Back to the Basics

Spring fever is officially here for organizations across the country. The sun is shining, change is in the air, and return-to-work plans are in full swing.

As companies welcome back employees, the timing has never been better for a fresh office makeover, starting with your office furniture!

Add this list of considerations to your office space planning strategy and learn more about what office furniture and where to buy it to make the return to "normal" exciting, inspiring and productive.

Few disruptions have reshaped the workplace as significantly as COVID-19. Case-in-point, more than 40% of employees currently work from home.

Although cutting out the daily commute and having fewer interruptions are benefits of remote work, home environments don’t always support productivity the way an agile office space design can. This is just one of many reasons why employees are eager to get back to the office.

Today’s modern office should have an interior design that not only invites collaboration but also facilitates it. With many companies using a hybrid model of remote work with in-person meetings, employees come to the office specifically to meet with their team.

This is why collaborative office furniture — comfortable, multi-purpose and easy to move — is a must. Learn about some options below to ensure your company has everything it needs to stay current and cutting-edge.

When designing an office, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The ideal layout and design depend on your type of business.

Stop what you’re doing. Take a look around your office. Are you seeing smiling faces or expressions that range from miserable to tired to angry?

The saying “two heads are better than one” is often true in the workplace. But what do you do when you have 20 heads trying to communicate?

Employee collaboration can have a strong influence on a company’s culture, productivity and innovation. According to a survey conducted by the Queens University of Charlotte, 39% of surveyed employees believe that people in their own organization don’t collaborate enough.

When we think about employee health, the office design isn’t the first thing to come in mind. Instead, we consider sick days, nutrition, health insurance plans, etc.

More and more companies have been knocking down the physical barriers to communication and incorporating an open office plan. According to the International Facility Management Association, about 70% of U.S. offices have some type of open office plan. Companies have been shifting away from traditional office designs to cut costs and improve collaboration.

Different generations work differently. While your Millennial employees may thrive in an open office space clamoring with noisy conversations, Baby Boomers may prefer a more traditional office space where they can focus on the task at hand.

When redesigning an office, you may consider the wall color, couches, desks and even plants, but what about the office chair? Your employees spend the most time in your office sitting in their desk chair, so you want to make sure it’s not only affordable but comfortable.