How to Choose an Office Interior Design Company

Right now, take a minute to imagine the moment you step into your brand-new office. It’s everything you ever dreamed of: modern furniture, a relaxing breakout area, and a design scheme that reflects your company values perfectly. An incredible space.

To make this dream a reality, it goes without saying that you to pick the right office interior design company. The question is, where do you start?

With this in mind, we’ve written a blog outlining the key things you should look for when choosing an interior design company. By the end of the blog, you’ll be able to make an informed decision and set yourself up for a successful project.

Read on for some top tips …

1) Look at the Project Portfolio

Ultimately, you want to find a company that can tailor your office design to your unique needs. One way to do this is to look at a company’s project portfolio to see if it has worked on similar projects.

In addition to photographs, a project portfolio will typically give valuable information relating to the works. For example, for each project you may see the type of work that has taken place (refurbishment, space planning, CAT B fit out etc.), the size of the space, timeframe and budget.

When looking through the portfolio, ask yourself this: does this company have the capability to pull off my project? If you’re not sure, request to speak to a member of its project team. Talking to someone will ensure you get an even better feel for the company and the services it can offer.

For design inspiration, take a look at Rap Interiors’ project portfolio here.

2) Study Reviews & Testimonials

A simple way to find out what a company is like is by reading what clients have said about them. Reviews and testimonials offer a goldmine of information which may prove crucial when making your final decision.

You can find reviews on Google listings of course, and many interior design companies have dedicated testimonial pages on their websites to show off their success. If they do have a testimonial page, then this is a particularly good sign. Busy clients are often pushed for time, so the fact that they have taken time out to write a testimonial speaks volumes about the success of the project.

When looking at reviews and testimonials, pay close attention to the fine detail and consider how they relate to your requirements. It may be the case that you want a company that excels at communication and can “hold your hand” throughout the project. If the company has a history of delivering this, then you’re onto a winner!

3) Discuss Sustainability

If your company is serious about sustainability, then it’s important for the design company to be the same. This will ensure your values are upheld and contribute to a better environment.

At the start of your project journey, look to see if the company has a sustainability mission statement on its website. You should also look to see if they are part of any sustainability programmes like BREEAM.

Later down the line, consider asking the company how they put their ethics into practice on projects. For example, a good interior design company may have a policy of sourcing furniture from eco-friendly manufacturers. It will also have knowledge of implementing energy saving lighting, water-saving plumbing systems, recyclable flooring and much more.

For more ideas on how good interior design companies contribute to improving the environment, take a look at our blog: How Sustainable is Your Office Design?

4) Talk Technology

Technology has the power to speed up processes and help deliver exacting results. Therefore, you will be at an advantage if you find a company that uses cutting-edge design technology.

For example, the ability to provide 3D designs enables a client to see a life-like representation of the space. Being able to visualise the space in this way offers the best chance of success when the design is implemented later down the line.

While 3D designs, or “renders”, have been around for some time, some companies even present designs in the form of augmented reality. With augmented reality, clients put on a headset and “walk through” the digitalised space, creating a fun and immersive experience.

In addition to the design process, you should also look to see how the design company uses technology in its projects. This may include digital booking systems for meeting rooms, furniture with integrated power and electronic height-adjustable desks.

Read also: 3D Office Design Office — Changing Your Workspace Perspective

5) Think About the Future

COVID-19 has changed the way some companies have worked, with many adopting flexible working on a full-time basis. If this is the case for you, then you need to choose a company that can transform your space for future operations.

If you are operating with less staff in the office, then it’s likely you will need guidance on space planning and furniture selection to accommodate the change. A good interior design company will reimagine your office so that any dead space is optimised.

For example, the introduction of a new meeting room or pod will offer more space for online meetings between those in the office and those working remotely. A new bank of desks may create a space for sub-letting.

When having the initial consultation with the interior designers, pick their brains about what they can do to optimise the space. They may come up with something completely outside the box that will benefit your company in the long term.

Read also: The Post-Covid Office Space — Five Future Predictions.

6) Make Life Easy

In today’s market, many design contractors take care of the entire project, from the creative design to the fit out or refurbishment work itself. This is ideal if you require a fast turnaround and are looking for a stress-free solution.

Even better, some companies provide aftercare to ensure any teething problems are fixed immediately. This will bring peace of mind and help to build a long-term relationship between the two parties.

Furthermore, by choosing a company that can manage everything, you can focus more on the most important thing: running your business. This will be key in seeing the company through the construction period with minimal changes to the workflow.

Thanks for Reading — Now Go and Have Some Fun!

Remember, designing an office should be fun, so once you’ve decided on a great company, make sure you get those creative juices flowing and enjoy the process. You will find that being part of the transformation is fulfilling for both you and the interior design company — it’s just a case of putting the right team together to deliver the results!

Are You Looking for an Office Interior Design Company?

Rap Interiors offers a comprehensive interior design, fit out and refurbishment service for commercial projects across London and the UK. With an experienced in-house team of designers, project managers and estimators, we can transform your space to meet your unique working practices, style preferences and budget.

To discuss your project with a member of our team and book a free consultation, call 0333 600 1234 or email refurb@rapinteriors.co.uk.