The times when ordinary pedestal desks and soft chairs were used in offices and other office premises are long gone. They were replaced by specialized office furniture. It not only pleases the eye with its modern design, but allows you to make the work process as comfortable as possible.
What is office furniture?
It is important to understand what office furniture is and how it differs from household furniture. It includes both sets and single items of laconic design and increased ergonomics, whose main purpose is to maintain corporate spirit and work atmosphere. The complete set of such furniture may vary, as standard it includes desks and chairs for ordinary employees and management, shelving and cabinets for storing documents, cabinets for personal belongings, armchairs and sofas for visitors.
Additional items
Once the main pieces of furniture are in place, you can think about additional elements. A coffee table, floor vase, wall painting and other details will be a great addition to the style of your office.
Furniture plant STOROSS has in its assortment many compact pieces of furniture that will fit perfectly into even the smallest office. We will help you create a cozy working atmosphere, not overloaded with unnecessary elements. STOROSS – office furniture for rooms of any size.
Features of office furniture
Office furnishings are faced with a difficult task - to create the most business-like atmosphere in the room without compromising the comfort of all its inhabitants, combining compact dimensions with remarkable spaciousness. Upholstered pieces of furniture (chairs, armchairs of softness class 3 and 4) should provide comfort to those sitting on them throughout the whole working day, without giving the opportunity to relax too much. Modular office furniture leaves room for imagination - thanks to its variability, it is easy to “customize” it to the current needs of employees, arranging it in the most convenient way.
Requirements that office furniture must meet:
- Reliability and ergonomics
. Labor productivity directly depends on how comfortable it is to sit in a desk chair and work at a computer desk. Tabletops should be located at a height of at least 75 cm from the floor, and chairs should provide reliable back support. The size of the table should be sufficient to accommodate a computer monitor, keyboard and the necessary minimum of office supplies. At the same time, the furniture should not be fragile, because it will be used for at least eight hours every working day. - Capacity
. Working in an office involves a huge amount of paper documentation. To accommodate folders with various reports, plans, projects and summaries, you need spacious shelving with spacious shelves and drawers. - Environmental friendliness
. No matter what class the furnishings of the office space belong to, economy-class office furniture, as well as elite designer models, should not harm the health of users during operation. - Laconic design
. Pretentious details, bright colors and tacky prints disrupt the work spirit and are appropriate only in companies whose activities are creative. In a regular office environment, healthy minimalism, maximum functionality and corporate colors are encouraged.
Is it possible to find more affordable alternatives?
If you need to cut your budget, you can replace some items with more affordable ones. But this is not always justified, which we openly talk about and give arguments - there are cases when a replacement is undesirable, because it will worsen the final picture. For example, in the Metso&Outotec office the reception desk is made of stone (we have already written about this project). The customer wanted to use a more affordable material, such as enamel. But we were able to defend the original proposal, arguing that:
- the stone looks more presentable;
- it is more durable: it can always be sanded, but it is more difficult to remove scratches from the enamel - you will have to re-glue the film;
- According to the idea, there are many joints on the stand, which are too noticeable on the enamel, because of which the feeling of a monolithic structure would be lost.
Tell designers what budget you have and listen to recommendations. Competent specialists can always predict how this or that replacement will affect the interior.
Types of office furniture
Depending on the purpose, all office furniture can be divided into three groups:
- For management
. As a rule, this is expensive furniture made from natural materials, which not only provides a comfortable work process, but also emphasizes high status. Designer office furniture, which is used to equip the offices of top management, is a kind of face of the company, indicating its well-being. - For ordinary employees
. Simple, reliable models in which functionality prevails over design delights. - For visitors
. Chairs and sofas on which clients can wait for the reception or sit directly during it.
Office furniture for staff
When choosing furniture for an office, you often have to solve a difficult problem: how to place everything necessary for the life and productive work of this very office in a limited area. Modular furniture systems come to the rescue, allowing employees to be placed facing each other, limiting the areas for each of them with special partitions. The basic workplace includes a computer desk, swivel chair and side table. When choosing a model, the emphasis is on its strength and ergonomics.
Office furniture for executives
In addition to its direct purpose, the furnishings of the boss’s office should also perform a representative function, signaling the level of income of the enterprise. Expensive office furniture made of valuable wood, genuine leather, and the like are used. In addition to a desk, a chair and cabinets for documentation and personal belongings, the furniture set for the manager includes a module for holding meetings with the required number of comfortable chairs.
Office furniture for clients
Just as a theater begins with a coat rack, so for visitors any office begins with a reception area. It, like the manager’s office, is the calling card of the organization. The set of office furniture for reception staff includes a reception desk. It is not only the secretary's work area, but also a meeting place for potential clients and should be convenient for both parties. Modern modular models make it possible to install such a stand in any area (near a wall or in a corner) of the reception area.
What affects the price and when should you pay more?
