A MANAGER'S GUIDE TO BUYING OFFICE FURNITURE

Whether you’re an office manager tasked with upgrading your company’s workstations or a new business owner in need of a few desks and chairs, finding the best office furniture for your team begins with considering your unique needs. 

We have provided a few tips that will help you make the right choices – from evaluating the constraints of each work area to getting the most out of your budget and maximizing productivity.

Measure Your Office Space

It can be very easy to just look at the current office setup and start making decisions based on the number of desks, chairs and tables you currently have. But what if you want to upgrade to a larger workspace or even an L shaped desk or U shaped desk? Furniture of different sizes will impact the flow of your office, and it can be easy to over or under purchase if you aren’t careful. 

Take measurements and try to imagine each workspace with each potential office set. You can even tape off exact desk measurements on your floor so you can test out how you’ll get around. 

Better yet, take advantage of our free space planning service, and we’ll do the heavy lifting for you.

Take Inventory

Before you even consider your budget, take inventory of what you need. How many desk, chairs and tables? What about storage and desk accessories? Will you have standing desks? Take a moment and think through all of these items; it will help to come up with a realistic budget recommendation. If you have already been given a budget, it still helps to plan accordingly by knowing what you will need.

Budget for High Quality

It’s important to not fall into the trap of the lowest-price vendor as the cost may be higher in the long run. When searching for a furniture manufacturer you’ll want to buy from a reputable company that can provide high-quality, durable office furniture within your budget.  

Look to see whether the desks and chairs meet ANSI/BIFMA standards for commercial quality. If they don’t, remember that a residential-grade product – although cheaper – is not designed for years of everyday professional use. This may require more research upfront, but at least you won’t need to replace all of your office furniture next year from over use.

Maximize Office Workspace

If you are going to purchase new office furniture, why not give the office space added functionality? Furniture can be used to create different types of spaces like collaborative areas and the same furniture can be used to create added flexibility. For instance, a standing desk or height-adjustable desk can be used as a sitting desk, or a large room can be set up for multiple work areas with cubicle panels or privacy screens. 

Consider how your team works best. You may decide on conference tables for collaborative meetings and private office spaces or cubicle desks for independent work.

Ergonomics & Productivity

Ergonomics is a popular word, but what is ergonomics? The University of North Carolina defines, ergonomics as,  

“The study of people in their working environment. More specifically, an ergonomist designs or modifies the work to fit the worker… The goal is to eliminate discomfort and risk of injury due to work. In other words, the employee is our first priority in analyzing a workstation.” 

Ergonomics can greatly enhance the productivity and overall morale of employees. It’s not just about being comfortable; it's about the health of the employee. In the end, good ergonomics will improve the bottom line for the company and allow employees to do their best work.  

If possible, enlist some of the employees that will be impacted by the change to test some of the potential choices, or give feedback on ideas. In addition to standing desks and adjustable office chairs, monitor arms, keyboard trays and footrests can all make a difference in employee comfort.

Remember the Brand

You may be tasked with making the final decision on purchasing the furniture for an office redesign. But remember the office furniture should reflect the values and personality of the company. This is often overlooked but even more critical if customers visit your workspace. The colors, furniture and overall workspace design should be consistent with the messaging and energy of your company. 

If your business is pretty traditional, consider office furniture in a cherry finish. If you’re more contemporary, try gray or white to meet the latest workspace trends.

Commercial Grade Office Furniture

Bush Business Furniture provides turnkey solutions that have everything you need for hassle-free furniture buying. With the right products and services, we ensure you get great commercial-grade office furniture fast, easily, and affordably. Bush Business Furniture is deeply invested in manufacturing commercial office furniture domestically in Jamestown, New York. 

 If you are in the process of outfitting an office, take a look at our five favorite furniture collections for the office. These are some of our most popular lines, backed by a 10-year warranty.