A Look Back At The 5 Coolest Conference Room Design Trends of 2014

2014 was an awesome year for conference room makeover projects. This year we saw a variety of super cool design trends that helped businesses take their meeting areas to the next level. In today's post we'll review 5 of those trends that are sure to be big in 2015 and beyond!

Powered Tables

This year was all about powered conference room tables. Businesses were looking to add a high tech multi media capabilities in the boardroom with plug and play tables from brands like Global Total Office, Lesro, and Mayline. The ability to incorporate HDMI, USB, and phone inputs in table surfaces gives businesses the ability to improve meeting functionality and efficiency. This is one trend that's here to stay!

Glass Tops

The high end modern appeal and luxurious look of glass in the conference room was no doubt one of this years hottest trends. Glass conference room tables offer a neutral look that makes adding matching accent furniture a breeze. While most of the glass conference tables for sale on the market were quite pricey, brands like OFM found success with their affordable solutions like the GT3977. These glass conference room tables shipped quick, installed easily, and helped businesses create head turning boardrooms.

Elliptical Tables

It seemed interior design teams, businesses, and industry professionals alike grew tired of traditional conference table shapes like rectangular, oval, and round. That being said, this year we found that elliptical conference tables were the hottest shape on the market. The sleek curved sided design offers space saving appeal that helped businesses maximize boardroom square footage. Brands like Lesro and Global Total Office were the big winners in the elliptical table market. With collections like Mystic and Alba these hot brands provided affordable elliptical conference table models that businesses could enjoy without straining the corporate budget.

Metal Legs

The industrial look was huge this year! More than ever businesses were looking for a commercial grade look that was best showcased by conference tables with metal legs. Surprisingly enough, metal legged conference tables were often more affordable than those with laminate and wood bases. This no doubt helped this hot trend gain momentum that is still in full swing. Look for more and more brands to bring metal legged conference table models to the market in 2015. The durability, functionality, and appeal is hard to top!

Modular Sets

Turning the conference room into a versatile, multi-purpose work area was incredibly appealing to businesses in 2014. Why use your boardroom for meetings alone when the space can be simultaneously used for a corporate training area? When you think about it, it just makes sense! This years trending modular conference table configurations from brands like Global Total Office took off in popularity. Lines like Bungee and Junction saw big sales boosts as businesses simply couldn't turn down the incredible benefits. Modular table sets are reasonably priced, come in a variety of cool finish options, and work together to form some really neat configurations designed to meet a variety of applications at a moments notice.

Office Makeover Fails: 2014 Edition

Here at OfficeAnything.com, we love to fill our blogs with photos of stunning offices and loads of advice on keeping it that way. But for every pretty post, we know there's an ugly office out there in desperate need of a facelift. For those of you who know the horror of paper avalanches, graveyards of decaying furniture, and the post-it note apocalypse, this article can help! Today, we're highlighting common office disasters, along with great tips on preventing them. Hunker down, and enjoy!

Not In Kansas Anymore...

Paper tornadoes are some of the most common natural disasters to plague an unsuspecting office. In places like medical facilities, where keeping old files on clients is mandatory for at least a few years, papers can stack up fast. Without organization, many people are left with a whirlwind that's enough to make them question whether they're in the office or in Oz. For this, we recommend file cabinets for organization and storage. Available in lateral or vertical cabinet options, file shelves provide a neat, designated space for old records too important to lose in a computer crash.

Bonus tip: Investing in a scanner to go paperless is also effective - just don't forget to "trash bin" the unnecessary stuff every few months to keep the hard drive clear.

Cyber Cyclone

Sometimes the messiest offices can actually look squeaky clean. Desks are clear, furniture's current, everything seems in its place - just don't sit down at that computer, or you may never get up again! Not only can built-up files, unwanted cookies, and never-ending programs slow your system to a crawl, but it can also slow response time to a virus should your computer get infected by a hacker or an unsafe webpage. Regular maintenance is mandatory for a clean, fast-running office. Taking time to delete old files, perform disk cleanups, run security scans, uninstall unwanted programs, and update software can save time and money. Don't forget to shut down your computer when not in use.

Bonus Tip: An external hard drive provides more space for backups of your files. If a disaster, such as a hacker or virus crashes your computer, the drive will have backups of everything. Adding space saving ergo products like CPU holders will keep the drives out of the way, so you don't have to sacrifice visual appeal for practicality!

