Here's 5 Ways To Make Your Boardroom Great In 2015

Want to make your boardroom great in 2015? Today's post is for you! Here's we'll be showcasing 5 great ways to make your meeting area the best it can be. From creating professional appeal to providing visual aids, the tips and product suggestions in today's post are a must read.

Professional Appeal

You'll want to wow your boardroom visitors the minute they walk into your space. That being said, creating professional appeal is an essential part of the boardroom makeover process. When redesigning your space, consider the little details like wall color and room accents. A cool lamp, piece of wall art, or area rug will go a long way in your quest to create the perfect meeting area. In addition,  by keeping your space clean and well organized you'll show just how classy your business is. Earn your boardroom the compliments it deserves by creating professional appeal!

Comfortable Seating

Once you've guests are impressed with your decor, they'll be taking their seats for the first time. Keep in mind that no matter how great your space looks, without comfortable seating, your guests will be disengaged from the content being delivered. Comfort also plays a key role in boardroom productivity and effectiveness. When you comfortable, you work better. It's as simple as that! Enhance your space with well ergonomic conference room chairs that aren't too bulky. This will help you maximize the number of guests that can be accommodated around your table. Let's review a few awesome conference room chairs that are ready to get the job done right!

Best Conference Room Chairs of 2015:

• Cherryman Industries iDesk Curva Chair
• Global Total Office Kate Conference Chair
• Woodstock Marketing Hendrix Chair
• Eurotech Seating Frasso Chair

Power

Modern office design teams and furniture specialists will tell you that powering up your space is a must in 2015! Top rated office furniture manufacturers like Global Total Office and Mayline have introduced cutting edge boardroom tables with easy to spec power options designed to streamline the meeting process. These tables can be outfitted with USB, phone, data, audio, HDMI, and three prong inputs that will help you avoid running extension cords across your room to power devices.

Best Powered Conference Table Collections of 2015:

• Global Total Office Zira Series
• Mayline TransAction Series
• Mayline Medina Series
• Cherryman Industries Verde Series

Storage

By providing wall cabinets and boardroom storage solutions around the walls of your space, you'll be more equipped to keep your interior nice and neat at all times. A well organized space shows professionalism that will surely be appreciated by your guests. Limited on floor space? No problem! Consider adding wall mount hutch units that can be attached above floor level cabinets to provide additional storage. You can also add a hospitality cart to house snacks and beverages effectively!

Visual Aids

Last but certainly not least, you'll want to outfit your boardroom with effective visual aids. In 2015, mobile presentation boards, folding white board cabinets, and flat screen televisions have all been common additions to boardroom makeover projects. Consider incorporating these items into your space. The benefits gained will take your performance to the next level!

Chair Compare: G20 vs. Vion

So it's come down to this. Two choices. But only one is the right choice for you. Which is it? Well, if you're upgrading to a new office chair, you've come to the right place. All too often, buyers get caught between what seems like two perfect options, especially when they're both exciting new models from a top quality brand. But never fear, we're here to help you make the right decision in this month's "Chair Compare", featuring the G20 vs. Vion!

At First Glance

One thing's for sure, if you're trying to choose between the Vion and the G20 - you've definitely got terrific taste! The Vion and the G20 have strikingly similar designs. Both of these chair lines offer a mesh back styling to help cool the body during those long, hot days at the office. And both are available with chrome accents and a variety of color options. However, although the Vion chair line offers more sizes and models to choose from, the G20 offers more color choices. That means those shopping for a vibrant chair of many colors would likely benefit more from the G20. Meanwhile, shoppers in need of a uniform shape or look, where color variety isn't as much of an issue, might look to the Vion as an alternative.

Recap: The G20 offers a single chair design available in numerous colors. The Vion offers numerous chair designs with more limited color options.

Battle of the Brands

If you were hoping for a battle of the brands to help settle this dispute, keep hoping; the Vion and G20 chairs are actually cousins - but don't worry. They both come from an excellent family! These top quality mesh chairs hail from the world renowned furniture manufacturer, Global Total Office, one of the most highly regarded names in the industry. Well known for their commitment to superior design and concern for the environment, Global office products manage to combine ergonomic craftsmanship with affordability. Whether you choose the Vion or the G20, know you're in good hands with Global!

Recap: Both the Vion and G20 chairs are manufactured by the same high quality brand, Global Total Office.

Features

Not surprisingly, both chair options offer an extensive array of valuable ergonomic features. Of course, because the Vion series boasts a number of single chair options, features may vary from model to model. However, the most common features of Vion collection chairs include a sliding seat depth adjustment, patented pneumatic Soft Descent lift, as well as the basics: adjustable arms, synchro tilt, contoured fit, tension adjuster, and waterfall seat, among others. Alternatively, the Global G20 office chair is a little more high tech. The design allows the chair to adjust automatically to body weight, and it has a synchronized back and seat slider for fluidity of movement. Adjustable lumbar and a back comprised of alternating rows of elastometric and polyester arms for durability.

