• Getting free delivery and installation as well as quantity discounts is easiest on large orders. Plan for future expansion and buy in bulk now to take advantage of this type of deal.
• Buying excess inventory, discontinued models, or orphaned showroom display items may allow you to save money when you just need a few pieces. These leftovers are often on clearance.
• Ask about discounts for repeat customers or referral programs where you get a reward for sending more business a vendor’s way. Even if this is not part of their formal policy, sales reps sometimes have the ability to give discounts at their discretion if it will help boost their overall numbers for the month.

Dedicated Hard Drive Nook – computer desks generally have a space to store the hard drive where it will be off the floor but not taking up space on the top of the desk. This leaves room for other auxiliary devices such as a scanner.

Cable Management - cubicles have raceways to handle power and data wiring internally to keep cables protected and out of sight. This is important from a safety standpoint since stray cables create a trip and fall hazard.

Monitor Mounting Capability – Having a flat screen monitor mounted on a steel arm instead of sitting on the desk surface is a popular space-saving option and one that prevents the monitor from being accidentally knocked over. This also makes it easy to change the height of the monitor and its distance from the viewer to reduce eye strain and promote good posture.

Adjustability – the work surface height and/or the keyboard tray may be adjustable to reduce the risk of repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Shelving can be supplied that can be reconfigured to hold everything from binders to CD cases-  or even a printer.

Mobility - the entire station may be set on casters so it is mobile and can be used as needed in any conference room or office. Computer furniture may also be designed for collaboration or with modular components that can be grouped together or separated.

PC World

This about.com site showcases everything from the Steelcase walking workstation to the Porsche style seating from Vision One.

Furniture Info Blog

Check out the desk in orange plastic that comes direct from Singapore. It’s a little disturbing in a Salvador Dali kind of way, but definitely eye-catching.

Shoplet

The innovative and creative bookcases featured on this blog will make you long for the days before everything was stored on CDs and servers. Let your eyes roam over the beautiful curves of the Infinity and stretch your mind with the Platzhalter split case design.

Casa Sugar

This blogger has located an example of a mobile workstation that just might catch on worldwide. Review the Globus for a sneak peek of what a spherical cubicle might look like.

Legare

Finally, take a couple of minutes to watch this fascinating YouTube video showing the construction of a desk that fits together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.

HON entitles this document “How to Purchase Office Furniture: Real Answers, Real Simple” – and it is a quick read. The last page is a useful checklist that can be used to order directly from HON. However, it is generic enough to act as a planning sheet for buying from any manufacturer. As the HON booklet points out, most buyers research online but many still seek out a local office furniture dealer for help with office space design and layout. That’s an approach that makes sense if you can get a free consultation (like the one we provide at up to a $1000 value).

Overview of HON’s Tips

Understanding Your Purpose

Section 1 gives you a list of questions to ask about the “why” of your purchasing decision. It includes suggestions on the type of atmosphere you can create with different types of furniture and finishes.

Learn Your Terminology

Section 2 has a list of commonly used worksurface terms. Find out the difference between a return and a bridge along with what purpose each one serves in the work environment.

Seating Considerations

Section 3 advises purchasers not to buy conference room chairs as a substitute for task seating. Chairs made for temporary use just aren’t comfortable enough to sit in all day.

File It Away

Section 4 points out that filing cabinets need to be level for the drawers to operate properly. This means you need to either purchase storage units with built in levelers or plan to place shims (cardboard or otherwise) at the corners.

Notes on Panel Systems

Section 5 covers considerations for cubicle purchasing from HON Office Furniture. San Diego employers can learn a little about raceways and wiring here; but HON recommends a consultation with a local dealer for more specific information.

• I value the skills and experience you bring to the company
• I care about your day-to-day comfort in the workplace
• You deserve to have nice things
• Please don’t quit!

When it comes to office furniture, there are several things that most administrative personnel like. These include plenty of storage space, a large worksurface, and ergonomic touches like a monitor stand and a keyboard tray. Beyond that, everybody has different tastes in finishes and detailing. So you might want to turn over the catalogue to your administrative assistant, give them a generous budget, and let them pick their own.

