Transforming an Open Floor Plan: Smart Zoning and Sleek Storage in a Modern Office Fit-Out

At Desk Warehouse, we know that every office space presents its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. One of our recent projects perfectly illustrates how thoughtful space planning can turn a completely open room into a highly functional, multi-zone workspace.

We were tasked with designing a layout that balanced a welcoming reception area with a high-density, practical open-plan office, ensuring the final result was both professional and highly efficient.

The Client’s Brief: Boundaries, Storage, and Capacity

The client approached us with a very specific set of requirements for their empty floor plan. Their initial request highlighted a few core needs:

• A Controlled Entrance: They needed a reception desk to act as a physical barrier, stopping visitors from walking straight into the main working area.
• Maximizing Headcount: The client wanted to know exactly how many workstations could comfortably fit into the space without feeling overcrowded.
• Dedicated Equipment Zones: The open plan needed dedicated areas for a printer, photocopier, and scanner.
• Space-Saving Storage: They specifically requested desks with integrated drawers or separate lockers that were small enough to fit neatly underneath the desks, preserving legroom.

The Desk Warehouse Solution: Zoning and Ergonomics

Working closely with the client’s room measurements, we prepared a comprehensive quotation and layout. We developed a floor plan that comfortably accommodated eight staff members plus a dedicated reception point, utilizing clever zoning techniques.

1. The Reception Area

To address the client’s primary concern of managing visitor flow, we incorporated a dedicated Reception Unit. Measuring W1600 D800 H1160, this unit creates a clear, professional boundary at the entrance. Finished in a clean White MFC, it greets clients while shielding the main office floor.

2. The Workstations

To maximize the number of employees the room could hold, we utilized a pod-style layout featuring Wave Desks. We supplied a total of eight desks—five Right-Hand and three Left-Hand configurations—measuring W1400 D1000-800 H730. These desks feature modern white tops and panels supported by panel legs, keeping the visual footprint light and airy.

3. Meeting the Storage Challenge

The client was very specific about wanting under-desk storage that wasn’t overly bulky. We solved this by pairing each of the eight desks with a Slimline Mobile Pedestal. Measuring just 275mm wide (W275 D520 H600) and finished in silver steel, these compact units slide perfectly under the wave desks, providing essential storage without eating into the user’s legroom.

4. Smart Zoning for Equipment and Flow

A key part of the layout involved mapping out specific functional areas:

• The “Red Zone”: We identified and marked specific red areas on the layout dedicated to housing the necessary printers and copiers. This keeps noisy, high-traffic equipment accessible but out of the direct way of desk workers.
• The “Blue Zone”: To further separate the space, we designated a blue zone where we placed a row of three Non-Locking Cupboards. These White MFC cupboards (W786 D360 H1097) come supplied with two shelves each, providing excellent bulk storage for files while simultaneously acting as a smart, physical room divider.

5. Ergonomic Seating

To complete the workstations and the reception area, we supplied nine Buddy High Back Mesh Chairs, ensuring breathable, ergonomic support for every member of the team.

Buddy High Back Mesh Chair

£ 89.00
£ 106.80 incl. VAT

Combines stylish ergonomic comfort and durable steel-frame stability with versatile adjustments, making it an affordable and reliable addition to any workspace

Buddy High Back Mesh Chair quantity

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SKU: BUDDY

Project Delivery and Overview

We were able to fulfill this brief rapidly, as all the specified items were immediately available. To ensure a seamless experience for the client, delivery and professional installation were included completely free of charge.

The result is a bright, structured, and highly functional office that meets every single point of the client’s initial brief—from the reception barrier to the slimline storage.

Are you looking to optimize your own office space? Whether you need to figure out how many desks will fit in your room or you’re looking for clever zoning solutions, we can help. Contact us at sales@deskwarehouse.co.uk , call us on 028 9046 0055 , or visit our showroom at 288 Beersbridge Road, Belfast BT5 5DX.