Office spaces are not just spaces to sit and work, but rather, they are environments that shape how people interact, focus, and collaborate. Understanding the importance of design in the interior fit-out of workplaces is essential for any organisation planning an office transformation.
In this article, we consider why design is important, explore key factors to consider when planning an office fit-out, and explain why Willmott Dixon Interiors is a trusted choice for delivering high‑quality, practical office environments that meet the specific needs of businesses.
Key Takeaways
- Design is crucial in office fit-outs because well-planned workplaces that get the design right go on to see long-term benefits in their workforce, including reduced employee absence, improved focus and collaboration, higher staff satisfaction and retention, and a more positive impression for visitors.
- Key design factors include air quality and ventilation, thermal comfort, lighting and daylight, acoustics, and space planning. Together, these elements ensure an office space supports productivity, collaboration, and a positive employee experience.
- Willmott Dixon Interiors’ in-house architectural and interior design capability delivers coordinated, sustainable, design-led office fit-outs that are aligned from the outset, adding measurable value for customers.
Why Is Design Important in the Interior Fit-Out of Workplaces?
Numerous studies show that well-designed work environments can have a quantifiable impact on employee health, performance, and overall workplace efficiency.
The World Green Building Council reports that “office design significantly impacts the health, wellbeing, and productivity of staff.”
Furthermore, a published 2010 study found that improvements to office environments are associated with reduced health symptoms, such as asthma and depression, and lower perceived absenteeism among employees.
Here are some of the primary benefits associated with thoughtfully planned workplaces:
| Workplace Benefit | Impact on Employees and Business |
|---|---|
| Reduced absences and fatigue | Comfortable, supportive spaces help staff stay healthy, energised, and take fewer sick days. |
| Improved focus and productivity | Environments designed to minimise distractions and inefficiencies enable employees to concentrate. |
| Better overall staff experience | Employees feel valued and supported, improving engagement and morale. |
| Enhanced collaboration and communication | Thoughtful layouts encourage interaction where needed. |
| Higher staff satisfaction and retention | Workplaces that meet people’s needs create a positive culture and reduce employee turnover. |
| Efficient use of space | Flexible, functional design ensures all areas are optimised and underutilisation is minimised. |
| Future adaptability and reduced adjustment costs | Spaces that can evolve with changing business needs prevent expensive reconfigurations. |
| Positive impression on customers and visitors | Professional, welcoming environments reflect well on the organisation. |
By prioritising design, organisations can ensure their fit-out delivers tangible benefits for both staff and the business as a whole.
Key Design Factors in the Interior Fit-Out of Workplaces
Understanding the following core design factors helps ensure an office is practical, efficient, and well-suited to the way people work.
Air Quality and Ventilation
Maintaining good air quality is a fundamental part of office design, involving a consistent supply of fresh air, control of humidity and CO₂ levels, and the filtration of pollutants. Well-designed ventilation systems remove stale air, reduce airborne contaminants, and regulate airflow, all of which help support employee wellbeing, alertness, and concentration. This is especially important in older or refurbished buildings, where existing systems may need careful integration with new design solutions to achieve optimal performance.
Research shared by the UK Green Building Council found that poor air quality consistently lowered performance by up to 10%, on measures such as typing speed and units output. Moreover, short-term sick leave was found to be 35% lower in offices ventilated by an outdoor air supply rate of 24 l/s compared to buildings with rates of 12 l/s.
Robust air quality and ventilation, therefore, not only enhances comfort but also has a measurable impact on productivity and absenteeism.
Thermal Comfort
Maintaining consistent thermal comfort across an office is key to preventing discomfort and supporting productivity. Factors such as the layout of the space, occupancy levels, and the design of heating and cooling systems all play a role in ensuring employees remain comfortable throughout the day.
A 2006 study on room temperature and productivity in office work found that increasing temperatures up to 21 ℃ was associated with a substantial performance improvement, while temperatures above 24 ℃ led to a significant decline in performance. This indicates that maintaining a temperature range of 21–24 ℃ is optimal for both comfort and productivity.
Lighting & Daylight
Exposure to the right kind of light can shape how employees feel, work, and recover. Natural daylight is particularly valuable, as it helps improve wellbeing and reduce eye strain. However, it is essential to strike a balance between daylight and glare and heat control to maintain a comfortable working environment.
Artificial lighting should also be carefully planned to suit different tasks and areas, ensuring staff have sufficient illumination for both collaborative and individual work.
Research from 2013 demonstrated that employees with windows in the workplace received 173% more white light exposure during work hours and slept an average of 46 minutes more per night, highlighting the impact of natural light on both workplace performance and overall wellbeing.
Acoustics
The sounds in a workplace shape how people feel and work. In open-plan offices, uncontrolled noise, such as from conversations, office equipment, or background chatter, can disrupt concentration and increase stress. Thoughtful acoustic design allows staff to focus when needed while enabling comfortable collaboration.
Acoustic performance can be enhanced through ceilings, partitions, wall panels, and sound-absorbing finishes, as well as strategic zoning of quiet and collaborative areas. Some offices also use sound masking systems to manage background noise. Effective acoustic planning ensures that noise doesn’t dictate how people work and allows the office to function efficiently as team structures and activities evolve.
Space Planning & Layout
How an office is arranged can have a major impact on how people move, interact, and get work done. Thoughtful space planning considers the natural flow of people, creating zones for focused work, collaborative projects, and informal meetings.
Functional zoning ensures that each area is used appropriately, preventing overcrowding in some spaces while underutilising others. Layout decisions also interact with lighting, acoustics, and ventilation, meaning that careful planning can maximise comfort and efficiency across the office. By aligning space use with the way teams operate, organisations can create environments that feel intuitive and support daily workflows.
Why Choose Willmott Dixon Interiors for an Office Fit-Out?
Willmott Dixon Interiors is one of the few contractors to offer an in-house architectural and interior design capability, enabling earlier engagement, added value from the outset, and stronger relationships with customers. This integrated approach allows customers to obtain a single, coordinated design and build quotation while ensuring design decisions are fully aligned with delivery, operational, and commercial requirements.
“Thoughtful office design directly impacts how people collaborate and perform. Our in-house team ensures that every fit-out creates a space that supports wellbeing, productivity, and long-term flexibility for our customers,” says Nick Openshaw, Head of Interior Design, Willmott Dixon Interiors
Our in-house design team also plays an important role in championing sustainability. Through considered specification, the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), and a focus on designing out waste, sustainability is embedded into projects from the earliest design stages.
Demonstrating Design in Practice: Department of Health, Quarry House (Level 8)
An example of Willmott Dixon Interiors’ meticulous approach is demonstrated in our Cat B fit-out at the Department of Health, Quarry House Level 8, where design decisions were used to improve how the space functions and feels within the constraints of an existing building.
Key design-led outcomes included:
- Higher ceilings and brighter colour palettes, helping to maximise natural light and make the workspace feel lighter and more open;
- Clear zoning of work areas, supporting different ways of working within a single floorplate;
- Improved layouts and circulation, making better use of the available space;
- Modern, practical finishes, chosen to enhance usability while maintaining a professional workplace environment.
Led by our Head of Interior Design, Nick Openshaw, who brings over 40 years of experience and a portfolio spanning more than 2 million square metres of designed space, Willmott Dixon Interiors’ in‑house team partners closely with customers from day one to create practical, high‑performing office environments.
To explore how we can help you make the most of your space on your next office fit‑out project. Please get in touch.