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How to plan an office layout that works for your team
A bare office wall feels cold. Framed prints, a pinboard or a simple shelf can change how a room feels without costing much. Start with one wall that people see first, usually behind reception or near the meeting table.
Keep the pieces few and the spacing even. Local photography and work by Gauteng artists give a space a sense of place.
Hang it at eye level
Centre pictures about 150 cm from the floor. Group smaller frames tightly so they read as one piece, and keep desks and storage clear of the wall.
Colour on the wall sets the mood before anyone sits down. Soft greens and warm greys suit open-plan floors, while a deeper tone works well in a boardroom where people meet for long sessions.
Match walls to furniture
Pale timber desks look good against a dark feature wall. Black or steel frames suit a lighter room. Test a sample patch for a week and check it in morning and afternoon light before you paint the whole room.
Sipho Dlamini, Studio Lead
We started with the reception wall. One large print and a low bench made the room feel finished. Staff now stop to look at it, and visitors comment on it before they even sit down to wait for their appointments.
Annelie Botha, Office Manager
Our open floor was loud and plain. Fabric panels with printed photos of the Magaliesberg absorbed the noise and gave people something calm to look at. It was a small job and the team noticed it straight away.
Kabelo Mahlangu, Facilities Planner
In the boardroom we used a single wide frame above the credenza. It keeps the long wall from feeling empty, and nothing on it distracts people from the meeting. Cleaning and rehanging take only a few minutes.
Fatima Cassim, Interior Designer
For a small home office in Benoni, a shelf above the desk worked better than frames. Books, a plant and two photos sit there, and the wall stays useful without crowding the workspace or the screen.
Plan the wall with the room
Before you buy anything, walk the room and note where people sit, where they stand and where light falls. Hang pictures where they will be seen from a chair, not only from the door. Leave breathing space around desks and storage so the wall does not feel crowded. Choose frames in one or two finishes so the room stays calm. If your team moves seats often, use rails or a pinboard so changes are easy and the wall is never damaged.
