Office furniture can or break the workplace experience. In essence, your selection affects the room’s aesthetics and may have a ripple effect on mood, productivity, and general comfort.
Today, employers prioritize workplace comfort and design when selecting office furniture because these two factors impact worker performance and attitude towards the job.
While you can boost your office’s appeal in many different ways, i.e., through color, layout, and artwork, choosing the right type of furniture is the best way to make a statement.
So what are some of the factors to consider when selecting office furniture for your workspace?
Selecting Office Furniture: Striking a Balance Between Functionality and Design
For office furniture, it’s not always about looks. Functionality and comfort are primary considerations as well. You can’t have all the looks at the expense of an unfriendly working environment.
To balance between functionality and design, consider making unique and relevant choices like:
Sit-stand furniture
These types of office furniture allow workers to alternate between sitting and standing while at work to reduce burnout. They are also a unique addition to include in your design because they stand out from other furniture.
Ergonomic furniture
Workers endure hours of projects while rooted to their seats. You can increase comfort by selecting office furniture built to provide comfortable seating and working conditions.
Smart desks/conference tables
Conference tables come equipped with all the electrical solutions, i.e., sockets, screens, and data ports you need to organize effective meetings.
Tips for Selecting Office Furniture to Add to Your Workplace
Beyond comfort and functionality, employers must consider many other factors when buying workplace furniture.
For instance, you want to buy furniture that blends well into your design, fits your room, and will serve you for a long time.
Discover some other crucial office furniture considerations below:
Your aesthetics/theme/design
Furniture is a statement maker in office design, so your theme isn’t a wrong place to begin shopping for seats and desks.
Ask yourself:
- What design do you plan to achieve?
- What is your theme color?
- How much space do you have?
- Which layout/arrangement are you after?
These questions can lead you to the right design. But before you make a decision, check whether the seats are ergonomic.
Ergonomics/comfort
Perhaps the worst shopping mistake is selecting office furniture that’s uncomfortable for workers. Avoid furniture that makes work strenuous for your team by considering things like:
- Modifiable armrests
- Adjustable keyboard holders
- Seats that offer lower-back support
- Easy-to-adjust monitor arms
- Footrests
In essence, an ergonomic workstation ensures your body maintains good posture and achieves optimum comfort while taking on tasks.
Because posture and comfort affect mood, don’t compromise on ergonomics when buying furniture for your workforce.
Warranty
Though you want to trust that you’re buying top-quality furniture, always remember to ask about the warranty.
A guarantee can be your safe haven if the electrical system in your expensive smart desk breaks down a month after the purchase.
Selecting office furniture backed by a guarantee also saves you the repair costs you’re bound to incur if the set malfunctions within the agreed period.
Adjustability/flexibility
Adjustability is key because not all workers are equal in size, height, etc. Avoid furniture that cannot be adjusted to suit different body types.
Your office seats, in particular, should be comfortable with features like:
- Adjustable height
- Modifiable backrest
- Variable seat depth
- Adjustable armrests
That way, your staff can tweak the seats as they wish to enjoy the best working postures.
Can it Multi-task
Buying multi-functional furniture is a smart way to get the value of your money. If one set can do multiple tasks, then why have two separate pieces?
Below are some tips and tricks to choose furniture that can multitask:
- Consider tables that you can use and move effortlessly from one section to another, e.g., from your conference room to the training center, etc.
- Go for sit-stand tables that you can use while sitting in front of a laptop or standing in a presentation room.
- Go for comfortable yet formal lounge furniture that can multitask as a venue for scrum meetings.
Well, that’s not all! There are many other kinds of multitasking furniture to consider. When shopping, ask for sets with these traits and specify what you need so that the seller suggests some relevant products.
Last Advice on Selecting Office Furniture
Adjustability, design, ergonomics, warranty, and multifunctionality are some key considerations when choosing office furniture.
But before buying a set, you also want to check the brand’s reputation. Find out what other customers and critics say about their products and compare options before purchasing from a company.
Lastly, don’t forget to compare prices; it’s always best to pay less as long as you don’t compromise on quality, durability, comfort, etc.
