It is said that the car you drive tells eons about you. How much more this is true of the furniture you choose. Your office is your shop window, your inspiration and your comfort zone. It is often the first impression clients get of you and your business, so if you are investing in new office furniture, it is imperative to set the right tone. We look at some of the more common types of office furnishings.
Traditional Office Furniture:
Traditionally bankers, lawyers and doctors have welcomed their clients into offices with thick pile carpet, heavy mahogany furniture, and dark wall coverings, suggesting an air of permanence, security and authority. If this is your line of business, then this is your statement. You are timeless, successful and reliable. Choose your furniture to say what you are. If you have a large office, choose larger pieces so that the scale of the surroundings does not lose the impact.
Modern Office Furniture:
But, for the up and coming design studio, web designer, media or marketing team, the look needs to be totally different. In this case, the furniture needs to urbane, modernistic and ahead of its time. It needs to be subtle yet draw attention by its very simple lines, and by the substance it is made of.
Furniture in natural wood gives a simple, clean look, and a satin lacquer finish will protect wood from heat, spills and even ink. Maple wood finish gives a light, modern look to any desk or table, and compliments other materials well. As a rule, a good contrast is better than a bad match when mixing different materials. For an informal interview area, leather sofas or dining chairs and a low-level table will create a relaxed group. The plainest furnishings can be enhanced with a striking lamp or designer glass centrepiece, giving the room a focal point at minimum cost.
Glass Furniture:
More recently, all-glass furniture has hit the street. Glass is the ideal choice for the smaller office as it makes the room look spacious and light. It is simple, uncluttered, and futuristic and draws attention by its very lack of reality. It is an enigma. Glass is fragile, yet these pieces are strong. Glass is brittle, yet this furniture is supporting. The very latest technology introduces a coloured glass finish, which reflects and refracts the light intensely. The glossy glass colour system throws spectacular effect around the room. So what does this say about your business? That you are dynamic, unconventional and ahead of the pack. Carefully choose matching pieces around the room to enhance this effect - all glass tables, ultra modern revolving storage, glass shelves and a matching glass sideboard.
Your furniture is not just about your clients. It creates your comfort level and inspires creativity. It welcomes you in the morning, and brings order to your working day. Make sure that you create the workspace that you need, in terms of stimulation, practicality, a wow factor and of course client impression. Remember to think tangentially. You don't just have to shop from the office furniture section. Look at dressing tables, coffee and lamp tables and wardrobes for storage.
Whatever you want to be, make sure that your office furniture tells the world the same story.
Finding the Right Furniture For Your Office