03
How to choose office furniture
Posted under office furnitureby Bernadette Starzee
This article was originally published in Long Island Business News, another Dolan Media-owned publication.
Choosing office furniture can be a daunting task. It’s a considerable expense, and your choices will impact employees’ daily lives for many years to come. And chances are, like many others charged with this responsibility, you’re not exactly an expert on ergonomics or interior design.
Before you shop for cabinets, couches and credenzas, consider carefully your furniture needs – not only now but down the road. It’s important to choose durable furniture to which you can add similar pieces should your business expand in the future. Look for furniture that has been tested for durability and meets the industry’s performance standards. Furthermore, rather than going with trendy styles that may go out of production next year, choose a classic line that will likely be manufactured for many years to come.
Similarly, you don’t want the manufacturer’s doors to be shuttered when the time comes to order more furniture. Manufacturers typically offer warranties, which are only as good as the company that stands behind them. So choose your furniture maker wisely, taking into consideration how long the company has been in business and its reputation.
Naturally, you will have to work within a certain budget. Determining your budget up-front will save you time as you investigate your options. Begin your search by looking at the Web sites of office furniture manufacturers and dealers. This will open your eyes to the world of choices you have, in terms of products, styles and finishes, and it will give you a good idea of how much things cost.
Next, look for a good furniture dealer. If possible, get referrals from people at other businesses. Meet with a few dealer representatives. Do they take the time to listen to your needs, and do they come across as honest and knowledgeable about different solutions? Dealers, who often carry lines of several manufacturers, can help you determine your furniture needs. Ask about the services they provide, from a free consultation in your offices to installation to follow-up service warranties. For instance, will they come to your office to fix a file drawer that goes off track? Will they still be around in a couple of years to honor their service warranties and help you order similar furniture pieces as need dictates?
Think about how important image is to your company. Will existing and potential clients, potential employees and others judge you by the style and quality of your office furniture? If VIPs will have occasion to visit your offices, consider carefully what image your furniture will project about your company.
Consider, also, how much time your employees will spend at their desks. If they will be banging away at their keyboards from 9 to 5, choose high-quality chairs with ergonomic controls that will allow the employee to make adjustments.
Employees should also be able to adjust their armrests and the height of their keyboard and work surface. If, on the other hand, you’re in a service business in which your employees spend much of their time out in the field, your choice of office furniture will have less of an impact.
Depending on your business, you may need to furnish a reception area, conference rooms, executive offices, open-area workstations and lunch rooms. Keep in mind that employees may view their furniture as a commentary of their value to the company.
For the offices of executives, you might choose hardwood or high- quality, wood-laminate desks with a matching credenza and perhaps a small conference table. For common areas, modular or panel systems are particularly popular, as they are affordable and can be configured and reconfigured in a variety of ways. Fabric panels now come in hundreds of colors and a variety of shapes; some systems have glass panels and sliding or swinging doors. Newer systems have power and wire management solutions to support the latest technology.
When selecting furniture for you conference room, think about what the room will be used for. Rather than one large, formal table, consider smaller tables that can be combined for a large meeting or separated so that several groups can meet at the same time. Conference room chairs need not be as sophisticated as workstation chairs, as people will be spending less time sitting in them.
Look for furniture that has been tested for durability and meets the industry’s so-called ANSI-BIFMA performance standards.
Begin your search by looking at the Web sites of office furniture manufacturers and dealers. This will open your eyes to the world of choices you have, in terms of products, styles and finishes, and it will give you a good idea of how much things cost.
Manufacturer warranties are only as good as the company that stands behind them. So choose your furniture maker wisely, taking into consideration how long the company has been in business and its reputation.
Look for a good office furniture dealer, who can help you determine your furniture needs.
For common areas, modular or panel systems are particularly popular, as they are affordable and can be configured in a variety of ways. Fabric panels now come in hundreds of colors and many different shapes.
Add A Comment