Top 7 Lobby Makeover Mistakes

Furniture installations are always a big project. With the space planning, the shopping, and the delivery,  a lot can go wrong, so it's always best to know what you're getting into before any problems arise. Most first-time lobby interior designers underestimate the mistakes that can go down, and they end up paying the price for it later, either in hard work, or out of their pockets. Lucky for you, today's post is all about the  most common mistakes made by interior lobby designers. Study up, and stay ahead of the game!

1.) Forgot to Measure Properly

Any woodworker will tell you "measure twice, cut once," and this is true for design work too. Measuring is perhaps the single most important part of decorating any interior space, especially lobbies. If a lobby isn't properly measured and the furniture layout planned, shoppers can make costly mistakes by buying too much or too little furniture, or even damaging their walls upon installation. Be sure to take careful measurements of the lobby's interior before purchasing the furniture, making note of entry ways, power outlets, windows, and other permanent obstacles. This way, designers can be more aware of what furniture will fit in the space and where it could go before they buy it.

2.) Didn't Inquire About Bulk Pricing

Now that you've measured your space, it's time for the fun part - shopping! Shopping can be one of the most enjoyable parts about interior decoration… except when you have to pay. With rooms like lobbies, reception areas, and waiting rooms that usually require a lot of large, comfortable lobby seating for guest use, furniture can get very, very expensive. A single sofa can easily cost upwards of a thousand dollars and still not be enough seating for the space, not to mention the tables, decor, and reception desk that may also need to be included. Too often, buyer's settle for a higher price where they don't need to. That's why it's never a bad call up the dealer and see if they'll offer you a bulk discount. It's a quick way to get a lot, and save a ton!

3.) Paid for Shipping

Any respectable furniture dealer will recognize that shopping big for lobbies is a huge pain for their customers. As dealers and manufacturers, it's their job to make your experience as painless as possible, which is why most large furniture orders qualify for free shipping. Things like large lobby sofas with leather upholsteries can get expensive enough without having to pay for shipping. Before you buy the lowest priced product, be sure to check the store's delivery companies and shipping rates.You may find out that another company with a higher sell price on that lounge chair is actually much more affordable if you account for shipping rates. Never be afraid to contact the dealer to ask.

4.) Didn't Use Comparison Shopping Engines

Okay, so maybe you don't like to shop, and are perhaps a bit new to the whole experience. However, that doesn't mean you don't have the right to save money. With the prices that stylish lounge furniture sets for lobby use can get to these days, it's definitely worth a few seconds of your time to check out a comparison shopping engine. Websites like Google Shopping, Bing, and several apps provide an easy-to-use, free service that compares prices for the same product from all over the web. This helps ensure that buyers get the best deal possible. Simply enter the name or the product code of the furniture item you want, and the shopping engines will find you the best deal out there!

5.) Didn't Schedule Furniture Delivery

Picture this: So you're hard at work behind the reception desk. Your lobby guests are absently flipping through magazines, observing the fish tank, or filling out clipboards, when all of the sudden, a hoard of sweaty guys burst in with your new fabric guest chairs for lobby and no place to put them. Awkward! 
Furniture deliverers work hard to bring buyers new furniture without damage, but it's not exactly the best example for your business if they show up unannounced with no free space to set your stuff. That's why it's super important to set a day for furniture delivery. It may inconvenience you for a few hours to close up shop or divert guests while the deliverers do their job, but it's far better than having patrons give you that frightened "what's happening" look.

6.) Forgot To Prep Area

If you forgot to schedule delivery, most likely, you've probably forgotten to prep an area for the new furniture to go. Furniture installations can be a breeze or a nightmare. Those who prep reap all the rewards of planning ahead while those who don't suffer the consequences. Before the furniture arrives, make sure you've removed old furniture, designed a layout, and that you've got people to help you set it all up (if the delivery service doesn't provide that). Also, because modern tables for waiting room and lobby use are typically followed by a train of chairs, accents, and lamps, and you can't predict the order in which they'll be unloaded, it's imperative to create a staging area. This is a place where the new stuff can sit while heavier furniture is installed first.

