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Settling In

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Bare spaces can be intimidating after a move but congratulations on finally taking the plunge and getting an office. Or a bigger space, whatever the need may be.

For the first few days you might just need to plug your ethernet cords in the wall, set up a desk and get to work but there's some simple steps you can take to make your new digs an inviting place for clients, meetings and your everyday operations.

Confession: I am not a great space planner. I love putting pieces together and repurposing items into new, useful elements for our spaces and home but my secret to a well planned meeting area? Is my husband. You might know him, Aaron Schaap? Here's how he goes about settling in: "I try to think less office and more Pottery Barn meets a coffee shop meets a home library"

First ...

I think what I don't like about the space I'm looking at and what I am trying to get ride of; whether that be a piece of furniture or an artificial environment that doesn't fit well within the daily activities. I then allow myself to (mentally) put things into different locations in the room and try to create inviting boundaries around them.

A great resource for space planning if you aren't a mental visualizer can be found on your iPad with Turnstone's App where you can sketch your next great workplace. For an online app you can use Love My Home for space planning as well.

When I "think" I'd like to try what I'm envisioning I just move the furniture around and go for it.

I like to have furniture that can be easily moved at all times whether it be wheels or slip pads. I'm constantly trying to remove things that make something permanent (like cables, bolting things down, etc...) sometimes I may really like a setting but don't like how it works in the space as a whole.

Turnstone has a great product catalog for the nomadic office. Piecing together the perfect space. Ikea is a good place to snatch up a few of those office accessories or personality items.

Other things to consider ...

When I'm designing for people in a work setting - we usually have some sort of "epic center" that I try to design around that means: (1) People don't like others looking at their screens and (2) It creates better community and quick collaboration if everyone is in a sort of circle.

A circle doesn't need to be literal there just needs to be a way for everyone to quickly focus on one point in the space if needed without having to turn the chair completely around.

Lastly ...

We add accessories once we've created these different environments. Basically visual separation without putting a cubical up such as an ikea bookshelf, plants, marker-boards, etc...

Thanks for your insight on space planning and settling in, Aaron.

Having a visual and feeling for the space you want to create is the first step. Think about color schemes and elements to an office that are inevitable. File cabinets, coat hooks, chairs, desks etc. Are you running clean lines through your space? Are you gathering eclectic items for visual interest? You can find more on great lunch area's, and beautiful waiting area's around Turnstone's blog; as well as tips on decorating with accessories and furniture (like don't forget about plants!). It's not always about the color of the wall, though - what about the simple act of offering water? Here are 3 things your office needs and before it all get's going start with considering your floor plan and possibly consulting a Realtor or a professional for their opinion.

Who's doing it right? Tell us your favorite office/coworking space/or corporate setting that has a functional environment but is fun to be in as well?

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