Furniture had different roles to play from time to time. At one point it was a symbol of grandeur, whereas now it works on a purely functional angle. The style that companies adopt based on the visual cues will impact the productivity of the space. Many furniture brands like Elite Office Furniture are experts in crafting furniture according to customer preference. They offer different collections like the deluxe infinity, rapid vibe, rapid manager collection and many more.
The office furniture craze is not just for the tech-savvy or the creative people, but every other professional space including the finance sectors that are keen on making their office a cosy space with a standing desking or bean bags and also an abundance of greenery inside. It has also clearly increased the demand for interior designers as they know how to make a difference.
Office space and its brightness and vibrance, have an impact on the place’s beauty, which enthrals the younger staff as well as visitors. The indoor colours and textures with different furniture can transform the environment into one fitting a company.
Studies say that about 10 to 25 per cent of investment in an office space goes for the furniture, and there are even chances to increase. They include computer desks, swivel chairs, storage units, screens and other accessories. There are even chances for the cost to increase to about $84 billion US dollars in 2021, says Statista.
Despite these investments, some offices would still look dull and unappealing, which harms productivity. Investing in the right kind of furniture is a skill and an asset required for a better future. With the increasing recruitment and reduced space, it is crucial to ensure that the desks and seating arrangement are optimised to make use of the available space effectively.
There are many pieces of furniture with sophisticated designs from which one may not get maximum benefit. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate the utility of every piece of furniture, before investing in it.
Sometimes the use of no furniture at all can be beneficial in office scenarios. For instance, a weekly summarising meeting is quick to get over with if you’re on your feet. It can increase productivity and reduce the cost at the same time. There are even several stand up furniture to serve the purpose as it can help take down notes or place the coffee mug.
Along with furniture, the interiors of the building would also have an impact on every employee. Leaving a provision for indoor plants or wall art can have a refreshing appeal to the customers and the employees. Studies have stated that workspaces with exposure to natural environments have had an impact on productivity. It can help the well being of the person, as most of them work for 6 to 8 hours inside a closed building with no exposure to the outside world.
However, the goal is not to install plants next to every window, but to use greenery as a replacement for space dividers, which will have a versatile effect. Furniture can also work as multifunctional equipment, especially in low budget companies. It is a matter of creativity and design on converting the kitchen furniture as one for an internal meeting.
Finally, Always adapt to movable furniture, as they are helpful in both internal and external events. Companies like Elite Office Furniture ensure the availability of these types of furniture. The designs should be accommodative of both the technology as well as cooperation among the employees.
Benefits of Furniture in Work spaces
The majority of the day is usually spent inside an office workstation for the typical employee in today’s world. Numerous elements in the workplace environment might affect a person’s attitude and productivity. For instance, most people would point to the surroundings’ cleanliness, friendliness, or coworkers as positive aspects. This is true, yet a major factor in the atmosphere of the office, the furniture, is frequently completely overlooked. Office furniture that is well-designed can increase productivity and morale among your staff.
1. More productivity, less idle time
When workers are unhappy with their surroundings, it may be difficult to keep their drive to perform hard during working hours. This is the cause of the large amount of idle workers. However, the appropriate desks, chairs, and tables for your business can greatly cut down on idle time and increase everyone’s level of productivity.
2. Ergonomic design
Furniture built with an ergonomic design is the best solution overall for your office equipment. The ergonomic design process focuses on producing furniture and other items that are especially made to maximize comfort and productivity in the workplace. Although aesthetics are important, your team won’t be able to maximize their productivity if they aren’t comfy.
3. Increased happiness and health
Along with productivity levels, office furniture has a big impact on worker wellness. Nobody can work efficiently in a tense office environment. Poor workstation and chair design might cause unneeded aches and pains. It should be a top priority to get office furniture for your space that is made to stop these issues and offer the best working atmosphere possible. By prioritizing the health and wellbeing of your employees, you will put them on the path to success and provide them with the resources they need to succeed.
Types of Furniture in a Workspace
Desks and chairs
Ergonomic chairs and adequate desks are the cornerstones of office furniture. Given that an employee will be sitting for the majority of the workweek, design, comfort level, and material choices should be carefully considered.
A chair is an essential piece of furniture for any workspace, whether it be at home or elsewhere. Office occupations sometimes entail long hours of sitting, which can result in a variety of back issues. Employers could consider investing in adjustable seating that promotes good posture and supports the lower back to stop that.
By connecting modular desks, longer workstations or desks with different surfaces can be made. When used with cubicles, they normally fasten to the wall panels and can be lifted or lowered as needed.
Boards
Whiteboards and smartboards are essential office furnishings. They are ideal for team progress monitoring, project visualization, and brainstorming. In conference rooms and customer intake areas, they will run perfectly.
While more expensive than other options, smart boards are much more interesting.
Cafeteria furniture
Although having a kitchen or cafeteria at your office is not required, it can significantly improve the growth of a strong workplace culture and goodwill among coworkers. It will create a setting where colleagues may swiftly set aside tasks and deadlines in favor of recharging and strengthening relationships.
