We talked recently about why January is the ideal time to plan your office fit-out. But regardless of the time of year – if your office furniture is due a refresh, there are several factors to consider before investing in a number of new pieces for your workplace.
Make sure you’re across these simple tips to make the best investment for your workplace, your staff and your business. Carry on reading to find out more!
Prioritising the comfort of your workers when planning an office furniture fit-out makes sense ethically and financially. If your team members feel better in your office, they will work better – and this isn’t restricted to their main workspace.
Ergonomic adjustable chairs with sufficient lumbar support are a must for any office worker. Especially for roles which necessitate long hours of screen-time, it’s essential as an employer to provide ample physical support. In addition, the less chance someone has of sustaining a musculoskeletal injury, the more time they’re likely to spend in the office, further aiding a positive employee culture.
But, don’t rule out other areas of the office too. With softer furnishings for more casual zones, office reception areas or breakout areas, you can encourage collaboration and idea sharing in comfort.
As highlighted above, collaborative areas are just as important as individual workstations. For client conferences, pitches or larger, more formal meetings, it’s crucial to create a welcoming and professional environment.
Opt for a conference table that can accommodate enough people without dominating the space and making it feel cramped. For seating, consider chairs that don’t need to be individually adjustable, but must be comfortable for extended periods.
Finally, ensure any necessary cabling, communications, ICT or presenting technology is properly integrated and fully functional. Whether it’s an internal brainstorming session or a key client meeting, your office furniture shouldn’t be a distraction but instead, quite literally ‘part of the furniture’.
Another barrier to productivity is clutter, so make sure smart storage solutions are on your list of priorities. Most reputable furniture fit-out companies should be able advise you on the optimum way to make the most of your available space.
If space is limited, or you have a semi-open office with multi-functional requirements, consider flexible office partitioning. Any office furniture fit-out process should incorporate the versatility to enable both colleague consultation and private concentration.
By entrusting an office design specialist, you’ll ensure the right partitioning is in place to accommodate all needs, whether that means folding partition wall systems, demountable partitioning, glass office partitioning and so on!
Picking the right office furniture is key to creating a comfortable, functional and productive workplace. To discuss any of the above options, or your own personal preferences and business goals, please contact our friendly office design team today!
