DIY Office Design

You don't need a degree in interior design to create an office. Nor will you be required to use a computer to render an architectural schematic. Here's what you will need: Permission from the boss to undertake the project, a budget and lots of one-on-one meetings with her during the process to make certain she's happy at all times. You get the fun tasks: picking colors, shopping and gathering compliments when the project's done and the staff is ready to move in.

Instructions

1

Interview the boss extensively to ascertain her likes and dislikes. Nail down specifics. Show your boss photos of typical offices to gauge her tastes. Ask how much latitude you have when choosing furniture, paint, lighting, window treatments and art. Find out when she wants the project completed. Request a "not-to-exceed" budget so you're able to track costs as the project unfolds.

2

Measure the office, identifying and recording the sizes of specific areas you've been asked to design--reception, boss's office, conference room, cube farm, break area, etc. Solicit quotes from painters. Pick one dominant color and two auxiliary colors for the office spaces, consulting your boss before you commission the painters to begin work.

3

Create a "design board" that consists of swatches of the carpeting, drapes, wallpaper and other decorative accessories you're recommending for the office design. Ask your boss to sign off on the board, approving the choices you've made, so there are no misunderstandings once the project is in full swing. Schedule the major refurbishing tasks in this order: painting, carpeting and window treatments.

4

Use the boss's preferences for wood, steel or plastic and laminate materials to guide your search for office furniture. Take along a digital camera when you visit commercial office furniture suppliers. Obtain catalogs. Maintain a list of prices and styles if this data isn't included in catalogs. Alternately, shop the Internet for furniture, remembering that shipping charges often eat up savings when compared to retail purchases.

5

Oversee the installation of partitions to create office cubicles if you've been instructed to subdivide departments into these styles of units. Position desks, chairs, credenzas, bookcases and workstations in ways that offer the most amount of walking room for employees and guests.

6

Choose artwork based on each area's configuration, mounting large paintings and lithographs on office walls with lots of ceiling to floor space. Bring your office design project to a proper conclusion by working up a complete accounting of how much you spent on each segment of the project, making certain to include original line items to let the boss know that you came in at, or under, your target budget.