Fall Favorites: Cool Chairs from Global Total Office

When it comes to ergonomic seating, nobody does it better than Global Total Office. This industry leading manufacturer takes pride in crafting the most comfortable chairs on the market. Global's user friendly chairs provide the support needed to reach peak performance levels in the workplace. In today's post we'll review their hottest models available this Fall. Enjoy!

Let's start with Global's newest chair, the Solar! These sleek mesh back seating solutions offer high end appeal and space saving characteristics that make them the perfect choice for conference room applications. Solar chairs are available in Alabaster and Midnight frame finish options, as well as 4 attractive mesh colors. Priced starting at $381.99, these trend setting new office chairs are also and excellent value. The Solar is easy to use, comfortable, and very durable. Rest assured, you will love these new chairs from Global!

If you're looking to maximize your office training room, look no further than the Global Total Office seating from the new Lite collection. This line of fixed leg and mobile side chairs provides unmatched versatility. Lite seating blends refined metal work with ribbed fabric coverings.  Lit chairs like the 5951C support users up to 300 pounds and offer just the right touch of sophistication. Choose from a wide range of modern color options to meet your personal decor needs.

Talk about comfortable! The Arti 6670-2 model ergonomic chair articulates like a human spine allowing the the chair back to reshape itself and mimic the user's profile. This high tech chair automatically responds to body movements and sitting positions without the need for constant adjustment. The back res is linked together by internal steel cables and highly graded steel springs which play a final role in ensuring maximum strength and flexibility. The Arti chair frame and horizontal flexible wings are made with tough, highly engineered materials. While additional mesh and fully upholstered models are available, we like this 6670-2 model the best. It's one of the coolest new office chairs of 2015.


Looking for wow factor? Check out the Spree! These innovative chairs feature backs that are specifically designed to avoid restricting upper body movement. The Spree allows users to access space all around the workplace with ease. A helpful lumbar area wraps around the users waist to provide a secure and supportive feeling that any chair operator is sure to appreciate. The Spree mesh task chair seat slides to the rear and reclines while tilting to provide a smooth and comfortable action. The front of the seat does not lift during tilting so your feet can stay flat on the floor like they're supposed to be! The seat structure is flexible and suspended over space that allows the surface to move and flex with the user to ensure long term comfort. Choose from a wide range of attractive color options for just $386.99.

Office Ergonomics: Improving Versatility

The best workspaces are typically the most versatile! That being said, there are lots of awesome ergonomic products available on the market in 2015 to help improve the versatility of your space. In today's post we'll highlight the user friendly ergonomic office products you'll need to make your office interior the best it can be. Enjoy!

These days, it's all about the monitor arms! In 2015, brands like ESI Ergonomic Solutions, Symmetry Office, and Global Total Office have all introduced high tech monitor mounting solutions designed to improving workplace functionality and productivity. If you're looking to become more versatile, go with a 2 or 3 screen model. These handy ergo tools will improve the rate at which you compute, reduce eye strain, and increase usable desk space. There's truly no down side to adding an ergonomic monitor arm. It will revolutionize the way you work and you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.


You've probably got a basic retractable keyboard by now. However, articulating sit to stand models are now available that will take your workspace versatility to the next level. A sit to stand keyboard tray will allow you to quickly adapt to any situation your work day throws at you. Brands like Symmetry Office offer some of the best sit to stand models available this year. Priced starting at $225.99, this is one ergonomic investment that's well worth the money.

Do you spend lots of time adjusting your office chair each day to find the optimal working position? If so, let us introduce you to the all new Mayline Living chair. This "smart" chair adapts and moves with the users body to create the ultimate sitting experience. The Living chair was specifically designed to be the most user friendly task seating solution available on the market. There's no more need to pull levers, adjust tension knobs, and wiggle around to find a comfy sit. The passive seat slider is weight activated with the flexible chair back provides constant support throughout your daily operations. The chair seat automatically adjusts to it's user and distributes weight without the need for adjustment. Talk about versatile!


