Open-plan offices have been popular for years and are very effective at encouraging collaboration and utilising space. However, this layout can cause problems in terms of productivity and privacy, which is why increasing numbers of businesses have been dividing their offices in creative ways. Here are 6 ways to do this, without being restrictive.
- Retractable partitions
Retractable partitions are good ways to provide versatility within an open-plan office because they can be both manually moved and remote-controlled.
One way you could use these partitions is when a meeting space is needed because they can be easily retracted after the meeting is over to open the space back up.
- Desk dividers
Desk dividers are brilliant at giving privacy and security. You can buy these dividers in a range of different colours and materials, and some are made with sound-absorbing materials to help make the entire office a little quieter.
You can also purchase desks with a wide range of different table legs including rolling legs so it’s easier for desks to be moved and desk dividers to be added, regardless of the usual setup of the office space.
- Customizable workstations/cubicles
The beauty of cubicles and customisable workstations is that they can be changed and tailored to suit the needs of each individual employee. For example, employees who have different jobs to be completed throughout the day can be seated together at a curved desk with one part being used for computer tasks and the other for things like writing.
Used in combination with the aforementioned desk dividers, these workspaces can become private for each employee if necessary.
- Pods/booths
This way of dividing up an open-plan office is perfect for reducing noise without being restrictive. Individual pods or booths are great for providing employees with a quiet space to get stuff done. Some of the more modern booths can even be controlled via an app and fitted with things like Wi-Fi, climate and light controls.
- Open shelving
Shelves are functional as shelving and also as a room divider. Because open shelves are always there, they can provide flexibility in a way that many other types of units can’t.
Most open shelving units have closed storage spaces for items that you’d rather not display. You can use baskets or bins to house items in an organised way while still having the essentials nearby.
- Glass partition walls
Glass partition walls will ensure maximum natural light whilst ensuring a level of privacy that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. You can get frosted or tinted glass to ensure complete privacy, or regular sound-proof glass to give a certain amount of privacy without cutting employees off from others. With the absence of distracting sounds, employees will be able to keep focused and know that their conversations remain confidential when necessary.
As you can see, there are a variety of ways to divide your open-plan office without being restrictive. Test out a few of the above ideas and see how they work for you. With these things in mind, you will be able to divide up your office effectively, but without making employees feel cooped up.
Veeramachineni Lalitha
I am Finance Content Writer. I write Personal Finance, banking, investment, and insurance related content for top clients including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Edelweiss, ICICI BANK and IDFC FIRST Bank. My experience details : Linkedin