Cubicles have taken the beating for years, criticized by many as the primary obstacle to workplace collaboration. Nevertheless, it’s comeback time, albeit the hard fall! Now, brands are ditching the old-school and pacing towards smart designs for office cubicles.
Organizations now realize that personal time is equally important even in the most collaborative workspaces. Slowly, workplaces are bringing back cubicles. But this time, designers are knocking down the hard walls for more creative and affordable solutions.
The priority today is to install cubicles that offer privacy without obstructing collaboration. In plain language, you want to send the message that “We are one even though I’m working in my private space. Always feel free to discuss any concerns.”
From panel systems to bench cubicles, contemporary designs allow you to mark workspaces without expensive and complicated construction projects.
Office Cubicle: What is it?
It is a secluded room marked by wooden, glass, metallic (or other) barriers on its sides to separate a small workspace from a large office.
Morden designs are creative and feature various materials and shapes other than the box or cubicle shape.
Some versions are also easier to install than traditional styles, while others are portable and can move from one place to another.
Some benefits of installing cubicles in your office include:
- They offer calm and private working spaces
- Cubicles help you allocate workspaces to departments and team members
- Office cubes are central to office design and aesthetics
- They allow workers to decorate personal workstations as they wish
- Cubicles reduce distraction and encourage productivity
And that’s not all. Office cubes offer many other benefits to an organization, e.g., cost savings on design and employee supervision.
Without much ado, let’s check out some creative cubicle designs to consider.
Smart Designs for Office Cubicles
To bring back cubicles without obstructing workflow, traffic, and collaboration, organizations should consider smart designs.
Here are some ideas to try:
1. Try the short barrier
Old-school cubicles were expensive because they involved building tall walls. And in the end, they obstructed collaboration because everyone seemed to operate in a silo.
This was counterproductive because the return on investment was crappy! But you can turn this around by installing short creative barriers.
Add cubicles that mark out spaces while allowing employees to see each other. This is an excellent way to create a sense of togetherness. Furthermore, half-a-wall is cheaper than a complete wall.
Remember, you can install short walls in many creative ways using various inexpensive materials. Furthermore, these barriers don’t even have to be permanent.
2. Rethink your layout
A bad layout and poor arrangement can mean spending more than you should on cubicle projects. Rethink your arrangement by asking yourself these questions:
- Does the arrangement take full advantage of my office space?
- What changes can I make to ensure optimal space usage?
- Are the cubicle sizes (and designs) occupying more than necessary spaces?
- Which designs can provide more working stations while covering a smaller space?
These questions should guide you when trying new arrangements for a better office design. A new layout can be beneficial in two ways:
- You might be able to rent a smaller office space for the same workforce, or
- Accommodate more workers in your previous space.
Whichever the case, you get to save a lump sum on rental expenses.
3. Think Technology
When thinking of smart designs for office cubicles, it’s crucial to tap into the power of tech.
In simple words, think of the computers, cabinets, and anything that occupies significant space in each cubicle.
Here are ways to eliminate what you don’t need, make smaller cubicles and upgrade your workplace:
- Go paperless: Reduce the paper clutter by digitizing workplace processes and turning all your documents into electronic files. That way, you get rid of the huge file cabinets, shelves, printers, etc., that are eating up your cubicle space.
- Use smaller computers: Workplace computers occupy significant space. To reduce the average size of each cubicle, consider smaller PCs and laptops when shopping for office electronics.
- Share equipment: You can also share equipment like printers, shredders, etc., and place them in strategic locations to create more space. That way, you also save on equipment costs.
The above tricks will help create room for more cubicles and accommodate more workers. In the end, you cut spending towards rent.
Final Words on Smart Designs for Office Cubicles
When working on an office cubicle project, it’s important to consult an expert office designer with the knack to identify errors in layouts and find space in the smallest rooms.
Once you have decided on a new design, you can source materials from affordable vendors selling used or refurbished office barriers. That’s also a clever way to cut spending when shopping. However, be sure to double-check quality when buying used items.
