment or fitting for your business contact Bray Building Services today on 01484 911 191 to see your office transformed.