When it comes to creating an engaging, attractive workspace, choosing office furniture can make or break a space.
However a winning office space is way more than just an aesthetically pleasing space. Dropping a few beanbags and a tennis table won’t do the job. All elements need to serve one core purpose: serving the people interacting with that space.
From effectively communicating your brand and culture to clients and visitors to creating a space where employees want to be in and can give their best, office furniture is a powerful tool to help you achieve both things.
Office furniture start from your brand and your audience
Office furniture can say a lot about your company’s identity and culture.
From slides and pool tables, to traditional desk and chairs layouts, there is a whole spectrum of choices out there. However, it all comes down to who you are and what you need. Are you a young, dynamic start up? Or a long-standing, traditional corporate brand? Who are your visitors and what language will resonate with them?
You might want to opt for a nuanced approach, simply weaving your brand palette into the office through floor coverings and upholstery, subtly immersing your people into your values and culture. Or is your brand about innovation and breaking the boundaries? Then you might be after the wow factor – so artist installations, murals and bespoke features might me more up your street. Knowing your brand identity and who you are trying to engage with is the first step to work out your ideal mix. It all comes down to the detail.
What your team needs to give their best
Office furniture is most definitely not all about the looks. You want to create a workplace where your people can thrive, feel good and be in the best position to carry out their tasks. And this means going way beyond picking ergonomic chairs.
Are you a hybrid business or mainly office based? How much does your team need to collaborate or move around the office? Furniture needs to reflect the way your people use the space. It’s a great tool to manage space zoning, even more so if you are using flexible elements that can be shifted round easily. Height adjustable desks, sliding walls, noise-reducing features, soft and hard seating are all elements that can help create the spaces your team needs.
Choose green
There are several factors that contribute towards making office furniture greener (or not). Every year, billions of tons of old office furniture ends up in landfill worldwide. So here are some elements that you can consider when deciding what to buy and where.
Sustainability starts with materials and vendors, as well as the actions you take throughout the lifespan of your office furniture.
Materials play a key role, so ensuring you’re purchasing from vendors that provide information around exactly what goes into your furniture is a great start. The transportation methods they use, their carbon footprint and sourcing process also contribute to the products’ impact on the planet.
Life cycle is also key. It goes without saying that long-lasting items are preferable to their disposable counterparts that give up the ghost after a few years. So selecting the right brands and preferring suppliers that provide high quality products as well as offering warranties and service plans can go a long way.
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