Office furniture refers to the free-standing office furnishings that don't require any installation with component parts. These furnishings include office desks, chairs, tables, computer desks, and file cabinets among other items. The type of business you have will determine the type of furniture you'll need. We shall look at all you need to know concerning office furniture in this article.

Why office furniture is important

Like in our daily lives, furniture is quite important in an office setting too. There are different types of office furniture and each has its benefits. Aside from providing basic seating or working surfaces, what other benefits do you get to enjoy from having office furniture?

Enhances employee productivity

Office furniture enhances employee efficiency levels and productivity in the workplace. Good furniture ensures good posture which brings about proper blood circulation and results in active and productive employees. With comfortable furniture, you won't hear your team complaining about any back or neck pain.

Reduces unnecessary movement

Properly designed furniture reduces unnecessary movement in the office. Choosing the right layout for your office furniture ensures that the employees can easily manoeuvre around.

Ensures that the employees are less fatigued

Choosing the right office furniture ensures that the employees are less fatigued. Especially if you opt for the ergonomic kind. Opting for multifunctional furniture is ideal in promoting employee wellness.

Promote collaboration among employees

They help promote collaboration among employees while undertaking different tasks. To promote interaction between employees, you should choose furniture that doesn't promote the field of view depending on the setting you choose.

Improves employee satisfaction

Comfortable furniture is essential in ensuring employee satisfaction. If the employee is comfortable, they won't have anything to complain about.

It impact your brand identity

The type of furniture you have impacts the reputation of your business especially for clients or business partners. Modern office furniture says a lot about your company's background and brand identity thus leaving a good impression.

How big is the industry?

The office furniture industry in the UK is worth billions of pounds so this tells that it's quite big. From commercial offices to home offices, there is a large market for office furniture. Different offices require different types of furniture, so there's quite a variety of office furniture manufacturers to cater to the demand.

Who is the largest office furniture manufacturer

There are several office furniture manufacturers that can bring out the vibe you want for your office. From the creative office to formal office spaces. All you have to do is work with the right companies to bring out your ideal work environment.

Some of the largest furniture manufacturers include Vitra, Kinnarps, Poltrona Frau, Ahrend, VS. There are also several smaller office furniture manufacturers and designers such as Margolis, Flexiform Business Furniture, Lee and Plumpton, and Frem.

What office furniture do I need

The type of office furniture you choose solely depends on the nature of the office space and the furnishing you choose. For example, a home office will have different furniture compared to a formal office.

Despite the type of office you're furnishing, sustainability and functionality are among the most important factor to consider when choosing furniture items. Such as movable desks or a comfortable new or refurbished office chair if you work for long hours.

Apart from new furniture, you can also opt for refurbished office furniture in London which is equally functional. There's also the option of second-hand office furniture especially if you're on a tight budget.

Most common furniture include

• Work Desks - This is basically a platform for you to place your computer or desktop or to be used as a work surface.
• Office Chair - Whether for your clients or yourself, chairs are basic in every workspace. They could be lounge seats or even normal office chairs.
• Storage cabinets - Weather a home office or a formal office, getting a functional storage facility is important. At the end of the day, you'll need somewhere to store basic work materials such as desktops and files.

With these being the main furniture in the workplace, other things such as decor, plants, lighting, and fabrics can be used to personalize your workspace to your liking

How to choose a right furniture

Choosing furniture that will be perfect for your office can be tricky especially if it's your first time. To avoid having the wrong furniture, it's advisable to work with a professional company that will guide you through the furnishing process.

Functionality

With beautiful ideas from the internet, it is easy to settle for a piece that might not work well for your space. For example, getting a tiny desk that's aesthetically pleasing yet you need a larger workspace.

Comfort

On average, working adults spend at least 8 hours a day in front of their screens. Employee productivity highly depends on comfort. As an employer, you want to consider the long-term health implications that come with sitting for long periods of time.

Ergonomics (biotechnology)

Looks into how daily equipment impact human health. This in turn has led to the rise of ergonomic chairs that are suited for comfort, flexibility, and support when working.

What is modular office furniture

Modular office furniture refers to flexible furniture in terms of adaptability and mobility. Having modular office furniture makes it easy when it comes to movement either in the future or even current space.

Modular office furniture is designed for sustainability and functionality at the same time. It's easy to move them around, dissemble and assemble as needed. The sustainability aspect of modular makes it eco-friendly as they're not purchased as often.

What is ergonomic office furniture

Ergonomic office furniture is a product designed with the human body's mobility and comfort in mind. More modern office spaces are adopting ergonomic office furniture in their workspaces. Some of these include height adjustability in office chairs, pivotal screens, etc.

