The never-ending argument involving closed office plans versus open office spaces has got many businesses to think about essential factors while deciding on the type of office interior fit-outs that will best suit their requirements. 

The layout of your office holds many vital implications for your business, including cost, design, culture, privacy and communication.

When designing new office spaces, every organization faces one primary question: what should the layout be like – open-spaced or closed? 

This debate is never-ending, both having a set of pros and cons of their own. 

So without any further ado, check out this list that we’ve compiled that consists of the advantages and disadvantages of both closed- and open-spaced office layouts.

Closed-Spaced Offices

Advantages:

  • Space efficiency – Closed offices offer a larger work area
  • Privacy – Employees can relish complete privacy, can attend calls and conduct meetings without any disruptions
  • Concentration – Closed offices act as a shield that prevents distractions, noise from foot movement around the work area that leads the way to better performance.
  • The offices have a contemporary or formal ambience.

Disadvantages:

  • Weak Communication/Communication Gap – Closed offices do not boost communication and improvised face-to-face meetings among employees.
  • Space Needed – They require more space that impacts the company’s expenditure, especially in metro cities where the real estate prices are way higher than their budget. 
  • Low supervision – With closed offices, it gets difficult to supervise each employee, and intervening them time and again could cause agitation
  • Nature elements or views can be effective as stress-reducing, positive distractions that promote wellness in the environment. 

Open-Spaced Offices

Advantages:

  • Optimal Use Of Space – You don’t need huge office space, you can easily accommodate more employees despite the space constraint. Also, the usage of office furniture here is minimum, keeping it sleek and stylish, thus saving on your company’s overall expenditure.
  • Communication – The absenteeism of walls in open spaced offices boosts employees to collaborate. This helps to improve the team’s spirit which results in good teamwork.

Disadvantages:

  • Lack Of Privacy – Your computer screens can be easily viewed by people around you. Your telephonic conversations too are overheard by passersby.
  • More Distractions – Open spaced offices, means more distractions since you’re surrounded by so many others with no wall separating you from the rest. This does affect an employee’s performance level.
  • Unconventional seating

Today’s workplaces are getting more inclined towards open-spaced offices, but this doesn’t mean that closed office plans are dead. They too have a set of advantages that you should consider. 

The choice is yours, think wisely!