An ergonomic CPU holder will also help you become more versatile in the workplace. If you're forced to crouch underneath your desk to turn your computer on and off each day, this is one tool you'll certainly want to incorporate into your ergonomic arsenal. A quality CPU holder with get your computer power source up off the ground and underneath your work surface on a track mount system. This means no more banging your knees on the CPU while you work at your desk. As one of the latest ergonomic trends, CPU mounts are becoming more and more popular for both home and professional workplace applications. Even top of the line models are available for well under two hundred bucks!


Even the most affordable ergonomic products on the market can help contribute to improved versatility in the workplace. A simple foot rest will take the pressure off your knees while you work. A desk top light with USB input like the Solstice from ESI will make charging your devices far more convenient. That being said, if you feel like kicking versatility into high gear, there's no better solution than a height adjustable desk or table. These trending workplace products promote continuous movement, reduce fatigue, and boost blood flow. As sitting for long periods of time is never a good idea, an adjustable height ergonomic desk will have you ready to keep working, even when you need to stand. Adjustable height stations work great in office welcoming areas, private offices, and training environments. They are no doubt the absolute best (and most expensive) way to turn office versatility up to 10.

Office Life: Taking Ergonomics Seriously

It can be hard to take ergonomics serious in the workplace. These days, ever product on the market seems to bear the ergonomic label. Never the less, being ergonomically correct is a big deal. If you want to operate comfortably and at peak performance levels in the workplace, you'll need to take ergonomics seriously. In today's Office Life article we'll highlight ways that you can become more ergonomically efficient. Take control of your work day with the tips provided here!

We all know that ergonomics is important. That being said, we often struggle with bad habits that keep us from being at our best. The biggest ergo killer in the workplace is bad posture. Sitting incorrectly in your office chair will make you susceptible to back pain and major health issues. If you truly want to solve the posture epidemic, you can't be afraid to regularly adjust your office chair.

Most ergonomic specialists will tell you to adjust your chair multiple times throughout the day to meet the demands of any specific task. Need to turn on your computer, don't bend over and strain yourself to do it. Simply lower your chair height! Getting something out of your overhead hutch? Don't over extend to get it. Raise your chair seat to make it more accessible.

There are other key adjustments that must be mastered if you want to improve posture and take ergonomics seriously. First and foremost, don't slouch in your chair or hunch over your keyboard tray to type. When seated, keep you back in contact with the chair at all times. This may require multiple adjustments, but the benefits gained are well worth it. Let's put it this way, you can have the most expensive ergonomic office chair on the planet, but if you lean away from it's primary support center when working, it will provide minimal benefits.

You'll also want to keep your head aligned with your computer screen while working. Avoid looking down at the screen when typing. In most cases, this simple tip will require you to raise your monitor height. You can purchase an articulating monitor arm to make things easy, If funds are tight, use a box or stack of books. It may not look fancy but at least you'll be saving yourself from neck pain and eye strain!

Ever sit with your legs propped up on the base of your office chair? How about with your feet crossed? These are bad habits you need to fix quick. When operating at your desk, be sure to keep your feet facing forward and flat on the ground. This will improve blood flow and reduce fatigue throughout the day. It's also a great way to show you're taking ergonomics seriously!

Last but not least, take the time to get up from your workstation once every hour. As sitting for long periods of time can actually reduce your life space, this is one tip you don't want to skip. Stand up, take a deep breath, and stretch for a minute or two. Walk around and stay loose! Don't allow your muscles to tighten up on you when working. Staring at that computer screen for long hours is certainly no good. Standing up and taking a short break will allow your eyes to readjust properly.

Let's be honest, posture tips are hard to remember when your in the middle of a busy project at work. To help, make a tip chart and place it within eye site of your workstation. Studies have shown that this simple practice yields major results.

Taking ergonomics seriously in the workplace doesn't mean you'll need to invest large sums of money. Most of the best ergonomic office accessories on the market cost around two hundred bucks, and you don't need them all at once.

