Sunday, October 31, 2010

How To Make The Best Of Your Workspace With The Right Office Furniture

By Martin Kruger

The choice of office furniture is important for many reasons. Not only does is have to be practical and make the best use of the space available, it should also be visually appealing, good value for money and ergonomically designed. A well furnished office will help give employees a positive attitude and a sense of pride in their work.

The choice of office furniture depends on the budget, the amount of space and layout of the area, the number of people working in it and their position in the company. In a communal workspace, furniture will need to be smaller and kept to a minimum, while an office for a senior employee can be decorated more elaborately.

A desk is the most important priority when decorating an office. This should be as large as space allows, so that it can support a number of items including a computer and associated equipment, telephone, document holder and personal mementos without being over crowded. The user should also be able to write easily without having to move the other items. A computer desk is suitable for this purpose, especially one with a retractable shelf, which can be pulled out to write on. It is also helpful to have drawers to keep essential items such as stationary so that they are within reach but do not cause unnecessary clutter. Try to position desks so that they are in front of a window rather than opposite it to prevent eye strain caused by reflected light on the monitor screen.

Alongside a desk, a good quality chair is extremely important, especially for staff who spend long hours sitting. Ergonomically designed chairs are height adjustable and should allow a user to sit comfortably with both feet on the floor and the legs at a 90 degree angle. The back should always be supported and their should be plenty of padding on both the seat and back rest.

Filing cabinets are also necessary to keep paperwork well-organised and easy to find. These are usually metal and have 2 or 4 lockable drawers on rollers in which documents can be kept in folders arranged alphabetically or by subject matter.

Many workers like to relax during coffee and lunch breaks, and a few cosy armchairs or couches give an office a homely feel. For senior employees, a nice lounge suite and coffee table is often necessary for entertaining important clients.

Personal touches can give a work place a lift, and furniture such as bookshelves or wall units, on which photos and ornaments can be placed, will make the space more decorative as well as providing more storage. Small pieces of furniture like side tables for vases of flowers and holders help purify the air and add a splash of colour to the room.

Furniture should be placed with the overall layout of the office in mind. The space should never be too cluttered and staff should be able to move about freely. This is particularly important in the case of an emergency evacuation. A well-designed office will help ensure that its occupants are happy and able to work productively. - 42635

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