How to Accommodate Growing Number of Employees in Small Spaces

f you are a business owner, many of your hardest decisions can pertain to how quickly do you expect your company to grow or whether it’s the right time to move to a bigger office space. When figuring out the best workplace environment for you and your team, you want to avoid investing in an office space that may not be fully utilized at this time or a space that is crowded and not the most collaborative. So, the question is, how do you utilize a smaller office space when you have plans to grow and waiting for the right time to make a move?

A great way to maximize space in your office is to consider an open work environment. Putting individuals on your team near each other can increase productivity and is an easier way to communicate and bounce ideas off one another. It is also a great way for your employees to get to know one another and create a collaborative work environment.  If your team is used to a more private space, an open concept will allow employees to feel more comfortable to ask questions and to grow as a team.

Smaller items such as new desks can maximize one office space for two of your employees. Many offices can fit more than one employee and for a smaller space, sharing an office is an ideal strategy and utilizes all your available space. Putting two desks together or adding a second against the wall can make all the difference and could alter your decision of having to expand or more to another location.

It’s time to get out with the old and in with the new. Traditional pieces of furniture such as large old-fashioned desks can take up space in your office and can limit the number of employees you plan on adding to the team. However, there are slimmer furniture items available that are usually inexpensive depending on the style. If this has been an issue for you, try switching out your old, outdated desks for a more modern, lighter look or swap out other furniture with new and practical pieces. This change can make your office space look stylish and creative even in the smallest of workplaces.

If you have areas in your office that are not utilized as much as they could be, try having your spaces serve for more than one purpose. If your employees feel that they are only assigned to their desk, suggest having them work in other areas of the office as a change of pace. You want your employees to feel at home and utilizing different spaces of the work environment will make them feel like this is their office. It has become a trend to not have an assigned desk and this has been proven to work well in smaller office spaces. We encourage you to give this a try and see if the dynamic of your team has shifted for the better.

Having less furniture is a way to have a simple, clean office space that saves you money and makes your office look larger than it is. By deciding what office décor describes your company or your desired look to the office is important to avoid making the space look cluttered. Simplicity is key for a small business and having a few attention-grabbing pieces as décor can help promote your brand and what your company is all about.