Recap:

The Vion (Model: 6321-8): Offers many notable features, including sliding seat depth, Soft Descent height adjustment, synchro tilt, waterfall seat, and contoured cushions. The basics (i.e. arm adjustment, tension adjustment, and tilt lock) are also included.

The G20 (Model: 6008): A little more high tech. The chair automatically senses and adjusts to a person's weight. A synchronized back and seat slider allows the user to lean back or forward comfortably without the need to readjust chair features. Adjustable lumbar support is also included, along with many of "the basics."

Price

With all the difference in features, it's not a shock for most shoppers to expect a difference in price. Because the G20 model offers a technically superb design, this chair tends to lean towards the expensive. Currently priced at $580.99, the G20 does not ask more than it truly is worth - in fact, most manufacturers would likely charge more for a chair of this quality. Alternatively, the Vion series offers a little more flexibility. With the lines ergonomic task chairs ranging from $348.99 to $412.99, buyers have the option to choose according to what they prefer. Keep in mind, however, that the Vion collection also offers drafting and side chairs priced even lower than the task models. Anyone shopping in bulk would undoubtedly benefit from Vion's prices!

Recap: The G20 is currently priced at $580.99, likely due to the extensive technology involved in it's highly ergonomic design. The Vion series boasts several task chairs, currently ranging in price fro $348.99 to $412.99, while it's side and drafting chair models are priced even lower. All are excellent deals in their own right!

Final Decision

The choice was tricky, but we confidently come to the conclusion that the Vion collection by Global is the best choice for the office. While the G20 is certainly a worthy competitive chair, it's price and design tends to gear itself more to the individual rather than the whole office. Because the Vion collection offers numerous chair designs, all with incredible features and affordably priced, the line remains the most practical choice for any room in an office. Whether you decide on a Vion desk chair, a drafting model, or even a side chair for the lobby, this collection has you covered!

Recap: Vion chairs are the better choice for the conventional office setting. Those with physical pain, in need of higher quality ergonomics, or who want a chair with variety in color choice would benefit more from the individualized, customizable attributes of the G20.

Coming Soon: 2Gether Tables from Global Total Office

Global Total Office has big things in the works! There all new 2Gether table collection is set to take the training room furniture world by storm. In today's post we'll take a sneak peak at the 2Gether line and it's benefits. Enjoy!

Even at first glance you'll notice the incredible modern appeal showcased by the Global Total Office 2Gether table collection. Rest assured, these tables were built to impress and earn your training environments the compliments they deserve. With elegant curves and contemporary design characteristics, 2Gether provides unmatched visual appeal.

2Gether is ready to create dynamic spaces designed to help people easily connect and learn effectively. These versatile modular tables for a training room can be quickly connected to form unique configurations design to meet the needs of specific tasks at a moments notice.


When not in use, 2Gether tables can be quickly folded down and nested together in neat rows. This makes for easy to clean spaces and improved functionality that will surely be appreciated by your business. The mobility of the 2Gether line makes configuring a breeze. Need a few tables in another room? No problem! Skip the heavy lifting and move multiple tables at a time with ease. Once in position, simply lock the wheels and you're set!


The 2Gether table collection will be introduced in just a few short weeks. Global plans to provide table depths of 18" and 24" and widths of 48", 60", and 72". In addition to the wide variety of sizes, 2Gether will be available in extensive finish options to make your interiors stand apart from the competition. It's time to think outside the box formed by traditional training tables of the past. 2Gether pushes the limits of what training room furniture can be and delivers on it's promise of improving collaborative efforts in the workplace.

5 Great Ways To Become More Ergonomic for FREE!

Going ergo is a great way to improve office productivity and functionality. That being said, if you're up against a tight budget, going ergo might not seem doable. Luckily for you, we've got 5 great ways to improve your personal ergonomic qualities for free. From making a simple foot rest to improving workplace versatility, the tips and tricks in today's post are sure to kick your office performance up a notch!

1.) Make A Foot Rest

Kicking your feet up while working is a great way to improve ergonomics. A foot rest will improve blood flow and take the pressure of your knees while computing at your desk. While a high end adjustable foot rest from a brand like Symmetry Office may be preferred, making your own foot rest is an excellent option if funds are tight. A simple stack of books or boxes will do the trick. If you want to get a bit more fancy, you can even create an adjustable foot hammock with some string and a pillow case! We've provided an image above for reference.