7.) Underestimated Clean Up

So, you may be thinking that the job is done when the new furniture is all set up and the deliverers have gone, right? It makes sense, but you'd be making another terrible mistake. All furniture installations are messy, especially lobby installations. Lobbies often require chairs, popular curved desks for office reception, sofas, and tables of all different sizes. If you bought new, those things will be wrapped up, and that creates a mess. Be sure to prepare yourself for plenty of debris after set up, including cardboard boxes, plastic, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and other post-officey things. Try to anticipate the amount of debris ahead of time. Don't get caught with a full dumpster and no place to put any extra waste.

6 Helpful Office Furniture Installation Tips To Remember

 

Office Furniture installation is a commonly feared task but doesn't have to be. While most businesses choose to utilize professional installation companies for larger projects, most desks, chairs, and cabinets can be effectively assembled with minimal hassle. That being said, today we'll share 6 valuable tips sure to make your next makeover project a breeze. From prepping your space to debris removal, these helpful points are sure to better prepare you for the world of furniture installation.

1.) Safety First

The old saying safety first should be the foundation of any furniture installation project. Before the process beings make sure you've found yourself a suitable partner to assist. Working with a buddy is an excellent way to prevent injuries or help in the event of one. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to installation that's for sure! While accidents are rare, they are always a possibility. Here's a list of helpful safety pointers to keep in mind.

Safety Tips

1. Work With A Partner
2. Use Furniture Sliders
3. Wear Safety Gloves to Protect Your Hands
4. Use A Back Brace for Heavy Lifting
5. Have A First Aid Kit Handy
6. Take Your Time

2.) Prep Your Space

The first actual step in a professional office furniture installation process is space preparation. Once you've received an estimated delivery date or tracking number from your product supplier you'll want to begin this important process. Take pictures of your current furniture if  you're planning to sell it to recoup some extra money. Next disassemble the items and move them to a storage location that works for you. You'll now be able to easily clean your work space and create a blank canvas for your new furnishings. The alternative to this process is having your furniture arrive unexpectedly with no where to put it. That being said, our next tip is one you don't want to skip!

3.) Create A Staging Area

Creating a staging area to put your new and old furniture before the installation process begins is a must! Your delivery driver is not obligated to bring your furniture all the way into you space unless you've specified for this additional service. In most cases you'll be required to bring your furniture in, and for that reason you'll definitely want somewhere to put it. By now your probably thinking "That's what my office is for". However, if you're building out new office desks, the boxes can often be quite large and bringing them all the way into your work space will leave very little room to work. The same holds true for new boardroom tables and training room furnishings. Creating a staging area will allow you to bring in individual pieces as you need them without the clutter!

4.) Have The Right Tools

Having the right tools on hand will make your project a breeze. In most cases a couple screwdrivers and a set of allen wrenches will be all you need. If you're assembling multiple items a power drill is always a plus and will definitely save you time. Keep in mind there will be plenty of boxes to open and a basic box cutter will also be invaluable! See our list of tools you'll want to have on hand before your furniture arrives below.

Helpful Office Furniture Installation Tools Include:

1. Philips Head Screwdriver
2. Flat Head Screwdriver 
3. Electric Power Drill
4. Box Cutter
5. Allen Wrenches
6. Socket Set

5.) Read Instructions

Okay, we know this ones pretty obvious but believe it or not most folks just jump right into an install without even locating the instructions. Sadly we hear all too often that the instructions were accidentally thrown away! That being said, when you start opening boxes it's vitally important to locate your instruction manuals. Most executive office workstations require pieces to attached to each other in a certain order to work properly. Follow the instructions closely to prevent having to go back and repeat steps from being over eager. If you loose your instructions don't sweat it. Most top selling office furniture lines have printable manuals posted on the manufacturers website. If not, you're vendor should be able to obtain them for you quickly.

6.) Clean As You Go

Once you've completed your install, rest assured there will be debris! Most products ship on pallets from the manufacturer for easy loading by the delivery companies. These wood pallets are around 50 lbs. and will need to be disposed of. In addition to pallets, packing materials like cardboard, plastic wrap, and paper will be in abundance. Make sure to prepare for the clean up process in advance. Often, larger boxes can be re used to as trash containers during a project. Using a clean as you go mentality will make this process much more manageable and less overwhelming. Having some big yard trash bags on hand is another helpful side tip that can come in handy!

