Whether you’re downsizing or expanding your operation, fitting out your new office space is one of the largest investments you’ll make as a business owner.
Do it right and your workspace will enhance productivity, wow clients and keep your team engaged. Do it wrong and you’ve just created an expensive, uninspiring office nobody wants to spend time in.
Here’s the thing…
Office fitouts are usually rushed. Business owners pick furniture that looks good off the showroom floor and don’t stop to consider how their space will actually function on a day-to-day basis. Corner desks are one of those game-changing furniture pieces that every fitout needs.
Let’s take a look.
What you’ll learn:
- Why Your Office Layout is More Important Than You Realise
- How Corner Desks Create Extra Space
- What Furniture To Choose For Corner Desk Setups
- Fitout Fails That Cost Business Owners Thousands
- How to Maximise Your New Office Space
Why Your Office Layout is More Important Than You Realise
An office’s layout has a significant impact on team productivity.
It’s a simple fact that many employers tend to overlook. How a workspace looks and feels affects how much work your team gets done on a daily basis. Research conducted by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society found that when working in ergonomic environments, employees experience an increase in productivity by 15%. That’s a huge spike just by ensuring your workspace is set up properly.
Makes sense when you think about it.
If someone is comfortable in their workspace and has everything they need within arm’s reach, they will work for longer without getting distracted. Less fidgeting around. Less wasted time. More productivity. Everything else flows from a well thought out office layout.
Take desk placement, for example.
Placing a desk against a bare wall wastes valuable corner room. Place a desk in that corner and suddenly you free up more room in the middle of the office. More room for movement, collaboration and just general breathing space.
How Corner Desks Create Extra Space
Corner desks are a game changer when it comes to fitting out small office spaces.
They fit neatly into the nooks and crannies of rooms that most office furniture would not fit into. It’s genius for optimising workspace that would otherwise go unused. And the benefits don’t stop there.
Check this out:
- Larger deskspace – corner desks have more usable desk surface area without making your room feel smaller.
- More monitor space – you’ve got room for dual monitors plus laptop and documents without throwing everything on one side of the desk.
- Better workflow – you can have all your computer equipment on one side and stationery, telephone or drawing space on the other.
Office fitouts were worth $50.7 billion dollars in 2024 and growing. Businesses are realising just how much of a difference their workspace makes to their team’s output. Corner desks are a huge part of that because they allow you to make the most out of smaller spaces.
Pretty neat, huh?
What Furniture To Choose For Corner Desk Setups
Corner desks are great but they’re useless without the right supporting furniture.
If you choose the wrong stuff it doesn’t matter how big your corner desk is, your setup still won’t function as well as it should. So what stuff should you be picking?
Let’s dive in.
Rule number one is chairs. You know the deal by now. Chairs with proper lumbar support are an absolute must. Splashing out on a quality corner desk and mismatching it with a flimsy office chair is counterproductive. Don’t do it.
Storage is next on the list. One of the advantages of corner desks are how much more room you have available. But that space goes to waste if you haven’t planned for filing cabinets and shelving. Look for storage options that utilise vertical space to minimise clutter on the desk.
Lastly, you want to think about cable management solutions. Seriously. Nothing kills an office aesthetic faster than seeing a bunch of cords sprouting out of someone’s desk. Desk trays and overhead cable management systems aren’t expensive and they make the world of difference.
Got it?
When picking furniture for corner desk setups every choice should complement the desk, not fight for precious workspace.
Fitout Fails That Cost Business Owners Thousands
Installing a new office shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. But there are certain fitout mistakes that will have your bank account crying if you’re not careful.
Here are some of the most common.
Measure your space twice. Pretty sure everyone has heard this one before. But it’s amazing how many business owners skip this step and order a corner desk that is either too big or too small to fit where they wanted it. Take your time and make sure those measurements are accurate.
Stay away from cheap desks and chairs. Budget furniture is never a good idea but when fitting out an office it can cost you big time. Ill-fitting desks wiggle, budget chairs break and before you know it you’re spending more money replacing them than you would have if you just bought quality stuff in the first place.
Think about the natural light. When planning your layout, one of the best spaces for corner desks is close to windows. Natural light helps to decrease eyestrain and can boost employee mood. Make sure you’re giving your employees as many natural advantages as possible.
Don’t forget about the future. Sure your office layout looks great now while you only have ten employees. But what happens when you start growing? Will your desk setup still work? Think modular desks and flexible spaces that can be adapted as your team gets bigger.
How to Maximise Your New Office Space
So you’ve got your corner desks positioned, everyone’s got their ergonomic chairs and your workspace looks great. Now what?
Keep everything clean. A cluttered desk attracts a cluttered mind. Encourage your employees to take advantage of storage solutions and keep their desk free of clutter as much as possible.
Angle your monitors correctly. Monitor screens should be sitting at eye level and roughly an arms length away. Not only will this help prevent neck aches it will keep your employees comfortable all day long.
Create office zones. Think about how your desks are positioned and start to create zones. The great thing about corner desks is each desk is already creating its own work zone. From there you can build zones for collaboration, quiet work or just taking a break. An office that has defined areas for different work styles is a happy office.
Here’s a secret a lot of bosses forget to do.
Talk to your team. Before any purchase or setting anything in stone, get the team involved. They might have some helpful input that could change the way you think about your space. It could save you some cash.
Wrapping Up
Fitting out a new office space really doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. When done correctly, your new workspace can increase productivity, boost morale and create a welcoming environment for everyone who enters.
Let’s recap:
- Plan your layout around corner desks to maximise space
- Invest in ergonomic chairs and complementary storage
- Avoid common fitting out mistakes
- Allow room for your business to grow
- Don’t forget to sit in your office chairs once everything is up
