One of the most important elements for office interior design is functionality. When your office space is well-designed and useful, it can improve productivity as well as workplace morale.

Almost everyone has a home office, either for paying bills or more often for telecommuting and conducting daily business. The increased time spent sitting at a desk means that you should take ergonomic principles into account when buying office furniture and planning the room's layout.

Go with the largest desk surface that will fit the space proportionately. For those on a budget, a large table or an old door on top of two filing cabinets may work nicely. Spend the most money on your office chair, since this piece is instrumental in creating a safe, comfortable working environment. A place to store and sort papers will help keep your office organized, save your time, and reduce stress levels. A simple filing cabinet or file box, along with a tiered sorter tray, will probably be adequate for most storage needs.

Another home office design idea is to keep your workspace separate from your living area. For those with an extra room or modified closet, it's easy to shut the door at the end of the day. When using part of another room as an office, try adding a screen, divider, or drapery to conceal the space. An office armoire or cabinet is another option for saving space in office interior design.

With square footage at a premium in many cities, creating a multi-functional room is a popular home office design idea. Keep the office as the main focus, while incorporating discreet pieces for other functions. Try a futon or sofa bed if you need guest lodging, so that it also can also be used as visitor seating. When integrating exercise equipment, consider compact pieces that can be easily stored in a closet.

When planning office interior design for a corporation or business, it's important to think about the company culture as well as employee ergonomics. The layout and design of an office conveys the business philosophy of the firm as a whole. An open floor plan with multiple conference areas will promote interaction between departments and encourage employee communication.

The fashionable office design book, Radical Office Design, by Jeremy Myerson and Philip Ross, features unique ideas that put typical office cubicles to shame. The book explores "knowledge work" which is about creatively applying and exchanging information. This idea has lead to office architecture and interiors that are out-of-the-box and embrace new technologies. Radical Office Design showcases 43 remarkable offices along with 200 color photos and 50 architectural sketches.

Thoughtful office interior design is also valuable for the medical office. As a facility meets the needs of patients, the staff is required to manage sensitive patient files.

The first space to consider in medical office design or dental office design is the waiting area or main lobby. This should be a comfortable space with adequate light for reading and furniture that is easy to keep clean. The next major area is the nurse's station, which should feature an excellent storage system for the filing and flow of patient files.

When it comes to the patient treatment rooms, attention should be given to creating a calm environment to put patients at ease. Soft colors, interesting artwork, and natural elements will promote the well-being of office visitors. Dental office design should also include comfy treatment chairs that can accommodate patients of all sizes and ages.