Table of Contents

• 3 Key Differences in a Nutshell
• What Is an Office Fit- Out?
  • Types of Office Fit-Out
    • Shell & Core
    • Cat A
    • Cat B
• What is an Office Refurbishment?
  • Types of Office Refurbishment
    • Reconfiguration
    • Mid-touch refurbishment
    • Strip out and refit
• Key Characteristics of Cat A+
  • How it Compares
  • Which One Should I Choose For My Workplace?
  • How to get started with your project

Fit-out and refurbishment are very similar terms, and they’re often used interchangeably. That means it can be easy to get confused between the two, especially for people who normally don’t need to be familiar with in-depth construction industry jargon. However, while it’s true that there is indeed some degree of crossover between the two, fit-outs and refurbishments are different in some quite crucial ways. For example, you can fit out a workspace and then refurbish it later on, but not the other way around.

So, if you’re planning on making any significant changes to your workplace premises – or considering moving into new ones – then it’s always useful to get yourself up to speed on the key differences. As experienced London office fit-out specialists here at Base Interiors, that makes us the perfect people to explain – so here’s what you need to know.

3 Key Differences in a Nutshell

We’ll go on to explore the main differences between the two in a little more detail below – but if you just need a quick overview, here’s a direct comparison.

What Is an Office Fit- Out?

Essentially, an office fit-out is the process of turning an empty shell of a building into a functional commercial space, with a specific purpose in mind. Depending on the extent of the fit-out, the end result could be a bare-bones space that’s ready to hire out to a commercial tenant, or a fully customised space that’s tailored to fit the requirements and aesthetics of a specific business.

An office fit-out is generally needed with newly-built offices, especially if the building itself has just finished completion and usually tailored to the specific needs of a tenantie numbers of meeting rooms, offices, break out areas

Types of Office Fit-Out

Almost all office projects can be classified into general categories, which we’ve covered before here at Base Interiors. We’ve briefly summarised each one below.

Shell & Core

The first option, Shell & Core, is designed to give you the bare bones of an office space. It’s most popular amongst property developers and landlords, as it enables them to offer a neutral space to potential buyers or tenants. The process starts with a newly-completed building, comprising a market-ready exterior but a completely bare interior.

A Shell & Core fit-out focuses on installing some of the most fundamental elements necessary for basic functionality. This encompasses (for example) lift shafts, concrete floors, and cladding, as well as mechanics, electrical and structural work, and HVAC systems.

Cat A

A Category A fit-out is the next step up from Shell & Core – again a go-to option for landlords looking to fully prepare a neutral space to present to clients on the rental market. In addition to the essential elements we’ve detailed above, it also takes into account suspended ceilings.

Other amenities included in a Category A fit-out are toilets, air conditioning, raised flooring, suspended ceilings, and fire alarms. The end result is a space that has all the foundational elements from a building compliance perspective that make it ready to occupy, but without any tenant-specific design. (This means, for example, that there is no furniture or other design elements.)

“CAT A landlords” refers to commercial property owners who provide a Category A (Cat A) fit-out, which is a basic, “blank canvas” finish to an empty office space, making it ready for a tenant to customize with their own branding and specific layouts (Cat B fit-out). Landlords commission Cat A work, installing essential mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services, suspended ceilings, raised floors, and basic lighting, to attract tenants quickly by offering a clean, functional starting point.

Cat B

A Category B fit-out is the “full package” – a comprehensive design and installation process that encompasses all the essential structural and functional elements of the space, like basic utilities, as well as finer details like office furniture, fabrics, and any necessary specific technology that might be required by a specific organisation or type of business.

In short, a Cat B brings a space to the stage where employees could reasonably move in and start working more-or-less immediately. Out of all the types of fit-out we’ve covered so far, it’s notably the most adaptable to specific operational requirements and personal taste – so as you can imagine, it’s a popular choice amongst business owners.

What is an Office Refurbishment?

An office refurbishment is the renovation of an existing space, often one that’s already seen reasonable (or extensive) use as workplace premises already. As more of a ‘refresh’ than an overhaul, refurbishments are generally focused on more cosmetic or minor practical changes, as opposed to the more fundamental structural nature of many fit-outs.

These cosmetic changes can include new furniture, more advanced equipment or industry-specific technology, or new flooring. You may well find yourself considering a refurbishment when the needs of your business change or evolve – such as if you need new equipment to expand your operational capacity, or to rearrange your space to accommodate a larger team of staff.

