Planning an office requires a good deal of thought because a properly planned office is going to be a more comfortable and productive place than one which is just cobbled together without much thought. To begin with, you need to be aware of the shape of the office and how you can make the most of the available space. If you are planning to accommodate several desks, think carefully about how many you can realistically fit in. Do not make the common error of sqaushing more in when there is only really enough space for a few. A pokey work area does not make for happy and productive employees and they will suffer as a result. By the same token, too few desks can make your employees feel distanced and this too can have a detrimental result on performance.

Do consider heating and air conditioning costs when planning your office layout. Again, the number of employees the office is to hold will be a important to consider. Too few staff and your heating costs are going to be increased. Too many staff and you will have to spend a considerable sum on air conditioning to keep them cool. See how many and where any windows are located and how they are glazed, also whether or not they open? Natural daylight is great but glare from the sun is not very nice and if somebody is sitting beside a window in full sun it will make for an uncomfortable time. So take some time to think about blinds or curtains. Take into account the location of heaters or radiators and where you might position desks in relation to them. Although there are some people who can take as much heat as there is, most people like a comfortable temperature to work in and will not want to be blasted by heat.

Although your staff will spend most of their working day at their desks, make sure you have a separate room for refreshments and rest. It is not a good plan to have a desk next to the door as there will be distractions from people coming and going is likely to cause a disturbance and a draft. It might be an idea to place other office equipment such as printers and photocopiers here. Make sure that there are no heaters near such equipment as it gives off considerable heat and further heat could cause irreparable damage which will be costly and inconvenient. Consider your storage for office consumables as well, will you have a separate cupboard or room for these? If there is enough space, you could put your photocopier and printers in here as well. Don't forget that such equipment can be quite noisy when in use and with all the regular office noise, it could become quite loud if you have them in the main office area.

Planning your office is a great opportunity for you to make the most of your workspace and keep your workforce happy. Take time to consider the layout and how you can best make use of your space. A carefully planned office will encourage a more productive and happy workplace for you and your employees.