Office interior design is just as important regardless of whether the office is situated at home or in a corporate building. In both cases, a lot of forethought and proper planning will produce the best results. The ideal office should be comfortable and safe, functional and attractive, with everything in its optimum place for maximum productivity and ease of use.

Of course, one style of office will not suit every type of business so there are no set rules regarding what constitutes the best office style. Imagine the office of your local garage and compare it with the office of a high-tech creative or artistic director – do they look the same when you visualise them in your mind? Probably not, these professionals have different tasks to carry out and the style of office design will reflect that because the ideal office of any business will reflect the business itself.

So, the purpose of the office and who is using it will influence the office design. For example, an office that requires one work station for one part time manual worker will not have the same practical or design issues as an office that employs hundreds of people to carry out sophisticated administrative tasks.

A modern interior design would naturally be a popular choice for high-tech and dynamic businesses at the forefront of technology simply because it suits the image of a company that is progressing and at the cutting edge of their field. Similarly, a more classic design might suit the offices of traditional type businesses that have been established for many years and of course a more informal and casual design would possibly be more appropriate for the local garage or manual trade professions. However, there are no hard and fast rules as it is simply a matter of personal preference and available budget.

Some important factors that need to be taken into consideration before deciding on any styles, fixtures or fittings for any office interior designs include:

• The type of work or business to be done in the office

• The amount of floor space available and what equipment it needs to hold

• The number and type of people likely to be using the office

• If any clients need to visit the office

• The budget

Once this is established then it becomes easier to think of a suitable style. There are other practical considerations to think of like the type of lighting that is needed and the position of electrical and telephone sockets, the kind of furniture required and where it will be placed. The office is a reflection of the business concerned and as such it is vital that it gives the right impression whilst at the same time providing a comfortable place to work. Above all, the health and safety of everyone who works in or visits the office should be a top priority.

The ideal office should be clean and uncluttered with subtle colour schemes that don't distract from the work that has to be achieved there. As many people spend a lot of hours in the office, it helps if it is a pleasant and comfortable place to work. Proper seating is vital to encourage good posture and to prevent back pain. An excellent office interior designer will be able to design an office that is not only functional, safe and professional, but which also beautifully reflects the image and fits the purpose of the particular business taking place in that office.

Interior Design for the home office

Advances in technology and flexible working policies have enabled more people than ever before to work from home and the "home office" has now become a popular feature in many a home. Regardless of whether you have a separate room dedicated as an office or simply a space at the corner of your living room, the same factors have to be considered as for any other office interior design in order for your office to function effectively.

If your business means you need to take clients into your home office then it is important that the design of your office reflects an air of professionalism as it not only represents your business, it also gives an impression of who you are and how capable you might be of getting the work done. If, for example, your office is messy and cluttered with papers piled high because you have nowhere to put them and cables running across the floor because the socket is in the wrong place then it is possible that your clients may think you're not up to the job. Get it right by planning your office interior design first.

Most importantly, the ideal home office will not interfere with the day to day routines and functions of the rest of the house, it will be thoughtfully designed, fully functional, and will integrate harmoniously with the rest of the home.