|
June 3, 2008
Office furniture has changed significantly over recent years; whereas a simple desk was sufficient in the pre-IT days of the 1980s, the 1990s saw ever increasing monitor sizes and therefore much bigger desks. As more staff were spending increasing amounts of time at their desks using the IT equipment, ergonomics played a bigger part in office design and the large corner desk became commonplace. However since the flat screen TFT monitor has become the norm, such large desks are less necessary, and with more offices going paper-less the actual workspace is now getting smaller. Most people now order wave type desking (rather than corner type), or even straight desks or benching. The space freed up by smaller desks can then be used to fit in alternative working zones, such as hotdesks and breakout areas. There are also changes to the trends in the furniture finishes, with a sleek minimal look being the current vogue. The shiny white “Ipod” look has become very popular replacing the standard pale wood finishes in many modern offices, and this is often offset with a few designer style chairs to give a contemporary look.
If you would like impartial advice on your office furniture, give us a call. We are fully independent and so not tied to any single supplier or product range and so can recommend the best possible solution for your needs.
May 30, 2008
There are many ways to look to improve your office design without necessarily having to spend a fortune. Removing unnecessary partitions and opening up the space always helps as this can improve natural light, air flow and circulation, and usually helps to make your office look bigger. If your internal partitions are not structural this is relatively easy and inexpensive to do, and can totally transform your space. Often existing furniture can be re-used and it is possible to re-cover chairs and screens to give a new appearance at a reduced cost. It is even possible to replace just the tops of desks giving a new work surface, without needing to replace the whole desk, and as well as saving money, this saves wastage – helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
If you would like our advice as to how to improve your office design without spending a fortune; give us a call for some bright ideas.
April 30, 2008
Small business owners and companies are always looking for cutting down on cost. Buying new office furniture can be extremely expensive. That is why business owners and companies prefer to re-use their old office furniture to save money while furnishing their offices.
If you are working within a strict budget, re-using your office furniture is often the preferred solution. After proper research and exploring the various market options and resources, it is possible to combine new with old office furniture that will not only look good but will also be received well by employees and customers.
Re-using some of your old office furniture can save money - as much as 50 per cent over the cost of buying all new office furniture. Of course, you need to do thorough research and ideally use a specialist office space design company who is willing to work with you on this, such as Space Planning UK.
Make sure that your old office furniture has minimal wear and tear and has not been used for too long a period. Once some finishing touches are given, most people cannot tell the difference between the old and new office furniture.
When you buy new office furniture, the resale value can depreciate to 25 per cent or less of the original purchase price over the number of years. On the other hand, if money is not a major concern, it makes sense to buy new and customised office furniture as you and your employees need.
When shopping around for office furniture on a budget, the more detailed information you have, the easier it will be deciding how to design your office and how much furniture you really need.
Don’t purely focus on cost when buying your office furniture, although naturally that is an important factor. Keep in mind comfort and convenience in mind too. For example, make sure any workstation you are buying has enough leg room space for the people who will be sitting there and working the whole day and any office chairs are easy on the back.
You may wish to re-use some of your existing office furniture. There has been a remarkable increase in the number of refurbished office furniture options but few office design companies will actively look to re-use existing office furniture. Space Planning UK is one company that is happy to re-use your old furniture and incorporate it into your office design.
In fact, if you look to combine some of your old office furniture with the new, it can look just as good as an entirely new design with a few key pieces of new office furniture.
April 29, 2008
Companies and small scale business owners are always looking for ways to save money. If you are looking for cost-saving and effective office furniture ideas, here are a few:
1. Create a plan – Do not rush out and buy the workstation, desk or chair that you see on sale at the local office supply dealer or store. Instead, do some analysis and spend some time for devising an effective office furniture plan.
2. Evaluate your furniture needs - Make it a point to evaluate and exactly work out your current and projected office furniture requirements. Try to strike a balance between the two. Keep in mind how much space you have for the office furniture along with plans for hiring additional employees.
3. Get employee feedback - It is your employees who will be using office furniture the most, so seeking their feedback is a must apart from taking into account expert opinion.
4. Check various office furniture options and resources - check various office furniture options and resources available. Employ a specialist in the area as it can save you money in the long run by using space more effectively
April 28, 2008
Here are some practical ideas when looking to buy storage units and office chairs:
• Shelving (or storage units) is something that you will require if your workplace has a constant flow of documents and information in paper or paperless format (magazines, books, files, discs, CDs, etc). You need to consider the amount of space available to fit in your documents.
