Tips to Design a Commercial Space in London

When you’re planning to design a commercial space in London, you’re entering a dynamic market with evolving demands. Every square foot counts, and every design choice directly affects how people work, shop, and experience your brand.Whether you are refurbishing an office, converting a retail unit, or fitting out a coworking hub, the way you design your space matters.

The right layout, lighting, and functionality not only improve productivity and comfort but also attract long-term tenants and add lasting value to your property. Here are practical, down-to-earth tips shaped by current London trends and real insights from today’s commercial design landscape.

Before diving into design, it’s helpful to clarify the difference between residential space and a commercial space.

• A residential property: is built for living — flats, houses, and apartments.
• A commercial space: on the other hand, is designed for business activities — offices, shops, restaurants, or warehouses.
• Here’s the key distinction: commercial projects in London must meet stricter safety, ventilation, and accessibility regulations.
• A commercial space planner: ensures the layout supports workflow, customer movement, and long-term adaptability.
• A commercial space builder: translates that plan into reality, managing lighting, HVAC, and energy-efficient systems designed for high foot traffic and daily business use.

In London you’ll find many kinds of commercial property. Designing it well means recognising the type of space you’re dealing with, or converting. Some common types of commercial construction include :

• Offices – For professional work, hybrid teams, or creative studios.
• Retail Units – Shops, showrooms, and boutiques.
• Hospitality Spaces – Restaurants, cafés, gyms, salons.
• Industrial Units – Warehouses, light manufacturing, and logistics hubs.
• Flexible Workspaces – Coworking and serviced offices (the fastest-growing category).

According to CBRE’s 2025 UK Office Market Report, London saw 20.3 million sq ft of office take-up (12-month rolling average) — the highest since 2022. This growth highlights strong demand for Grade A, sustainable, and flexible spaces across London’s business districts.

Once you know the type of space, here are design tips based on current UK trends and market data. These apply whether you are refurbishing in London or building new.

The rise of hybrid working means many companies in London are seeking adaptable spaces rather than fixed layouts. For example, modern workspace design guides note that offices now support hot-desking, modular layouts and multi-use zones.

As a commercial space planner you should:

• Use movable partitions: flexible furniture, shared zones that can switch between meeting/work/lounge.
• Consider sound design: if people will be doing video calls, you need quiet zones. Trend-reports list “acoustic spaces” as a key design factor.
• Choose wiring and services that allow change: e.g., raised floors or flexible cabling so you can adapt stations as needs shift.

The UK market increasingly values wellness: natural light, biophilic design (plants, greenery), breakout spaces.

Designers and commercial space builders should:

• Ensure good daylight penetration and views where possible.
• Provide comfort: good heating/ventilation/air-quality, as users will compare the office experience to home working.
• Provide informal zones: cafés, lounges, quiet rooms. These help make the space more attractive.
• Think about inclusive design: spaces that support neurodiverse staff, accessibility, different ways of working.

In London especially, efforts to efforts to design sustainable offices using eco-friendly materials and efficient systems can significantly boost both value and appeal. The UK office real estate market continues to move toward higher standards of sustainability.

When working with a commercial space builder:

• Use recycled or low-carbon materials, specify energy efficient HVAC, LED lighting, smart controls.
• Consider certifications (BREEAM, LEED) if you’re targeting high end or institutional tenants.
• This isn’t just a “nice to have” — increasingly tenants demand it, and it can be different.

Especially for office or coworking spaces in London, design needs to reflect the brand, the culture of the company, the user experience. According to the 2025 trend guide, “branding, culture and identity” is a key element. As planner/builder you should:

• Understand the client’s brand : what colours, materials, vibe they want.
• Translate that into spatial choices: reception area design, flooring pattern, signage, meeting room styles.
• Consider the user journey: from entrance, through workspace, to meeting areas, to breakout. Every touchpoint counts.

Working in London comes with its own set of opportunities and challenges. Recent data shows that UK office space take-up in 2025 reached around 20.3 million square feet (12-month rolling) — the highest level since 2022.

