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A significant share of French companies have adopted the open plan office, yet only some employees feel genuinely productive there. A poorly designed open plan layout creates stress, lower productivity and high turnover.
This guide gives you 10 concrete tips for building an open workspace that balances collaboration and wellbeing. Based on 8 years of experience in office fit-out and work with more than 4,000 companies.
Open plan office layouts continue to divide companies and their employees. Despite growing popularity, getting an open plan office right takes a methodical approach to avoid the classic pitfalls.
A properly designed open plan office supports spontaneous collaboration and information sharing between teams. This setup allows for remarkable space optimisation, with substantial savings compared to traditional enclosed offices. Flexibility is also a major advantage, allowing the layout to adapt quickly as headcount changes.
Noise is the main problem in open plan offices. Lack of privacy and difficulty concentrating are further sources of stress for employees. The spread of illness and visual strain add to these problems in poorly designed spaces.
Studies show a notable drop in face-to-face interactions in poorly laid out open plan offices, ironically working against their original purpose.
Respect the legal minimum of 10 m² per person under the French Labour Code (article R4214-22). For optimal comfort, plan for 15 m² including circulation and shared spaces. Carefully map circulation flow to avoid thoroughfares near workstations that need focus.
Structure your open plan office into distinct zones: collaboration, focus, and relaxation or informal. This split makes the best use of each zone for the right activity, while protecting each team's working environment.
Acoustics in an open plan office need an absorption coefficient of αw ≥ 0.60 and a reverberation time under 0.6 seconds. Add absorbent ceilings, acoustic partitions and Work With Island acoustic pods to reduce noise effectively.
Layout and fit-out aren't the same thing. A fit-out covers the physical installation: furniture, equipment, decoration. A layout goes further: it organises the space around usage, flow, standards and how teams change over time.
A fit-out turns an empty room into an office. A layout turns an office into a high-performing work environment.
Position workstations perpendicular to windows to avoid glare. Add at least 500 lux of artificial lighting on work surfaces. Vary the intensity by activity zone.
Go for bench desks to support collaboration while keeping dimensions of at least 160x80 cm per workstation.
Choose height-adjustable furniture that allows sit-stand working.
Add alcoves, phone pods or glazed meeting rooms. These spaces allow confidential conversations without disrupting the main open plan area.
Define main aisles at least 1.80 m wide and secondary aisles at 1.20 m. Provide individual mobile pedestals and shared storage to keep things tidy.
Greenery notably improves wellbeing at work. Add plants, living walls and natural materials to create a calming atmosphere.
Allow limited personalisation of workstations while keeping visual consistency. Avoid decorative overload that gets in the way of focus.
Design a layout that can adapt to changes in headcount and organisation. Modular furniture allows spaces to be reconfigured faster as needs change.
Acoustics are the main challenge in any successful open plan office layout. Without the right treatment, even the nicest layout will fall short in the face of noise.
Measure ambient noise, aiming for below the recommended 50 dB for workspaces. Identify sources of disturbance: equipment, thoroughfares, collaboration areas. Map the sensitive zones that need stronger acoustic protection.
Wall panels and absorbent ceilings form the base of acoustic treatment. Add mobile acoustic partitions to create modular zones. Anti-noise flooring reduces movement-related disturbance.
Work With Island acoustic pods offer a reduction of up to 31.1 dB to the ISO 23351-1 standard. Installing one with no building work, in around 30 minutes, keeps business running as normal. Their versatility suits calls, video conferences and focused work.
Choosing open plan office furniture directly shapes employee efficiency and comfort. A thoughtful selection makes the most of every square metre.
Bench desks support collaboration while making good use of space. Choose height-adjustable models to allow sit-stand working. Keep to minimum dimensions of 160x80 cm per workstation for ergonomic comfort.
Equip each workstation with an individual mobile pedestal for personal belongings. Provide shared storage for communal supplies. Add secure personal lockers for valuables.
Essential equipment by zone:
• Collaboration zone: high tables, shared screens, whiteboards
• Focus zone: visual dividers, individual lighting, Work With Island acoustic pods
• Relaxation zone: comfortable furniture, plants, coffee corner
Open plan office design must follow a strict regulatory framework to guarantee employee safety and wellbeing.
Article R4214-22 requires a minimum of 10 m² per person in open plan offices. Ceiling height must not be less than 2.50 m. Ventilation must provide 25 m³/h per occupant to maintain air quality.
Main circulation width must reach at least 1.40 m to allow disabled access. Signage and emergency exits must stay visible from every workstation. Meeting accessibility standards is mandatory in every professional space.
The working atmosphere has a direct effect on team productivity and wellbeing. Colour and decoration choices need a considered approach.
Blue supports focus and productivity in individual work zones. Green brings relaxation and creativity, ideal for collaboration spaces. Avoid red, which creates stress, and orange, which can create restlessness.
Adding greenery notably improves wellbeing at work. Art and wall decoration humanise the space without visual overload. Allow limited personalisable areas to preserve individual ownership of the workspace.
Optimising flow turns a chaotic open plan office into a smooth, efficient working environment.
Map frequent routes to identify high-traffic zones. Position shared equipment (printers, coffee station, archives) strategically to avoid unnecessary movement. Keep thoroughfares away from workstations that need focus.
Size main aisles at a minimum of 1.80 m to allow comfortable two-way movement. Secondary aisles of 1.20 m are enough for access to individual workstations. Widen crossing zones near shared equipment, following the AFNOR NF X35-102 standard for office layout.
Work With Island, a B Corp certified company, designs acoustic pods that fit seamlessly into your open plan office layout. Since 2018, we've understood the acoustic challenges of open spaces.
The ideal space for your two-person meetings and video calls.
The compact meeting room for your small-group conversations.
• French manufacturing: Origine France Garantie certified for consistent quality
• Discover our acoustic pods with a 100-day trial. Contact Work With Island for a free diagnosis.
• Express installation: around 30 minutes, no building work, no disruption
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• Acoustic performance: Class A ISO 23351-1 certified, up to 31.1 dB of sound reduction
• Trial period: 100 days to test it in your real conditions
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Follow the 10 m² minimum per person rule, meaning 10 workstations maximum. Create 3 distinct zones: collaboration, focus and relaxation. To guarantee acoustic comfort from the design stage, contact Work With Island for a free diagnosis and discover solutions suited to your space.
Install absorbent materials on ceilings and partitions, use Work With Island acoustic pods for calls, and raise awareness among teams about good acoustic habits. The goal: keep noise levels below 50 dB.
The budget varies considerably depending on the level of fit-out: plan €150-250 per m² for a basic fit-out, €250-400 per m² for an intermediate level, and €400-600 per m² for a high-end fit-out. Acoustic pods represent an investment of €3,990 to €9,990 excl. VAT depending on the model, with a fast ROI.
Flex office needs three key elements: an efficient booking system (a dedicated app), secure individual lockers for personal belongings, and a range of spaces suited to different activities (focus, collaboration, calls). Acoustic pods let you create private zones even without assigned desks.
For spaces with little natural light, choose shade-tolerant plants: sansevieria, zamioculcas, pothos, aspidistra or philodendron. These plants need little care and survive well in low light while keeping their air-purifying properties.
Involving employees from the design phase is crucial: run participatory workshops, gather needs through surveys, test solutions with pilot groups. Communicate regularly on project progress and train teams on new spaces and equipment. A 100-day trial period, like the one Work With Island offers, also lets you validate choices in real conditions.
