Coworking offices are vastly different from traditional office spaces. Old office designs focus primarily on creating quiet spaces where employees can work by themselves. There may be a shared kitchen, conference room, or break room, but other than that, everyone pretty much has their own space.
But coworking space layouts don’t even come close to resembling these traditional designs. In fact, they’re almost exactly the opposite. Coworking office designs prioritize community, collaborative, and flexibility. In a way, you could say that coworking spaces are breaking all the rules.
If you’re thinking about opening up your own coworking office or shared space, you probably have some questions about how to design your layout. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know.
How to Design Your Coworking Office or Shared Space
Designing a coworking office isn’t all that difficult. All that you need to do is think about your layout carefully and plan it beforehand. You don’t want to be rearranging your office over and over while your tenants are trying to get their work done. If you’re uncomfortable tackling the job on your own, we recommend hiring a design team like the Supple Collection to help.
What Types of Spaces Should You Include?
Here are the types of spaces you should include in your coworking office and how much of your floor plan you should devote to each area:
- Individual offices – about 50%
- Conference rooms – about 10-15%
- Common work area – approximately 20%
- Kitchen, restrooms, etc – about 15-20%
Other Important Aspects of a Coworking Office
Once you’ve gained a better understanding of your floor plan, it’s time to start focusing on the details of your office layout. Here are some other important aspects of your coworking space that you should consider carefully:
What Colors/Materials Will You Use?
Colors and materials make a huge impact on people’s moods and perceptions. Cool colors create a distinctly different vibe than warm colors the same way that metal emits a different feeling than natural wood. Many millennial workers are also attracted to spaces that incorporate eco-friendly elements and sustainable materials.
Where Will You Store Supplies?
Coworking spaces are traditionally smaller than cubicle offices. You may need to get creative with your storage systems. Your tenants will need places to store supplies, equipment, products, and personal belongings.
Where Will You Buy Your Furniture?
Traditional office furniture vendors typically don’t produce items that are conducive to coworking spaces or the types of individuals that work in them. Make sure you buy your furniture from a supplier that understands coworking office design.
Get Help Designing Your Space
Reach out to our team today to learn more about how you can create a smart coworking office design!