Interior design is a hard nut to crack! It's difficult to get it right, but it's definitely not impossible! At SP3 London commercial interior design is an area we specialise in and thrive. When focusing on commercial interior design projects we find there is a particular set of design requirements that are extremely important and need to be taken into consideration.

If you’re planning on embarking on a commercial interior design project, then certainly read on and see what we have to say at SP3 London.

What is commercial interior design?

Interior design covers the inside of the building, the design, the process and the choices for the items inside and the decor around them. Although, that's a very brief description - interior design involves a huge range of tasks and responsibilities outside being responsible for the aesthetic!

When we talk about commercial, we're talking about public spaces or business environments - places like offices, hotels, retail units, restaurants, government buildings, corporate spaces, banks, public areas, and schools to name a few.

To put all of that together, commercial interior design considers the function and aesthetic married together to design and create the best possible space for the situation. It's more than just the right colour scheme, it's about the context, location and how people and things will interact with the space, what the goal is and what the visitor and the owner of the space want to achieve from it.

Top Tips

Using our expert collection of experienced professionals and their years of proven expertise, we've put together our top tips to help you land right on target.

1. Turnkey solution from brand to build

A turnkey solution is essentially a package; a provider offers an established product and with a little consultation, you have your final product. It's an ideal balance between respecting the wishes and goals of the client - you - without the hassle and complications of doing all the groundwork, and critically, cutting the unnecessary spending. The professional team determine the schedule and budget allocations, which makes life a lot easier for the client, as well as keeping things in the hands of the experts - a win-win.

2. Ensure complete compliance

It's more important to adhere to the rules by the letter when there's a commercial space, because the bigger the project's future, the bigger the consequences. Making sure that the building and the interior complies with statutory authorities, building control and other brand and legal requirements is a non-negotiable, and something to check that anyone you hire knows all about.

3. Work with a specialist Design Manager to carry through your vision

A specialist design manager is the person who will coordinate a cohesive design scheme that represents the client desire and design, and then be responsible for the continuity and implication of that throughout the project. You might think 'we can get away without that', and you might manage, but a specialist design manager makes the process easier and more streamlined, as well as ensuring that the end product of the project is to a higher standard and a better quality.

4. Your project requires a project manager

In commercial interior design, a project manager is a saving grace and a guardian angel. It stands to reason that the most successful projects are headed up by an experienced manager with strong communication and a track record of great organisation and scheduling. These are skills to look for when you're hiring a manager for any commercial interior design project! The project manager will make your vision happen by keeping it realistic, communicating it throughout, and coordinating the whole team of trades - if they are good then they're indispensable.

5. Assess your specialists contacts for fulfilling your design requirements and FF&E

The specialists you use should be chosen carefully because they play a very important part. Whether it's the person in charge of your furniture fixtures and equipment (FF&E) or managers and contractors in other fields, their role will play a big part in the final outcome of the project. Ask for portfolios and references, and check you're paying a fair amount too.

6. Recycle and Upcycle

Environmentalism is important for a reason, and especially in a commercial interior design setting where there's scope to use so much material and potentially create a lot of waste, making use of design that minimises the cost to the environment will also minimise the cost to you.

Conclusion

Now that you know these top tips for commercial interior design, hopefully you can take this information on board and use our experts' top tips to your best advantage. These are the key points that will make the difference to your outcome, for example, the importance of a design manager is crucial. Make the most of this professional advice, informed by years of expertise and experience!

If you’re interested in knowing more about how SP3 London can support you across your project, get in touch with us today.

Commercial Interior Design: Tips for a Successful Project