• High competition: your space must be high quality to attract users or tenants.
• Cost pressures: rents, construction costs, regulations in London are higher than many other UK regions.
• Transport and connectivity are key: in London you’ll want to maximise ease of access (public transport, bike facilities) as well as local amenities.
• Consider zoning, planning and historic building issues : many London buildings are listed, or in conservation areas, which influences design and cost.

Given all these complexities, selecting a good commercial space builder and commercial space planner in London is critical. They should bring local knowledge: London planning rules, fire safety, accessibility, sustainability regs.

When hiring:

• Check previous London-based projects: look for evidence of successful office or retail fit-outs.
• Ask about how they handle flexibility and future-proof design: e.g., modular systems, cabling, HVAC.
• Ask about how they manage cost and schedule: London projects tend to have tight budgets and pressures.
• Make sure their design approach matches your target user: Are you targeting tech start-ups, creative agencies, professional services, retail brands?

The question “which type of commercial property is best?” depends on your goals, budget, target market and risk appetite. Here are some considerations for the London market:

• Grade A offices in central London: These typically command premium rents, strong tenant demand, and high sustainability/amenity standards. Data shows the demand for Grade A commercial offices is rising in the UK. If you have the budget and want top‐tier clients, this may be “best”.
• Flexible workspace / coworking fit-outs: With the rise of hybrid working and smaller businesses wanting flexible leases, spaces designed for hot-desk, coworking or serviced offices can be attractive. The UK flexible office market is growing strongly.
• Retail or hospitality units in sought-after London locations: If you target high footfall areas, a well-designed retail or café/leisure space can be strong — but costs and risks may be higher (competition, changing consumer behaviour).
• Sub-urban or secondary commercial space: If your budget is tighter or you want lower entry cost, you might consider commercial space outside the immediate central London zone — but you must offer something unique (amenities, accessibility, value) to compete.
• Mixed-use conversions (commercial + residential or retail + office): These can spread risk and offer multiple income streams, but design complexity and regulatory demands increase.

So, “best” is not one size fits all. It depends on how you define value: rental income, capital appreciation, flexibility, lower management burden, risk. As a commercial space planner you should help your client map those priorities before design.

• Define the brief: Understand the space type (office, retail, coworking), target users/tenants, brand identity, budget, timeline.
• Audit and survey: For an existing space in London, inspect current condition, fixed services, constraints (heritage, planning).
• Concept design: Develop layouts showing how the space will work (Zoning: work zones, meeting, breakout, reception, service areas).
• Technical design: Decide on flooring, lighting, M&E services, HVAC, wiring, acoustics, sustainability features.
• Select materials and finishes: Choose finishes that match brand/market, but also meet durability, maintenance and London usage.
• Engage construction/commercial space builders: Prepare tender, manage contractors, oversee quality, costs and schedule.
• Fit-out and commissioning: Furniture, IT fit, services testing, hand-over.
• Post-occupancy review: After use, measure how well the design is working: flexibility, user satisfaction, maintenance issues. Use feedback for future projects.

• Define your purpose and audience: Are you building for staff productivity, brand visibility, or tenant appeal?
• Work with a qualified commercial space planner: They’ll handle zoning, lighting, ergonomics, and compliance.
• Partner with experienced commercial space builders: London’s regulations and building codes can be complex — local expertise saves delays and cost.
• Incorporate technology early: Think about smart thermostats, keyless entry, and integrated AV before walls go up.
• Think long-term value: Design with flexibility — future tenants may use the space differently.

Designing a commercial space in London comes with its own blend of challenges and opportunities. The city’s diverse architecture and dynamic business environment call for designs that balance visual appeal with functionality and long-term adaptability. Success depends on thoughtful planning, well-designed office layouts, and the use of sustainable materials that align with both aesthetic and operational goals.

Partnering with experienced commercial space planners and builders ensures every element—from lighting to layout—supports a clear purpose. When done right, your space becomes more than just real estate—it becomes a lasting investment in people, productivity, and performance.