5 Furniture Faux-pas To Avoid In Your Office
December 3, 2024
Choosing office furniture might seem like a simple task. But there are a few mistakes you can make that could be costly or inconvenient. Below are 5 common mistakes made when choosing commercial furniture for an office.
Key Takeaways on Avoiding Furniture Faux-pas in Your Office
- Measure Your Space Accurately: Avoid purchasing furniture that is too large or small by carefully measuring office dimensions, including entryways and corridors, to ensure proper fit.
- Prioritize Ergonomics: Invest in furniture that supports the human body, such as height-adjustable chairs and desks, to prevent discomfort and repetitive strain injuries.
- Focus on Aesthetics: Choose furniture that aligns with your brand identity, opting for styles and colors that make a positive impression while avoiding cheap or generic-looking pieces.
- Opt for Portable Furniture: Lightweight, movable furniture on wheels provides flexibility for rearranging layouts to suit different projects or improve collaboration.
- Balance Budget and Quality: Set a realistic budget and prioritize durable, high-quality furniture. Consider financing options or carefully chosen used pieces to avoid overspending or frequent replacements.
- Think About Practicality: Ensure furniture is functional, with adequate workspace and storage, to meet employee needs without creating clutter or inconvenience.
- Invest in Reception Impact: Select standout reception furniture, such as custom desks with branding or lighting, to create a lasting impression on visitors and clients.
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START NOWGetting the size wrong
When it comes to choosing desks, some companies go too big and others go too small. Obviously, you need to measure your office space beforehand to avoid buying a desk that won’t fit. This includes measuring any corridors, staircases or entrances that the furniture needs to be carried through (if it’s flat-pack, this may not be too much of a concern). Be wary of buying a huge table to put in a small room as it may end up looking and feeling claustrophobic. At the same time, you don’t want to buy a tiny desk that barely has enough room for all your equipment (if you and employees are using nothing more than laptops, you may have the option to go super-small).
Overlooking ergonomics
Ergonomics is all about how things fit and support the human body. Poor ergonomics can lead to uncomfortable workstations and may lead to employees developing repetitive strain injuries. Make sure desks are placed in locations with adequate legroom and elbow room. You should also make sure that chairs or desks are height-adjustable. Decent back support and adjustable armrests could also be features worth investing in when choosing an ergonomic office chair.
Neglecting aesthetics
How your furniture looks can impact your brand identity and company reputation. Some companies like to choose chairs or even desks in a specific colour that matches the company brand. The style is also important - should you go modern or traditional? Aesthetics could be particularly important with certain furniture like your office reception desk for leaving a positive first impression. There are companies that can build custom reception desks with LED lighting or logos built into them to make your reception area feel more striking. Avoid furniture that looks cheap and generic, as well as damaged used furniture.
Not choosing portable furniture
Having the option of being able to easily adjust your office layout can be useful. Many traditional offices were arranged into cubicles that could not be easily rearranged. An open office layout using lightweight furniture on wheels makes it much easier to rearrange furniture. It could even improve collaboration and efficiency by allowing furniture to be arranged differently to meet the needs of different projects. Moving furniture in and out of your office will also be easier.
Spending too much/too little money
The best quality furniture costs a lot of money. It’s important that you set a reasonable budget and find the best way to finance your furniture - some lease options could work out cheaper than buying furniture on a loan. Some companies save money by buying basic used furniture, but it’s important to consider the quality and condition. Not only could very cheap furniture look unattractive and provide poor ergonomics - it may also not be very durable, and you may end up replacing it in the near future.