2.) Raise Your Monitor

If you're still using the factory stand that came with your computer screen, the odds are that you're looking down when you type at your desk. This bad habit can cause neck stiffness and even pain that will result in a drop in productivity. While articulating arms that accommodate multiple screens are a great way to tackle this common problem, they cost several hundred dollars. Try using a stack of magazines, piece of wood, or shoe box to raise your monitor up to eye level for free. It may not be the most attractive, but it will certainly be effective! You'll be operating more comfortably in no time at all.

3.) Form Good Posture Habits

A disheartening number of office employees actively practice poor posture habits on a daily basis without even knowing it. As studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time can actually shorten your life space, sitting correctly is an absolute must. To form better posture habits, post reminders around your office that can be easily seen when sitting at your desk. Here's a few good tips to remember...

• Avoid Slouching
• Keep Your Feet Flat On The Floor At All Times
• Don't Cross Legs While Computing
• Keep Your Back In Contact With The Chair At All Times

4.) Master Your Office Chair

As office comfort starts with the chair, it's important to master the features and functionality your personal chair has to offer. Even the best office chairs are ineffective if users don't learn to operate them properly! If you're currently stuck with a passed down chair that you have no knowledge of, don't fret! Look underneath your chair seat and locate a part number or the name of the manufacturer. Browse the web for your chair. You'll be surprised what you find! Awesome office chair reviews, demo videos, and instruction manuals are widely available to help you kick workplace ergonomics into high gear.

5.) Get Versatile

Any ergonomic specialist will tell you that versatility plays a key role in productivity, functionality, and overall effectiveness. That being said, there are plenty of great ways to become more versatile without spending a single dollar. Start by organizing your space. Clear your desk of clutter and give your station a thorough cleaning. You can also reorganize your files and personal documents to ensure everything is where it needs to be, when you need it! Place your most commonly used office items within arms reach to avoid over exerting yourself. Once every hour, take the time to stand up a stretch. This will reduce fatigue while helping you avoid muscle stiffness that can cause a drop in productivity. Lastly, you can create a detailed plan for your work week. List out personal goals and tasks you hope to accomplish. Work with your team on additional ways to become more ergonomic and versatile each week. The odds are, they are hoping to accomplish the same goals as you!

Office Design: Creating Collaborative Workspaces

Whether you work in a skyscraper, in the field, or even in a small local shop on a street corner, businesses everywhere thrive on collaboration. Teamwork is one of the most valuable commodities of the modern era, and individuals capable of working in a team are some of the most hotly sought after recruits in the corporate world. However, designing your office to accomodate collaboration for a wide variety of individuals can pose a huge challenge. That's why we're sharing some dynamic design tips to help you create a better collaborative workspace. Enjoy!

Open Windows

According to recent interior design practices, the days of worker-bees hovering around an onslaught of honeycomb-like cubicles are long gone. Unless everyone in your workplace focuses on independent projects, cubicle armies with walls barring employees from easy communication are probably not the most conducive to collaboration. Many business owners are finding that an "open office" format is much healthier for teamwork. Trading traditional office cubicles in for high tech workstations or long open office tables make much better alternatives for the collaborative workspace. Not only can employees communicate more freely, but powering up is far less costly for a long table than it is for a train of energy consumptive box cubicles. This is one case in which less power means more money!

Closing Doors

While open offices are definitely popular, not everyone works best in a room filled with loud communication. Different employees will have different needs. Instead of giving each person their own cubicle, however, many business owners are finding it simpler to offer their employees different "work zones." Each zone is a different environment. Some rooms allow talking and teamwork; others are quiet work rooms requiring silence or minimal speech to reduce distraction. This way, employees can alternate rooms based on their needs. When the need for teamwork arises, they can head for the conference room equipped office presentation materials to share ideas. After, they can go to a seminar in the training room. When it's time to work alone, quiet rooms filled with personal desks or couches provide a quiet, comfortable place to get things done.

Virtual Space

In open offices, personal space can be hard to come by - and it's also one thing many employees miss the most about having a personal cubicle. However, you don't have to resort to forcing employees to live in a box. These days, information protection is one of the most valuable. Making sure every employee has a personal laptop or computer helps to ensure everyone gets their own virtual space. Adding individual lockers or cubbies can also help employees feel they have security in an open office. Headphones and soundproof walls help to reduce noise pollution for the employees trying to concentrate on something personal. In fact, many offices have made use of movable wall screens (inspired by Asian shoji screens) to divide space without spending money to put in a wall.

* Bonus Tip: Keeping everyone powered in an open office is a challenge, especially if everyone moves around. Adding power stations, like the Symmetry Isle power tower, is a great way to make sure everyone stays fully charged. It's both efficient and cost effective!

Office Code

All too often, business owners experimenting with the open office climate find their employees are annoyed, distracted, or even a little too communicative. Outlining a set of rules, or "code of conduct," can help everyone work efficiently when together, and when apart. Headphones are one of the most popular ways of saying, "do not disturb" in the office. Meetings held behind closed doors often mean "authorized personel only," as in, "if you didn't get invited, stay out." Alternatively, meetings held on training tables out in the open usually mean that anyone can participate. Make the rules clear by emailing or posting them around the office. 