Walls of Shame

Cluttered walls are pretty easy to come by, especially if you look down. In an office, wires and cables are necessary for most computers, hard drives, and lighting. Without organization, however, the floor of your office can start to resemble the snake pit from Indiana Jones. To save yourself from this predicament, be sure to unplug any wires or cables you don't use regularly and store them away. Wrapping up excess cording with a rubber band helps keep things neat. Many desks, like the desks from Global Total Office or Mayline offer modesty panels, grommets, and other useful features specifically for taming tangles of unruly cables.

Bonus Tip: Not sure which cable to unplug? Bread ties can help you keep track! Write the name of your device on the bread tie and hook them to the right cables so you always know what's what.

Zombie Furniture

"Vintage" is a style choice, not "decrepit." If you like the look of old, classic office furniture from the 40s and 50s, that's great! We love it too... but not enough suffer potential injury. If your desk or cool retro office chairs are falling apart, it's probably time to upgrade - or at least perform a makeover. There are plenty cool retro office chairs out there for sale if you know your furniture can't be fixed. If it can though, there are also tons of great DIY restoration blogs for old furniture!

Bonus Tip: The oldest furniture benefits most from a little TLC. Breaking out the tool box to tighten screws, oil hinges, and pick the gunk out of wheel casters every month or so goes a long way to making furniture last!

The Crumb-Pocalypse

According to a study by British Microbiologist James Francis, a dirty keyboard can have levels of germs five times higher than a public toilet seat - gross! Most people don't realize that the little crumbs from snacking at a desk build up quickly in unseen places like keyboard keys, door handles, and drawer bottoms. These unattended crumbs decay, attracting pests like mice and bugs who leave even more unwanted germs on your office equipment by night. For this, we recommend regular cleaning to thwart the crumb-pocalypse. Hand sanitizer, sanitation wipes, and compressed air dusters can help kill germs, and flush unwanted dirt and debris from those hard-to-reach places!

Bonus Tip: Using retractable keyboard trays can help keep keyboards out of the way when not in use. Rolling them under the desk saves them from the falling dust, debris, and snack crumbs that attract pests.

Reviewing The 5 Best Big And Tall Office Chairs of 2014

In years past, finding a quality big and tall chair was quite difficult. That being said, in 2014 the industries best seating manufacturers stepped up to provide big and tall users with the stylish, comfortable, and reliable office chairs needed to conduct business effectively. In today's post we'll review this years 5 best big and tall chairs. Enjoy!

1.) Avenger

The OFM Avenger series office chair is one heavy duty seating solution! This line of stylish leather chairs offers high end appeal that works wonders in executive office and boardroom settings. Both the Avenger 810-LX and 811-LX Avenger big and tall office chair models support users effectively up to 500 lbs. and feature thick padded seats as well as padded arms for added comfort.

2.) 11961B

Offices To Go is known for their innovative and stylish office chairs. This industry leading brand expanded their offering in 2014 to include the 11961B model leather big and tall chair that's ready to seat users up to 350 pounds.  This heavy duty executive chair features an extra wide padded seat, attractive loop arms, and a durable steel base you can rely on. Priced at just $223.99, the 11961B is also an excellent value.

3.) Concorde

When big and tall executives find themselves in need of ultimate comfort, the Concorde seating collection by Global Total Office is ready to serve! This line of luxurious executive chairs is amongst the absolute best collections available on the market today. While the Concorde has been around for several years, this best seller isn't relinquishing it's rein on the big and tall executive chair market any time soon. Concorde chairs by Global are available in a wide range of fabric and leather upholstery options and feature the high end ergonomic attributes needed to operate at peak performance levels.

4.) B990

Every boss deserves a Boss chair! Even if you're not a big and tall chair operator,  the Boss B990 model office chair will be a winner with you. These well rounded big and tall chairs offer a black fabric on silver frame color combination that's sure to always be in style. The B990 chair boasts a 2 paddle spring tilt mechanism that allows the chair to be locked at any position throughout the tilt range. The 27" 5 star base and heavy duty pneumatic cylinder are ready and willing to accommodate users up to 350 lbs. with ease.

5.) Sierra

Cool upholstery options and a slew of high end ergonomic features make the Sierra seating collection by RFM our final entry for today's post. These super comfy chairs are ideal for managers, executives, and CEO's alike. The Sierra provides the ultimate in back and neck support and provides a personalized sit for all body types. Users will love the ability to choose from a variety of arm styles to suit their individual working preferences. Did we mention that these awesome office chairs support users up to 500 pounds? Talk about a great seating collection!

Christmas 2014: 6 Creative Ways To Decorate Your Office

Christmas at work is usually really fun, or really boring. We prefer option one! To help our valued readers better enjoy the holiday season around the office, we thought we'd share 6 super fun and easy ways to improve your decorating and get the team more involved. Enjoy!

