TL;DR
If you’re moving, outgrowing your space, evolving culture, sitting in an out-of-date office, or have under-used
areas — it’s time to upgrade. Prioritise flexible layouts, ergonomic furniture, hybrid-first design and wellness
features. Run a short utilisation audit, introduce modular furniture and balance sit-stand desks with movement
guidance to get the best results.
1. Moving Locations
Relocating gives you a blank canvas. It’s the best time to introduce a new layout, upgrade to ergonomic furniture,
and plan lighting and AV that support hybrid meetings. Coordinating fit-out and furniture delivery during a move
reduces downtime and overall cost.
2. The Office Looks Out of Date
If your office still has dated carpets, beige finishes or worn chairs, consider a refresh. Replace worn task chairs
with ergonomic alternatives, add modular desks and acoustic treatments, refresh finishes and introduce brand-aligned
accent colours. Tunable LED lighting (daylight / warm cycles) can improve wellbeing and perceived quality of the space.
Simple Office Layout Fixes to Strengthen Office Productivity
3. Cultural Change
When your organisation shifts toward greater collaboration, hybrid schedules or a flatter structure, the office must
reinforce that change. Add huddle rooms, informal lounges, touchdown desks and sound-managed collaboration zones.
Make sure technology supports hybrid meetings (good cameras, mics and flexible room reservation systems). Use modular
furniture so spaces can morph with culture.
4. Outgrowing Your Office Space
Growth is positive but can strain layout, traffic flow and equipment storage. Plan for sight lines, clear pathways,
and flexible zones that convert between collaboration and focused work. Include a 2–3 year growth forecast when you
redesign so the space scales without repeated major fit-outs.
5. Under-utilised Space
Empty corridors, unused meeting rooms or seldom-visited breakout areas cost money. Run a short utilisation audit
(track zone usage for 1–2 weeks) and convert seldom-used space into wellness pods, focus rooms or hybrid touchdown
zones. Data-driven decisions reduce wasted rent and improve staff satisfaction.
Note on sit-stand desks: Adjustable desks remain a valuable wellness tool, but best practice is to
alternate sitting, standing and movement. Provide guidance to staff and embed sit-stand desks into a wider movement
and wellbeing programme.
Top 5 FAQs
1. How quickly should we act if our office looks out of date?
If client perception is important, plan a cosmetic refresh within 3–6 months. For larger layout or fit-out projects,
schedule a phased plan tied to your business calendar to minimise disruption.
2. Are sit-stand desks still recommended?
Yes — when used as part of a broader movement strategy. Sit-stand desks help reduce sedentary time but should be
combined with movement breaks, ergonomic education and varied postures throughout the day.
3. How do we design for hybrid work?
Use simple data (who comes in and when, which spaces they use) to design for team collaboration days. Provide hoteling
tech, bookable focus rooms, and video-ready spaces. Design for choice: spaces for focused work, collaboration and socialising.
4. What quick wins improve morale without a big budget?
Replace worn chairs, add greenery, improve lighting (task lamps / tunable LEDs), declutter storage and add a small
collaboration nook — each gives strong perceived value for modest spend.
5. How should we measure success after a refresh?
Track utilisation rates, staff satisfaction via short pulse surveys, time in office vs remote, and recruitment/client
feedback. Combine these qualitative signals with simple occupancy metrics.
Further reading & sources
- Gensler — 10 Workplace Trends (industry trends shaping design and local authenticity)
- CBRE —Global Workplace & Occupancy Insights (data on hybrid working and space optimisation)
- PubMed — Sit-Stand Desk Interventions abstract) (research on sedentary behaviour reduction with adjustable desks)
- BMC Public Health — Standing desk intervention scoping review (recent synthesis of standing desk outcomes)
- Summertown (UAE) — Sustainable Office Design Trends (regional fit-out ideas and sustainability tips for UAE offices)
Key Takeaways for:
Offices must “justify the commute” by offering superior experiences to home setups
Data-driven space planning is essential – use occupancy sensors and employee feedback
Flexibility is paramount – invest in modular, reconfigurable furniture
Sustainability matters – choose recycled materials and energy-efficient solutions
Employee wellbeing drives productivity – prioritize ergonomics and biophilic design
Ready to refresh your office? Contact SAGTCO for a free consultation — we design ergonomic,
flexible and Dubai-ready workspaces that support wellbeing and productivity.
Original post source: Office Designs Blog — 5 Red Flags
