how to define spaces in an office

Some time ago, we explained the pros and cons of open versus closed offices. Today, we’ll discuss the options available for office space dividers, allowing you to choose the best option for the enclosed areas of a workspace.

We are all familiar with the concept of open spaces: offices designed to create open and minimally divided work areas where employees have more opportunities to interact with each other. This fosters a more collaborative environment and optimizes space. However, it’s essential to combine these open areas with closed spaces that provide privacy and functionality.

In offices, the possibilities for layout are endless—these are places where we spend a significant amount of time each day, and depending on our jobs, we have different needs.

Over the years, the concept of an office has evolved, leading to a variety of well-positioned separation types in these spaces. You are likely familiar with drywall partitions, which are an alternative to brick walls, but what other options exist for defining spaces?

drywall partitions

This option is one of the most widely used today since they are installed dry, resulting in a much cleaner and faster construction process, saving considerable time compared to brick installation, which gives us more flexibility in project timelines and possibilities.

This material greatly facilitates office design, which is a major part of the project, allowing us to manipulate the panels in various ways—both in partitioning and ceilings, as well as decorative details. They are also flexible, enabling us to curve the panel to create more creative spaces, reach half-height for visual continuity, or even intermittently leave gaps for passage at various points.

office dividing screens

This option is very useful in projects with tight deadlines, as their installation is so simple and quick that it hardly interferes with the company’s activities and can be completed in a couple of hours. This is also advantageous in rented spaces, as they can be dismantled and reused in new locations.

Glass screens allow natural light to enter, depending on the orientation in which they are installed. We can direct light to different points in the space, taking advantage of energy efficiency and maximizing employee productivity.

Today, there are screens with acoustic insulation, as well as transparent, translucent, or opaque glass, which helps employees feel less isolated and increases client confidence.

One of the latest innovations in this system is the application of technological vinyl that allows the glass to switch from transparent to opaque with just a click, among other options—clients are often amazed when they see it!

curtains as office dividers

Acoustic curtains are specialized elements that isolate external noise while providing better acoustic conditioning to spaces. They are made from materials like rock wool or fiberglass and have a porous surface that absorbs sound waves.

These curtains eliminate echo and refracted exterior sounds, preventing annoying noises from entering the spaces where they are installed. Their design with microporosity dampens sound, diffusing the waves among the fabric fibers. In some cases, it may be necessary to supplement with acoustic panels to cover large areas or high ceilings, transforming a space into an environment worthy of a cinema for quick meetings.

They can be hung from tracks to create small meeting areas that can be quickly separated from the rest of the space simply by drawing the curtain. This office divider is one of the most convenient and flexible options for moving locations, as it can be quickly installed in any other space, adapting to any corner of the new location.

movable partitions

Are you familiar with them? They are an optimal solution for spaces that need to adapt to various layouts simultaneously. Using a movable partition or panel increases the versatility of our offices, conference rooms, classrooms, or gyms.

The demand for office dividers that allow for space redistribution and timely flexibility is growing. You can have two completely independent rooms for five people each or one large room with a capacity for ten people. Thanks to their simplicity and ease of maneuvering, we can fold or deploy a partition according to current requirements; the system consists of sets of independent panels suspended from a guide installed on the ceiling.

furniture and folding screens as office dividers

Folding screens, latticework, and furniture are the fastest and most economical way to visually divide multiple office spaces. They also offer storage capacity, which can be a great help in small offices. Items like lockers, cabinets, and whiteboards can be quite useful for delineating areas or departments without the need to “build” anything.

There are also acoustic dividers that can be quickly mounted and moved. They provide the necessary privacy almost instantly, significantly reducing annoying noises and effectively promoting concentration. These elements may not be enough to create a full meeting room or independent spaces, but they allow us to acoustically condition temporary offices in an economical and versatile way.

Decorative elements can also help separate areas, such as wooden structures resembling trellises or pots and vertical gardens.

phone booths or micro-offices

Phone booths or micro-offices are revolutionizing the office landscape. These small spaces designed within offices allow for phone calls or video calls in a quiet, interruption-free environment.

These booths offer a solution to the need for privacy and concentration in open and noisy office settings. They are designed to enhance productivity, featuring a compact design with acoustic insulation, proper lighting, and ventilation, as well as all the necessary comforts in terms of space. They also come equipped with outlets, USB ports, etc., so you can work connected to the network.

These booths are dynamic in terms of placement and can be easily dismantled and transported to any new space—something we’ve seen is important when designing offices in temporary locations.

We encourage you to continue exploring our website to learn about practical cases applied in office design. We hope you enjoy it!