Have you got a tired-looking, worn-out office needing a fresh breath of life? Or perhaps a commercial space crying out for a total face-lift, rebrand, or fit out?
Whether your commercial refurbishment is for a bar, restaurant, hotel, or office, there are several things that you need to consider before you begin, for example:
- What’s the reason behind the refurb?
- Has your number of staff changed meaning you need to expand or contract?
- Is your productivity being cramped?
- Do you need to be compliant with new legislation for health and safety?
- Do you want to do a total rebrand?
Whatever your reasons, it is something to think carefully about and plan before leaping in.
You need to know what budget you have and the potential hidden costs you hadn’t yet considered, as well as the various design elements of space, colour, furniture, lighting, and even acoustics. Here are a few pointers to help guide you through some of the questions you might have about a commercial refurbishment.
1. Budget
You need to know what budget constraints you might have before deciding on how big the refurb project can be. There are costs you might not have thought about, beyond the redecoration, building works, furniture, and lighting. There can be fees for things such as planning permission, waste and recycling, furniture delivery and removal, fire planning, and insurance. Another consideration is whether you need to relocate during the process to a temporary office. You might have to potentially shut your bar, hotel, or restaurant down for a time, and this will involve costs your budget might need to include. It might be more cost-effective to close or move out while the refurbishment takes place, or it could be possible to keep working throughout the process depending on the size and scope of the project and this is where a good project manager can advise you.
2. Design
There are various design elements to consider and it is worth knowing clearly what you are hoping to achieve by the end of your project. Having a detailed plan before you start can help save time and avoid wasting money further down the line. The Southern Cross team have all the skills needed to help you with the design, manufacture, and installation of the vision you have for your unique commercial refurbishment.
- Space
You might have a space that you want to change for a bigger impact or a more open-plan and multi-functional area. The team might have grown, or your company is planning for expansion in the future. Or with hybrid working and fewer staff in the office you might want to create a new feel for the greater area now available. The spaces you create can speak volumes to your team and customers about what kind of a business you are. If you want to have an open-plan office space, for example, to encourage a team-positive vibe, then you will want to consider how to partition off some smaller areas to create meeting rooms or silent areas for breakout meetings.
Space optimisation and adjustment are some of the most sought-after changes when considering a commercial refurbishment. Ensure the task is completed properly by a dedicated team of experts, such as Southern Cross Projects.
- Colour
This is surprisingly vital as psychological studies have been done to show how colour can impact mood, customer perception and staff productivity profoundly. Do you want to create a particular vibe? Blue is a colour usually associated with safety, trust and logic. Although a darker blue has connotations of power and dependability, whereas red speaks of passion, energy and alertness. Orange, along with yellow, is often associated with playfulness, enthusiasm and positivity while green is usually assimilated with nature and therefore has a peaceful and calming effect.
Carefully selected colours are essential to the impact your refurbishment will have on your staff or customers. For a more detailed design eye, our team of expert designers at Southern Cross can assist with choosing colours that not only reflect your brand, but the kind of atmosphere you want to create for your commercial refurbishment.
- Furniture
The way your commercial property is decorated in integral to the atmosphere of your establishment. Whether you’re starting from scratch or simply undergoing a detailed rebrand to appeal to a new client base, your furnishings will reflect a lot about your business. Choosing a style is your first task. Would you prefer comfortable and classic, or perhaps a chic, modern twist that exudes opulence? Whatever style you feel best suits your space, the Southern Cross Projects team can assist.
We’ll work with you to establish your style inspirations and vision for your premises. From there, we can source, design, or manufacture bespoke furnishings to complete your space. Through bespoke joinery, carpentry and design, the Southern Cross Projects team will curate a stunning commercial refurbishment for your business.
- Lighting
Ideally, you want to maximise natural light for your refurbishment, but it depends on the particular project and the mood you want to create. Whilst an office benefits from having natural light for staff to work with, this may need augmenting with good, bright light, especially in the winter months.
However, a hotel, restaurant or bar requires a totally different approach to lighting as it may want to create a warmer, more intimate vibe for customers. Whatever the lighting requirements of your planned project, Southern Cross’s designers can help you make the best choice for your space. If you’re unsure of what mood to set or how to create a certain atmosphere, discuss with our team for expert advice and how it can best be implemented.
- Acoustics
The choices of flooring, ceiling and furnishings all play into the acoustics of your space and this feature can often be overlooked when implementing a refurbishment. We’ve all been to restaurants where the acoustics are so loud that you can’t talk to your fellow diners without shouting, which is not creating the vibe you want if intimate dining is what you’re looking for. And working in a large, echoing open room can be distracting and end up giving your staff headaches which can be unpleasant and reduce productivity.
Why Choose Southern Cross Projects for your Commercial Refurbishment?
Whatever your reason for deciding to embark on a commercial refurbishment, it is going to be an undertaking that can feel daunting. However, at Southern Cross Projects we are able to offer turnkey project management for what you have planned. From the initial idea to opening the door to your brand-new commercial refurbishment, every detail will have been taken care of by us.
We can take the stress out of the whole process for you from your first chat with one of our designers through to complete implementation, delivering to the highest standard and within your budgetary constraints. With years of experience in the field of both domestic and commercial refurbishments, we have the expertise to guide you seamlessly from inception to completion, taking care of every detail, including bespoke CAD design, creative joinery and superb project management as well as so much more.
Check out our previous projects for inspiration or get in touch to begin the process to turn your dream into a reality.