Initially, it can seem like a simple process furnishing an office. People need chairs, and some work desks, right? Oh – and some shelves and storage cupboards. Then it’s all sorted! The reality is that it’s not that simple, unfortunately. Think about some offices you may have visited. They might have been in old buildings with drab furniture and old wooden desks. Nothing matched, and there was junk and clutter everywhere. The table legs weren’t the same length, so they wobbled, and the chairs weren’t adjustable. How did that make people feel? Was it homely and welcoming, or did it feel tired and neglected? Imagine facing that every day on coming to work! This article is designed to set out what items are needed to be bought and why. There is no space here for having a false economy.
Someone might have got a few furniture catalogs, or have started looking online. The trouble is that there is so much to choose from – so many designs, sizes, and colors. Simply reading webpages of products can be overwhelming. In contrast to this, the experts at https://marvable.com/ believe it’s best when the customer actually tells the company what they want, and have recommendations tailor-made for them. Companies that provide deliveries and installation are designed to remove all the headaches.
It’s important to be wise and create a spreadsheet of all the things that are needed: Put down the prices and also the budget as no one wants to run out of money before everything has been purchased! Premises should be measured, and a diagram created, based on the size of the items to be considered. The corporate brand is important to consider. If a logo is dark blue, why not choose seats that match this color? If cheap furniture is bought, it won’t last. Office moves regularly happen, so you want everything to be light and easily mobile.
An office should be welcoming – not just for the visitors but also for the employees who will be sat there all day. It wants to be homely, not sterile, or simply functional. Office plants and family photos exist for a reason!
CHAIRS
It’s a false economy to choose anything that is not good for an employees’ back. Make sure they are ergonomically good and have adjustable heights so they will complement the desks. Armrests are pleasant to have as well. Lumbar support is essential. Imagine people being off sick with bad backs and blaming the chairs. This will cost you more than the price of some decent ones.
DESKS
Quality desks can be used and moved without the legs going wobbly. Think about the space needed. Will there be a laptop on the desk or a whole pc with several screens? There might need to be space for a reading lamp, a personal photo, a fan, stationery, paper, and a telephone. A desk with drawers will help keep it clear and optimize storage space. What about corner desks – will these be worth considering? If the desk heights are adjustable, that will also help with the employees’ posture. Allow for plenty of foot space as well, so people don’t have their legs tucked under their chairs all day – that has health implications. Don’t let people store lots of junk under them for the same reason.
TABLES
These can contain anything from shredders and printers to ornaments and paper. The office plan needs to allow for these.
SHELVES
Shelves are great for utilizing wall space, particularly if you don’t have a lot of storage room. The more shelves an office has, the less crammed it will feel. Once things have their ‘place’, everyone will know where to find or put things quickly.
LIGHTS AND LAMPS
Lighting is key to working effectively. Natural sunlight is best, but make sure you have adequate electric lighting. Desk lamps are often helpful, particularly when it gets dark outside.
FILING CABINETS
An office needs to be organized. There’s nothing worse than not knowing where that urgent document is, or making an impatient auditor scratch their head. Many filing cabinets are on wheels so they can be moved wherever they are needed. If you have a staff move, it will be easy to change things without needing an army of caretakers.
BOOKCASES
Put key folders and books together in one area. Bookcases create a mini library that is both space-efficient and functional.
PRINTER TROLLEYS
These are perfect for storing different sizes of paper. Keep spare toner and ink cartridges there as well. It’s much easier to stay on top of your supplies if you keep it all together in one place.
Offices need to stay within their budget, but it is wise to get the best furniture that can be afforded. A tidy office with comfortable seats will be a happier place to work. The staff will be more healthy, and employment will seem more of a joy than a sentence. Sit down and create a game plan. What chairs and desks do you want? What tables, shelves, and lights? What cabinets, bookcases, and trolleys? Very soon, it will all be there. Then the company can focus on the main concern – enjoying and growing its business!