Afsha
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, open-plan office layouts are all the rage across the globe. Partitions have been torn down; enclosed cubicles and rooms lay in shambles as employees and managers turn to more open, flexible, and activity-based workspaces.
These open-space offices bring to life the aesthetically pleasing images of rows of desks stretching as far as the eye can see, employees and coworkers collaborating over a pool table, and brainstorming sessions over a cup of coffee in a contemporary-designed lounge area.
But it’s not just the interior design or the layout; the fact that collaborating has never been easier is something that could never allow us to overlook the necessity of an open desk space.
Open-space offices put a lot of emphasis on community, collaboration, and inclusion. The belief is that tearing down walls and bringing coworkers together in order to run a business more efficiently is taking over the corporate world, one step at a time. And this becomes all the more clear when you see people, perhaps even your own organization, choosing open desks plan over traditional layouts.
But are open office spaces or open desk spaces really what people say? In fact, are they even worth a try? Don’t worry, because we have the answers to all your questions. So why not dive in further and see whether this new rage is really for you (and your team) or not?
What is an Open Desks in an Office Area?
Open desks are the pinnacle of flexibility in coworking. The open office concept offers you the option to simply show up, book a seat, and get on with your work. In an office area with an open desk setting, you get the opportunity to explore the shared workspace, discover new working environments, and find the one that suits you the best.
Open desks promote flexible working culture, giving you the freedom to choose a new space every day depending on your goals for that day. This layout allows you to find your own balance between networking within the office space and focusing on your own work.
Advantages of an Open Desk in Coworking Spaces
While working behind closed doors might have its perks, the advantages of an open desk cannot be overlooked, whether you work alone or with coworkers. There are some apparent benefits to opting for an open desk setting over designated office spaces. Some of them are below.
1. Encourage Collaboration
2. Networking
3. Better Space Management
4. Relaxed Atmosphere
5. Cost-Effective
1. Encourage Collaboration
Team collaboration is an important aspect of a business. There are times, more often than not when you need your team’s opinion. And in an open desk setting, this is just what you get. When employees are closely working together in one space, it is easier for them to communicate with each other, ask questions, and share knowledge and ideas.
2. Networking
Networking is perhaps an aspect that is only applicable to coworking spaces. An open desk setting in a coworking space allows people to work together and interact with other like-minded individuals from diverse fields and backgrounds, which in turn allows them to form new relationships and increases the potential for collaboration.
3. Better Space Management
The aim of an open desk setting is to offer more freedom to move around and space to employees, and comparing it with its traditional counterpart, an open desk is the aesthetic winner. The employees can choose their working space based on their daily goals, which would make them more productive and efficient.
Moreover, with communication, collaboration, and an interactive environment at the forefront, open desk layouts at coworking spaces guarantee high morale and customer satisfaction with their design.
4. Relaxed Atmosphere
Gone are the days of sitting in office cubicles with little to no interaction with your team members. With an open desk layout, you get to be closer to your team members, and with no barriers around, you get to enjoy natural lighting. This not only boosts morale, making everyone feel better but also optimizes workflow. And you also use less artificial lighting, which reduces electricity usage.
5. Cost-Effective
It goes without saying that working in coworking spaces is a cost-effective solution, even more so when you opt for an open desk setting over dedicated office spaces. Whether you work as a freelancer or own a business with employees, the fewer walls you have around yourself, the less you have to pay for the space.
Also Read: What is Hybrid Work?
What’s the Right Time to Choose an Open Desk?
The decision to choose an open desk boils down to the unique nature of your business. Do you have a business that needs to be agile and comprises employees that thrive on open communication and enjoy collaboration? or a larger, more diverse company with concerns about individual employee productivity and flexibility. If you’re the former, open desk office space is the right choice for you and your business.
The interactive and collaborative environment of an open desk will not only help your workers exchange ideas more proficiently but will also allow them to pick at the brains of other workers from diverse backgrounds and professions at the desk and come up with an idea that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
Also, the flexibility that comes with an open desk will give you and your employees the opportunity to choose your working space according to your daily requirements. If productivity is your key focus, perhaps the meeting rooms might be a great option, or if you wish to have a brainstorming session with your coworkers or attend a client meeting, the outdoor arrangements would work in your favor.
With an open desk plan, you get to enjoy the flexibility and full control of your workspace, and if that is what you and your business need, the open desk option is the one for you, as it will not only allow your fellow coworkers to thrive but also help your business grow and reach new heights of success.
People Also Read: Types of Coworking Membership Plans
Final Words
There are a myriad of reasons to go for a private office, and there are also a lot of reasons to choose an open desk setting. But one thing that cannot be denied is that an open-office desk is definitely an option that is worth trying and adapting to modern work trends. Not just to keep up with the coworking trend but to know what’s best for you and your business.
Your business needs will continue to evolve as it transitions from one stage to another. It is necessary to choose a working space that best suits your requirements and business needs at a particular stage of life.
At Stylework, we offer you a number of options from our wide range of coworking spaces and help you look for and decide what works best for your business needs.
We also understand that your requirements are bound to change from time to time, so don’t worry if you wish to change things a bit. You can always switch things up and move to a different space within the coworking space.
[sibwp_form id=2]
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. How does Open Desks differ from traditional office spaces?
Unlike traditional office spaces, which are primarily sectioned off and consist of enclosed offices, open desks feature little or no closed partitions and utilize the concept of an open floor plan. This allows the employees to move around freely instead of being stuck in one space all day long.
2. Can anyone use Open Desks, or is it limited to specific industries or professionals?
Anyone can use open desks, irrespective of their industries or professions. The entire concept of open desks revolves around bringing together the workers or members of a workspace, which fosters collaboration and creativity.
3. How Can I Book Open Desks?
With Stylework’s numerous available workspace options, you can book open desks with as little as a tap of your finger. Just check the availability for the time and date you require the open desk and book it. It’s that easy!
4. What is flexible desking?
Flexible desking is an option provided by coworking spaces where desks are not assigned to anyone and can be used by different people at different times on a daily basis. Flexible desking allows you to book and use a desk at any time of the day. This helps increase the efficiency of office space management and lessen real estate risks by reducing redundant office space.
5. What is a dedicated desk in a coworking space?
To put it simply, a dedicated desk in a coworking space is a workstation that is all yours. For the duration of your membership, no one else besides you can use this desk and the amenities that come with it. You can also leave your personal resources and supplies on the desk, and when you’re not in for the day, the workstation is left empty so that when you do come in, you’re all ready to work.
6. How can I make my workplace more flexible?
A flexible workspace is no longer a feature or a luxury; it is, in fact, a necessity. You can make your workplace more flexible by introducing flexible schedules where employees get to decide when they arrive at work and when they leave, as long as they complete the required working hours. Also, offering remote work policies will allow the employees to spend more time working by cutting off commuting time. Hiring freelancers, the ultimate flexible workforce can also help boost workplace flexibility. And most important of all, listen to your employees’ input, be mindful of their needs and requirements, and accommodate them accordingly within reason.
