If you’ve ever looked at a menu in a restaurant without a specific idea of what you want, you’ll be familiar with ‘choice paralysis’.
When it comes to selecting furniture for your office, the same problem can occur if you’re not clear on the main considerations.
Below are just a few things to think about when specifying new or replacement office furniture.
Practicality
The most important factor when choosing your office furniture is how suitable it is – for your staff, your premises and your budget.
Buying inferior furniture to save money represents a false economy due to replacements and repairs – but you don’t want to overspend for under use.
As many workers are typically now undertaking flexible/remote working, it may make sense to buy fewer items for multiple users.
Health & safety
As workplaces see countless days lost to preventable musculoskeletal injury or discomfort, the ergonomics of your desks and seating are important.
And as the pandemic has highlighted, mental health may not be as immediately obvious a concern but is a critical consideration.
By choosing furniture for quieter or more secluded areas, away from open plan, you’ll empower staff to work in an environment more likely to suit them.
Style
As the adoption of flexible working has grown alongside the use of wireless tech, there’s never been more opportunity to create an office ‘style’.
Unrestricted by fixed seating layouts or computer tower terminals, you can opt for office furniture that complements and reinforces your brand.
But that needn’t mean splurging on statement pieces with no practical use – subtle and functional can coexist with ‘eye-catching’ if you choose carefully.
Maximising space
And of course, before you decide what you want to buy, you need to be certain about where it’s going.
Getting the balance right between crowding and sparseness is tricky – especially when you factor in your cost per square metre.
Plus, flexible working may mean it’s unlikely you’ll see the same person at the same desk day after day.
Multi-use spaces can be the answer, with furniture that can move or adapt to suit the needs of the occupants depending on task, numbers or noise.
In fact, making the most of your available space could mean more than just your available floor area.
Walls may offer storage or display solutions you hadn’t previously considered – some could even be removed altogether and replaced with flexible partitioning.
Ready to talk about new office furniture?
Obviously the tips above are just suggestions based on general best practice workplace design.
But to discuss your specific requirements with an office design professional, why not get in touch?