Office Interiors Don’t Have To Be Staid
Would you like your place of business to be a bit out of the ordinary? Would you like to project an image that is a cut above the competition? Do you crave to be seen as something new and exciting? These ideals can be reached with creative office interiors.
Far too many businesses rely on the tired and trite floor plans that have been joked about for years. Are you surrounded by gray cubicles and cheap looking motel style carpeting? Is an exciting addition to your office space another silk plant in a basket? Do your customers politely decline to take a seat and wait for appointments outside or at a nearby coffee shop?
Fortunately, this is the type of accident that can be easily overcome with a bit a planning and an eye toward image. Most companies either already have an image to focus on, or are desperately seeking an effective image to focus on. Where your work gets done is an ideal place to begin honing this image conscious ideal. You can begin by, literally, thinking out side of the box, as in cutting down on cubicles. Open spaces foster open minds.
What are you using for furniture? Does your waiting area look like a lobby or like something from a bad movie? It is comfortable or industrial? Visitors and customers want to sit in a relaxing and comfortable space. Get some really nice settees and put that foam and pine box sofa out to pasture. Use cozy tones and maybe some wood for a down-home feel. Offer them the nice coffee cups and spoons. And take down those pictures that came form a discount store.
However, you might be a company that is not after comfortable at all. You could be seeking a harder edged theme at that. Here are opportunities as well. If you are fast paced, show it with high tech themes and graphics. Powerful lighting makes a space seem quick like a video game, and bright bold colors scream look at me. A powerful business statement can go either way, so do what feels right for yours.
Lighting, as mentioned, is a powerful emotion building source. More importantly is the light that you will be working under. Poor lighting makes for poor output and will create poor employee attitudes. This is proven by science, as are the ways to eliminate these problems. The answer is in the sun. Use the actual sun, or recreate it with proper bulbs, but do this simple thing for the mental well being of your office denizens.
Along the same lines as proper lighting are the ways to use colors. These are also powerful and emotional tools that can be utilized in creating a viable workspace as well as an appropriate image. Some colors soothe while others sedate. Some cause you to cogitate while others cause you to agitate. Clearly color choice should be highly regarded, and a bit of research will do you a world of good.
Finally, the bottom line may well rest on your bottoms. Seriously, the chairs you sit on can mean the difference between production and the need for security protection. When forced to captain a seat for large portions of the day, that seat should be of the highest quality. When designing office interiors, remember the posteriors.
Office Furniture For The New Home Office
Many people are now moving away from working for companies. The entrepreneur spirit is driving them to start their own companies and work from home. The one thing that this small business owners need to consider is the importance of setting one room aside to use as a an office. The room should be furnished with Office Furniture, even if it is just a desk, chair and computer.
This room should be inviting and well lit. Try to select a room that has good lighting from the outside. That way they can always say they have an office with a window. It is also important to have a lamp that provides quality lighting. Select a lamp and light bulb that can provide a strong clean light that is easy on the eyes. Most eye strain is caused by staring at the computer for too long and the other common reason is poor reading light.
When making this office at home, consider some the things that were terrible about a corporate office. Also consider some of the good things. No privacy could translate to a door with a lock to keep interruptions out. A place to focus would be a great benefit. The office should separate home life from work life.
There will not be an IT department monitoring your every move if you are working for yourself. This can be a big relief if you like watching television on the internet or chatting. The other thing that people take advantage of is the loose dress code of the house. If you want to work in a robe then there probably isn’t anything stopping you. If it is required to have a video conference then make sure to at least close the robe.
The office should have a lot of space. Select furniture that will not compress the room too much. Also don’t try to overload the room with too many objects. It will be easier to maintain organization without too many objects to have to consider.
Now that there is a home office, make sure to keep it stocked with the usual office supplies. Always make sure that there is enough printer paper and ink for the printer. Also keep a good amount of pens and paper clips available. Usually in a corporate environment there is a person in charge of these supplies. At the new office it is probably up to you to keep up with these supplies.
Consider getting a floor mat for under the chair. If the chair has wheels then the floor mat will allow it to roll in a smooth way. These mats also protect the floor underneath the chair. Carpet can become worn very easily when there is the high traffic of a rolling chair on top of it. It is also good for a wooden floor to prevent scuffs and scratches.
Choosing Office Furniture can be an exciting adventure. It is a time that allows you to express what type of person you are. Is your office going to be fun and exciting? Maybe you like a stuffy looking office, that’s OK too. Whatever you want, it will be you making the decisions now.
Simple Ideas For Office Renovations
The idea of renovating an office can be scary, especially if you are considering doing it yourself. The do it yourself trend may have you thinking of sprucing up your workspace without paying for a costly interior designer or contractor. Offices in desperate need of repair may require a few bold additions, but many offices and rooms can be completely made over with a few smartly selected statement pieces. Here are a few great tips and ideas to make your office renovations go smoothly.
A good contractor should know the purpose and function of the office because many of the options available need to be customized to your specific needs. Make sure you give your contractor or decorator specific information on what you want. If you do not do this, you might not get what you expected.
Renovations can range from large projects to minor redecorations. Either way, you should expect the office interior or exterior to be painted. You may want your walls to be a different color, or just want a fresh coat of paint on the color you already have. If your interior is being painted, you will have to move all your furniture away from the walls, and out of the room completely if possible. Talk to your contractor and decide what needs to be done prior to painting.
When you are happy with the color of your walls, you will want to think about adding some decorations. There are a few different types of art that can be added to walls. The reason you want to add wall art is because it will make your office look classier. Hanging art shows that you have good taste and that you care about your space. Large paintings, decorative mirrors and mountable metal pieces can be combined or used individually. Another plus to wall decor is that it is removable, which is especially important when renting an office space.
Depending on the function of your office, you might try adding some more stylish furniture. This technique is great for offices that have a waiting room area. An overstuffed chair in a corner can really bring a room to light, and is easy combined with coffee tables or end tables for a fuller look. Buying new furniture does not have to be expensive, there are hundreds of consignment companies and second hand stores carrying quality pieces for reasonable prices.
Large, unused spaces can be filled in with any number of objects. Consider installing a fish tank in the center of a room or against a long wall. Adding something like this can be good for your employees because it gives them something to look forward to, especially if people can add a fish or name one. Another way to fill a large space is to add a table with large vase full of flowers. Fake flowers are durable, beautiful, and inexpensive.
Your office may need more than a fresh coat of paint and some art depending on what your needs are. Adding walls can divide a space and create privacy. Walls can be erected to add an office or eliminate those dreaded removable cubicles, giving the area a look of permanence. Walls can go all the way to the ceiling or they might stop a few feet short of the ceiling. If your privacy needs permit it, keeping walls a foot or two short of the ceiling makes your office look much bigger.
The final tip to think about when renovating an office is the flooring. Floors are generally tile, wood, concrete or carpet, but within each category there are infinite options. For example, wood floors can be made out of real or fake wood, and are offered in a variety of colors. Concrete floors can be stained, sealed, or painted. You can switch from one flooring type to another to divide a large space or stick to one type through your entire office. There is no limit to what can be done during a renovation period, so be sure you view many options before you make your decisions.
