THE WIKI COMMUNITY

Saturday, 21 August 2010

When You're About To Purchase Office Furniture

By Belinda Hamont

Designing and furnishing an office may seem like a daunting task, but it should be given substantial thought and effort. People spend the majority of work days in office spaces, and your office may receive visits from colleagues and clients, so it's important to have a nice office. By purchasing office furniture and carefully designing the space, you're also investing in your work.

Before you go shopping for furniture, it's important to make a list (mentally or physically) of what you think you'll need. Otherwise, you may end up buying more than is really required, which will lead to excess spending and a cluttered atmosphere in your work space. Deciding how much and what kind of furniture you need should come after you ask yourself the following questions.

Who will be using the office? Is it you just you or are you sharing the space with others? If you are the only one working in the office, are you planning to have visitors? If you determine these factors prior to furniture shopping, you will be better able to determine how many desks and chairs are necessary, and how much space in the room can be left empty.

You'll also want to consider how much of your work will be done on the computer and how much will be done on paper. The more paperwork you have, the more storage space you'll need for filing papers. This can also indicate the optimal size for your desk. People with an abundance of paper work will require a larger desk, whereas those working mostly on a computer can use a smaller or medium-sized desk and leave more open space in the office.

You should also consider what kinds of office appliances - such as phone, fax machine, printer, and copier - you will have in the office. For instance, if you plan to have a printer for your own personal use, you will want a desk large enough to accommodate it. On the other hand, if you plan to share a printer with others, you may want a separate desk or shelf for it that's easily accessible to everyone in the room.

Even those working at home should consider setting one room apart - a guest room or library, for instance - to use as a work room. Without a designated office, people can become easily distracted at home. If you furnish an office space, on the other hand, you create a border between home and work that may help you to focus better when working.

Modular office sets are becoming increasingly popular. Available in natural wood colors as well as black, white, honey and so on, modular furniture can even be customized to fit the spaces of the room that you designate for specific furniture.

In general, the items most people need for their offices are desks, chairs, bookshelves, and filing cabinets or other storage compartments. Additional decorations, plants, and so forth can go a long way in personalizing the space, making it accessible to visitors and comfortable for you. As long as you have a plan in advance that indicates what precisely you require and approximate sizes each piece should be, designing and furnishing your office space will be easier and rewarding.

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