6 factors you need to consider when buying furniture for your workspace

Written by: Joanah Gamboa

Exhausted. Bone tired. Eyes gritty from lack of sleep. After days of visiting office spaces and browsing on the net for the “perfect office” that suits your business and budget, you’ve finally found the one! You’re ready to hit the sack and sleep like a log and then you realized you still have to buy furniture to go with your new office.

Choosing the right furniture is as important as choosing the right type of office. It not only contributes to well-being, it also affects office productivity and entices prospective employees. Therefore, before marching to the nearest furniture shop, here are 6 things you must consider.

1. Cost

Financing startups is not easy. Every penny spent is an investment. You have to show to your investors that you’re wisely spending the money entrusted to you. Thus, before buying any furniture, consider the cost. How much money will you spend on a particular desk or chair? How many will you buy? Determining your budget beforehand will help you narrow down your choices without compromising quality.

2. Needs

Employees will be sitting and working most of the day, so providing them a comfortable chair and desk is a must. Nowadays, ergonomic chairs and desks become a trend for they make working easier, as supported by health studies. With the plethora of these products in the market, you can buy one at an affordable price.

Aside from chairs and desks, you can also buy other furniture and style your interior depending on your business type. Are you aiming for a cafe-like atmosphere where employees can easily communicate and collaborate with each other? Buy a huge table and a few chairs. Are you going for a formal feel with cubicles so that they can focus? Buy a desk with cubicle-dividers. Whatever your plans are, keep in mind that your choice should make your office a conducive environment for work.

3. Flexibility and functionality

The next thing to consider is flexibility and functionality of the furniture. Does your desk have storage for files? Can you stretch your legs or take a cat nap under your table? Are they comfortable enough for your employees? If your answers are yes, then you’ve made a wise investment.

Furniture with multiple functionalities is always a better choice. When you balance functionality with low cost, you’re hitting two birds with one stone.

4. Size

It is common sense to buy furniture proportionate in size to your office space. Bringing bulky ones will consume a huge chunk of your office. With the cramped space, you and your employees won’t be able to freely move around. Thus, first know the dimensions of your office and from there, research for ways on how to maximize it. Arranging furniture in a certain way can also help make your office look more spacious. The bottomline is to provide your office with the right furniture and remember to leave enough room for your team to be comfortable in.

5. Aesthetic Value and Brand Identity

Purchase the kind of furniture that can contribute to the beauty of your office. Good office design lightens up the mood, eases stress, and increases productivity.

To do this, having a little background on the psychology of colors is an advantage. For instance, if you want your office to have a creative and energetic atmosphere, use the color orange. If you want to exude wisdom and tranquility, use blue. However, be mindful when choosing a multitude of different colors. If you wind up with a clashing mixture of them, it can disturb your company identity or cause headaches to your employees and any onlookers.

Furthermore, don’t choose furniture just because you like its color or design. You have to choose one that goes with your brand or your office personality. Your office furniture must transcend the aesthetic and comfort value it provides; it must also reflect your company’s identity and culture.

6. Cleanliness

If you found office furniture that have passed your standards–using the five factors mentioned above–buying it is the next step. Remember to thoroughly sanitize it first before bringing it to your office. Whether you have bought it from a thrift shop or a brand-new store, cleanliness is something you must not overlook. Clean furniture contributes to a cleaner, healthier office — which contributes to lesser employee absenteeism due to sickness.

The quest for the right type of office and furniture for your business may not be easy. Yet, it is an endeavour you must take for the sake of your company. You might be worn-out from days of searching, however, in the end, everything will be worth it. When your see your office space in all its completed glory–with it being a conducive environment for work–you’re ready to get your business started. After you get the sleep you deserve, of course.