• When you buy a used storage unit, desk or any furniture, check whether the moving parts are properly functional. Check if the drawers smoothly open and shut. See if the keyboard racks move properly.
• If there is a lock, ensure that it is functional. See to it that you are given keys to it!
• Take into account your budget. Pine wood is always cheaper than other alternative woods.
• When buying chairs for your employees, it is critical to understand that they will be using the chairs for many hours a day, hence they should be as comfortable, supportive and relaxing as possible.
• Sitting in adjustable and flexible height chairs - with arm supports and a high-back- your employees will feel comfortable, and can keep a healthy posture. This will result in increased productivity.
deally, you should use a company such as Space Planning UK to ensure you get the optimum space from your office. When doing their office design, Space Planning UK will also re-use your old or existing furniture.
Everybody needs a nice, proper and convenient desk to perform routine and critical tasks at the workplace in an efficient manner. Whether it is for computer work, paper work or perhaps simply for storage, office desks need to meet all your needs. Desks come in all different shapes and sizes.
t is important to know whether an employee’s desk is right for him on the basis of the tasks he or she is expected to perform. Is it at the right height and size to allow comfortable functioning? Are there optimum cabinets or keyboard racks that enhance the space made available for using the desk? By asking such questions, you may get an idea of the exact space requirements so that you can customise desks for respective departments.
here are various styles, designs and sizes of workstations. Accordingly, you may select the desk types that can easily accommodate computers and other accessories. Keep in mind the fact that your employees will be using the furniture for several hours a day; something trendy, elegant but uncomfortable or unusually shaped can affect the comfort and productivity of your workers. Functionality rather than look and style should be the key criterion for selection of office desks. Be sure that you get the one that is most comfortable and convenient for your employees.
April 26, 2008
Having a professional looking office is critical if you are trying to impress your current clients and customers. Think of the impact good office furniture has on a new client visiting your office and you will immediately appreciate the importance of office furniture. Office furniture is a part of the overall decor of your office; it plays a vital role in creating a good first impression on your visiting clients and the last thing you want to show them is that you have no pride in your office work place.
Good office furniture can be quite expensive and investing huge amount of money on office furniture can affect your office budget considerably. It provides comforts to your employees, creates a healthy work environment and helps them concentrate on their work and thus resulting in increased productivity levels. It is critical to invest to make their workplace like their home workplace, i.e. more dynamic, comfortable and productive. What you need is office furniture that caters to cost and comfort of office furniture (more…)
April 25, 2008
When the modern office replaced the “old office” the old office furniture was also replaced. Modern office furniture is designed to reflect the needs of dynamic and creative business companies.
Today companies, trying to distinguish themselves from others, often use their office environment, workspaces, technological and communication systems as key factors in distinguishing themselves from their competitors.
Modern office furniture products need to be flexible and stylish, but most importantly adjustable, comfortable and functional. To maximize performance and efficiency, today’s manufacturers are constantly designing new modern office furniture products that can keep up with our rapidly changing requirements. Innovative, well-designed, and individually-centric modern office furniture products provide all the features and benefits of costly alternatives, proving that style, grace, and features can come at an affordable value. (more…)
April 24, 2008
When one thinks of buying office chairs, one realises that price rather than quality has always been a major issue. What matters to most buyers is cost! People look to buy an office chair, which will offer the best deal for their limited budget. The common thinking is that once a stylish desk has been put into place, chairs need not be equally attractive and pleasing in appearance. Criteria for buying an office chair are usually simplicity of look and flexibility of usage.
t is critical to identify the best quality chair according to your needs and budget. The first thing to check is the adjustability as all chairs are different. The next thing to consider is the fabric. Budget leather chairs can make you feel uncomfortable after spending a long time sitting at a computer desk. Though good quality luxury leather chairs are usually expensive, they enhance the office set-up.
hink of the office chair as your own home mattress; you perhaps spend as much time on it if not more than your own bed. A relaxing mattress is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The same logic should apply when you buy an office chair. Importantly, office chairs should be ergonomically correct.
« Newer Posts — Older Posts » |
|
|
|
Copyright 2007 -Space
Planning UK Ltd- Company number 5269824 - VAT number 854 8974 63
Registered Office: 3rd Floor Montpeilier House, 99 Montpelier Road,
Brighton, BN1 3BE
|
