In a modern business, the workspace is pivotal in shaping employee experience. As companies adapt to changing work dynamics and industry trends, the need for a well-designed and functional workspace becomes increasingly apparent.

But how can you get a stylish workspace that attracts the best talent, keeps your employees productive, evolves with your business, and won’t get you in trouble with your landlord?

Furniture

If you are renting an office, your landlord will likely expect you to leave the space as you found it, which is limiting in terms of what you can build but liberating for your workspace. Workplace furniture has come a long way and can help create spaces inviting collaboration, quiet focus, or rest.

Implementing furniture instead of structure and associated construction works can be more cost-effective and far better for the environment. Think about it: when you need to move office or change something within a space, building work must be demolished and reconstructed. The original materials are now next to worthless and need to be scrapped. You can’t simply move a built room.

With strategic design, your workspace can fulfill most of your requirements as an agile business whilst being beautifully designed and sustainable. We only work with furniture suppliers that have strong environmental credibility and can provide you with full EPC data for each item used.

The jargon explained: EPC stands for Environmental Product Declaration. It is a standardized document that provides transparent and comparable information about the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle. EPC data typically includes information about the product’s energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, raw material extraction, and waste generation. This data allows consumers and businesses to make informed decisions about the environmental performance of products and choose more sustainable options.

A well-executed workspace fit-out offers numerous benefits that extend beyond aesthetics.

Let’s explore some of the possibilities good use of furniture can offer:

Deep work and privacy areas

One of the arguments for home working has been that it’s easier to concentrate at home. But the workspace doesn’t need to be reminiscent of The Wolf of Wall Street. It’s entirely possible to separate your noisy sales team from the employees who must concentrate on code, writing, spreadsheets, or design—providing them with the comfort and quietness they require for an excellent deep work session.

Creating a soundproof area can also create privacy for important meetings with clients.

A small, secluded area may be what some of your team members are missing from home if they have a busy family life or housemates. They certainly won’t get it from a cafe.

Agile working

Let’s face it: in this economy, we don’t always know what will happen. We’ve gone from an expectation to have everyone in the office between 9 and 5 to everyone working from home overnight. Now, many businesses seem to have settled on a hybrid scheme to offer more flexibility to their employees and boost their staff retention and attraction. However, what happens if your staff decide they prefer the office and want to be in it most of the time? Or their childcare demands change? What if business suddenly grows or shrinks, and you need to add to your team or reduce it quickly? Or indeed, what if you need to move?

With furniture, you can buy, sell, move, or pack away quickly. Workplace, no drama. With investment in furniture over built solutions, your fit-out becomes future-proof.

Work as a destination

Your workspace sets a precedent for your clients, employees, and partners. An outdated or inefficient workspace design can hinder employee performance and morale. Cluttered layouts, inadequate storage, and poor ergonomic features can lead to frustration and decreased productivity. Investing in a fit-out can revitalize your workspace with optimized layouts, ergonomic furniture, and intuitive design elements that enhance efficiency.

Does your current workspace make your employees feel like you’re investing in them and that they’re important to you? That they matter?

Collaborative spaces

There’s so much software to enable collaboration. But it’s not always a priority in businesses’ physical spaces.

Creating areas where people can ideate, sketch, and plan together is as important as creating areas for quiet contemplation. It’s where innovation happens.

Wellness spaces

A bad workspace design may affect your employee’s mood and wellness without them realizing it. Incorporate wellness-focused furniture elements such as standing desks, ergonomic seating, and relaxation areas to promote employee health and well-being. Add greenery, natural elements, and biophilic design features to create a calming and rejuvenating workspace environment.

Optimized space

Maximize space and efficiency by choosing furniture tailored to your workspace layout and requirements. Consider space-saving solutions such as stackable chairs, foldable tables, and multipurpose furniture that adapt to different functions and scenarios. Intuitive storage solutions are essential for creating a clutter-free, attractive work environment.

Brand representation

Furniture can express your company’s brand values and personality. Incorporating branded elements, custom finishes, and unique design touches that reinforce your brand identity—creating a memorable experience for employees, visitors, and clients. Remember, brand is about more than a logo.

Tech integration

We use workspaces very differently from home spaces and your average office is not set up to support the full potential of technology. Technology must be seamlessly integrated into your workplace design to support modern work practices and enhance connectivity. Factors like ergonomic workstation setups, audiovisual solutions, and digital collaboration tools need to be considered.

Accessibility

Is your workspace accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities? Not only do you have a legal requirement to make your workplace accessible, but doing so opens up your recruitment to a broader talent pool. Bear in mind that it’s not just about employees; imagine if a client could not access your workspace because of a bad layout or something as simple as bad acoustics.

More people are becoming aware of the impact of space, light, and sound on neurodivergent people. However, there is still a lack of awareness about disability in general. For example, did you know that designers have to take special consideration for people who are deaf or hard of hearing?

Environmental impact

Part of being a sustainable business means having a sustainable workspace. This goes beyond your energy providers, light bulbs, and paper recycling. Using a furniture solution over a built solution means that you are not constructing something that can then not be altered or moved easily and may have a shorter life cycle. We will select furniture made from sustainable materials and eco-friendly manufacturing processes wherever possible.

High-quality items that can be used in different contexts mean that the furniture is likely to remain valuable and intact, reducing waste. The design of the product itself can reduce the amount of materials used. We also look at where the products were manufactured. It’s not good for the environment if the product was manufactured in the UK, but it contains a vast number of components flown in from all over the globe.

As businesses navigate evolving work dynamics and industry trends, the importance of a well-designed and functional workspace becomes increasingly evident.

Contemporary furniture is an easy solution to create adaptable work environments. Unlike traditional built solutions, furniture offers flexibility without the constraints of permanent construction.

We’re dedicated to creating purposeful and innovative workspaces that address today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. With a focus on strategic planning and design, we consult closely with clients to understand their unique needs and goals. Our experienced project teams offer end-to-end services, including fit-outs, refurbishments, and bespoke furniture designs, ensuring transparency and clarity every step.

Since 2010, Formm has been committed to delivering workspaces that prioritize functionality, well-being, and creativity, with a practical and proactive approach that minimizes workplace disruptions linking people and property enhancing productivity.