| BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : NOVEMBER 6, 2000 ISSUE | ||||||||
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| FRONTIER -- WORKPLACE
Design Tips That Won't Bust Your Budget COLOR SCHEME Color it interesting. Make sure the hues of communal spaces don't rankle anyone--but don't use a boring palette. Instead of off-white, try beige, brown, green, or gray. Use undertones. Does the color have a blue, red, or yellow cast? Choose warmer colors for cooler climates and vice versa. Convey a mood. Earth tones suggest stability. Blue-gray is great for conference rooms, suggesting calm, reasoned thought. Pale, relaxing colors are best for lunchrooms. LIGHTING Light up your image. Trendy right now: the sleek, high-tech look of brushed metal and aluminum fixtures. Or go for dramatic lighting in lobbies and reception areas to express your corporate identity. Diffuse it. Minimize computer-screen glare and make sure workstations have fully adjustable task lighting. Avoid overhead fixtures that beam down on workers. Choose diffused lighting from suspended fixtures that bounce light off the ceiling. SPACE PLANNING Open it up. Open spaces can encourage teamwork and collaboration. Make sure staffers have a private space to handle confidential matters or concentrate on a big project. Rethink the cube. The Dilbert-style cubicle isn't dead, but divider walls can be scaled down to admit more natural light. Move it around. Folding screens and lightweight, movable partitions available at many suppliers of used office furniture can increase flexibility. Or make your own dividers by hinging together sections of plywood and painting them. Expose hidden charms. Remove drywall to reveal quaint old brick. Get rid of dropped ceilings to expose duct work and rip up carpets to show off concrete floors. Plan it out. Take advantage of free planning services that use computer-generated graphics, offered at such stores as IKEA, Nextoffice.com, and OfficeMax. Or pay a designer an hourly rate to help you rearrange what you have. FURNITURE Think modular. Modular systems can be reconfigured or expanded. Choose a line from an established manufacturer that won't be discontinued soon, so that adding pieces later won't be a problem. Choose your image. Light woods suggest a youthful business. Darker ones send a more conservative message. Be ergonomically correct. To help limit crippling workplace injuries, go for fully adjustable chairs and workstations that can be used by everyone with equal comfort. Bargain-hunt. Save up to 50% at dealers of refurbished office furniture. Try liquidation sales, auctions, and rental company closeouts. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP |
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