In our modern day drive for open, collaborative workspaces, it’s easy to think that the concept of a private office has fallen out of favour in the commercial interior design world - but let’s not write them off just yet.
In fact, private offices are having something of a moment. A contemporary reinvention of the old ideal, this next generation of private offices are far removed from the corner suites of old, with their divisive, hierarchical flavour that could so easily create an “Us vs Them” feel in your business.
In our new work world, where creativity and innovation flourish through teamwork and openness, today’s private office offers its resident a space for focused work and still works in harmony within an inclusive workspace.
And let’s not overlook the fact that they can be a great draw to entice your best management staff to choose time in the office, if that’s something you’re looking for post-Covid.
With research by Steelcase showing that the presence of management mentors in the workplace is also a key factor for staff returning, the benefits could reach further than you might think.
So how exactly do you design the perfect private office for a modern workplace? Here are our two guiding rules.
Design for Approachability and Equality
Once upon a time, private offices would hog all the best views, leaving the larger workforce bereft of the inspiration of the outside world - not to mention joy-giving natural light.
Instead, consider siting private offices in a central core that overlooks the outside but doesn’t block visual or physical access for others.
And, when it comes to how you divide those spaces off, look to preserve a sense of openness and easy approachability.
One of the key findings from return to work studies by companies like McKinsey is that staff come into the office not just for companionship from colleagues, but to access mentoring and leadership - and this is especially important for those with younger staff looking to share in knowledge and expertise.
If your partitions will be (semi) permanent, it’s our humble opinion that glass is your best option.
It keeps things feeling open, both inside and outside the private space. It retains that sense of easy approachability, as well as access to those views.
And it allows light to flow freely, bringing daylight - so crucial for workplace wellbeing - into all corners of your workspace.
What glass to choose to front your Private Offices?
Well of course, there are endless options.
Our recent scheme update for Irving Knight features two favourites of the DesignTonic team.
A perennial pick, crittall-style glazed partitions bring a luxe touch of mid-century modern straight into any scheme.
Meanwhile, reeded glass is bang on-trend and filters light beautifully into the space beyond, casting colourful plays onto far walls when the sun hits just right.
DesignTonic X Wrigleys Solicitors
Or how about glass bricks? An impactful way to keep light flowing, the thickness of glass bricks not only retains visual privacy for the space beyond, but also helps to deaden the flow of ambient sound.
Use elements like frosted patterns for extra privacy if required (see 26 Digital’s gorgeous new space for inspiration!).
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Design for Flexibility and Multifunction
In the office, as in the home, every space should have the capacity to serve more than one purpose, so it’s important to stay flexible in your design thinking.
These are areas that should easily evolve and grow alongside the changing needs of your business.
After all, a private office might not always belong to the same person.
In fact, in a modern, hybrid work environment, a private office could serve two or more people concurrently - or even the whole workforce.
These spaces could become your ultimate moonlighters, with the ability to fulfil a whole range of roles for your business.
On certain days, they might be used for one-to-one meetings, or be bookable by staff needing a quiet place for focused work.
They could be huddle rooms, for close collaborative working. They could be used ad-hoc for last-minute brainstorm sessions, or crucial calls.
And, in a couple of years’ time, you might want to repurpose a private office completely to account for new technological needs.
After all, who pre-Covid would have imagined we’d need to create special spaces in for Zoom calls?
When Charlton Morris brought in the DesignTonic team to weave our interiors magic on their 4th floor expansion, we made sure to incorporate flexible, functional private spaces full of potential for all the team.
Surrounding their extraordinary central bar (intrigued? Learn more), these gorgeous rooms provide quiet space both for individual team members and the wider workforce, depending on the day and the requirement.
How can you account for all these potential uses?
The key is in making smart choices around your materials and furnishings.
Closed storage where personal belongings can be stored away. Seating areas that become breakout spaces.
Desks that double up as meeting tables - or work walls, where a single wall is dedicated to shelving and desk space, taking up far less of the footprint of the room.
Instead of the permanence of stud frameworks, choose demountable or relocatable partitions that offer you the scope to reconfigure your layout when needed - and are easy to remove in tenanted properties when your lease ends.
DesignTonic X Shift Commerce & Mackinnon Bruce
We don’t need Private Offices - but we do need spaces for quiet work…
Of course you do. Luckily, there are loads of options to help you create areas for staff to focus and thrive within your workplace, no matter how tricky it may seem.
From “plug and play” private phone booths, like those we incorporated into Shift Commerce’s interior, through mobile high-sided booth seating, like that seen in our design for MacKinnon Bruce, to bespoke pieces custom-crafted by our talented team, we’re experts at pulling everything together into the perfect design that solves all your workspace interior needs!
