When we think of interior design, we associate it with house renovation or remodelling projects, and of pretty homes and other living places. In reality, though, the scope of interior design is vast and covers many kinds of spaces, both for commercial and residential use. Not only is interior design useful in houses, condominiums, or apartments, but interior design plays a big part in making offices, restaurants, retail outlets, hospitals, airports, schools, and other public spaces. Interior design not only helps make a space livable, it also makes it more suitable for its intended function and occupants.
Learning more about commercial interior design
What are the key differences between commercial and residential interior design? Residential interior design refers to the design of residential spaces such as houses and homes. They usually focus on aesthetics and the personal preferences of the homeowner, and the goals of such a project are to tailor the space to its occupants.
For commercial interior design, it refers to the design of spaces meant for commercial use, or in other words, are meant for public use. Not only does it include your usual suspects like offices and retail outlets, but other places used by many individuals such as airports, hotels, government facilities, and much more.
Business owners such as yourself invest a lot of money into hiring good interior design companies and designing the interiors of their commercial spaces. This is because interior design arguably has a direct impact on a business. Better-designed interior spaces make it easier to work, which in turn encourages employees to be happier, more productive, and more efficient. One could say that interior design matters so much more to commercial spaces than residential spaces because of its direct connection to business success.
What matters in commercial interior design?
While interior designers for residential spaces are more concerned about the aesthetics and personal preferences of the homeowners, it works a little differently for commercial spaces this is because commercial spaces are created to be used by the public, or at least for a group of individuals. That means that it is more important to take into account the needs of this group of people rather than aesthetic preferences. It doesn’t mean that you completely sacrifice aesthetics, but rather, you need to put more of an emphasis on functionality compared to residential interior design projects.
Designing offices
Offices are some of the most common commercial spaces to be designed. If you need good renovation design ideas for your new office, just remember this simple fact: location affects mood and emotion. Your employees will likely spend more hours in the office than they do catching up at home. So making your office a space where they will feel welcome is at the top of your priority list. Make it a place they want to go to instead of a place they dread to go to at the start of their workweek.
Not only that, you will likely have visitors to your office space, whether they may be customers, prospective clients, or business partners. Your office space should showcase your company’s professionalism and values. It should be pleasing to the eye and give a good impression to your guests.
Last but certainly not the least, you should take into account your company’s themes and values. When someone walks into your office, they should immediately recognise your company’s brand reflected in your office interior. This can help greatly with brand recognition and set your business apart from your competitors.
Mistakes to avoid when designing your office interior
When designing an office, there are some very common blunders that many owners and managers make. Avoid these mistakes so you can maximise the benefits of remodeling or designing a new office!
- Ignoring the size of the office furniture. Bigger is always better, right? Nope, wrong. Your furniture should always be the appropriate size for your office or it will either look too empty or too cluttered. This is most important in small office spaces, because disorganisation can make it harder to manoeuvre.
- Not bothering to ask workers what they need. Moving to a new office? Don’t just make the decision by yourself. Your workers often know best what they need to be productive. Include them in your decision making.
- Taking into account the machines and equipment. The average office makes use of printers, telephones, computers, and other gadgets. Think about the wiring, the excess heat that machines give off, and the kind of environment they need to function normally as well.
Fineline is an interior design firm in Singapore providing services for residential to commercial spaces. Visit our interior design showroom and talk to us to know more about what