The dispersion of prices for visually identical furniture can be confusing: it is not clear where such a difference comes from and whether it is worth paying more. Sometimes it's worth it. Let us explain using the example of office chairs.
In appearance, a chair that costs more may be no different from its cheaper counterparts. The secret is in technology: many European manufacturers invest large sums in studying the structure of the spine, its diseases and their connection with body position during work. They create chair models that promote maximum productivity - when a person is comfortable and pain-free, he can fully concentrate on work. We recommend not saving on work chairs. The table may be simple, but the chair must be individually adjustable and comfortable to sit in.
What is included in the office furniture set?
The minimum set of items that includes modern office furniture:
- tables: computer and desk, additional sections for them;
- armchairs (chairs): simple and swivel;
- wardrobes;
- side cabinets for equipment;
- racks, cabinets and add-ons for documentation: with open or glazed shelves.
Office desks
Modern models of office desks delight the eye with a variety of design solutions:
- Linear
. Rectangular, proven by centuries of classics, fits perfectly into rooms of any size. It is convenient to place such office furniture close to the wall and thereby save space. Disadvantages: presence of sharp corners and modest design. - Angular
. They help to use the corners of the room, but are not suitable for placement in other parts of the room. - Figured
(round, oval). A minimally traumatic modification that looks impressive and brings employees together. Disadvantages: requires a lot of free space.
The minimum height of any computer or office model is 75 cm. Some of them also provide the ability to adjust the height (lifting mechanism options - gas lift and electric drive), but they are less reliable and more expensive. The conference room table is distinguished by an elongated tabletop (can reach 3 meters) and the presence of special holes for connecting computer equipment. Unlike desks made of durable and safe materials (plastic, MDF, chipboard), conference models have an impressive design: tabletops made of glass, precious wood, and so on.
Office chairs
If the executive chair is not only a piece of furniture, but also a status item, illustrating the rank and level of well-being of its owner, then an orthopedic office chair is one of the tools of production. Labor productivity depends on how comfortable it is for an ordinary employee to sit on it. You should choose this piece of office furniture based on two parameters: ergonomics and reliability. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a swivel model on wheels or a regular classic chair with legs, it should provide lumbar support and be stable.
Upholstered office furniture
To create the most pleasant impression of the office for visitors, to brighten up their time waiting for an appointment with the boss or manager, and thereby add advantages to the company’s reputation - these tasks can be easily accomplished by properly selected upholstered office furniture: sofas and armchairs. When choosing a model, pay attention to:
- Convenience
. The sofa should not be too soft so that a person of any build and age does not “sink” while sitting on it and does not have difficulty getting up. At the same time, sitting on it should be comfortable, which is provided by armrests, a high back, and a headrest. - Upholstery material
. Taking into account the fact that upholstered office furniture will have to bear increased load, it should be easy to clean and not attract small debris and dust. The ideal option is leather (artificial or natural).
Office furniture - shelving
In the course of its activities, any office very quickly “overgrows” with a pile of papers: orders, instructions, regulations and project documentation fill it with cosmic speed. Cabinet office furniture: cabinets and shelving helps to clear desks of paper heaps and at the same time keep everything at hand. The most convenient are hybrid models (rack cabinets), in which some of the shelves are open, and some are closed with doors. The optimal width of the shelves is 35 cm. The material of the racks can be different (wood, metal, plastic, chipboard), the choice depends on the planned load on it.
We allocate enough working space for staff
Of course, if the office itself is small, then there is no need to talk about a large area for workspaces, but then you shouldn’t count on good returns from the staff and a stylish appearance of the premises either. Unfortunately, according to building codes, 6 meters is enough for a person to feel comfortable and at the same time do his job well. But in reality, it turns out that these meters are not enough, and the employee has to huddle in a cramped space, which is surrounded by office cabinets, an office desk and other office furniture. And what’s surprising is that it’s enough to allocate a little more space to employees, arrange staff furniture correctly, make the room well ventilated and lit, and labor productivity increases significantly. So, by saving on square meters, you lose much more.
Office Furniture Styles
The interior space of the office can be implemented in the following styles:
- Classic
. Office furniture of simple lines, decorated with antique motifs, made of natural wood or its high-quality imitation. - Neoclassical
. Strict lines, wooden surfaces, dark fabric or leather upholstery. - Country
. The light style brings a homely touch to the decor. Light (pastel or white) office furniture made from natural materials with a simplified design. - Minimalism
. Functionality is put at the forefront, simple lines reign and decor is completely absent. Calm color scheme: office furniture in gray, light shades of brown, black. - High tech
. The quintessence of modern technology. Office furniture metal (chrome, nickel), glass. - Pop Art
. The most incredible combinations of various materials: glass, plastic, metal and wood, embodied in bold forms.
