Private Office vs Open Plan Office: Pros, Cons & Productivity Impact

An open plan office usually refers to a shared, open desk floor, most often found in coworking spaces, where individuals or teams from different companies work alongside one another. A private office, on the other hand, is a company's own enclosed, dedicated space within a building, offering privacy and control while still giving access to a wider workspace community. 

Choosing between the two comes down to what your business needs from its workplace, whether that's cost and flexibility, or privacy and productivity. This guide compares both setups so you can weigh up the benefits, drawbacks, and impact each option has on your team. For a broader look at how flexible and traditional leases compare, read our guide to flexible office space vs traditional office space.

Private Office vs Open Plan Office: Quick Comparison

Comparison factor	Open Plan Office	Private Office
Privacy & confidentiality	Shared, open floor with limited privacy	Enclosed and private, ideal for sensitive work
Focus & productivity	Busier, with more ambient noise	Quieter, more controlled environment for deep work
Collaboration & culture	Strong for networking across companies	Strong internal team culture, plus access to shared community spaces
Cost	Generally lower entry cost	Slightly higher cost for dedicated space
Scalability	Easy to scale up or down by desk	Flexible upgrade paths as headcount grows
Best suited to	Freelancers, small teams, early-stage businesses	Growing SMEs, client-facing teams, businesses that value privacy and brand identity

What is an Open Plan Office?

An open plan office is a shared, open desk floor plan, typically found in coworking spaces, where individuals and businesses work in the same open area rather than in separate, enclosed rooms. This open office floor plan design usually includes hot desks or dedicated desks, shared amenities, and communal breakout spaces.  

The open plan office layout is designed to maximise flexibility and encourage interaction, making it a popular choice for freelancers, small teams, and businesses in the early stages of growth. To understand how this compares with other flexible solutions, our guide on the benefits of flexible office spaces breaks down what it can offer your business.

Benefits of an Open Plan Office

There are several benefits of open plan office setups, particularly for cost-conscious and fast-growing businesses:

• Lower cost per desk: shared floor space typically costs less than renting a dedicated office.

• Flexibility to scale: increase or decrease your desk count as headcount changes, without being tied into a long lease.

• Stronger networking: working alongside other businesses builds community and creates natural opportunities to collaborate.

• Faster setup: most open plan layouts are ready to use from day one, with no fit-out required.

• Collaborative culture: an open, shared floor plan encourages spontaneous conversation and idea sharing.

This collaborative workspace element is one of the biggest draws of coworking. Find out more in our piece on the advantages of coworking spaces.

What Is a Private Office?

A private office is a company's own enclosed, lockable space within a building, separate from other businesses. Unlike an open plan setup, a private office gives your team full control over layout, branding, and day to day use of the space, while still being part of a wider workspace community. 

Many private offices are offered as part of a serviced office package, meaning furniture, utilities, cleaning, and reception support are already taken care of. To understand exactly what's included, take a look at our guide to what serviced offices are.

Benefits of a Private Office

A private office offers a different set of advantages, particularly for businesses that need privacy, focus and a dedicated home for their culture:

• Privacy and confidentiality: an enclosed space makes sensitive conversations and client meetings easier to manage.

• Brand identity: full control over layout and design lets your space reflect who you are.

• Access to shared amenities: private offices still come with meeting rooms and community spaces on-site.

• Stronger employee retention: a dedicated space gives teams a workplace they're proud to return to.

• Room to grow: flexible upgrade paths as headcount increases, without needing to relocate.

  
  

This blend of privacy and belonging shows up in our own data too. In a 2026 survey of Iconic Office’s members, they rated the quality of on-site community teams as one of their workspace's greatest strengths, proving that a private office doesn't have to mean losing out on connection. 

Open Plan vs Private Office: The Productivity & Wellbeing Impact

The layout you choose has a real impact on how your team works day to day. Open plan spaces can boost spontaneous collaboration and idea sharing, but the lack of separation can also lead to more distractions and noise, which affects deep, focused work. 

Private offices tend to support higher levels of concentration and wellbeing, since teams have more control over their environment, from noise levels to how the space is used throughout the day. With hybrid working now the norm for many businesses, the office needs to work harder to justify the commute, and a well-designed private office can offer employees a calmer, more purposeful alternative to a busy shared floor.

This shift toward focused, in-person work is already visible in the data. Since 2023, Iconic Offices has seen a 50% increase in meeting room bookings across its Dublin locations, as more businesses prioritise dedicated space for meetings, workshops and deep work over ad hoc desks. 

How to Choose the Right Office Setup for Your Business

A few key factors will help you decide which setup is the right fit:

• Team size and stage: early-stage teams and freelancers may only need an open plan coworking desk, offering flexibility without a long-term commitment.

• Privacy requirements: businesses that handle sensitive information or host regular client meetings are usually better served by a private office.

• Budget: open plan desks typically cost less upfront, while a private office offers more value as your team and needs grow.

• Community access: look for a provider offering both coworking and private office options in the same location, so you're not locked into one choice as you grow.

• Multi-site plans: if you're expanding across more than one location, it's worth reading our guide to the hub and spoke office model.

  
  

FAQs: Open Plan vs Private Office Space

What is the difference between an open and private office?

An open office is a shared, open desk floor, typically used in coworking spaces, where individuals or teams from different companies work in the same area. A private office is a company's own enclosed, dedicated space, offering more privacy and control over the day to day environment.

Are open plan offices better?

Neither setup is universally better, it depends on what your business needs. Open plan offices suit teams that prioritise flexibility, cost, and networking, while private offices are usually better suited to businesses that need privacy, focus, and a dedicated space for their team culture.

What are the disadvantages of a private office?

Private offices typically cost more than a shared desk, and can offer less day to day interaction with other businesses than an open coworking floor. Many providers offset this by including access to shared amenities, meeting rooms, and community events.

What are the disadvantages of an open plan office?

Open plan offices can be noisier and offer less privacy, which may affect focus for tasks that require concentration or confidentiality. They also offer less control over branding and layout compared with a private office.

Can you get a serviced office with an open plan layout? 

Yes, many serviced office providers offer open plan desks and coworking floors alongside private offices within the same portfolio. This gives businesses the flexibility to start on an open plan desk and move into a private office as they grow, while still benefiting from the managed facilities, utilities and support that come with a serviced office.

What does an open plan office layout look like? 

An open plan office layout typically features shared desks arranged across one open floor, with communal breakout areas, meeting rooms and shared amenities nearby. Unlike a private office, there are no walls or partitions separating individual desks, making it a flexible and cost-effective option for freelancers and small teams. 

Find the Right Workspace for Your Team 

Whether your business needs the flexibility of an open plan desk or the privacy of your own dedicated space, choosing the right office setup can have a lasting impact on productivity, culture, and growth. Explore Iconic Offices' full range of Dublin locations to find the right fit for your team.