2026 Office Refurbishment Guide

This may come as some surprise, but the parameters of an office refurbishment don’t change dramatically from year to year… so you’re probably asking why we need to write a guide to office refurbishment in 2026?

Well, the short answer is we don’t! But, if you have questions about your own office refurbishment, then we have the answers – the most up-to-date answers.

Sustainability practices and technology for the design phase, such as 3D rendering, do progress relatively quickly, though, so even though we have The Ultimate Guide to Office Refurbishment, this update for the year isn’t completely redundant.

How much does an office refurbishment cost in 2026?

The costs of office refurbishment can vary, so we’ll say now, there isn’t a fixed price tag you can expect to pay. We can, however, give you a ballpark figure that will help you get an idea of what kind of costs you can expect when it comes to divvying up your budget.

_For a basic refurbishment, you’re looking in the region of around £50 per ft²

_Mid-range works will push closer to the £70 per ft² mark

_And high-spec projects with premium finishes can be upwards of £90+ per ft²

These are, of course, just estimates and can vary depending on your specific needs. We’re completely flexible when it comes to planning out your office refit, meaning we can work together to make sure you’re happy with the plans.

How long does office refurbishment take?

In terms of a timeframe for office refurbs, you’re looking at around 4-5 weeks for smaller projects, whilst for a bigger space, for example, 10,000 sqft or more, you should expect it to be over 20 weeks.

To shed some light on the process, the main things that can affect how long the project takes are:

_Scope of Work

The biggest factor – is it just a light refresh of the space or a full refurbishment?

_Health and Safety

One of the most important factors of every job is that everyone on-site is safe and although it can take time for things such as landlord permits to be received, it’s crucial to abide by.

_Mechanical, electrical & plumbing (MEP) requirements

Scheduling, coordination and complexity of these works can affect lead times in certain cases.

_Building Constraints

Navigating the structural quirks of older buildings or shared office spaces can sometimes take a little longer.

_Working in an Occupied Office

For those who need their office to stay operational during the project, working around the team can bump the schedule a tad.

_Furniture

Lead times of procurement and logistics can create certain time constraints; however, in cases where the client wishes to keep their existing furniture, this is much less of a problem.

_Lead Times

Unforeseen hiccups with the supply chain can sometimes hold things up, but we make sure to partner with trusted suppliers who we can rely on, wind, rain or shine!

How does the design phase work?

The initial design phase begins with a chat, a down-to-earth, honest discussion about what you need from your space, if there are any constraints and how you envision your space coming to life. This way, we get a good understanding of what you need, not just on a general level, but down to the minute details.

Fleshing these details out into a full design usually takes a couple of weeks, then we render 3D visualisations to give you a real-life view of what your space will really look like…

Visualising your office refurbishment

These visuals take into account the flow of your space, the furniture, and the decor, and help you get an overall feel for the space. Here’s a few examples of what the renders look like from some of our past projects.

Can you refurbish a newbuild office?

Yes, newbuild office refurbishments are very common and are often more specifically split into Cat A and Cat B refurbishments, which we delve into in plenty of depth in our everything-you-need guide.

Essentially, refurbishing a newbuild office will get it ready for tenants, whether it’s a basic shell to rent out as a blank canvas or an all-singing, all-dancing refurb with all of the infrastructure for immediate use.

Predicted trends for office refurbishment in 2026

You may be familiar with some of these trends, but that doesn’t mean they’re dying out anytime soon… very much the opposite.

Biophilic design

Incorporating natural elements into workspaces is a trend which has been on the rise over the past few years. Plant walls and lush greenery in the workspaces bring the outdoors in, reducing stress and creating a more relaxing and productive work environment. Make no mistake, this trend is still very much on the up!

Recycled Materials

Just like biophilic design, this trend also feeds heavily into an increased focus on sustainability. Opting for recycled materials, reducing waste and opting for suppliers with a low carbon footprint are all the rage as everyone does their bit to help the planet. It doesn’t just look great for your brand; it has a real impact on the environment.

Acoustic spaces

As the call for open-plan, flowing layouts in offices continues, there needs to be an answer for controlling sound levels. Whilst great for collaboration and employee connection, expansive, open offices can sometimes create a bit of an issue with noise, as sound is bouncing around the room coming from many, many different people. By incorporating an acoustics solution, offices are able to reduce the amount of noise pollution in a room, helping employees focus and leaving distractions at the door.

AI-fronted office technology

Over the last year, it’s felt like you can barely move a muscle without hearing about ChatGPT this, AI that… but for good reason. Simple tasks such as room temperature control, lighting and even some light admin don’t need to be done by hand. Instead, more businesses are looking for modern technology integrations that free up people’s time and make the ‘behind-the-scenes’ tasks more efficient.