Office partitions don’t just keep an office from looking cluttered and disorganised; they also provide a sense of privacy for employees and reduce noise. Low-walled partitions allow coworkers to still be able to talk with one another, even while they have their own personal workspace.
If your office is new or you’re currently operating on a tight budget, you may not be able to buy new office partitions. The good news is that you still have plenty of options.
For example, it’s possible to make your own, or find a cheap office partition from a trusted supplier. Making your own may be a good option if you have specific design needs or want to save money. The following instructions will help you to create your own office partitions.
1. Create a Partition Design
Before you think about getting out the wood and hammer, create a design for your partitions. Start by measuring your office space and creating a floorplan for your partitions. Be sure to include adequate walkways, and keep the dimensions of your current office furniture (desks, chairs, filing cabinets, etc.) in mind.
As you work through your designs, consider whether you need your partitions to be permanent or movable. If your office needs to change configurations often, consider building partitions that are easily movable or collapsible.
2. Create Frames
All it takes are five pieces of wood to create a frame for a DIY office partition. Cut the wood in equal lengths, and then attach four of them to make a square. Be sure to use two screws or nails at each joint for added stability.
Your fifth piece of wood will run horizontally within the square for extra support. Use screws or nails to secure this final piece of wood. Next, attach plywood to both sides of your square frame.
3. Cover the Frames
The next step is to cover your frames with fabric. Canvas and felt are both good materials for covering partitions. Keep in mind that your partition covers will set the tone for your office because they will take up so much space. Consider how your fabric choice will complement the current colour scheme of your office.
4. Secure the Partitions
You can secure your office partitions to the wall or the floor by drilling screws diagonally through the plywood and into the walls or floor. These screws can be removed if you need to reposition or relocate the partitions at a later date.
Alternatives to DIY Office Partitions
Some people avoid having to construct their own office partitions by using bookshelves, supply shelves or expandable picture frame screens as office partitions. These can be good alternatives if you don’t currently have the budget for making your own DIY partitions or if you have extra office furniture.
If you’re not too excited about having to construct your office partitions by yourself, shop around to see if you can find acceptable prices. You might be surprised to find that some of our freestanding partitions don’t cost much more than you’d spend on your wood frame, plywood, and fabric.
Our economy freestanding portable partitions come in several colours, and they’re easy to fold, move and store. They’re covered with 12-oz flame retardant cotton canvas, and the fabric panels can be removed and washed in a washing machine if they get dirty.
You’ll also save time by purchasing pre-made partitions because they ship fully assembled. All you have to do is unbox them and set them up right where you want them.
To learn more about office partitions, or to get advice about which partitions are right for your office, get in touch with us at Portable Partitions. We love to help people create office spaces that help them to be comfortable, productive and successful.