What about the look and feel of the office furniture of the future? Designs have shifted from streamlined to ornate and back again with regularity over the last few decades, but right now the focus is pretty evenly split between form and function. As ergonomics plays a more and more important role in employer purchasing decisions, manufacturers will continue to diverge from the old way of doing things. They are already coming up with wholly innovative designs that mold office furniture to the needs of the human body and the individual employee. Check out Herman Miller’s Envelop desk for an example of the kind of research that is going into modern office furniture design.

The GSA has come a long way since its first big project (renovating the White House) in the 1950s. Today, it “influences the management of $500 billion in federal assets”. This means the agency is in a very strong position to negotiate aggressively for preferred customer pricing with the highest quality suppliers in the industry. Of course, at Cubicles Office Environments we make the same name brand office furniture available to every customer at deeply discounted pricing through our professional refurbishing service.

ErgoChair

Employers who are concerned with ergonomics realize that there are times when “adjustable” one size fits all office furniture doesn’t meet the needs of the full range of body sizes in their workforce. For very short statured employees, a standard office chair can’t adjust down as far as it needs to. The seat is also generally too long which can lead to back pain and leg numbness. Fortunately, there are a number of office furniture suppliers who now offer options for smaller people. Knowing about these furnishings can help employers create a workplace that is truly ergonomic.

Can’t You Just Buy a Kid-Sized Chair for a Smaller Worker?

Short statured employees need high-quality office furniture that is designed for adults. Chairs that are manufactured for children usually don’t put long-term comfort at the top of the list. They aren’t designed for someone who will be sitting at a desk for 8+ hours a day doing repetitive tasks like typing and phone work. Some office furniture suppliers (such as Herman Miller) will provide their chairs in custom heights for a surcharge.

Making a Regular Chair Work

Some individuals can use standard sized seating if a step is provided to make it easy to get in and out of the chair. A lumbar support or back rest may be used to shorten the distance between the back and the front edge of the seat to promote better leg circulation. A foot rest can also give employees a place to prop their feet to take the pressure off their thighs.

Specialty Chairs

Capisco

The ErgoChair sold through the Adaptive Living website actually offers each of these adjustable features in one package. This makes it a good candidate for situations in which you need small office furniture that is designed with the specific size and health needs of smaller employees in mind. The Capisco is another chair that is a popular choice for office workers who are shorter than average.

The Whole Workstation Needs to Accommodate the Individual

Planes

Of course, simply making a chair shorter doesn’t do much good if the worksurface is out of reach. Selecting cubicles that permit adjustment in the desk height is a good solution. Look for manufacturers who take the concept of Universal Design seriously. They are more likely to offer products that are intended to accommodate everyone regardless of height, weight or mobility level. The Planes adjustable worktable from Haworth is a good example of a flexible design.

In addition to seating and desking, the monitor height, keyboard placement, and other features of the workstation should be appropriately located for maximum comfort and ease of use. When accommodations are being made with the purchase of small office furniture, getting input from the employee who will be using these items is the best way to ensure a satisfactory outcome.

However, because pine trees don’t harden over the winter like hardwoods do, the wood is somewhat soft. It is durable enough to use for office furniture, but it tends to get dented easily. This is one reason the rustic look is so popular for pine furnishings. If the surface is already distressed, a few more scratches and marks won’t be noticed.

Some owners of pine furniture recommend fixing dents by pouring a tiny amount of steaming hot water into the indentation. Let the water soak in, and it may cause the wood fibers to swell back to their original size – erasing the dent. For more tips on maintaining wood furniture, check out this helpful ‘How Stuff Works’ article.

Ergonomics are taken into consideration with deep cushions and a waterfall front seat edge that promotes good circulation. Lumbar back support adjustment is available as an extra feature. Swivel, tilt, and seat height functions can also be provided on request. The operation levers are always easy to find – they bright red.