Office Furniture Installation Tips To Remember

So you've decided to undergo an office makeover project for your business. Excellent! The purchase of office furniture is often overshadowed by the fear of the installation portion of any project. Not to worry! Furniture installation is typically quite easy and with the simple tips included in this article, your office will be up and running in no time.

Tip 1: Prep Your Space

The first tip is an absolute essential. There is nothing worse than being surprised by a semi truck at your business looking to drop off thousands of dollars worth of furniture when you are ill prepared. The best way to avoid this is to track your shipment accordingly and prepare your space. By removing old furniture and properly storing important documents, you will already be ahead of the curve! On a side note, consider taking pictures of your old furniture for listing on classified websites. Selling your used business office furniture is an excellent way to add additional funds to your corporate budget.

Tip 2: Staging Your Furniture

Once the applicable office environments have been properly prepped it will be time to receive your new furniture. In most cases, furniture delivery only includes a curbside service unless otherwise specified and requested. If you've opted for curbside delivery it will be your responsibility to bring your new office desks or seating into your business. As most work environments are limited on space, it's incredibly important to dictate a staging area to get your installation plan situated. Once you've made a plan, you'll be able to un carton and pre build major components and move them into your space. With larger items like a conference table, it's best to stage and build out products in the main area to minimize heavy lifting and dangerous carries down the hallway! Another important benefit of the staging area is organization. You'll be surprised at just how much debris and cartoning comes along with a major furnishing makeover. The staging area will provide an excellent place to organize parts and instructions for your project.

Tip 3: Helpful Tools

While several of the top office furniture collections for home and business use come standard with the tools needed for installation, some do not. Lines like the Marque OFM Reception Desk collection actually require no tools at all for assembly! Regardless of the furniture you purchase and what's included arming yourself with a few basic tools will make your job much easier. A box cutter is great for getting into cardboard packaging and removing pallet straps for larger furniture like the reception desks mentioned above. A screwdriver is also nice to have on hand for obvious reasons. A multi purpose driver with a variety of bit options can be purchased for around $10 and will pay for itself over a variety of projects. The last essential item needed is a decent set of allen wrenches. Everything from executive office chairs to small computer desks feature some form of allen related component. In most cases, the included allen wrench will work okay but a back up set is always advised as you might be over zealous and strip your one and only wrench! It's never fun to stop a project midway for a trip to the local hardware store. Additional tools like power drills are nice to have but not necessary in most cases. Any reputable manufacturer will be happy to recommend helpful tools for any specific project.

Tip 4: Work With a Friend

Small office projects like building out a few computer chairs can easily be handled by a single person. A typical computer chair should only take you around 30 minutes to assemble. Larger jobs like the installation of office cubicles often takes a team of professionals. This tip refers to those medium sized projects that involve some heavy lifting! On average, executive desks weigh over 100 lbs when built out. The individual components can often be tricky to work with individually. For this reason, requesting the help of a trusted friend will be a huge help. Adding a coworker to the makeover project will also help you improve the overall safety of the installation. Holding pieces in place to be connected is a benefit that should not be overlooked. While most installations will only take an hour or two, adding a trusted helper will cut down your overall work time by helping to share the work load.

Tip 5: Odds & Ends

A few minor things will help your project in a major way. The use of a furniture dolly will provide ease of mobility when moving furniture of any kind. Positioning heavier products on furniture sliders is also a great way to improve the modularity of any office. Furniture sliders can be found at any local hardware store for around $10 and are truly back savers! Be mindful of your walls and the finish of your furniture. Blankets are a great way to protect both when moving. Lastly, doors stops will save you some tricky maneuvering through tight spaces. It's easy to imagine the difficulty of holding a door open while trying to move a desk though safely. If any job becomes to difficult or seems unsafe in any way, stop. Evaluate the situation, ask for help, and call the professionals. No furniture is worth getting hurt over. Industry professionals will always be available to provide helpful advice to get you through your project with ease.