Bring Employees Together

Sometimes, uniting employees in more than just their work is an excellent way to increase the corporate bond. Don't be afraid to organize company events such as potlucks, reward ceremonies, office challenges, fun classes, and games. Make some of the events family friendly to increase the likelihood of employees finding commonalities that may help them work together better. In addition, make sure to provide plenty of recharge time. Allowing employees a little extra time to let loose with a simple basketball game can help release pent up energy, keep employees focused, and help them bond. More than likely, the bond will carry over when it's time to buckle down at the desks!

* Bonus Tip: In many Asian countries, businesses have set times for stretch breaks and exercise, in which everyone in the room can take a break from the desks and cubicles in order to improve health and focus.  

Modern Interiors: Mayline Napoli Series Executive Office

Looking for modern appeal? How about a little wow factor to go with it? No problem! The Napoli executive office we're highlighting in today's post does it all. This high end workspace combines form and function to create an out of this world workspace that's ready to get down to business. Lets take a look!

At first glance you'll notice the perfect blend of modern and traditional characteristics. While the Napoli furniture line is classified as modern, it still boasts the luxurious wood veneer construction needed to impress even the harshest critics with a love for the classic look.

This top of the line workspace features a U shaped desk layout that's composed of a 63" wide front desk with additional corner extension. The silver post leg and modesty panel make for a swanky look that's guaranteed to earn this space the compliments it deserves. In addition, the return and matching 63" credenza provide additional work surface space that's sure to come in handy.

As no professional workspace can function effectively without the right combination of storage components for organization, this Napoli layout from Mayline was designed with an overhead hutch unit, low wall cabinet, and two shelf corner bookcases. Both the hutch and low wall cabinet feature upscale glass doors that work great for displaying achievements and awards. An under mount task light is also situated underneath the storage hutch to save on the hefty electrical bills associated with the draining overhead office lights commonly used today.

The Napoli office furniture used in this interior features a rich sierra cherry finish. The North American hardwood veneer construction is very high quality. The attention to detail can be seen and appreciated from every angle.

To round out the space, laminate flooring, wall treatments, and rectangular window cutouts were added for visual appeal and aesthetic value. The Silver lamp pictured in the corner matches the silver modesty panel and post leg desk to perfection. Additional wall art and room accents can be seen in various areas of this workspace to avoid bare areas. Rest assured, this office space has it all!

Office Chair Reviews: Eurotech Seating Lume Chair

The Eurotech Seating Lume chair is a new addition to 2015. These cool new mesh back office chairs offer high end appeal and the ergonomic features to match. In today's post, we'll take an in-depth look at the Lume chair and it's benefits. Enjoy!

Style

At first glance you'll notice the modern design characteristics of the Lume chair. Eurotech has created a versatile new office chair that's stands apart in a category dominated by mesh back chairs with incredibly similar features. The Lume's unique curves and checkerboard back pattern are sure to earn any office interior the compliments it deserves. These chairs are ready to get down to business, and look good while doing it!

Ergonomics

The Lume chair comes standard with a wide range of ergonomic attributes designed to keep users operating comfortably and effectively in the workplace. The chair's mechanism is outfitted with tilt tension control, tilt lock, and synro tilt adjustment features that allow users to control the angle at which they work and the resistance at which their Lume chair leans back. In addition, the Lume offers an adjustable height seat with waterfall edge, as well as multi functional arms. Finding comfort in the workplace just got easy!

Applications

Eurotech Lume chairs work well in a variety of office applications. These mesh back task chairs offer the adjustment features needed to get through those long days at the office, without the headaches and frustrations commonly accompanied by lesser quality chairs. The Lume can be used effectively as a computer chair in both home and private office applications. The Lume would surely improve the versatility of any office receptionist and we're sure they'd be happy for the upgrade. Lume chairs could also work nicely in educational facilities, as well as professional meeting areas. Rest assured, there's not much these new chairs from Eurotech can't do.

Price

The Lume chair is available for sale in 2015 for just $279.00. At this price point, Eurotech has made it obvious that you don't have to spend thousands to purchase a high quality ergonomic chair to meet your specific workplace needs. The Lume is really a great buy. You'll be hard pressed to find a better chair on the market for the money!

Final Thoughts

We give the Lume chair 3.5 stars out of 5. We'd like to see a polished base option to up the appeal a notch, as well as some different mesh colors to let users showcase their individual style. That being said, the Lume is very comfortable, very user friendly, and very affordable. As this is a new chair in the Eurotech lineup, we expect upgrades and additions to the Lume collection to take it over the top.