If you’re starting a business, or have indeed already launched and are in those exciting early months then there’s a strong chance you’re going to be looking at getting premises, or perhaps expanding to larger premises.
However, the cost associated with this can be prohibitive to most start-ups and even those with the money to spend on premises, often, taking on such a long-term liability that increases your overheads is in the opposite direction to the agility and frugality most entrepreneurial start-ups need.
This article therefore looks at a number of ways you can increase the amount of space (or feeling of space) you have whilst keeping your costs as low as possible.
The first question you need to ask yourself is whether this additional space you require is going to be required permanently or if a temporary measure might provide better value. For instance, there are many temporary buildings that can be used to create extra space, or if your requirements are particularly short-term you could consider hiring a storage unit.
Now, let’s take a look at a few principles to think about in terms of squeezing the most out of a small space on the basis that most start-ups do find themselves squeezed into quite a tight space, but there are ways of maximising this space to ensure it doesn’t feel as chaotic as it otherwise might.
LIGHT
The term “dark and dingy” often comes to mind when thinking of small spaces, therefore, you want the complete opposite. You want a well lit space, that is bright and white – ideally with large windows that flood the room with natural light.
The more light that enters the space, the larger and more airy the space will feel. Think of an art gallery with its whitewashed walls and bright lights.
UNCLUTTERED
Of course, operating from a small space tends to mean the space gets cluttered with files, product samples, equipment and so on – yet, there are some intelligent storage solutions that can be used in order to keep the main space free of clutter. A good option is to get a unit that has a large walk-in cupboard area that you can stack all your necessary items, for ease of access, without cluttering up your space.
It’s also a good idea to operate a clear desk policy, as whilst some people can work well with clutter around them, many others cannot, and it will make the space feel much larger and productive if desks are kept clutter free.
The final aspect with regard to keeping things uncluttered is to use technology solutions such as iMacs that are slim in their appearance and don’t have lots of wires coming out of them that can look quite cluttered and messy. The alternative, of course, would be laptops.
COOL
The cooler the space the more focused and concentrated your team will be. If a small space starts to feel hot and stuffy, then people start to feel claustrophobic, whereas a cool and breezy space feels more open and less agitating. This is again, where large windows that open out fully can be something to really look out for.
*This post has been written for Morning Business Chat by an outside source