Start with a good office chair. We recommend the Cherryman Industries iDesk Ambarella chair for shoppers on a budget. It's available now for just $206.50. Next, get your keyboard off the surface of your desk. Purchase an articulating keyboard tray to free up desk space and keep you computing at correct angles. Additional products like a dual screen monitor mount will help you reduce eye strain and the rate at which you compute. Excellent models are available from brands like Global Total Office, ESI, and Symmetry Office. Purchasing ergonomic products one at a time will provide you with the time needed to master each before purchasing another.

In the long run, if you take ergonomics seriously you'll be improving life in the office. You'll be more comfortable. You'll be more productive. You'll be more effective. When combined, these three valuable attributes mean you'll be more happy, and that's what it's all about. Take the time to make ergonomics a priority. You'll be glad you did.

Office Organizing: Tricks Of The Trade

No workspace can operate at peak performance levels without being well organized. Good organization starts with a good plan and great habits. In today's post we'll share the tips, tricks, and product suggestions you'll need to achieve both. Enjoy!

Start With A Deep Cleaning

It always helps to start fresh! Take the time to give your office a thorough cleaning. Take out the trash, organize your file cabinet and desk top. Vacuum underneath your desk to get rid of all those old candy wrappers and crumbs. In the long run, it will be much easier to form new habits if you start your organizing mission with a clean space.

Create A Plan

Your office organizing will be much more effective if you have a plan. Once your space has been thoroughly cleaned, write down a list of areas that will need tending to both daily and weekly. Prioritize your list and tackle them one by one as the day goes on. Check out the sample list below to get you started.

• Take out trash
• Vacuum floor
• Organize files
• Organize desk top

Form Good Habits

Sure a plan of attack will help, but you've got to be wiling to form the habits necessary to stay well organized. The weekly organizing routine you create should be one you can realisticly stick too. Get in the habit of putting files back in their place when your done using them. This well help you avoid spending too much time at the end of the day putting them back in their place. Commit to never leaving your office in a messy state. This will ensure you arrive back to work the following day with a clean work environment that's ready to roll. Good habits like this will set you on the path to organizational success.

Use The Right Storage Solutions

Perhaps your office space is poorly organized because your simply out of room. If this is the case, there's definitely some great ways to tackle the problem. Ditch the potted plants and room aesthetics that provide little value in an overly crowded space. Replace them with versatile storage solutions. A wall storage cabinet or bookcase will provide the same appeal while keeping your stationary and important literature well organized.

If you're limited on floor space, take to the walls! Hutch units are a great way to maximize organizing space. These handy tools mount directly to the wall or sit on top of desk surfaces. It's likely that a hutch to match your current office furniture collection is available. Adding a wall mount hutch will increase visual appeal while rewarding you with the additional space needed to keep your office functioning properly.

If you're still in need of organizing space, consider the addition of a mobile file pedestal. These space saving storage solutions can be situated directly underneath desk and credenza surfaces or along perimeter walls. Pencil Box File and File File pedestal options are widely available from top rated manufactures like Global Total Office, Mayline, and Cherryman Indsutries.

Follow Through

Once your office space is well organized, you've got to follow through. Don't slip back into old habits and let important tasks go unattended to for months at a time. It's never fun to spend hours looking for a document that's out of place or buried under a sea of paperwork. Hold yourself accountable and your work day will be all the better for it.

Additional Tips

• Keep track of file cabinet keys to ensure you can always get to your important documents when you need them.
• Lock or password protect all physical and digital files for security purposes. 
• Be sure to keep your digital files properly organized as well. Create thumbnails on your home screen to help.
• Purge old files and documents to ensure your drawers do not become overly crowded.
• Establish task areas that are defined by the type of activity that happens in each zone of your office space. For example, your main workspace would be the desk while your reference area would be where your file cabinets are located.
• Keep the items most commonly used throughout the day the closest to your desk to avoid unnecessary trips across the office. 
• Make a list of daily work goals you hope to accomplish by certain times.