What is sustainable office furniture

Sustainable office furniture is furniture that can be used for a long period of time, considering recycling and refurbishing of old furniture. The main purpose is for environmental conservation by reusing materials, and sourcing materials from responsibly managed forests authorized by the FSC.

What is an office furniture system

This is a solution that allows people to create custom furniture that can be rearranged at any moment for the needed purpose. This flexibility gives you the ability to create customized, modern, office spaces.

How office furniture affects productivity

Ergonomics plays an important role in employee productivity. The comfort of your employees ensures that they are able to focus more on their duties as opposed to being easily distracted.

One of the ways you can incorporate comfort is by investing in a customizable working chair as well as a sitting and standing desk.

At the end of the day, you want to put into consideration the long-term health of your employees, as well as the environmental impact. No change is too small.

Products

Why is it important to have the right office furniture?

The words ‘office furniture’ often conjure up visions of small, boxy desks and squeaky, unsupportive chairs with no character. However, it is perhaps one of the most important things to get right. The role of office furniture is to create a practical yet inviting environment for employees to use, that enhance productivity and wellness within the workplace.

High quality office furniture will:

• Promote the wellbeing of employees
• Increase productivity
• Encourage collaboration
• Enhance brand Identity

Promote the wellbeing of employees

When employees are provided with ergonomically designed, and aesthetically pleasing furniture, they are more likely to feel physically and mentally comfortable within the workplace. Creating a space that allows employees to feel relaxed, calm and comforted, will help to focus their minds which in turn, will produce higher quality work.

For example, adding adjustable furniture such as our flexure desk, will allow employees to adjust their workspace to suit their needs. Having a flexible workspace will prevent back problems and increase concentration and motivation which in turn will bring higher employee satisfaction and improve their quality of work.

Increase productivity

Perhaps one of the most desired outcomes of installing ergonomic furniture in an office, is increased productivity. For any adequate work to be done, it is essential the people doing the work are happy and comfortable in the office space provided. Adding furniture with sound absorption will allow employees to focus on their tasks without office noises distracting them.

In addition to sound absorption, one of the most important features office furniture should provide, is comfort. Sitting in a chair all day can become extremely uncomfortable if the chair is not designed for a full workday. Providing high quality desk chairs will reduce the risk of back pains and posture-related issues and will offer lumbar support which is good for circulation -aiding healthy blood flow to the brain. After all, investing in quality office furniture, is investing in employee’s health and productivity.

Encourage collaboration

One of the most common set-ups seen in traditional offices are rows of walled cubicles for executives and assistants, and larger, separate office spaces for more senior employees. However, many businesses today are opting for more dynamic and agile spaces that encourage people to not only integrate with their colleagues on a level ground, but also to provide dedicated office zones for different means of use such as relaxation, meetings, focussed working or collaborative working.

Furniture such as this SoundRoom system, allow people to tailor an open office space to suit their specific needs. Different to meeting rooms, these systems are used for more of an intimate collaboration between smaller groups of employees to discuss ideas and tasks without being distracted by other people or noises – perfect for more focussed collaborative work.

In addition to this, adding soft furnishings to communal spaces such as sofas like this upholstered armchair and sofa set, will encourage employees to take breaks from their desks and interact with other co-workers. This has been proven to boost mental wellbeing and create a more collaborative and positive working environment.

Enhance brand identity

First impressions really are as important as people say. Whether inviting current, or potential clients into the office, it is important they leave impressed and with a good sense of what the company stands for.  

Stylish, high-quality furnishings, light and inviting colour schemes and a collaborative layout can be vital in displaying a clear brand identity which in turn will generate positive relationships with clients. Adding unique wall pieces in entry ways such as a piece of personalised artwork, will create an interesting talking point for guests, making it easier to break the ice. Consistent branding can also foster trust with your customers, especially if you have multiple offices around the globe.

Create an ergonomic office space with Haiken and reap the benefits

Haiken’s range includes a range of stylish and ergonomic chairs, height adjustable desks, soft seating as well as acoustic and smart storage solutions for all your office needs. Focusing on more than just looks, our office furniture range is designed to make your workspace truly flexible and uses quality where it matters to provide cost-effective solutions for all budgets. We love to work closely with our clients to recommend furniture that suits their business, or their clients’ business best.

So, if you’re interested in learning more about the Haiken furniture range and want to turn your office into a multifunctional workspace, contact our expert team today – we’re always happy to help.