Open Plan Office Vs Private Office
If you’re considering office space, it’s useful to know as much as possible about the different types available to you.
One of the key decisions to make is whether you want to rent an open plan office or a private office.
What Is Open Office Space?
An open office refers to an office with an open layout where everyone works in the same, communal space. There is little division of space in an open office and some open offices also encourage hot desking to promote flexibility.
Open Office Pros
For some companies, open offices can offer a collaborative workspace where ideas can be shared and continuous conversations can take place. Many workers find it easy to be productive in an open office as they can speak with colleagues directly and bounce ideas off one another.
Other pros of open offices include:
● Ideal for companies who are in a key growth stage and unsure of the exact space they require
● Useful for those needing to network, communicate and socialise across the company or with external freelancers who may be sharing the space
● Encourages a sense of community in the workplace and avoids workers feeling isolated or excluded
● Cost effective way of setting up an office for small and medium sized businesses
● Offers flexibility with the option of moving furniture around to different configurations.
Open Office Cons
Open offices aren’t suitable for everyone. In some sectors or within specific industries, there may be a real need for privacy and quiet to enable confidential conversations to be had or to allow full concentration on specific tasks.
Other cons of open office spaces include:
● High levels of distraction from other workers with surrounding conversations and noise
● Lack of privacy especially when handling sensitive data
● Lack of permanency if approaches such as hot desking are encouraged
What Is A Private Office Space?
In contrast, a private office space will be separate to the offices of another company or individual and should be clearly out of ear shot. Private offices are usually much quieter, calmer and provide more privacy.
Private Office Pros
Specific teams within businesses such as HR or Legal Teams will benefit from private office spaces where they can properly deal with sensitive issues or hold private conversations. Additionally, those making Sales or Customer Service calls often prefer a private office space clear of distraction.
Other pros of private office spaces include:
● Lack of interruptions: this can prevent workers from being distracted multiple times a day and feeling frustrated at being unable to complete tasks efficiently
● Increased productivity: being able to fully focus on their work can increase productivity in those who enjoy a private office space.
● Calmer working environment: workers can work at their own pace and are not on a communal schedule or open to group activities.
Private Office Cons
In creative industries, collaboration is often key to team productivity and wellbeing. By isolating team members into private offices, there is a risk that camaraderie and group dynamics are altered or affected.
Other cons of private office space include:
● Reduced innovation - ideas are less likely to be formed or developed when individuals work alone rather in a team environment
● Feelings of loneliness or isolation - individual and workplace wellbeing can be negatively affected when individuals work in isolation to one another without the support of colleagues
● Increased costs - a private office space in London can be significantly more expensive than a coworking space in the capital. This is generally the pattern elsewhere in the country where private offices are more costly overall.
Spacepool’s Office Solutions
At Spacepool we offer both open plan offices and private offices to enable you to choose the best option for your company and your business needs.
The best type of office will depend on a number of factors including:
● Size of your team
● Expected growth of your company
● Type of industry you work in
You might also want to look at the option of a private office in a coworking space. This gives you the ideal balance and can be suitable for companies in a stage of growth where you’re unsure of where you’ll go next.
By renting a private office within a coworking space you and your team can enjoy the best of both worlds- a quiet and private space to work, with instant access to the collaborative and community environment of a coworking space.