Your business is your home-away-from-home. It must be relevant to your office space and corporate setting. It must be efficiently sized and comfortably outfitted. You must have all the accessories to make your business look and feel just right. We’ll help you figure out exactly what to look for and how to choose the best furniture for you.
How much room do you have?
Some offices or businesses have open spaces, high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and lots of natural light coming in. Some businesses are cozy little pen-and-paper joints. They are typically small, efficient, and neatly organized. If you offer services to customers, you may have a reception area. If you own a restaurant, you’ll need tables and chairs for your customers.
Small spaces should have small, ergonomic furniture which fits nicely in your tiny space. If you have a crowded area, such as in a restaurant, consider taking a table or two away to make more room. This will give the illusion of opulence and space. If you like the “dive bar” feel, crowd more furniture in and turn up the music.
Is your business cozy, warm, open, free, light, or dark?
What kind of business do you have? Is it a cool, soothing accounting office with glass and a small waterfall in the waiting area? Is it a cozy little bistro with an outdoor grill and Tiki bar with a few outdoor tables? Ask your staff how they see your company. Make sure you write down everyone’s opinions.
Your furniture must reflect the high standards and values you hold for yourself and your customers. For restaurants, this is especially important. The ambiance of food and fellowship must be well-constructed. Macy Hooper from VegaDirect.ca says that high-quality tables and chairs are an important part of making your restaurant stand out. This quality is shown in how you design your furniture to match the needs of your business, not the other way around.
Some business owners buy office and business furniture, cheap and attempt to make their work environment more casual. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is more comfortable. With low-quality furniture, comfort can quickly fade. Easily torn seats, cheap vinyl, and loose table legs are all liabilities in your company. Your people will suffer, and that will make the quality of your business decline further. Budget properly for a few, high-quality pieces and buy more as your business grows.
Quality Over Quantity: It will look better and last longer
A careless business owner would say that customers can’t tell the difference between similar chairs of widely varying prices. However, we can tell the difference between sturdiness and shakiness. We all know how quality feels and how cheap materials feel.
Even if your customers don’t register the quality consciously, they will definitely register it subconsciously. Fortunately, your customer base will dictate how much money you can spend on quality. If your restaurant caters to families, get durable cloth chairs that don’t show crayon marks. If your restaurant is high-end and adults-only, you can buy as expensive as you like without fear of damage to your furniture.
Health clinics, law offices, and boardrooms should have materials which don’t show ink stains or highlighter marks. Accounting firms and tech companies are almost entirely computer-based and can make the office furniture as luxurious as possible, provided there is room for it.
Your staff better have a say in the decor
As a responsible company owner or manager, you will want to bring your staff in on this particular decision. A few unusually sized employees (in height, weight, or comfort) may need specialty furniture brought in. Their comfort will significantly lift their moods, permanently. This is a good investment for your company.
What if someone has an unusual suggestion that everyone likes instantly? Isn’t that information that you’d like to have? The kooky, out-of-the-box thinkers are perfect for thinking of solutions or fun ways to design the office with a nice, fresh feel. If their idea is popular, go with it. Some people may say they don’t like change, but what they really dislike is “negative” change. If you follow a popular vote, that is good employee care.
Office and company furniture almost feels as personal as home furnishings. Do you ever feel that what you have doesn’t quite feel right? Perhaps you should go back to the drawing board and start over with a new plan. Get everyone’s input. Rent some furniture for a while. If it feels good to everyone, make it a purchase. Your business is unique. You and your staff are special. Make sure that your office furniture matches this unique temperament.