Towards mid-March, Londoners run across the South of England in preparation for the London half marathons. Most of those in training follow a 13.1 mile route like Dartford to Reading or Colchester to Hastings to help them warm-up and practice for the London Marathon held at the end of April. Others use different methods to train for this half-marathon such as different lengths and techniques to train for this event. No matter where a marathon or half-marathon is located, one thing remains the same. Runners must develop a training routine to properly prepare them. This act of preparation and long distance running is similar to decorating a commercial space. Renowned commercial decorators, Crown Interiors, advises, “In order to decorate successfully, you must develop a plan and stick to it throughout the decorating process”.
Planning and Preparation
All of this planning and preparation prepares you for the big day – when the commercial space can be used following a refurbishment project. Commercial buildings, schools and office spaces require refurbishment and decoration to ensure not only the look of the property but also the functionality of the space. When refurbishing and decorating a space, you should pay close attention to details as these changes can affect worker morale and productivity.
Develop a Plan and Stick to It
Commercial refurbishment designs can easily get out of hand and become very expensive if you are not careful. This is why it is essential that you develop a plan and stick to it throughout the refurbishment. During the refurbishment, structural issues may become uncovered. This can increase the cost of repairs. Proper planning and preparation will help to protect you should an issue arise. Before beginning the refurbishment, you must analyse the space, understand how the space will be used, determine the appropriate scale and calculate the cost of completing and maintaining the space.
A commercial project must focus on the infrastructure of the building to ensure the decorating and refurbishing project is handled appropriately. Doing this will prevent unnecessary expenses. For example, there is no reason to paint an area, if the space will need to be redesigned in the near future. By understanding how a room will be used, you can properly plan for the redesign of the area.
Varying Speeds
Decorating a property is done at varying speeds. Sometimes, time will pass and you will not see any surface changes occurring. During this time, the business manager or owner can be frustrated. However, during the preparation stage, it is essential that you explain that minimal visual changes will occur. Explain that this time is essential, nevertheless, and that when the final stages of the project are reached, these changes will occur quickly.
Slow Down Towards the Race Day
During the last couple of weeks leading up to a marathon, the length of time spent training will decrease. This helps to ensure the runner’s body will be ready for race day. This is similar to what happens during the last couple of weeks of the refurbishment project. A refurbishment begins with structural changes being made. Electrical work will be done, walls will be moved and painted and plumbing will be completed. After this, the pace will change again. Office decor will begin to be put in place and the details that will help to inspire creativity and productivity will begin to be seen.
Commercial Decorating, Much Like Running a Marathon
On race day, amateur runners from across the country will be rewarded with completing the marathon. These runners invest months of specialised training to ensure that they are ready for race day. A commercial refurbishment or decoration is much like preparing for a race. During the initial stage, much work will be done behind the scenes. This stage can take time as the space is prepared. Once the “bones” of the project are in place, the final touches can be added to create an ideal work-space for the employees. This final leg of the journey often happens at a rapid pace, much like runners sprinting towards the finish line.
