A lot of business owners assume that choosing finishes and furniture for an office fitout means either hiring an interior designer separately, or working through a supplier catalogue on their own with limited guidance. In practice, neither is quite right, at least not with a design-build fitout company. Here’s how it actually works.
Key Takeaways
- In a design-build fitout, selections, finishes, lighting, flooring and furniture, are usually led by the fitout company’s in-house design team, working within your vision and budget, rather than left entirely to the client to source separately.
- OFP’s process gives selections their own dedicated stage, after concept design and before council approvals, so everything is locked in before construction starts.
- Because OFP’s designers work alongside its own carpenters, glaziers and electricians, selections are checked against what’s actually buildable on site, not just how they look on a moodboard.
- Clients make the final call, OFP’s role is to present options suited to the brand, budget and building, and manage sourcing and supply from there.
- Keeping design and selections under one team avoids the disconnect that comes from using a separate interior designer and a separate builder.
Who Actually Chooses the Finishes and Furniture?
Selections, the colours, materials, flooring, lighting and furniture that go into a fitout, are typically led by the fitout company’s in-house design team rather than handled by the client alone or handed off to a separate consultant. At OFP, this happens as its own defined stage in the process, sitting after the concept design is agreed and before building permits are submitted. That timing matters: finishes and furniture are chosen against a concept that’s already been agreed on, rather than bolted on at the end.The client still makes the final call on everything. The designer’s role is to narrow down what would otherwise be an overwhelming number of options into a shortlist that fits the brand, the budget and the building itself, then manage sourcing and supply once decisions are made.
Why Selections Get Checked Against What’s Buildable
The advantage of an in-house team is that selections aren’t made in isolation from construction. Because the same company’s carpenters, glaziers and electricians are doing the build, a designer can flag early if a chosen finish, layout or furniture piece doesn’t suit the space, the lighting, or the building’s compliance requirements, rather than that surfacing as a problem once work has already started. That’s a meaningful difference from using a separate interior designer and a separate builder, where a selection can look right on paper and still not translate cleanly on site.
What’s Actually Covered in the Selections Stage
Selections typically cover: paint and finish colours, flooring materials, lighting fixtures and placement, and furniture, chosen to suit the headcount, layout and how the space will actually be used, not a generic fit-out. Perth’s natural light is also factored in here, since it affects both material choice and where furniture and partitions end up sitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who selects office interior finishes and furnishings in Perth?
At Office Fitout Professionals, finishes and furnishings are selected by OFP’s in-house design team, working directly with the client through a dedicated selections stage of the fitout process. Because design and construction sit under one roof, selections are chosen to suit your brand and budget while also being checked against what’s practical to build, rather than decided separately from the construction team.
Do I have to choose everything myself?
No. OFP’s designers put together curated options based on your brief, brand and budget, so you’re choosing from a shortlist rather than starting from a blank page. The final decision is always yours.
Can I supply my own furniture or finishes?
In most cases, yes, this can be discussed during the selections stage. It’s worth raising early so it can be factored into the design and construction schedule.
What if I don’t know what I want yet?
That’s normal, and part of what the selections stage is for. OFP’s design team works from your brand, budget and how the space will be used to put forward options, rather than expecting you to arrive with a finished vision.
Talk to a Our Design Team
If you’re planning an office fitout and aren’t sure how finishes and furniture decisions actually get made, that’s exactly what the selections stage is for. Book a free consultation or call (08) 6465 4900 to talk through your space, your brand, and your budget.