An office fitout is one of those projects that feels exciting at the start and stressful towards the end. There are ideas flying around, timelines to hit and decisions that feel small at the time but end up shaping how your team works every single day.

Speak to most businesses after a fitout and you’ll hear the same thing. They’re mostly happy, but there are always lessons learned the hard way.

If you’re planning a move, upgrade or full refresh in your Perth office, these are 15 things many teams wish they’d known before they started.

1. More space doesn’t automatically mean a better office

Many fitouts focus on maximising floor space without thinking about how it will actually be used. Bigger is not always better if the layout doesn’t support how your team works.

What often gets overlooked:

1. Oversized desks that limit flexibility
2. Wide walkways that don’t add value
3. Underused areas that look good but do little

A smarter layout with the right furniture often delivers more than extra square metres.

2. Your team’s workstyles matter more than trends

Trendy offices photograph well, but they don’t always work in practice. What suits a creative agency may not suit a professional services team.

Before locking anything in, it helps to understand:

1. How much collaboration actually happens
2. How much focused, quiet work is required
3. Whether people need flexibility or consistency

Fitouts that ignore real work patterns usually need fixing later.

3. Storage is always underestimated

Almost every office fitout runs into storage issues sooner or later. Paper, personal items, tech and shared equipment all need a home.

Common mistakes include:

1. Removing storage for visual appeal
2. Relying too heavily on “paperless” assumptions
3. Forgetting shared and future storage needs

Smart, integrated storage keeps offices functional and clutter-free.

4. Furniture decisions should come earlier, not later

Furniture is often treated as the final step, but it has a huge impact on layout, power planning and space flow.

When furniture is chosen too late:

1. Desks don’t align with power points
2. Meeting rooms feel cramped
3. Circulation space is compromised

Bringing furniture into the conversation early avoids costly changes.

5. Not every meeting needs a formal meeting room

Traditional boardrooms are often underused, while teams struggle to find casual spaces for quick conversations.

A balanced office usually includes:

1. Formal meeting rooms for longer sessions
2. Informal breakout areas for quick catch-ups
3. Small focus rooms for calls or solo work

This mix reduces bottlenecks and supports different ways of working.

6. Acoustics can make or break an open office

Noise is one of the biggest post- fitout complaints, especially in open-plan environments.

What many offices wish they planned for:

1. Sound-absorbing materials
2. Soft seating and finishes
3. Separation between noisy and quiet zones

Acoustics are much harder to fix after the fitout is complete.

7. One-size-fits-all desks rarely fit anyone well

Standard desks can look neat, but they don’t always suit different roles or body types.

Issues often arise with:

1. Desk depth for multiple screens
2. Fixed-height workstations
3. Limited adjustability

Mixing desk types or adding sit-stand options improves comfort and usability.

8. Breakout spaces need to be genuinely comfortable

Breakout areas often look great but get little use because they’re not actually comfortable.

Common problems include:

1. Seating that looks good but feels awkward
2. Poor lighting
3. Furniture that doesn’t invite people to stay

When done properly, breakout spaces support wellbeing, collaboration and informal problem-solving.

9. Power and data points are never quite where you need them

No matter how much planning goes in, offices often end up short on power or data access.

Lessons learned the hard way:

1. People don’t always sit where you expect
2. Flexible spaces still need fixed services
3. Extra power is almost always useful

Building in flexibility from the start saves frustration later.

10. Cheap furniture rarely feels cheap at first, but it ages fast

Budget furniture can be tempting during a fitout, especially when costs add up quickly. The problem usually shows up a year or two later.

Common regrets include:

1. Chairs losing support
2. Finishes wearing quickly
3. Higher replacement costs

Durable, commercial-grade furniture often costs less in the long run.

11. The office will change sooner than you think

Many fitouts are designed for a single moment in time. In reality, teams grow, shrink and shift roles faster than expected.

Future-proofing considerations:

1. Modular furniture
2. Flexible layouts
3. Furniture that can be reconfigured

Adaptability reduces the need for constant refits.

12. Lighting affects productivity more than expected

Lighting is often treated as a technical detail, but it has a major impact on comfort and focus.

Problems that appear post- fitout include:

1. Glare on screens
2. Inconsistent lighting levels
3. Poor lighting in breakout or meeting areas

Good lighting design supports energy levels and reduces fatigue.

13. Change management is just as important as design

Even the best-designed office can struggle if people are not brought along for the journey.

Offices often wish they had:

1. Communicated changes earlier
2. Explained the reasons behind design decisions
3. Gathered feedback before finalising plans

Involving your team early helps ensure the space is used as intended.

14. Fitouts take longer than expected, even when well planned

Delays happen. Materials run late. Decisions take longer than expected.

What helps reduce stress:

1. Realistic timelines
2. Buffer time before move-in
3. Clear priorities

Planning for delays makes them easier to manage.

15. The right partners make everything easier

One of the biggest lessons businesses learn is the value of working with experienced partners who understand fitouts from start to finish.

Good partners help you:

1. Avoid costly mistakes
2. Make informed decisions
3. Balance budget, function and design

The right advice early on often saves time and money later.

What all these lessons have in common

Most fitout regrets don’t come from bad intentions. They come from small oversights that only become obvious once people are working in the space every day.

A successful fitout is not just about how the office looks on day one. It’s about how it performs six months, a year and five years down the track.

Planning your next fitout? Learn from the last one

If you’re preparing for a fitout or even just thinking about one, learning from what others wish they’d known can make all the difference. With the right planning, advice and furniture choices, your next office can be easier to work in, easier to manage and ready for whatever comes next.

When fitouts are done well, they don’t just look good. They work hard for your business, every single day.