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Open Plan Offices in London

If you’re looking for new office space in London, you’ve got a lot of options available.

If you’re looking for new office space in London, you’ve got a lot of options available. Flexible officesserviced officesprivate offices, shared workspaces…and that’s just to name a few. But before you start planning out where to put your cheese plant and coffee machine, the first thing you’ll need to decide is whether you want a traditional or open plan office in London.

Now, old school closed offices are cool if you want to embrace your inner Don Draper, but open plan spaces are the new norm. (They’re the most popular type of workspaces by a country mile.) And if Facebook built the largest open plan office space in the world a few years ago, you know there’s probably something in it…

On top of that, London open plan offices offer a lot of benefits. From better collaboration and increased creativity to improved company culture, brand identity and creating a bustling HQ at the heart of the capital… If you’re looking for a new open plan, creative office space, London’s the place to be.

And here’s everything you need to know.


What are the advantages of open plan offices?

 

 

Open plan office pros: flexibility


Open plan offices can be flexed to accommodate changes in your business size.

 

Open plan offices can make a space feel larger than it is – which is a must for small office spaces in London. And with so much room to play with, an open plan office means that you can adapt the space to work for your company. You can create different areas within the space to suit departments and working styles, such as:

  • Collaborative spaces for exploring ideas
  • Private areas for getting projects over the line
  • Meeting areas for staff and clients
  • All without the need for walls and multiple rooms.

 

Open plan office pros: tonnes of natural light

 

One of the big problems with traditional office spaces is that some of your team will get window desks, and others will be stuck with just headache-inducing fluorescent lights. By getting rid of the office walls, you can let your entire team bask in daylight. Not only does this create a more positive environment for both your team and clients and increase your staff’s health, wellbeing and happiness, but it can help you save on your electricity bill in the long run.

 

Open plan office pros: collaboration and creativity

 

Removing walls does more than just let everyone enjoy the daylight. It breaks barriers both physically and metaphorically, to allow for far better collaboration between team members and management.

Communication between team members and different departments happens far more freely and more informally, which allows for a better flow of information and ideas. Not needing to knock on doors for a quick question or idea saves time and boosts productivity.

Open plan office pros: budget-friendly


Open plan offices can be a more budget-friendly workspace solution.

 

Generally, open plan office spaces are cheaper to rent. By not having walls, businesses can save on:

  • Heating
  • Air conditioning
  • Lighting

Open plan offices also allow businesses to quickly expand and handle personnel changes, as the spaces can adapt to changes without needing to find a new, bigger office space.

 

What are the disadvantages of open plan offices?

 

Open plan office cons: can become noisy


Breakout areas are just one of the ways to get your head down during noisy periods.

 

One of the downsides of not having walls in an office is that noise travels. Some people may find it difficult to concentrate with more communication between team members, phones ringing, and keyboards clattering.

But there are some easy ways to counter the noise within an office:

 

Open plan office cons: privacy


Meeting rooms do wonders for adding privacy to an open plan office.

 

The lack of office walls means that communication between colleagues and managers is far easier and open. But it can be difficult for staff that may want to have a private or confidential discussion.

To solve this problem, many modern open plan offices have meeting rooms and private spaces so that employees can have those private one-to-ones without worrying that the whole office can hear them. Having these spaces means that if anything isn’t quite right or a team member is anxious about discussing something openly, they have a safe space to explore it.

 

Find the perfect open plan office in London for your business


With so many open plan offices across London, you’ll need to narrow down your search to find the perfect match for your business.

 

As open plan offices are the most popular type of office, there’s a lot of choice available. But not all open plan offices are equal and you’ll need to consider what your business needs from an office before renting a space. To get the ball rolling, it’s a good idea to consider:

  • What utilities does the lease include?
  • Does it have meeting rooms and breakout areas?
  • What other facilities are available: kitchen? Showers?
  • Is Wifi included? Is it high speed?
  • Does it have 24/7 reception access?

While the above are all important considerations, one of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is the location of your new open plan office. Location plays a massive role in your brand’s image and can have an instant impact on potential clients. Plus, having an office in the middle of nowhere will mean your team won’t enjoy the commute.

To give you a hand in choosing a location, we’ve shone the spotlight on some of the best open plan spaces available in London right now.


Ready to find your open plan office?

Open plan office spaces are an excellent option for businesses of all sizes. So whether you’re looking for your first office, looking to scale up your business or just looking for a better space, choosing an open plan office is a great choice. If you need a bit of inspiration for your open plan office space, check out our article on open plan office design ideas.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to request a viewing for any of our offices across London, drop us a line at info@canvasoffices.co.uk, call us on (+44) 020 3900 0565, use our contact form or click “Request a viewing” on any of our office pages.