Office Interior Design in Hyderabad: What You Need to Know

Office space in Hyderabad is booming, with many new developments in HITEC City and the Financial District. Many companies are moving, and many more are opening for the first time.

With all of this new growth and development, many new firms have popped up, claiming to be the best office interior designers in Hyderabad. In truth, a firm that specializes in residential design may not be able to adequately design office space.

Oftentimes, an overly negative design can erode productivity and negatively affect the bottom line of a company for years to come.

When hiring a firm to design the office space of your company, there are a few key mistakes to be on the lookout for. Below, we identify and explain those errors.

1. Choosing an Interior Design Firm Based Solely on Cost

Choosing an interior design firm based solely on cost can often lead to unexpected, and sometimes significant, issues.

Just like when looking for the best price on the interiors for a 3 BHK house in Hyderabad, you will find a high degree of variability in the quoted prices and the quality and type of work that is included in the prices.

The same will hold true when pricing office interiors.

Often the largest difference in quotes for office interiors will be in the type of furniture, the quality of the finishes, and the type and quality of the power and data installation.

Don’t be surprised if you find a seemingly low bid for your project often means high costs will be added, and/or the contractor will use materials that will not meet your expectations.

You should request that your contractor provide you with a complete and detailed breakdown of all the costs associated with your project.

2. Not Checking Previous Office Interior Design Projects

When looking for a contractor to design the interiors of your office, ensure that you ask to see office interior designs that the contractor has previously completed.

It is common to find the best residential interior designers in Hyderabad who have a very strong portfolio of 2 BHK and 3 BHK residential designs.

However, you should check to ensure that the contractor has the experience of designing an office space of the size you need.

3. Not Considering Turnkey Interior Design Services

Turnkey means "complete in itself," and in this case, this refers to the ability to provide complete interior design services from start to finish, including design, sourcing, and construction.

If a designer cannot provide turnkey services, don't expect them to manage the design and construction of your office while you deal with the Trades.

A design firm must be able to do it all to get the job done quickly and efficiently.

4. Not Visiting the Design Firm's Office

A design firm must have a functional and modern office.

A disorganized office space is a strong indicator of how a design firm will manage your project.

5. Not Verifying Client Testimonials and References

You've got to dig deeper than a firm's website to verify client testimonials.

The best design firms in Hyderabad have a strong online reputation.

Reach out to a design firm's commercial clients for a reference.

6. Failing to State a Clear Scope of Work

Expect ambiguity in briefs to result in the same in outcomes.

Design work follows the mantra ‘the more you give, the more you get’. However, this has trained clients to expect designs at no cost and has resulted in scope creep, exceeded budgets, and lost time.

You should be wary of engaging the services of an ‘interior firm’ that is not able to scope the following:

• Layout and workstation plans

• Integration of services (E, N, H)

• Furniture types and brands

• Branded elements

• Meeting schedule

7. Blind Trust in ‘Best’ Labels

Any ‘interior designer’ worth their salt is bound to make a claim of being among the best interiors in Hyderabad.

While it may be difficult to substantiate claims, you should base your judgement on case studies, the client retention rate, and their comprehension of space planning.

8. Not Verifying Scope of Work

Some ‘interior design’ firms are merely consultants and will not undertake the build or engage trades.

If this is of concern to you, you should state your requirements clearly.

Be wary of comparing these firms to premium interior designers Hyderabad firms who take pride in offering end-to-end services.

9. Ignoring Scalability and Future Situations

Office layouts should be flexible to allow for future growth.

When creating your layout, be sure your designer considers ways to move and organize partition walls to allow for the expansion of the office floor plan.

Future consideration should be given to modular planning and furniture.

Flexible meeting spaces should be incorporated into the plan.

Space should be planned for the easy relocation of data and communications cabling.

Your designer should incorporate solutions to allow for the future reconfiguring of the office plan.

10. Overlooking Warranty and After-Sales Service

It is very important that your designer provides a reasonable defect-liability period and after-sales service.

The period should be long enough to allow for snagging works.

During the period, the designer should provide prompt service to its clients.

Final Thoughts Before Hiring an Office Interior Designer in Hyderabad

It is unfortunate that most clients, during the selection process of an interior designer, do not scrutinize the designer's commercial project experience and take a 'business for business' approach.

Most designers charge a lump sum rate to cover all costs, and then ultimately end up overcharging their clients.

Most clients learn the lessons the hard way.

Try to avoid these blunders to save time and money, and hopefully you will end up with an office that reflects your business.