This document provides tips for designing and setting up an effective hot desk area in the office. It recommends choosing furniture that can accommodate different functions and numbers of people. Ensuring comfortable seating, adequate power and WiFi, necessary supplies, and storage options like lockers will help make the hot desk area productive and user-friendly. Non-traditional seating areas can also encourage collaboration for mobile workforces. Seeking expert advice from an office design service can help optimize the new workspace layout.

2. Is your workspace working
hard enough for
you?
Having a hot
desk area can
help you make
more effective
use of your
office.

3. With more and more
companies adopting
flexible working,
It’s time to consider
how to use your
existing space
more productively – a
recent study* found
that just 59% of desks
are occupied
during the traditional
working week.
* Utilisation of the office report
commissioned by AWA

4. Whether you’re looking
to improve your existing
hot desk area, or create
a new one, read our top
tips first!
utilisation of the office report
commissioned by AWA

5. 1. How often will it be used?
I t m i g h t b e b e s t t o s e t u p a n a r e a w h i c h h a s t h e
p o t e n t i a l t o f u l f i l a v a r i e t y o f f u n c t i o n s . Y o u c o u l d
c h o o s e t a b l e s w h i c h w o r k a s h o t d e s k s b u t c a n b e
r e a r r a n g e d i n t o c o n f e r e n c e o r m e e t i n g r o o m
c o n f i g u r a t i o n s .

6. 2. Think about how many people will be using the space, and
whether it’s likely to vary considerably from day-to-day.
S p a c e - s a v i n g f o l d i n g t a b l e s a r e r e m a r k a b l y s t u d y o n c e
s e t - u p b u t c a n b e k e p t h i d d e n a w a y f o r w h e n y o u n e e d t o
b o o s t c a p a c i t y .

7. 3. Make sure everyone’s sitting comfortably
c h o o s e c h a i r s t h a t a r e e a s i l y a d j u s t a b l e a n d s u i t a
v a r i e t y o f u s e r s . I n v e s t i n g i n q u a l i t y s e a t i n g r e a l l y
p a y s d i v i d e n d s a s i t l a s t s s o m u c h l o n g e r .

8. 4. If you have members of staff with specific needs that
regularly visit the workplace then make sure you cater for
their needs.
F o r e x a m p l e y o u m i g h t n e e d o f f i c e c h a i r s d e s i g n e d t o
a c c o m m o d a t e h e a v i e r u s e r s .

9. 5. Ensure you have plenty of
power points and network
cables so that everyone can
plug in their laptops quickly and
easily.
I f y o u h a v e a W i - F i
c o n n e c t i o n f o r y o u r s t a f f t o
u s e t h e n m a k e s u r e t h e l o g i n
d e t a i l s a r e c l e a r l y d i s p l a y e d
t o a v o i d u n n e c e s s a r y c a l l s t o
t h e I T d e p a r t m e n t .

10. 6.Equip your hot desk area with the supplies your staff will
need -
i t ’ s a g o o d i d e a t o h a v e s o m e o f f i c e s t a t i o n e r y f o r p e o p l e
t o u s e a n d d o n ’ t f o r g e t t o h a v e a p r i n t e r o r a m u l t i -
f u n c t i o n m a c h i n e t h a t ’ s e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o o .

11. 7. A few extra details will help make your hot desk
area a place where people enjoy working.
M a k e s u r e e v e r y o n e k n o w s t h e b a s i c s , f r o m w h e r e
t o g o i f t h e f i r e a l a r m g o e s o f f t o h o w t o w o r k t h e
c o f f e e m a c h i n e . I f y o u u s e a s p e c i f i c m o b i l e p h o n e
m o d e l f o r t h e w o r k f o r c e t h e n i t ’ s a n i c e t o u c h t o
h a v e a s p a r e c h a r g e r a v a i l a b l e .

12. 8. Don’t forget storage!
I f y o u h a v e m e m b e r s o f s t a f f
t h a t r e g u l a r l y u s e t h e h o t
d e s k a r e a s , o r a r e i n s t a l l i n g
h o t d e s k i n g f o r a l l y o u r o f f i c e
s t a f f t h e n y o u n e e d t o t h i n k
a b o u t s t o r a g e s u c h a s l o c k e r s
f o r s t a f f .

13. 9. If you’re looking to accommodate as many users as
possible then think about the shape of your desking.
B e n c h d e s k i n g ( r e c t a n g u l a r s h a p e d ) i s f a r m o r e s p a c e
e f f i c i e n t t h a n r a d i a l ( c u r v e d ) d e s k i n g , a n d i f p e o p l e a r e
u s i n g l a p t o p s t h e y ’ l l s t i l l h a v e s u f f i c i e n t s p a c e t o w o r k
c o m f o r t a b l y .

14. 10. Remember the
office is changing, so your
hot desk area doesn’t have
to consist of desks and
chairs.
S o f t s e a t i n g a r e a s w i t h
i n t e g r a t e d p o w e r s o c k e t s
a r e a g r e a t i d e a i f y o u r
w h o l e t e a m i s n o r m a l l y
m o b i l e b u t r e g u l a r l y
m e e t s u p i n t h e o f f i c e .
T h e s e k i n d s o f s p a c e s
r e a l l y e n c o u r a g e
c o l l a b o r a t i v e w o r k i n g
a n d b r a i n s t o r m i n g .

15. If you’re thinking about
changing your office space
or just exploring your
options then remember
that Banner Business
Services offer a free, no-
obligation, planning and
design service. Our
expertise can really make
a difference to your
project, and we might just
suggest a solution you
never imagined possible.