1.) Office Chair Reindeers

This is a fun one that's really easy and affordable. Simply grab a few pairs of those silly reindeer horns available at most dollar stores and attach them to the back of your task chairs with tape. You may have to trim them up a bit, but before you know it you'll be seeing little antlers poking up over the cubicle tops!

2.) Santa's Workshop

Tired of the same old Christmas decorations around the office? Try going with a themed approach like Santas workshop! You can turn the boss's office into Santa's house and the work floor into the main workshop. Fun elf decorations and signs can typically be found at any hobby store as well as some great pics for inspiration on everyone's favorite search engine!

3.) Personalized Stockings

Everyone loves a good stocking stuffer! Consider picking up a few stockings from any local store and personalize them with the names of your beloved coworkers. If you have the opportunity, swing out and grab a few candies and trinket type gifts to add to the stockings on Christmas. This way, when your work friends return they'll be greeted by a fun little surprise.

4.) Team Wreaths

Does your office work in teams, departments, or groups regularly? If so, Christmas is a great time for a little team bonding. Suggest a team wreath decorating competition amongst your coworkers to get the creative juices flowing. You'll first want to start by picking up a few of the same wreaths from the local hardware store. Provide some basic rules and come up with a group oriented prize. At the end of the competition you'll have a happier team of employees and some really cool wrests to decorate those cubicle walls with!

5.) Mini Trees

Instead of having just one large and cumbersome Christmas tree taking up half the office floor, consider having each team or department create one mini tree as a group. You can make it a competition like the wreaths listed above, or just a fun way to show a little team spirit.

6.) Holiday Wish Board

Holiday wish boards are easy to create and fun to use around the office. They also look great and will generate some laughs! Simply pick up a piece of poster board and write the title "Holiday Wish Board" at the top. You can decorate your board to look a bit more festive... it's definitely suggested. Then tell your co workers to write down a few holiday wishes throughout the season. By the end of December you'll have some really great wishes to read out loud during the office Christmas party.

Office Chair Reviews: Eurotech Fuzion Seating

Designed and made with the total comfort of humankind in mind, Eurotech Fuzion series chairs offer form and function that is simply unmatched.  These luxurious seating solutions have raised the industry bar in terms of what's expected from a high quality ergonomic office chair. In today's post we'll take an in depth look at the Fuzion collection and it's benefits. Enjoy!

Style

Eurotech Fuzion chairs offer a distinct modern look that's highlighted by sleek curves and elegant design characteristics. The elegant mesh back, subtle curves, and cohesive features make set fusion chairs in a league of there own. Rest assured there are not many chairs on the market that can compete with the overall style encompassed in the Fuzion!

Ergonomics

In terms of ergonomics, the Fuzion office chair collection by Eurotech will not leave hanging. These support minded office chairs offer the adjustable features needed to get through those long days on the job. Fuzion chairs utilize a synchro tilt mechanism with infinite lock feature as well as a sliding seat, pneumatic seat height adjustment, and adjustable T shaped arms. The cutting edge adjustable features make these luxury office chair solutions amongst the best on the market. In our experience, Fuzion chairs are ready for anything you can throw at them and more!

Applications

Fuzion chairs work great for a variety of key office applications. For computing, these Eurotech chairs provide a supportive design that will help to keep you posture perfect. In executive office applications Fuzion chairs truly shine. These luxury seating solutions will earn your space the compliments it deserves while highlighting your furniture to perfection. Fuzion chairs also look great in professional boardroom settings. The adjustment features and all around good looks will no doubt compliment any meeting area.

Models

The Fuzion chair collection offers a variety of different models to suit user needs. The standard high and mid back Fuzion chair models feature black frame and base details and offer a more subtle look. The Fuzion luxury chair models feature polished frame and base details that really pop in the workplace. In addition, a complimenting Fuzion side chair is also available to take office environments to the next level.

Final Thoughts

You'll be hard pressed to find a better office chair on the market today. Priced starting at $377.50 and ranging up to $$562.50 for the High Back Fuzion Luxury chair model, these cutting edge chairs from Eurotech also provide an excellent bang for your buck. These ergonomic chairs are ahead of the curve and truly stand a cut above the rest. We give Fuzion an A+ in every category. If there was one critique, we'd suggest Eurotech add a few more cool color options to let users showcase their individual personalities a bit better.

Reviewing The 5 Hottest Office Design Trends of 2014

2014 was an awesome year for the world of professional office design. This year a variety of key trends emerged that are continuing to change the way we look at our work spaces. In today's post, we'll showcase and review 5 of this years hottest trends. Enjoy!

