Office Interior Design Dubai: Layout and Lighting Ideas

 There are two aspects of office design that can make or break a working environment – the furniture layout and the lighting. Most complaints stem from one of these areas; for example, there isn’t enough concentration space, the meeting room is cramped, the displays are too bright, or the back of the floor is too dark. Both issues can be solved with a little planning and budgeting. Start with the layout, as it dictates the lighting requirements. Neither is prohibitively expensive. This article discusses office interior design Dubai examples that can be applied straight away, using layout guidelines and lighting suggestions suitable for an office in towers or business parks.

The impact of layout on the working environment

The layout of the office determines how people interact in it, what they can see and what they achieve. Before choosing the furniture, sketch the daily flow of people through the office and where they congregate. Consider which sections of the office are constantly talking to each other and which need to be separated. Place similar groups of workers together and keep noisy departments away from quiet areas. Create a one-metre walkway between rows of desks to allow for easy chair movement and avoid collisions. Arrange shared facilities such as printers and the pantry in a central location, but away from desks, to reduce foot traffic. Corner offices are desirable, but can waste natural light if they have full-height partitions. Consider using glass partitions or low partitions to let more daylight through. Most office interior design Dubai projects require testing two or three layout plans on paper before any furniture is ordered.

Open plan, enclosed rooms or a combination of the two?

An open plan is cheaper to construct and easier to reconfigure, but requires compromises on noise levels. Enclosed rooms offer privacy, but consume floor space and reduce natural light. It is rare for an office to be made up entirely of one or the other. There will usually be a combination of open desks for the main working areas, a few enclosed rooms for impromptu or important meetings and a couple of informal areas for casual conversation. If you are looking at comparing an office design company Dubai businesses often use, ask for their plans for offices of a similar size to yours and how they evolved. Ensure that there is a provision for expansion. Leave a section that can absorb extra desks without disrupting the air conditioning. Pay attention to the entrance too. A clear line of sight from the reception to the main working area is useful for guests, but a discreet screen or planter can help break the view.

Lighting strategies for office interior design Dubai

There are three types of lighting that combine to form a well-lit working environment – ambient light, task lighting and decorative lighting. Arrange the office so that there is a degree of even ambient lighting from above, task lighting where it is required and warm lighting in lounge areas. Where possible, position displays at right angles to windows to avoid glare. Use blinds or a light solar film to reduce the amount of glare entering the room, while ensuring there is still plenty of daylight in, particularly in a city full of bright sunlight. Daylight is a free resource, so arrange the office so that desks are positioned to take advantage of it and leave storage and meeting rooms in darker areas. There is also the issue of colour temperatures to consider. Cool white lighting is more appropriate for working areas, while warmer lighting helps people unwind in lounge areas. Dimmable fittings allow a room to be transformed at the end of the day, while motion sensors can reduce power consumption. Check that the lighting is even, as dark patches can cause eye strain and create an unbalanced look. Ask your electrician to test the proposed lighting scheme before the furniture is delivered.

Layout and lighting are interdependent and should be considered together, as furniture, partitions and ceiling heights can impact the lighting requirements. Office interior design services in Dubai may include lighting design, but confirm that it is included in the scope of the contract and budget. Walk through the completed project at different times of day, including late afternoon and evening. Small adjustments can be made at this stage, such as rotating a desk or adjusting blinds. Take photos with your phone, as a quick glance will show you glaring light and dark patches. Collect feedback from employees in the first month, as they will identify issues a designer may not have thought of. Keep a short list of changes and ask the contractor to address them within the defects period. Most successful projects are the culmination of many small improvements.

Conclusion

The layout and lighting of an office are two areas that have a subtle effect on the working environment, but can cause endless problems if not planned carefully. Plan the way people move and interact in the space, ensure there is a combination of ambient, task and decorative lighting and test the scheme before the final inspection. Anyone researching office interior design Dubai examples usually begins with style, but will find that comfort is what makes people stay. Subtle improvements such as a different desk angle or dimmer switches can make working days feel less tiring. Begin with the floor plan and lighting, and the rest will follow.