Do's and Don'ts of Office Furniture Shopping

Curating a spacious and ornate working space for the workforce needs an ample amount of time, research, attention, effort in alignment with the enterprise’s ideology. Also, it is very important to make every decision keeping in mind the culture and expansion of the company in the future. 

Read on to know the essential do’s and don'ts while choosing furniture for office spaces.

DO: Thoroughly analyse your requirements

Have a close look at the area and your way of operation to decide upon the kind of furniture you would require. Check the movement of the workers, how clustered are the common areas like the printing section, break room, lounge, meeting room. Based on your analysis if you are investing in a chair, try to have a look at its ergonomic aspects, whether it is movable, foldable, flexible, comfortable, or tough, and then finalize it for buying. 

Also, remember to keep a close eye on your budget. Be acutely aware of your expenses, so that you don’t eventually end up spending more than you had decided on.

DON’T: Jump on the bandwagon of trends that don’t go with the essence of your organization

Following a trend might be good when it comes to clothing choices, accessories, or hairstyles. However,  when it comes to choosing office furniture, it isn't advisable. After all, no one can deny that every company and its requirements are starkly different from one another.

Selecting simple yet appealing designs can be very cost-effective. Going for vintage or retro styles instead of trendy styles will cement the fact that the furniture would still look as good as new despite being a few years old down in the future. That’s smart, isn’t it?

DO: Keep your brand identity intact at all costs at all times

We know how concessions or buying in bulk at low prices might sound appealing, but this may be your source of regret in the long run.  Whether you buy a chunk of chair made up of below-standard material, available at a lesser price, and place it in your office, not only will it look out of place, it will also, unfortunately, be a less than ideal reflection of your workplace.

Hence, it is very important to not just remember the aesthetics of the office, but also the functionality of the very furniture, that matches with the brand and values of the company. 

Initial high investment for furniture may sound like a lot and might make you break out into heavy sweat. But then, you also exclusively get the benefit of washing hands off unnecessary repairs and out-of-where replacements. 

For instance, if your workplace furniture deteriorates on a 10-year term and the warranty also ceases after five years, one might have to go through replacement charges, before the setting of the budget, and one has to start from scratch all over again.

DON’T: Forget to keep future growth in mind

One of the worst blunders can be buying your set of furniture without keeping future growth in mind. Browse through the entire host of office furniture in the design that you are purchasing, to visualize what it will be like to buy that conference table, of the same design in a few years into the future.

Try to analyse how furniture will eventually adjust to modernization and technology in the future. For instance, today's office is all about laptops, air conditioners, glass partitions, mobile phone chargers, and more. Ten years ago, who would have imagined our offices to look like this. Similarly, try to invest in furniture that would not urgently require any drastic changes that might come up due to advancement in technology, and there’s still room for adjustment.

Also, always strive for keeping your workspace flexible. Why? Well, opting for flexible, reconfigurable, and movable furniture, will readily offer chances to alter the floor plans as and when required. The emergence of fascinating wireless networks has proven that certain workspaces are not required. 

• DO: Keep the comfort of the employees at the forefront

The office is supposed to be the second home of the employees. But it won’t genuinely feel like one if they are not happy at their workplace, isn’t it?  This is why it is important to take tiny steps to make employees feel at peace when they work. From the fabric to its colour, to its placement; choose the furniture that will make your employees comfortable. After all, if your employees feel comfortable, they can bring something great to the table. 

Conclusion 

The ‘perfect’ office furniture strikes a balance between practical, appealing, aligned with the brand identity. What good will office furniture do, that only looks good but has a functional aspect that is much less than standard? Is that worth the hard-earned money? 

This is why when choosing to buy in bulk, always make sure to have a look at the designs that keep utility on priority, ergonomics, and don't compromise on durability at any cost.

Moral? Employees' productivity is not bereft from the kind of furniture office spaces are packed with. So remember to choose wisely!