Are you a creative whose small business is growing significantly? Have you had enough of living amongst your work and looking for a way to separate the two? Do your children enjoy playing with materials or equipment that they really shouldn’t be? Are you hoping to receive potential clients in a professional-looking space and not at home? If this is you, the answer may very well be getting an office studio.
Artists and other creatives will often work from home. In many ways, it is easier. You have all of your equipment there, and you can work the hours that suit you the best. However, it does mean that it can take up a significant amount of space within the home, both with your equipment and with your products, especially if you are a busy creative!
More and more creative sole traders, freelancers, or small business owners are turning to office studios as a commercial unit solution. These enable you to keep your work and home life separate and give a professional face to your business.
What is an Office Studio?
An office studio is what it sounds like it is. A studio where people can carry out their creative work, painting, sculpting, printing, taking and developing photos, for example, whilst also being able to carry out their administrative (or office) work in the same space. It provides a space that can be used flexibly, enabling artists to have the space that they need to be productive, organised, and professional.
Compared to a traditional office unit, an office studio unit will often have more natural light, a more industrial area (ideal for creating art), be bigger – ready for production materials and displaying products, and be versatile and flexible in terms of layout.
Why Choose an Office Studio?
There are a number of reasons why an increasing number of creatives are choosing to rent a commercial unit, such as an office studio. Here are some of those reasons, and why they could also be a great solution for you.
- Flexibility – One of the main characteristics of an office studio is that it can be flexible with its space. This means that you can adapt it according to your needs. For photographers, you can set up a photo shooting area as well as an admin and office space and reception area, painters and sculptors can have a workshop area as well as an office space and somewhere to display work, for example.
- Cost-Effective – Office studios enable creatives to save money on renting both a studio unit and an office unit by amalgamating them both into one. In addition to this, more flexibility can be achieved due to the fact that you will not be restricted to the only places where there are offices (usually the more expensive town centre areas), giving you a space that is less expensive to rent.
- Professionalism – Giving a professional and trustworthy face to a business is very important for all companies, and having an office studio is an excellent way to do this. Just by receiving clients somewhere that is not your home gives a business a more professional look, but also having somewhere that your work can be displayed is important, and having an organised, tidy office or administrative area will also give a greater impression of professionalism and trustworthiness.
- Creative Space – It can be difficult, when you are working at home, to create a space that is creative and without distraction. Trying to be creative in the same space as where you would be cooking dinner, doing admin, or doing chores isn’t always easy. Especially when it involves getting things out and putting them away again. Not to mention, keeping materials and work away from children. An office studio enables you to keep work and home life completely separate.
- Being in a Community – Another great reason for creatives to get an office studio is that they are often located in areas where there are other office studios. This means that creative communities can be built, which is beneficial to everyone in many ways, such as networking and collaborative working, but also in the building of support networks and creating a thriving community.
What to Expect from an Office Studio Unit
If you are considering renting an office studio unit, there are a number of features that you can expect it to have. It is, of course, important to check what features are included when you rent the unit. Some of the features can include:
- 24/7 access – It is reasonable to expect that you will have access to the unit whenever you want it. This means that if you are a late-night creative or choose to work over the weekend, it should not be impacted.
- Customisable space – A space that gives you the ability to customise it according to your specific needs.
- Parking – A space for you and your clients to park close to the office studio, can often be an improvement on trying to find a parking space in a residential area.
- Internet and other technology – The provision of internet connectivity to enable you to keep in touch with clients as well as promote your work, process orders, organise deliveries, and carry out other communications.
- Communal areas – Some office studios will be located in an area where there are communal areas such as breakout rooms, kitchens, and other amenities.
- Heating and amenities – The unit should have heating, water, and other amenities for your use – probably more than the shed in your garden!
Final Thoughts
For creatives looking for a professional space, away from home, an office studio unit is the perfect solution. It enables you to create a clear divide between work and home life, whilst keeping the benefits of working from home (flexibility over hours, etc.) and gaining extra benefits such as a creative community.
If you are a creative, small business owner, or any other business owner looking for a commercial unit, have a look at some of the properties that we have to rent here at Boxpod.
If you are a commercial unit landlord, why not take a look at how you can list your property?
Have a look at our website and see how we can help you today!