How to Design a Coworking Space

Designing a great coworking space takes a little strategic thinking and planning ahead. You don’t want to just slap a bunch of tables together, add some chairs, and call it a day. 

Putting a little thought and planning into your office space design for your small business can help both the aesthetics of your coworking space, and also help direct the flow of foot traffic through your shared space, so that everyone isn’t falling over each other as they navigate the room. 3D office space design and planning can help you achieve an ideal coworking space.

Additionally, planning your coworking space design helps you decide what kind of furniture you will need, what size those office furniture items should be to create a successful coworking space, as well as what types of accessories you may want to add to your shared workspace interior design that lends additional convenience to the room, or just to make it look really cool. After all, the goal is to create a collaborative space people actually want to spend time in and work in! 

What is a Coworking Space?

Coworking spaces are, essentially, shared spaces where people work or do other ‘work’ type activities together. In an office or work setup, coworking spaces often refer to open layout setups where everything is in one large area, as opposed to a traditionally divided floor plan with office workstations. 

A coworking office is great because they can improve the synergy between your team members. When the whole office space is used by one company and your team, it helps improve interpersonal communication between individuals and gives rise to a more open and creative work environment. 

However, while these shared coworking spaces can be used as a workspace for one team or company; they can also be used as a common working space or conference room that can be used by anyone who registers to use it.

In that case, a coworking facility office design can be a chance for people to escape an isolated workspace and thrive in a more social environment. This can be a great way of reducing costs for a single person, or small teams. 

Most coworking spaces are designed to include private meeting rooms, as well as kitchenettes and even recreational areas, to meet your other workspace requirements. 

Compared to a traditional office, coworking spaces are typically equipped with all the necessary technologies required to work and prosper in today’s technological world, including audio and video systems, Wi-Fi, printers, scanners, and more. Some even boast things like a coffee bar to help keep everyone awake and active. Learn the difference between a coworking space vs office.

In short, coworking spaces are wonderful places for teams to work, especially for small businesses. They have a direct effect on team communication, as well as on networking between different individuals, while also being cost effective. These are just a handful of the reasons coworking spaces are such a hit with the newer generation, especially startups, newly established companies with small teams, and freelancers. 

Things to Consider When Designing a Coworking Space

There are a few things you should keep in mind when figuring out how to set up a coworking space.

Consideration 1: Type of Work You’ll Be Doing

The first and foremost thing to consider before designing a coworking space is to determine what kind of work it will be used for. The type of work will decide what type of floor layout and furniture you will need to use in the coworking space. 

Whether it’s a desk job that only needs an office computer desk and a comfortable chair, or if it requires larger open spaces to display designs and presentations, these things need to be known first before starting the design and layout of your coworking space. 

Consideration 2: Size of Your Coworking Space 

Once the type of work and the subsequent requirements have been established, the next step is to consider the space itself. If you are on the hunt for the perfect space, then you can choose one that is big enough or small enough to fit your needs, regardless of your requirements. You’ve got some wiggle room because you can pass on a space that doesn’t suit.

However, if you already have a space, then you might need to adjust your requirements somewhat to ensure a good design that works and fits the parameters you’ve got. Either way, always consider the various limitations and benefits of the space you plan to use before designing it. 

Consideration 3: Location & Mobility

The location of the coworking space is also another factor that needs to be considered before designing. It will determine the cost of the place, as well as the average travel time it will take for you or your team members to reach it every day. 

Ideally, your location should be reachable through public transport, so it can remain cost effective to work in the coworking space. Not everyone will want or have access to private transportation. 

Additionally, your coworking space should be in the general area where most of your clients are located, so that way if there are meetings, no one has to travel too far to make an appearance. It’s a convenient location for both your team and your customers.

Consideration 4: Your Workspace Environment 

The type of work you plan to do in your coworking space should tell others a bit about the workspace environment they can expect. For example, if it’s a place for artists, you might need a lot of open space so they can set up properly and have room to both create and display their art. 

You will also likely host some creative types, so your coworking space should speak to their creative tastes. The design of a coworking space should reflect the type of people you want working there. 

Of course, if it’s going to simply be a desk-job type place, with nothing but computers in sight, your setting can be fairly straightforward and neatly put-together and could involve desk dividers or office room dividers . Either way, the people will affect the workspace environment, therefore your design should match that environment. 

Consideration 5: Staying within Budget

Another important factor to consider before designing a coworking space is your budget as well as the resources you have at your disposal. You should also consider the resources and amenities you need to provide to the people working in such a space. This way, you can distribute your budget efficiently. 

Coworking Design Ideas

What makes a good coworking space can vary, but below are a few of our favorite tips that can suit almost any aesthetic.

Keep It Flexible

When designing coworking spaces this one thing may well be an imperative; be flexible! Design your coworking space in a way that is fluid and easy to navigate. A harmonious design is one which fulfills almost all your requirements naturally, while a flexible design should feature a balance between personal and group settings. 

Yes, working with other people has its perks, but sometimes someone may need some private time to get their thoughts together or do some deep focus work. 

This type of flexibility should be reflected in the furniture you choose, too. Add different types of chairs and seating arrangements, include sitting and standing desks, and offer both single and conference tables. Think, ‘a little something for everyone’ while keeping in mind the boundaries of the space itself.

Add Some Art 

Can any place truly be well-designed without a few great pieces of art? Just because it’s a coworking space, that doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate a little culture too. Even if the people using the space aren’t the creative type, a few well placed pieces of art can improve the looks of your space and inspire people. Dull spaces can be brightened up with colorful art, or a bolder space can incorporate more subtle art to tone things down a bit. 

Add Greenery

Going green might just be the ‘it’ trend of the 21st century and rightly so, whether that’s making changes that are environmentally-friendly, or simply adding indoor plants to bring a sense of freshness and life into a room. You can opt for small desk plants or add huge floor planters. Every nook and corner of your space is fair game for a little greenery! 

Never Forget the Snacks!

Another popular design idea for coworking spaces is to include a snack bar or kitchenette in your space. Everyone needs sustenance throughout the day, so you might as well as designate a space for it. You could even pair it up with a small lounging area with lounge chairs and a sofa nearby, so people can relax while they snack. 

Deciding how to design a coworking space is the hard part. Once you’ve got a plan in mind, implementing those ideas is the easy part and we’d be thrilled to help with all of your office furniture solutions. Happy designing!