Office Design Advice: Plan, Furnish, Accent!

When the time comes to remodel your office interior, you'll be met with an abundance of decisions that must be made to get the job done right. That's where we come in. We're here to help you through the design process by providing the advice needed to rock your makeover project. From space planning to accenting, we'll show you how to create the workspace you've always dreamed of.

Planning

All successful office remodels start with effective planning. First things first, you need to obtain some dimensions! Start by measuring the perimeter of your interior. Be sure to take note of all the entry ways, windows, power outlets and room obstructions that will affect the way your new office furniture is situated.

Pro Tip: Once you've got your dimensions, it's always a good idea to double check them for accuracy. Rest assured, there's nothing worse that purchasing furniture that doesn't fit properly upon arrival.

It's always a good idea to set a budget and timeline for your project. Do a little research upfront to determine how much the items you're interested in will cost. If you need help, you can always visit a local showroom in your area.

If you decide to purchase in-stock items for your project, be prepare for a quick turnaround. In-stock office furniture and chairs typically leave the factory within 2 business days of order. Custom furniture and made to order items will give you a little bit more prep time. They usually take around 3 to 4 weeks to manufacture and ship.

Furnishing

Before you rush out and purchase new furniture for your space, spend a little bit of time researching the latest trends and getting inspired. Social sharing sites like Instagram and Pinterest will provide you with a ton of awesome ideas that can be used to make your space stand out from the competition.

Now it's time to shop! You'll need 3 main items to get your space started off on the right foot. The first is a high quality office chair with adjustable features to keep you operating at your best.

Recommended Office Chairs:

• Eon by Cherryman Industries
• Spritz by Global Total Office
• Oroblanco by iDesk
• Ergohuman by Eurotech Seating
• Rave by SitWell

Once you've settled on a comfy chair, it's time to build out the rest of your interior around it. The second item you'll need is a personal computer desk that meets your space requirements. Typically, office desks come in standard lengths of 63" and 72" wide. Always check the dimensions before you make a purchase to ensure it will fit.

Lastly, you'll want to add a storage cabinet, file cabinet, or credenza to help you stay well organized. If you've got the budget and space, there's no harm in adding one of each. You can never have enough storage space. It always goes faster than you think!

When furnishing your office interior, it's always a good idea to select desks and storage components from a full service collection to simplify the process. Unless your a professional designer, do your best to avoid blending finishes and mix matching process. It seldom yields the results shoppers hope for.

Best Full Service Office Furniture Collections:

• Medina by Mayline
• Zira by Global Total Office
• Amber by Cherryman Industries
• Superior Laminate by Offices To Go
• Mesa by OFM

Accenting:

Before your new furniture arrives, you'll want to start prepping your space. Start by removing your old furniture and selling it to recapture a bit of your budget.

With your furniture removed, it's the perfect time to lay on a fresh coat of paint. This year coastal colors like light blues, grays, and greens have been super popular.

Pro Tip: Don't wait to paint once your new furniture has been installed. The risk for spills and accidents goest up significantly!

Wait until your furniture is fully installed before you start purchasing interior accents. The idea in your mind and the end result after assembly may end up differing a bit. Once your loving your layout, you can begin shopping for cool accents to make your space pop.

Accenting your office can be done for aesthetic value, or improved productivity. We highly recommend taking a "productivity first" approach. The integration of a few must have ergonomic products will have you ready to tackle the demands of the modern work day with ease.

Ergonomic Accents:

• Add an articulating monitor arm to increase desk space while encourage healthy typing angles. 
• Integrate a dual screen monitor arm to improve the rate at which you compute while reducing visual strain and the neck pain associated with having your screens on the factory base.
• Purchase a CPU holder that mounts underneath your desk surface to provide you with additional knee space. You'll also have an easier time routing wires and charging devices.

