It’s an old, old story. Your commercial office tenants have moved out and you want to re-let the space quickly…
… but the building’s interior is looking rather shabby.
So, while you’re not going to throw the budget at a full design overhaul, you need to do something because you’re losing good tenants to other, more sparkly spaces.
The answer? You need a refresh.
What’s involved in an office refresh?
Otherwise known as an office refurbishment, refresh services offered by commercial interior designers (like us - hello :) work to revitalise and renew your space through simple but powerful changes.
More than any bog-standard “paint and recarpet” job could ever achieve, they offer three major upsides for a commercial landlord who needs to achieve a fast turnaround and secure a great tenant.
- They can be completed quicker than a redesign/refit.
- They create plenty of impact within a more conservative budget;
- And they allow you to catch the eye of even the choosiest of business occupants.
DesignTonic X Palm Capital at Boreal House
Maximum impact, minimal outlay
We might be working at surface level as opposed to structural, but what we’re after is a transformation!
A great example of this is the recent refresh we completed for Palm Capital at Boreal House near Leeds (above and below).
The building itself is one of the City’s hidden gems. Situated in prime commuter belt territory, 3 floors of Grade A, purpose-built office space make perfect HQ material for a sizable business.
But, only recently vacated, the space was looking a little tired and outdated.
It needed the DesignTonic touch…
Here are the 4 improvements we made - which offer the perfect blueprint to help reinvigorate any commercial space for a fast turnaround.
DesignTonic X Palm Capital at Boreal House
Improvement 1: Kerb Appeal
What even is impact if it’s not immediate? We want those prospective tenants impressed from the second they glimpse the interior of your building.
That’s why one of the first things we do in any design refresh is to address the common areas - beginning with the entrance space.
At Boreal House, we installed a focal sitting area in the stunning triple-height atrium, which is itself situated around a large tree - maximum biophilic points to us!
Blending functionality with nature, the gorgeous slatted oak seating with unusual curved chrome “legs” is the perfect place for visiting clients or employees to rest and catch up on their way in and out of the building.
Our talented team also built a beautiful bespoke reception desk, whose sleek curved lines add extra softness to balance the striking monochrome-and-wood scheme that runs throughout this space.
Improvement 2: Add space for collaboration
If your office space is older, you might not have created specific areas to facilitate today’s collaborative working - now’s the time to address that.
It’s a relatively simple task to seek out potential space for, say, some relaxed seating or booths - both of which provide the perfect solution for communal creativity.
In the entrance hall of Boreal House, we built a series of welcoming communal booths along the back wall of the atrium area, while at Victoria Wharf (above), we created a focal seating space to create the most comforting of welcomes - both options proving a smart way to bring function to an awkward place and the ideal place for colleagues and clients to chat in a more informal environment.
Improvement 3: Think Wellbeing
Another set of upgrades that are both key for modern businesses and quite easy to integrate into your refreshed design are those based on better staff wellbeing.
From introducing beautifully tactile materials and fabrics (see Astonish’s stunning reception area above), to bringing in pops of joyful vibrancy through artworks and decals, to improving sonic comfort with acoustic wall and ceiling panels, there are a vast range of options available when it comes to improving workplace wellbeing.
But, as we’ve said before and will say again! - our all-time favourite wellbeing touch is to liberally adorn our spaces with beautiful, lush planting - trailing from ceilings, climbing up walls, topping dividers, desks and doorframes.
Proven to boost productivity alongside wellbeing (after all, the two go hand in hand), greenery elements are a must-have for any modern day commercial fit-out.
Learn more with 3 of our best Biophilia trends for the office
DesignTonic X Palm Capital at Boreal House
Improvement 4: Beautiful, functional office space
Last but not least, let’s address the office spaces themselves.
Yes, you could just paint the walls and recover the floors with something neutral and serviceable.
Or you could go a little more DesignTonic ;)
At Boreal House, we chose flooring with extra visual impact for a contemporary aesthetic that will stand the test of time and traffic to look good for a long time to come.
As you walk through into the main offices, we used a stunning textured wall finish to tie the monochromatic atrium to the workspaces, with extra visual impact brought by the inset “L”shaped LED lights that run above.
And in the offices themselves, a soft colour palette maximises the abundance of natural light that floods these gorgeous floors, while subtle glass decals to the partitions add extra visual impact from the entry space into the main office area.
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Want us to make an immediate and cost-effective difference to your commercial let?
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Whether your space is occupied by multiple tenants or one organisation, our skilled team work to minimise disruption and create big bang for your buck. Get in touch today.
