Furniture for open space: layout without chaos

Open space only works when open seating is complemented by places for calls, meetings and concentrated work. Furniture should support these scenarios and not just fill the area with as many tables as possible.

First, describe the team's workday

How much time do people spend on screens? How often do they call? Do you need quick discussions of four people? Are there confidential conversations? The same 100 employees may require completely different space.

It is useful to divide the office into modes: individual work, short joint session, formal meeting, video call, break and storage of personal items. Each mode has its own set of furniture.

How to choose workstations

Modules, not random tables

System series combine tabletops with a common frame, screens and cable trays. They look neater, are easier to install and allow you to change the number of places.

Sufficient work surface

The size is determined by technology and tasks. A laptop with one monitor requires less space than two screens, documents and specialist equipment. Reducing the countertop without checking the pilot space is risky.

Screens between seats

A low screen designates a personal zone and partially reduces visual distractions. But it does not replace full-fledged acoustic treatment of the room.

Cable routes

Power and network must reach each group of tables without wires across the aisle. Provide access to the trays after installation: the IT team will change the equipment.

How to manage noise and edges

The main problem with open space is not openness per se, but the lack of choice. If you have to take any call at your desk, a constant background quickly appears around you. Add phone booths or small video rooms, meeting rooms near teams, and quiet areas without talking.

• place active teams separately from concentration zones;
• Do not route primary routes through production clusters;
• use upholstered furniture and acoustic materials where they actually absorb sound;
• do not place printers and coffee points close to workstations;
• set rules for using quiet and speaking areas.

A good open space gives the employee the choice of a suitable place, and does not force him to perform all tasks at one desk.

Personal and general storage

With a fixed fit, the cabinets are convenient for working materials. In a hybrid model, they tie the location to the person and interfere with rotation. In this case, it is better to use personal lockers and shared cabinets for team documents.

Tall cabinets can work as a boundary between areas, but it's important not to block light or views. Low modules create a softer separation and provide a surface for plants or temporary materials.

Lay out a scenario for growth and reshuffle

Before ordering, check how a cluster of four places turns into six or moves to another site. Keep the current plan, articles and finishes. Check the availability of the series for future additions.

For quick expansion, some furniture can be reserved in a warehouse, but buying a large stock without a confirmed scenario is not always rational. It is more important to standardize the workplace and agree on compatible options.

Open space checklist before ordering

• the number of seats corresponds to the actual attendance pattern;
• there are enough separate rooms for calls and meetings;
• passages and opening of furniture are checked on the plan;
• sockets and network coincide with the location of the tables;
• chairs and tabletops tested at pilot site;
• printers, kitchen and input streams do not create constant noise;
• There is a plan for additional staffing as the team grows.