Pro Tip:  If you really want to go next level, consider investing in a desktop riser that promotes sit to stand operating. They're about $300.00, but the benefits gained are second to none. A sit to stand desk attachment will help you fight fatigue, increase blood flow, and reduce the health risks associated with sitting for hours on end.

You'll no doubt want to spice up your interior with a few aesthetic accents as well. They're the perfect way to show off your individual style. Skip the old school motivational posters and get creative with your wall art. Visiting a swap meet, thrift store, or antique shop will provide you with lot's of cool items that can be used to compliment your decor. Vintage lighting fixtures, mid century modern scones, retro wall art, and area rugs can all help you spice up your overall vibe.

Avoiding The Top 6 Office Makeover Mishaps

There's nothing worse than an office makeover mishap! To avoid falling prey to a design disaster, you'll need to properly plan and pay close attention to the advice in today's post. Today we'll share with you the most common makeover mistakes encountered by businesses and how to avoid them effectively.

1.) Didn't Properly Measure

A quality makeover starts with accurate space planning. Start by obtaining the perimeter dimensions of your space. Be sure to take note of power outlets, entry ways, windows, and load bearing members that will affect the way furniture fits. Once you've got your dimensions, double check them! Never, ever, ever, assume furniture will fit without measuring. This is a recipe for disaster that can be easily avoided.

2.) Forgot To Ask The Group

There's a fine line between getting group input and ending up with too many chickens in the hen house! To keep things on the safe side, do preliminary work on your own. Come up with a series of no more than three options per area. If you're taking on private office interiors, provide your coworkers with three full service collections to choose from that include the desk configurations, tables, and storage components needed to complete the areas in questions. On the flip side, you don't want to select products without getting group input. This is sure to leave someone feeling left out and unhappy. Remember, some input is good. Too much can be overwhelming!

3.) Expected Finishes To Match

Mix matching furniture from various brands is dangerous! While two manufacturers may call a finish cherry, it doesn't mean they are exactly the same. Schedule your project far enough in advance to obtain multiple finish samples for the furniture you're considering purchasing. In most cases, fabric and finish samples can be to you in about a week. If you don't have the time to wait for samples, be on the safe side and purchase your office seating and furniture from the same brand. If you have any questions about finishes matching, call your dealer of choice. In the long run, it never hurts to ask.

4.) Didn't Get Tracking Information

Whether you purchase furniture online or from a local dealer, you need to obtain tracking information as soon as possible. Don't delay this important step and end up with thousands of dollars worth of new furniture sitting in your lobby! Tracking information will provide you with the valuable window needed to get your space ready. Let's say you've ordered a new conference table and chairs for your business. If you obtain your tracking number, you'll know exactly how long you have to clear out old furniture from your space, patch walls, paint, and accessorize before your new products arrive. You'll also know when to staff extra workers to help with assembly.

5.) Unprepared For Installation

In most cases, office furniture installation can be handled effectively with 2 to 4 people. That being said, contact your dealer before products arrive to inquire about installation services. They'll typically be able to share tips, demo videos, and advice that will help you tackle the process. In addition, if you feel like installation is a bit much for your business to handle internally, your dealer will be able to provide professional resources in your area. Professional installation should be quoted for any project consisting of 3 or more areas. Basic executive desk configurations, conference room tables, and reception desks take around an hour to put together. Prepare accordingly! You'll also want to have a staging area clearly defined to place furniture when it arrives. Having basic tools on hand is also a must. Last but not least, furniture is packed extremely well. There will be debris! Be sure to have plenty of trash bags and dumpster space available before you begin.

6.) Went Over Budget

Don't wait until your project is complete to realize you've gone over budget. Work with your team from day one to determine how much you can spend without over extending. Create an excel spreadsheet to track purchases during the process. This will help you keep a close eye on your budget. If you want to keep it simple, provider your dealer with an idea of how much you're looking to spend. They'll be happy to help you select the best products in your price range. Like with most office makeover mishaps, budget issues typically result from assuming and improper planning. Don't fall into this group!