Office Furniture is arguably as important, if not more important than the location of your office. You and your colleagues will be spending around 8 hours a day, 5 days a week in the office.
1. Make sure the office furniture you choose fits the room and that there is enough room to open cabinets and drawers, and that people have enough room to get to their desks, and in and out of the office.
2. Office furniture needs to be suitable for purpose. A cool desk isn’t necessarily functional. Café style chairs and tables might look good in a catalogue, but are they appropriate for a firm of solicitors?
3. Don’t forget extra office furniture items like filing cabinets, book cases and computer stands as these will provide additional functionality and storage space for your office.
4. Make sure that your office furniture is ergonomic. It is important that it is comfortable as well as stylish and practical. Health and safety requirements need to be adhered as many strains, aches and other work related ailments can be avoided.
5. Divide the room where possible by having separate areas for different types of staff. Those who spend all day on the phone will have different furniture needs to those who need room to view design ideas or those who need peace and quiet.
6. Different moods can be created by using different coloured chairs, desks, or tables.
7. Stylish hi tech modern designs, or traditional woods? What you choose will depend on the nature of your business. Your office furniture may be fashionable today, but will it still look stylish in 5 years time?
8. Think about the impression your office furniture has to give to clients as well as staff. Office furniture for a firm of accountants needs to be different from a graphic design company or a call centre. The office might be part of a factory or a restaurant or a shop, so it needs to be appropriate and in keeping with the company ethos. A design agency will want to appear creative and vibrant, whilst a solicitor’s office will want to appear calming and welcoming.
9. Think about the future, how easy is it to expand the office layout, using your chosen furniture? New employees or technology or processes and procedures may mean that the office layout has to change frequently. Can you move desk around yourselves, or do you need the fitters to take the desks apart so they can be rebuilt in a different part of the office?
10. Good office furniture will encourage employees to be more productive, by ensuring that all they need is at hand, and they can carry out their duties without disturbing others.
These tips should help you to decide which office furniture is best for your needs and will meet the needs of your staff, and give the right impression to your clients and other visitors. The right office furniture will look good, be comfortable and last a long time. Why not consider updating your office furniture today?