the five

Sienna Lynn Studio stands by these 5 tips for designing cost-effective and creative office spaces:

1. Focus on your people

No matter what your budget, think about your culture. That means how you can provide a workplace for your employees that gives them choices in how they like to work, access to natural light and places to step away from work and recharge.

2. Maximize space use

Real estate is expensive. Use new workplace strategies to reduce your footprint and maximize use of available space. For example, consider new bench workstations that reduce the square foot per person and provide an open work environment. Or consider “free-seating,” which means employees are not assigned a permanent workstation but work in open stations.

3. Set a realistic schedule

Time is money. Sometimes not enough time is even more money. Avoid rush charges and overtime by having a realistic move-in schedule and creating a detailed program of needs and a realistic construction timeline at the start of the project.

4. Think outside the 'walls'

Be open to recycled materials and repurposed furniture. Not only are they often cheaper alternatives, they are also more sustainable. Create drama and uniqueness in the space with graphics and color.

5. Hire a good designer

Consider hiring a good designer, who will save you money in the long run and deliver a space that will provide real value to your business. Employees are at their most creative and productive when they feel valued and inspired.

Source: DallasNews Business by Ted Kollaja, Gensler, Hanah hcho@dallasnews.com.