Types of Office Refurbishment

Just as with office fit-outs, there are several different types of office refurbishment. It always helps to give serious consideration in advance to what your objectives are for your space, as it can go a long way towards helping you decide which type of refurbishment you need. Here are the key details of each one.

Reconfiguration

This is the most basic type of refurbishment and tends to cover the most essential (and influential) cosmetic elements. Examples of this may include the arrangement of the furniture, the colour of the walls, and the state of the walls or floor coverings.

Reconfigurations are often chosen by business owners who’ve decided that certain elements of the space look like they’re in relatively poor repair, such as patchy walls or carpets, and may have an adverse effect on someone’s first impressions of the business – whether that someone is a client, visitor, or potential business partner.

It’s also frequently chosen as part of an overall rebrand, which may involve simply repairing each room, repainting walls and buying new furniture, or similarly low-stakes changes.

Mid-touch refurbishment

A mid-touch refurbishment is slightly more intensive than a reconfiguration, but not by much. In a nutshell, it involves keeping everything that works and saving the changes on anything that doesn’t.

That means rather than applying a light change to the entire space – as is often the case with reconfigurations – the changes are instead more focused. For example, the staff breakout area might remain the same, but the tea-point might undergo a more substantial change in terms of layout or appliances.

It’s one of the many reasons why it’s so popular with so many business owners – by focusing the changes on specific areas, it’s a great way to save time and money, while maintaining everything that already works about the existing premises.

Strip out and refit

This is exactly what it sounds like, and without question the most comprehensive form of office refurbishment. If the space is now almost or totally unsuitable for its intended purposes or the needs of the business, then resolving that issue may well involve a complete overhaul by stripping out everything and re-fitting it entirely.

This can include the flooring, kitchen areas, meeting rooms, partitions, desks, furniture and decor – effectively, taking it all the way back to Category A That then provides a blank canvas to redesign the space from scratch.

Obviously, it can be a very time-consuming and disruptive endeavour, and that tends to make it a last resort for business owners considering how to refurbish their space. Having said that, if it is indeed the right choice, the results are generally worth it!

A Cat A+ (Category A Plus) office fit-out is a “plug-and-play” solution where landlords provide a high-spec, semi-fitted space with elements like kitchens, meeting rooms, furniture, and IT infrastructure, allowing tenants to move in and work immediately with minimal adjustment, bridging the gap between a basic Cat A shell and a fully customized Cat B fit-out. This approach saves tenants time and upfront costs, offering immediate usability with some branding potential

Key Characteristics of Cat A+

• Ready to Occupy: Comes fully equipped for immediate operation, unlike Cat A which is a neutral shell.
• Landlord-Led: The landlord typically funds and manages the fit-out.
• Includes Amenities: Often features furniture, workstations, fitted kitchens, breakout areas, meeting rooms, and basic IT/cabling.
• Intermediate Stage: Sits between a basic Cat A (functional but bare) and a fully branded Cat B (company-specific design).
• Benefits for Tenants: Quick setup, lower initial costs, flexibility, and a more dynamic work environment.
• “Plug-and-Play”: A common term for Cat A+ spaces, meaning businesses can plug in and start working instantly.

How it Compares

• Cat A: Basic finishes, raised floors, ceilings, basic lighting, but no furniture or specific room configurations.
• Cat A+: Adds furniture, kitchens, meeting rooms, etc., to a Cat A base.
• Cat B: Fully customized to a company’s specific brand, design, and operational needs.

Which One Should I Choose For My Workplace?

This is a difficult question to give a general answer to, as it depends on so many different individual factors. In short, you’ll need to have very clear ideas about the strengths and weaknesses of the space you’re working with, and be able to clearly define your vision for it going forward.

Here’s a quick roundup of some of the most important factors to consider:

• What issues are you currently facing with your new environment
• What do you see yourself gaining from the new workspace?
• What objectives do you need to set to achieve them?
• What is your budget, and what are your financial expectations?

It’s a good idea to consider the scale and impact of the changes you want to make – minor adjustments can often be achieved with a refurbishment, while structural or functional transformations will usually require a more extensive fit-out.

Also, don’t forget to factor in timelines, potential disruption to your team, and any regulatory or compliance requirements to avoid surprises later.

How to get started with your project

It’s always best to begin by defining your priorities and gathering inspiration for your ideal office layout. From there, our team can guide you through every step of the process, turning your vision into a practical, functional space.

And if you need help refining your ideas, or you’re ready to begin transforming your space, that’s exactly where our office fit-out specialists can help here at Base Interiors. Feel free to get in touch with us today, and find out how our skilled team can help bring your ideas to life.