Shelves, cabinets, drawers
You can install filing cabinets, shelves, and drawers as stand-alone storage devices or as an accessory for desks, cubicles, and other workplaces. Similar to other modular furniture, they are easily adaptable to fit different spaces and can have additional components added to increase storage.
How Do Office Plants Boost Your Productivity and Mood
Office greenery and productivity go hand in hand. Office plants enhance the air quality, concentration, creativity, stress relief, and mood stabilization. Absenteeism can be decreased even by avoiding colds and coughing.
Even though there are many benefits to being green in the workplace, let’s focus on the top benefits for both employees and companies.
1. Stress reduction
According to biophilic design, people react differently to natural settings than they do to urban ones, and they experience a sense of quiet, serenity, and tranquility there. When added to sterile environments, natural components can also help with mental recovery and stress reduction.
In a 2010 UTS study, offices with plants displayed the following benefits:
- 37% reduction in anxiety
- Reduced chronic fatigue by nearly 40%
- 58% reduction in reported depression.
- 44% reduction in office hostility.
2. Air purification
There may be ten times as many toxins inside modern offices as there are outside. Common culprits include mold, formaldehyde, dust mites, carbon monoxide, and chemical cleaning agents. These are all volatile organic compounds that are given off by carpets, furniture, and common appliances like printers and computers.
In your home or place of business, plants can assist control humidity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They enhance your mood while enhancing air quality, reducing fatigue, and reducing cold, cough, and sore throat situations. They aid in air purification and humidity control.
3. Boost productivity
Did you know that bare workplaces are considered to be “the most toxic” for people?
Dr. Chris Knight and other researchers from Exeter University claim that having domestic plants around the office improves productivity. After extensive research, it has been found that having plants and other decorations around increases productivity by 15%. Employees that are more engrossed in their work environment produce more and maintain focus more readily.
4. Minimize noise levels
To reduce noise pollution, trees are frequently planted alongside roadways and interstates. By reducing reverberation time using the same principle, office plants have an impact on the acoustics of the space. Hard surfaces, such concrete or marble walls and floors, effectively absorb sounds that could be distracting and lower employee productivity.
5. Promote creativity
A creativity block is no joke, and if you’re stuck on the same idea for too long, even tiny saplings may be able to help you come up with new ones. To guarantee that your green friend has a positive impact on creativity, natural light, rays, and scents are necessary. Making time to smell the flowers might help you get out of a creative rut because it has long been believed that engaging our senses makes us think more creatively.
6. Boost workers’ wellness and minimize sick days
One benefit they might have on staff wellbeing is a decrease in sick days. They help to purify the air by naturally filtering contaminants out of the settings where they can grow. Your employees may be subject to “sick building syndrome” if your workplace lacks adequate ventilation.
7. Aesthetic advantages
The virtual meditative experience offered by plants enables workers to live happier, healthier, and more effective lives. They also add different shades of green to the office. Office gatherings decorated with green plants will present a pleasant company picture to clients.
Types of Plants in a Workspace
Hanging plants
Spider plants and Devil’s Ivy are excellent hanging plants for offices since they provide a touch of greenery to any area. They are an excellent solution for small offices because they require little floor space and can be hung from the ceiling or the walls.
Potted plants
Potted plants are adaptable choices for any workplace area, including Snake plants and Chinese money plants. For a stronger presence, they can be positioned on desks, tables, or even the floor. Therefore, using plants as office desk decor is a very effective approach to improve the working environment.
Succulents
For workspaces with little natural light, these low-maintenance plants are an excellent choice. Succulents like Aloe Vera and Echeveria are common decorative plants in offices since they require little maintenance and can give a special touch of beauty to any workspace.
Cacti
Easter and Christmas cacti are excellent choices for offices that receive little natural light. They are also reputed to bring luck and wealth to the workplace.
Balcony plants
If your office has a balcony, this is a great way to add some greenery to the area. Snake plants, spider plants, money plants, aloe vera, and many more are examples of balcony plants.
Miniature garden
An excellent method to introduce nature into the workplace and a secure way to encourage collaboration and creativity among staff members is to set up a little garden there.
Wall gardens
These are the most recent designs for offices, and they involve mounting vertical gardens on the walls. This enhances the office’s flora while also enhancing air quality. A great option to add some greenery to an office space is using green walls, commonly referred to as living walls. They can be utilized to divide an area or establish a focal point in a room.
Indoor water features
A source of positive energy and success can be added to your workplace space by installing an indoor water feature, which can also create a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
Desk plants
A desk plant is a great way to bring some greenery into your workspace. They can aid in lowering stress and enhancing air quality. Succulents, cactus, and herbs are a few common types of desk plants.
Vertical gardens
A unique approach to bring some greenery into an office is using vertical plants. They can be utilized to add some greenery to a tiny area or to build a wall of plants.
Conclusion
Workplace productivity can be greatly impacted by the way furniture is arranged and by the presence of plants. Employees can become more calm and focused by using furniture that is comfortable, ergonomic, and visually pleasant, which lowers the possibility of physical discomfort and strain that could impair their productivity.
Author: Alison Lurie