Space Planning 101: Preparing for Growth

When taking on an office makeover project, you should always prepare for future growth. As you'll no doubt want to be successful in the workplace, preparing for future growth ensures you have the components you'll need, when you need them most. In today's article we'll share helpful tips, advice, and product suggestions to help you create a stunning office interior that's built for today with an emphasis on tomorrow!

Any successful office makeover project starts with effective space planning. Before you rush out and purchase loads of new furniture, take the time to measure out your area. Take the perimeter dimensions of your space with a tape measurer and be sure to take note of all entry ways, power outlets, and windows that will affect the way your office furniture fits. Draw your dimensions out on paper and make a few copies. Try your hand at drawing in a few potential layout ideas. Be alert as to where your future desk configuration will work best. Have an idea of where your file cabinets and additional room accents will be situated. Doing so will ensure you know what you've got to work with both now and in the future.

There's lots of awesome furniture collections available on the market in 2015, but modular
lines are the way to go! Going with a full service modular furniture collection will allow you to add components in the future as you need them. Brands like Mayline and Global Total Office offer best selling modular lines like Medina, Sterling, Zira, and Princeton that provide shoppers with limitless interior capabilities.

Working with a small space? No problem! If you choose furniture from a modular collection, you'll be rewarded with lots of great ways to maximize your square footage. Lots of desk sizes, shapes, credenzas, and work surface extensions are available to help you create a modular workstation that's designed to meet your specific needs both now and in the future.

Preparing for future growth doesn't mean you should overcrowd your current work environment. Who knows, the growth you may experience within an organization may require you to move to a whole new office. That's where modular furniture comes in. You'll be able to simply and effectively add the storage components and desk extensions needed to compliment your new space. You'll also be saving a bundle when compared to purchasing all new furniture.

Analyze the amount of open storage space you currently have. Are file drawers heavily compacted? Are bookcases overflowing with literature and presentation materials? If so, you'll need to provide yourself with more storage space in your new furniture configuration. Instead of an open knee space credenza that sits behind your desk, consider the addition of a lateral file cabinet in the same location. You'll instantly have at least two more drawers for document storage, and a work surface that can be used for the same applications a credenza top would be.

Desk pedestals will also come in quite handy! These days most of them are mobilized. This means, you can move them around to maximize your operational space. Desk pedestals can be situated effectively underneath work surfaces or along the perimeter walls of your office. Skip the potted plant and compliment your space with a desk pedestal more storage! Sure you'll want your current space to feature the aesthetic accents needed to create visual appeal, but operational functionality comes first. You can always place pictures and plants on top of storage cabinets to achieve the best of both worlds.

If you're limited on floor space, take to your office walls! When purchasing a new desk configuration, be sure to select one that includes an overhead storage hutch. These organizing tools will mount directly to your wall or sit atop a credenza. Many businesses professional who work in tight areas will purchase multiple wall storage cabinets to free up floor space. Hutches can be mounted directly over the top of one another if needed to provide you with the max amount of storage space possible.

Preparing for future growth is just plain smart. To execute properly, you'll need a viable plan of attack. Analyze how fast you go through file space each month to better understand when you'll need more. Consider rearranging your current office desk layout to free up both floor and wall space that could be used to accommodate more storage. If your desk is beginning to look and feel overcrowded, look into modular extensions and cool ergonomic products like adjustable monitor arms that are specifically designed to free up additional working space. In the long run, your future growth and success will be determined by how effectively you plan!

Office Design Trends: Then And Now

It's truly amazing how far the office furniture world has come in the past 5 years. Brands like Mayline, Cherryman Industries, Global Total Office, and OFM have pushed the envelope and raised the bar. In today's post we'll take a look at the latest trends compared those that were hot 5 years ago to see just what a difference 5 years can make.