Where to buy: in Russia or abroad
Russian or foreign manufacturers? Our choice is European factories. Furniture from Europe is more expensive for Russian customers due to the high exchange rate, customs clearance and delivery costs, but it lasts a long time, which allows you to save money in the long run.
Another advantage of European manufacturers is that they, for the most part, are focused on environmental friendliness and environmental protection. This trend has not yet reached Russia en masse. Abroad, they actively use recycled plastic and other secondary materials to produce furniture, use alternative energy sources, etc., which reduces costs.
Dry cleaning of office furniture
Used at least eight hours, five days a week, office furniture is subject to significant stress. Dust that settles on it during use not only spoils the appearance, but also affects the service life of the upholstery. The only way out is regular cleaning of office furniture by specialized cleaning companies. It should include vacuum extraction of dust and dirt, cleaning with special foam products, removing stains and applying a wax coating if we are talking about leather upholstery.
The optimal solution for a meeting room
The negotiation room is the next most important room in the office after the manager’s office. It accommodates more people at the same time.
- The table is the most important piece of furniture in this room. Its shape can be oval, which will have a beneficial effect on the outcome of many meetings. The psychological implications of this technique are described in the paragraph above. A T-shape is also acceptable, which facilitates the most compact placement of partners. It must be chosen if free space is limited.
- In this room seats in the form of chairs are unacceptable. Only comfortable chairs with well-chosen parameters. Their height from the floor should be in the range of 45-50 cm. The depth and width of the seat should be 40-50 cm. The height of the backrest should not exceed 45 cm and have an inclination of about 5 degrees. The upholstery should have anatomical protrusions in the right places to make the process of long negotiations as comfortable as possible. Armchairs that meet these requirements will be equally comfortable for all guests.
In terms of optimal ambiance, other pieces of furniture in the meeting room are optional . An exception may be a stand with a surface for writing with special markers. It is used to conduct visual calculations or display various diagrams. This is a sought-after item in the offices of insurance or advertising companies. To demonstrate video presentations, the room must be equipped with a projector connected to a laptop. All equipment should be located on a separate small table with drawers for storing various disks and drives. A special white surface is placed on the wall, which is located perpendicular to the conference table. It broadcasts video, and when not needed, it can be rolled up into a small cylinder using a cable mechanism.
If the area allows, place small sofas and coffee tables where you can relax during breaks. A water cooler or additional cabinets for storing frequently used documents are also welcome. With the correct arrangement of all the necessary items, there should be enough free space for free movement.
The minimum area of a room that is suitable for organizing a meeting room is at least 6 m². The presence of a window opening will contribute to a calmer and more relaxed conversation. This is due to the subconscious reluctance of people to stay in a closed room for a long time.
High-quality materials are the key to durability
How long the selected furniture will last and what appearance it will have directly depends on the selected materials. When arranging an office, you should take into account that all elements will experience long-term and regular loads, so you should not save money and choose cheap models.
- For production, chipboard, fibreboard, MDF or plastic are used. In 90% of cases, it is, nevertheless, chipboard with various coatings - laminated, veneered or film. The minimum sheet thickness is 16 mm. This is the most economical, but also less durable option. A sheet with a thickness of 16 mm at a length of 700 mm will be non-bending, while with a thickness of 22 mm this figure reaches 900 mm. This is an important characteristic when choosing racks that require long-term storage of large quantities of heavy documents and cabinets with built-in shelves. Countertops can have an average thickness - from 18 to 20 mm. Be sure to ask the seller to present a certificate confirming environmental safety . The health of employees directly depends on this. Chipboard consists of pressed chips, which are held together by polyester resin. Poor quality components can emit harmful substances throughout their entire service life . A table made of natural wood should only be purchased for the boss’s office or meeting room. The surface of the tables should be smooth , that is, the covering material should not imitate the texture of natural wood. This will make it difficult to do even such a basic thing as writing something on a piece of paper.
- Metal frames will help extend the service life which will significantly strengthen the structure of the tables.
- The upholstery material is responsible for preserving the aesthetic appearance of soft elements. For employee chairs, you should not choose chairs upholstered in leather. They look stylish, of course, but they won’t last long. Over time, it will crack at the kinks and crumble. In addition, sitting on a poor-quality surface, especially in the warm season, is not very comfortable. The same applies to the waiting area. material has excellent strength characteristics . An extensive color palette will allow you to choose the most suitable shade.
- The filler material is responsible for the ability of the seats and backrest to quickly restore their original shape. The best option would be polyurethane foam. This is the same foam rubber with a higher density. It can last about 10 years even with active use. It is not susceptible to the formation of microorganisms, does not accumulate dust, is air and moisture permeable, environmentally friendly and safe.
- To pay attention accessories. High-quality drawer guides will prevent premature failure of the sliding mechanism. High-quality hinges for fastening doors and handles are also important. Distinguish a factory product The markings that will be present on each fastening element will help. Of course, it is very easy to fake it, but irresponsible sellers will never waste time on this.
