An office is no longer a sea of drab files. Today, office interiors are meant to woo, impress and influence employees, potential clients, vendors, associates and other visitors. The ubiquitous tube light and sterile look of an office with rickety steel furniture and stockpile of tattered, dusty files, a Burma teak-ed sombre conference room or Director's cabin sitting heavily in the centre of the office can be revisited only in our government offices, courts or in the celluloid offices of the 60s and the 70s. Today's offices are splashed with jazzy colours and flaunt a smart, matted, or all pastel look; they are done up with murals, geometric patterns, bonsai, blue pottery or potpourri, fish pools, fountains, a feng-shui water-wall, a digital, remote controlled wall piece or even a Hussain — it's a whole new world in today's office interiors.

It is not only competition posed by demanding customers, brand-wars or a volatile NASDAQ (NSE) that determine the business decisions of a company including its physical representation; in-house human resource management issues like employee relations, attrition, productivity and work ethos influence a company's facility design and upkeep decisions. Corporates and white collar workspaces are being consciously designed as chic, upscale, stylised or stylish places, intelligently blending functionality, ergonomics and aesthetics, projecting a corporate character or making a statement about their organisational mission, vision, values and culture. 
 
Office interiors and productivity
Facility managers, interior designers and even CEOs of corporates agree that better the look and feel of the office, better the feel good factor and the productivity.

Office interiors and corporate image
On the professional level, office interiors go beyond mere aesthetics or employee productivity. In today's competitive business environment, it is an important element of corporate image and identity. In a global business world, companies with offices across the country or world maintain the same exterior and interior designs to strengthen their corporate or brand identity. It also helps employees who shuttle between the branches and various regional or international headquarters feel at home and develop a sense of belonging.

Office interiors and business credibility
Establishments such as gymnasiums, beauty salons, health clubs and spas, fast food joints, retail outlets, shopping malls and multiplexes, even banks and other financial services institutions or consultancy firms use good interiors as a credibility building measure and to woo clients.

Modern office interiors combine the best interplay of space, lighting, technology, aesthetics and comfort customised to suit the company's needs, corporate image and work culture. It can be divided into two aspects: functionality and aesthetics.

Functionality
This takes into account space planning, furniture design and storage space management using ergonomics, and the available movement area and proximity factors.

Aesthetics
Colour scheme, decorative accessories, upholstery, highlighting company achievements etc form the aesthetic aspect of office interior. A company may opt for a minimalistic décor or an opulent one depending on the company's taste and budget.

How to design an office
The blue print of an office-space-design is based on a thorough understanding of the functional and aesthetic requirements of the company. A detailed structural assessment of the possibilities and the constraints of the given space including columns, beams, existing plumbing, phone, Internet and electrical wiring and connections, ancillary and support services have to be taken into consideration. Right from the formal conference room to the basic pantry, proper access to stairs and fire escapes, future expansion and renovation plans etc also feature in the design planning.

The Reception: The Reception lounge is the first point of physical interaction with the company. Visitors’ expectations and first impressions about an organisation are highly influenced by the décor, look and arrangement of the reception area. Therefore, it is important to dress it up tastefully to reflect the company's culture, character, domain of expertise and history. 

Conference room: The design of a conference room should ideally provide a neutral yet unobtrusive background to facilitate high-profile presentations and intense meetings. Conference rooms, usually located centrally in any office, should be easily accessible from the entrance and an adjacent toilet for the visitors’ use. The room should be well-lit and presentation equipment such as a screen, TV, video monitor, projector, blackboard, flip chart etc, should be provided. The furniture should be arranged so that participants can easily communicate with each other.

Ceilings: Ceilings play a big role in the lighting and the acoustic qualities of a space. Office ceilings vary from suspended ceilings, false ceilings with recessed lights, acoustic tiles and panels in different materials. Some offices go for the royal, luxurious ceiling tiles made up of mother of pearl, while others opt for the off beat, stylistic look of exposed structural ceilings.

Lighting: Lights play a major role in creating mood and ambiance. It also makes the interior come alive. Spotlights, suspended or pendant lights, halogens or fluorescents, can be used to highlight specific areas and objects such as workstations, plants, paintings, etc.

Flooring: Flooring complements the overall design and colour scheme of the space. It can be used to demarcate departments, areas for private or public use, etc.

Colour: Besides being an important part of corporate identity or brand recall factor, colours play a therapeutic role in recharging work environment and removing cubicle boredom. Colour also helps to establish a psychological connect with the client. Corporates and offices are gradually shedding their inhibitions in using bright and lively colours in their interiors.

Storage: Storage helps cut down office clutter. Innovatively designed storage units save space by doubling up as cubicle partitions. Cupboards, filing cabinets, drawer units and open shelves, built in or free standing with castors, help in organising and storing things neatly.

Pantry: A clean, well-lit cheerful pantry, canteen or cafeteria, depending on the space available, allows employees to take a break. While there is lot of scope and freedom to play with the design and colour of the office pantry, it needs to incorporate pantry essentials such as a hot plate, microwave oven, tea and/or coffee maker or a vending machine for the same, and a gas burner with cylinder space below and a sink; preferably stainless steel, as it is hardy and easy to clean. Storage cupboards, shelves, racks or hooks to hold cups and saucers, coffee mugs, plates, cutlery, tea, coffee, sugar, etc., a small refrigerator for storing milk, cold drinks, and preserving food items, and last but not the least, a good garbage storage and disposal system are absolute essentials for a well-stocked pantry.

Essential services: Comprises the toilet and the housekeeping area and reveal the true colour and class of the company, its attitude to cleanliness and the bathroom etiquette of employees and visitors. Sparkling clean and pleasantly fragrant bathrooms with a bright colour scheme and flooring, shining mirrors, washbasin counters, taps, liquid soap dispensers, toilet paper roll holder, hand dryer etc. completes the interior of any office. 

No wonder, office junkies speak of office interiors as a factor that binds them to their offices. Similarly, the converse often holds true – a dull and shabby office interior keeps both employees and prospective clients away.

Nothing official about it...
In today's fast-paced, highly competitive world, many professionals put in long hours of work at the office which make them susceptible to a lot of stress and strain. The workspace is increasingly becoming a second home to many.  Offices are dropping their 'official' image and trying to create a more relaxed and comfortable environment for their employees.