Furniture Finishes

Then

Now

There was a time when finishes like cherry, maple, and mahogany ruled the office furniture world. These tones were considered cutting edge and innovative. While these classic wood grain tones will always have their place in the industry, a new wave of finish options has started to emerge. With the popularity of laminate furniture lines came endless possibilities, and brands like Global Total Office saw the opportunity to change the game. This year, Global has paved the way with finish options like Absolute Acajou and Which Chocolate that are in a league of their own. Mayline has also made huge strides with finish options like Gray Steel, Textured Driftwood, and Textured Sea Salt. These days, interior design teams, shoppers, and industry professionals alike can truly be creative with their design projects!

Office Chairs

Then

Now

These days, office chairs are incredibly comfortable, supportive, and adjustable. We thought the same things 5 years ago! The ergonomic seating world is constantly evolving. What we feel is great now, may be old new in just a few months. Just 5 years ago mesh back chairs where really becoming popular. Now this popular chair option has become a staple of the modern workplace. We used to be impressed by chair arms that simply went up and down. These days, even the some of the most basic chairs boast multi functional arms that go up, down, forwards, backwards, and side to side.

Chair mechanisms have also become much more advanced. The typical office chair 5 years ago would be equipped with just a couple of paddle levers that would adjust the height and angle at which you sat. In 2015, chairs are ready for much more. Tilt tension knobs, lumbar adjustments, and seat slider mechanisms are becoming the new standard.

There's also been significant style changes in the seating industry. To make a long story short, gray is rapidly becoming the new black! Just last year, white leather chairs were flying off the shelves. This year, the trends have moved on. Now designer fabric chairs with unique patterns are becoming more and more popular. Chair shoppers are looking to let their individual style shine. It's for this reason alone that  classic navy blue and burgundy chairs are being quickly forgotten! If you want to see where the seating industry is headed, just take one look at the new iOO chair from Eurotech Seating. The cutting edge blend of a white frame and black seating surface works together to form one of the most stylish and equally comfortable seating solutions on the market.

Technology

Then

Now

Modern technology and craftsmanship have made it far easier to improve performance in the workplace. A few years back, powered conference room tables where just being introduced to the business world. Now it's rare that a furniture supplier sells a table without some sort of power option. In 2015, high tech power modules that include USB, data, phone, HDMI, AC, and audio inputs are readily available.

Fixed leg training tables used to be the way to go. These days, it's all about modularity! Businesses love the ability to fold tables down and nest them along walls to save space when not in use. A mobilized training table can be easily reconfigured without the need for heavy lifting. Modular tables make training environments more functional, easier to clean, and far more appealing. If you're interested, take a look at the new 2gether table collection from Global Total Office. They are the best new training room solutions on the market.

Now

Then

Powered lounge furniture was extremely hard to find until the last 2 years. In the past, furniture manufacturers were able to get by with traditional black leather sofas, lounge chairs, and guest chair models. It was considered pretty snazzy to have a beam seating configuration in your lobby! This year, brands like OFM have pushed the envelope. With collections like Morph and Serenity, you can quickly improve decor as well as the guest waiting experience. Look for powered guest seating to become the industry standard in the next year!

Ergonomics

Then

Now

Kick that basic retractable keyboard tray to the curb. It's no longer the ergonomic standard. Sure it will increase your amount of usable desk space, but articulating models are now available to help you compute at healthier angles. Sit to stand keyboard trays are also available to help prevent extended sits in the workplace.

Today's monitor arms are surprisingly similar to those produced just 5 years ago. It's safe to say, if it's not broke, don't fix it! Monitor arms really come in handy in the workplace and will help you reduce eye strain and improve the rate at which you compute.

Height adjustable desks were available 5 years ago. The consumer models would go up and down using hand cranks. Surprisingly, this actually seemed high tech. This year, electronic models have become readily available. They've pushed the old hand crank tables right out of the market. Now you can take your ergonomic workstation up and down with the push of a button. These high tech desks promote continuous movement in the workplace and greatly improve blood flow.