How to Choose the Right Material and Construction for Suspended Ceilings

Suspended ceilings provide an office with many benefits, such as increased thermal and acoustic insulation, hiding messy wires and duct systems and creating a more light filled workspace. Suspended ceilings are generally constructed through a grid system that is suspended on wires from the structural ceiling above, where each grid cell is filled with a lightweight tile. The tiles for suspended ceilings can be made from a variety of materials, including, plasterboard, wood, plastic or metal. Each of these materials offer different benefits and are suited to different environments.

Factors to consider when choosing the material for suspended ceilings are price, ease of modification, aesthetics and fire safety.

Plaster Vinyl Tiles:
Plaster vinyl tiles have a smooth, shiny surface and are suitable for factory or warehouse environments. Plaster vinyl is very durable and will continue to give your business a fresh and light image, as well as providing adequate insulation.

Flush Plasterboard:
Flush plasterboard suspended ceilings are the same type of ceilings used in domestic settings and are useful for reception areas and boardrooms.

Wood:
There are a variety of wooden suspended ceilings available that meet fire safety standards and ratings. Wooden ceilings also offer a warm and sophisticated look for an office ceiling, which can be a pleasing alternative to the conventional plasterboard.

Metal:
Metal is used in all suspended ceilings as the grid system which holds up the separate tiles.

All suspended ceilings provide a sophisticated ease of modification, to allow for new lighting systems to be put in place, as well as easy access to wires and heating vents hidden above the ceiling.

How to Develop Interesting Concepts for Commercial Office Fitouts

Commercial office fitouts are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes so there is no need to settle on a dull, conventional design for your workplace. Interior design for commercial applications must put a focus on functionality, but that is no reason to avoid interesting and engaging concepts for commercial space fitouts.
Indeed, the matching of beautiful form to function can be an exciting challenge for an interior designer when facing a commercial fitouts. Here are two tips to start your process of developing an interesting design concept for your own commercial office fitout.

• Consider the various areas of the workspace
Offices are not just collections of desks with computers. A standard workspace consists of many different parts, including the reception, meeting rooms, kitchen and break area. All these areas need to be considered in any commercial office fitouts, and some present extra potential for getting creative with the design. A break or lunch area that is designed to be cosy and fun, with the addition of comfy sofas or gaming areas, will add interest to the office fitout and improve the overall atmosphere of an office.
• Colours and Textures
Developing a colour theme to be used throughout the commercial office fitout is a technique that has been used widely, and rightly so as it encourages harmony and bring interest to the work environment. Developing a texture theme can be another great way of adding interest to the office design.

Texture is a design element that has largely been ignored in conventional office fitouts, but it is a great way to make a workspace more comfortable and homely, while still impressing visiting clients. Texture can be introduced through the use of textiles, many more materials and plants.