Buying furniture is never fun and buying office furniture is even less fun. It can be very expensive and no matter what you end up buying, it never looks quite as luxurious as you would like. Especially if you are shopping in your local office supply store, your choices will be limited and you may end up with items that you either don’t need or really don’t like.
Chairs
When you are buying office furniture, perhaps the most important items will be the chairs. You probably are only thinking in terms of office chairs, but you will also need reception chairs and conference chairs. Each type of chair has its own special purpose, and although ideally they should all match either in color or style, that is not always the case.
When you are choosing office chairs, make sure that the people who are using them are given an opportunity for input since they will be the ones that will have to live with them. In other words, choosing the cheapest office chairs is not always the best idea if you want to get productivity out of your staff.
Tables and Desks
Tables and desks are office furniture that you will also need, and although most people just opt for basic training or conference tables, when it comes to desks, you need to think about what they will be used for. If your staff uses computers all the time, then make sure that the desks are technology-friendly and can be wired properly. If not, you will end up with messy, dusty, spaghetti junctions of wires behind each desk.
When you shop online for office furniture, you will see that there are many styles and colors of desks, some of which are large and U-shaped and others that are designed for multiple users in one day. It is best to choose modular type furniture, as this will allow you to move your office easier and grow if you need to.
Storage
Storage for your files and paperwork is also something that you will need to shop for. Some people like filing to be part of a person’s desk, while others want it separate. Either way, it is nice if it matches the rest of your furniture and ideally is part of a modular system that you can move or connect up with other pieces.
Ergonomic Office Furniture
There has been a big move toward ergonomic furniture in the last couple of decades, primarily because so many of us spend so much time at our desks. Whether you work at a computer all day or just sometimes, it is still good to have both a desk and a chair that fit your body. Ergonomic chairs are not always the most pleasing, but they are designed to make you sit up straight, with your feet on the floor. They usually have arms on them so that you can rest your elbows while you are typing, and they have support for your hips, your lower back, and your neck as well.