Powered Conference Tables

If you took on a meeting area makeover project in 2014, the odds are you chose a powered conference room table for your space. Powered conference tables are guaranteed to make your conference room meetings run more efficiently and keep your professional gatherings much more productive. This year, brands like Global Total Office changed the game with there Zira series powered conference table line. In addition, Mayline made huge strides in the powered table realm with collections like Transaction and Medina. Rest assured, this is one office design trend that's here to stay!

Gray Office Chairs

It seems gray has become the new black! This year gray office chairs were the preferred choice of interior design teams and consumers alike. Popular gray office chair solutions like the Joplin and Hendrix series chairs from Woodstock Marketing were incredibly successful in 2014. Much like black, gray upholstery provides a neutral tone that matches nearly any wood or metal finish to perfection. Those not looking to go the traditional route of black leather seating found that gray chairs added the same classy feel without the overly dark and gloomy feel of black in the workplace.

Industrial Furniture

The industrial look was huge in 2014. The blending of metal components into desking configurations and tables alike provides a commercial feel that designers love. Much like with the stainless steel appliance movement in the kitchen, the popularity of silver metal office furniture is growing at a very rapid rate. Brands like Mayline, Cherryman Industries, Global Total Office, and OFM have all expanded there repertoire of products to include metal accented solutions for both professional and home applications.

Ribbed Back Chairs

2014 was the year of the ribbed back office chair! The sleek nature of ribbed back chairs saves space and looks great in both executive office and meeting settings. Best selling ribbed back office chair models like the BT-9826H from Flash Furniture offer high end appeal at an affordable price point. Additional brands like Ergo Contract Furniture, Woodstock Marketing, and Offices To Go have also jumped on board with this growing trend.

Lime Green

It seems everywhere we looked this year, designers where using lime green as the primary accent color for professional office spaces. This vibrant tone is definitely a great way to make any work environment stand apart from the competition. From lime green office chairs to lime green painted accent walls, this popular color was the number one choice of 2014.  As a result, brands like Mayline and Cherryman have added a variety of cool lime green upholstery options for office chairs and reception benching alike. Look for this trend to stay hot in the months to come, but as with all color trends... the lime green movement will eventually shift to the next hot color!

A Look Back At 2014's Best Office Chairs

2014 has been a wonderful year in the world of professional office seating. Brands like Global Total Office, Mayline, and a variety of other industry leaders have brought to market innovative new ergonomic chairs that provide ample support and the adjustable features needed to get through those long days at the office. In today's post we'll showcase the top 5 best office chairs this awesome year had offer. Enjoy!

Spree

Released just a few short weeks ago, the Global Spree series ergonomic mesh chair has become an instant hit with industry professionals and consumers alike. This affordable, comfortable, and downright functional ergo chair boasts a unique modern design withs stylish curves that are sure to earn your office space an abundance of daily compliments. Priced at just $386.99, Spree mesh chairs are an excellent value. Users will love the wide variety of fabric, leather, and vinyl upholstery options as well as 7 cool mesh back colors to choose from.

Commute

In years past, Mayline specialized in high end leather executive seating solutions for professional business applications. To break free from their norm, Mayline introduced the all new Commute chair collection. These all new mesh and fully upholstered chairs combined form and function to create one of 2014's hottest seating collections. Commute chairs are available in a variety of cool color options to make any work environment pop. The affordable price point and high quality ergonomic features have no doubt earned the Mayline Commute Chair a spot on today's list. Look for this seating collection to continue it's dominance in 2015 and beyond!

Hendrix

The retro look was a huge hit in 2014. This year interior design teams an consumers alike were clamoring to add a touch of that old school style and the Woodstock Hendrix chair was the major spark that ignited the movement. These Jimi inspired leather office chairs feature a segmented cushion design that's complimented by polished frame and arm features. Hendrix chairs are ideal for a variety of applications that include home, executive office, and conference room. Wherever the retro look fits, the Hendrix is there to jam with you!

Chakra

The Eurotech Seating Chakra chair features an open zoomorphic structure that is light and airy yet extremely comfortable. This innovative modern office chair focuses on the body's power centers for superior support. Chakra chairs are available in a variety of cool color combinations including a pink on gray setup that has been a huge hit with ladies. By specifically cushioning the chakras, and leaving the rest of the body free of tension, Eurotech has created an extremely comfortable seating option for both home and professional business atmospheres.

ORO

Tablet arm office chairs are in! Brands like OFM have provided a major push in this growing movement with super cool chairs like the ORO. These big and tall executive office chair solutions provide plenty of support for those rough days at work. ORO chairs feature adjustable tablet arms that fold away when not in use. These tablet arms provide a much needed versatility boost and should definitely be considered by an shopper in need of a reliable new office chair.