In a fast-paced business hub like London, the right office interior design can transform a workspace — and the best companies know how to turn that vision into reality.
In fact, studies show that well-designed workplaces can significantly boost productivity, evidencing the importance of choosing the right interior design company.
As well as boosting productivity, well-designed offices can help shape company culture by reflecting brand identity, providing collaborative spaces for employees, and offering flexibility and innovation with spaces for different types of working.
A well-designed office can also help promote employee wellbeing, with the right choice of furniture offering comfort and helping reduce the chance of any health problems such as back issues and physical strain.
Biophilic design is a good example of a workplace design being adopted by a lot of companies right now, bringing the outside in, which also has a positive effect on employee wellbeing and mental health.
As the business hub of the UK, London is home to some of the best interior design companies. This is not only because of the demand for office design, but also the high level of competition – with so many corporate offices across the city – which means every interior design company is striving to be at the top of its game.
So, in this article, we’ll take you through some of London’s best interior design companies, focussing on the things that place them at the top of the industry.
The Criteria for Choosing an Office Interior Design Company
Firstly, one of the most important things when it comes to choosing an office design company is seeing evidence of the company’s track record and portfolio. This provides a good insight into the type of work they do, and the quality at which they complete a design project.
In addition, it’s important to focus on companies that specialise in office design, as well as companies that have spaces like your office in their portfolio. For example, if you want a more corporate office – or if you want to bring the outside in with biophilia – look for the companies that specialise in these types of design.
It’s also essential to look at the industry awards and recognition in the office design industry if you’re searching for the top companies, as this will give you an impression of who is leading in office design right now.
Finally, the importance of customer reviews and testimonials can’t be stressed enough. These can tell you a lot about an office design company, telling you about their customer service, their design skills, the timeliness in which they deliver the project, and the budget, among other things.
These are some of the things to keep in mind when you’re deciding which office design company to trust with your workspace.
The Top 5 Office Interior Design Companies in London
Gensler
While the company is based in London, Gensler operate globally, and they specialise in providing insights and design solutions for a few different sectors, including technology, finance and media.
Gensler aim to integrate workplace strategy with design, analysing workspace behaviours such as working styles to optimise productivity and collaboration through their office design.
Their design philosophy is centred around creating spaces which enhance the human experience, prioritising the comfort, wellness and productivity of both employees and visitors in the office.
This office design company appears to be leading the industry in terms of being sustainable and future-ready, with their expertise in designing environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient office spaces for their clients.
Gensler are known for having several different high-profile clients, with notable projects including designing offices for Facebook, Deloitte, and the Tower in the City of London.
As well as providing design services, Gensler also offer consulting services and strategy to help businesses shape their workplace and office strategies, enabling clients to make informed decisions about layout planning, branding in the office, and office-based employee engagement.
Finally, Gensler has several awards and recognitions in the industry, being consistently ranked as one of the world’s top architecture and design firms. Gensler is also listed in Architectural Record’s Top 300 Firms and Interior Design’s Top 100 Giants. All of the above contributes to what makes Gensler one of London’s top interior design companies.
Address: Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1YW; 020 7073 9600; Gensler.com.
Peldon Rose
Similarly to Gensler, Peldon Rose specialise in office design, fit-outs and workplace consultancy. As well as improving the wellbeing of employees, Peldon Rose focus on finding ways to maximise space through their designs.
Peldon Rose operates primarily in the United Kingdom, giving them an in-depth understanding of the UK market when it comes to businesses and office design needs.
Their portfolio demonstrates particular expertise in creating dynamic and flexible office spaces for technology startups, creative agencies and SMEs. The company aims to provide a client-centred, bespoke approach to design that focuses on reflecting company culture and brand identity.
They offer the full office design and fit-out experience from end-to-end, handling all aspects from initial concept and space planning to construction and fit-out.
Peldon Rose’s notable projects include fit-outs for Pret a Manger HQ, Fetch Agency and Moonpig, among others.
Address: 42 Worple Rd, London, SW19 4EQ; 020 8971 7777; Peldonrose.com.
Oktra
Oktra is another of London’s well-known office design companies, bringing an in-depth knowledge of the city’s business landscape to the table. They provide a full design and build service, giving clients the whole package from ideation to completion.
Known for creating forward-thinking, flexible workspaces, Oktra’s designs prioritise collaboration, creativity and wellbeing of everyone in the offices they create.
The design company is known for delivering cutting-edge office designs, with a portfolio of several well-known names in London, including The Shard, Bloomberg, Deliveroo and iTech Media.
They create workspaces for a range of industries, including technology, legal firms, creative agencies, and nonprofit organisations.
Like Gensler, Oktra have a strong commitment to sustainable and eco-friendly office designs and environments.
Oktra have won several awards for their projects and are well-recognised for their industry expertise, winning the London Construction Awards and FX Design awards (among others).
Address: 6 St Cross Street, London, EC1N 8UB; 020 7553 9500; Oktra.co.uk.
Area
Area are another of London’s top office design companies, specialising in workplace strategy and office design and build.
Founded in 1996, Area has developed a solid reputation over the years for delivering high-quality offices.
By providing end-to-end services, Area are able to streamline the process, making it a smooth experience for the client. They also provide post-completion support to all clients, which is why they have such loyal clients, positive reviews and a high number of referrals from satisfied customers.
They are known to specialise in offering tailored solutions which are customised to reflect the business’ brand identity, their company culture, and any specific operational needs they may have, focusing on how people interact with and use each space.
Area also prioritise creating sustainable and future-proof office environments, showing a commitment to using eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient systems, and proper waste reduction when designing an office space.
The office design company have significant experience and expertise in handling large-scale corporate projects, with notable clients including Sony Music, Zipcar and the Financial Times.
They have also received several awards for their designs, and are regularly featured in industry publications for their innovative portfolio of work.
Address: Bridge House, Second Floor, 4 Borough High Street, Southwark, London SE1 9QQ; 0207 089 6000; Area.co.uk.
TP Bennett
Established in 1921, TP Bennett is a well-known architectural and office design company based in London. Their main focus is creating cohesive, aesthetic and functional workspaces that achieve a unified vision.
They offer both architecture and interior design services, as well as project management, to ensure that all the projects they undertake are completed in a timely manner, and in line with budgets.
TP Bennett are leaders when it comes to workplace strategy, with their portfolio demonstrating expertise in designing workspaces which reflect and enhance company culture, collaboration and efficiency in the office.
The design and architecture firm have had several high-profile clients, including Barclays, HSBC, IBM and PwC. They work in a wide range of industries, and are clearly able to tailor designs to meet both client and sector-specific requirements.
In terms of recognition and awards, TP Bennett have received several awards, including recognition from the British Council for Offices (BCO) Awards, the RICS Awards, and various design competitions.
They have also built a significant reputation for delivering high-quality projects which meet client expectations, giving them positive feedback and referrals, as well as winning them loyalty and long-term client relationships.
Address: One America Street, London SE1 0NE; 020 7208 2000; Tpbennett.com.
Finding the Right Office Design Partner
As we’ve seen above, track record and portfolio, design philosophy, awards, and commitment to sustainability are all essential when choosing the right office design company.
It’s essential to ensure that your choices align fully with your business needs, company culture and growth, to put you in the best possible position for employee wellbeing, productivity, and overall future-proofing.
So, if you’re looking to transform your office building, these are some of the things to keep in mind and some of the London-based companies to consider.