Spooky Ways to Decorate the Office for Halloween!

There's no doubt about it! With all the pumpkins, falling leaves, and warm spicy smells filling the air, fall has definitely arrived, and we all know what that means... Halloween is just around the corner! Pretty soon, kids and parents all over the country will be dressing up their houses and themselves, hitting the streets with glowsticks and goody-bags ready to reap the bumber-crop of candy that comes at the end of every October. But with everyone feeling the autumn's bounty, it can be hard to stay confined to the office all day. If your co-workers or employees moods seem turn as soon as they step inside, why not change things up? Let them celebrate the wonders of fall by decorating the office in the spirit of the season. Not only does it provide a change of scenery, but it also boosts office morale. After all, if everything else is getting dressed for tricks and treats, why leave the cubicles out of the loop? Here are some great ways to dress up the office for the fall season!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Everywhere!

Halloween is the second most anticipated holiday of the year in the United States, right after Christmas. With so many people in love with the tricks and treats, its hard not to be charmed by the fun costumes and the not-so-scary decorations, but nothing says "fall" for Americans quite like pumpkins! Most people don't know that long before pumpkins were ever used, turnips were actually the go-to choice for the jack-o'-lanterns that warded away evil spirits for Europeans. It wasn't until the settlers arrived in North America that these funny orange members of the squash family became associated with the grinning faces and fall festivities they're known for now, and we wouldn't have it any other way! Dressing up your office with pumpkins is not only super fun, but tiny pumpkins kept at modern office desks can make pretty great little paperweights! Additionally, pumpkin-carving contests are wonderful outlets for co-workers to bond and let off a little of their pent up energy after spending all day hunched over keyboard trays typing. While cutting a few of these familiar cute Halloween friends out of orange colored paper and pasting them around the office is the usual way to go, you may want to consider something a bit more unique. Instead of cutting pumpkin shapes, heres a few steps to making a different kind of paper pumpkin! Check it out at MarthaStewart.com and be the talk of the whole office!

Scarecrows!

Here's a fun way to get the office together for a bit of fun one day: building a scarecrow! We know, clearly its not the conventional thing to do for a bit of fall festivities, but it can actually be quite fun. Collecting the office crew and splitting them into teams for a scarecrow speed-building contest can unite the group, create some friendly competition, get everyone talking, and bring a bit of extra happiness into the office. Assign each person a piece of the scarecrow that they can bring to help build it or provide them with the materials. Then, give them the basic instructions on how to assemble it (which we will provide here for you, so no worries!) Finally, grab a stopwatch, build your scarecrows, and unleash the festivities. When they're assembled, place them amongst the stylish waiting room furniture in the lobby, in comfortable guest chairs, or in some old mesh task chairs that haven't been used in a while. You'd be surprised with the number of compliments and smiles you'll get from costumers who appreciate your establishment's whimsical side! If you'd like to make a scarecrow for your workplace, check out this article from WikiHow.com and let the fun begin!

Wonderful Autumn Smells!

Scented candles are spectacular for improving office environments. There are many studies to support the theory that certain smells can evoke responses in humans that can modify behavior, making us feel more energetic, more relaxed, less likely to anger, and even less stressed. What better way to improve the mood of the whole workplace than by adding the wonderful scents of the fall season to the mix? It is believed that spicy fall scents such as cinnamon and ginger can help to reduce fatigue, tiredness, as well as help to calm the nerves, making people more aware. Additionally, citrusy scents can quickly brighten moods, making a place feel and smell cleaner. By adding these fabulous scents to an office environment, employees may find themselves getting along much better with their coworkers and feeling more lively. Tossing a few scented candles in amongst the reception area furniture or on top of the fashionable coffee tables in the guest area can really make a room feel warm, homey, and comfortable - perfect for guests and visitors. Candles can be store-bought or made at home, but if you'd rather not have traditional candles in your office for safety reasons, incense, scented sticks, and plugins can also create great moods without posing as much of a fire hazard.


Fall Festival Office Theme!

Dressing up the office in the "Fall Festival" theme is a great way to show your employees and customers that your establishment can support a delightful whimsical side. Really though, this is true of almost any seasonal office decoration. Not only does dressing up the office liven up your employees, but when customers see the fun little pumpkins or snowflakes all over the office, they feel that a business is more of a human community rather than a mindless, cold-blooded engine of the modern age. Fall festival is perhaps one of the greatest decorative styles for dispelling the negative impression that businesses are without heart. It is a fun and energetic theme that gets everyone glowing with the warm comfort only the autumn can bring. Because the "fall" theme is a natural cycle of the seasons whose celebration is so widespread, and the theme is not necessarily tied to any religious holiday, few people are ever offended by the harmless little pumpkins and scarecrows stuck to the walls and cubicles. If you're considering a "fall festival" style to enliven your workplace, reds, oranges, yellows, and browns are definitely the colors to go with. Pressed and laminated autumn leaves can be attached to magnets and stuck to metal office carts and spacious storage cabinets to contribute to the theme. Additionally, colored-paper pumpkins, corn cobs, apples, walnuts, and hay piles stuck to just about anything in the office will undoubtedly show off your establishment's enthusiasm for the season.


Halloween Office Themes!

As we've established, Halloween is an extremely popular holiday filled with fun ways in which you can decorate the office. For traditional Halloween enthusiasts, oranges, blacks, and purples are the colors that best describe this holiday, which make them great for decorating the office. Choosing a Halloween theme for the whole office, for each room, or each set of cubicles adds a bit of whimsical variety that is hard not to enjoy. A few cool themes to get started with stem from the realm of popular costumes, but the ideas are visually endless. Some themes or characters you may consider dressing your  popular office desks with are witches, pirates, vampires, ghosts, pumpkins, superheroes, or even popular movie monsters. Hanging homeade tissue-paper ghosts and suspended pumpkins above modular multi-user workstations keep things animated without intruding upon the workday. If you'd rather not go with the super scary for the office, famous old fairytales and stories such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, or the Grimm Brother's tales can provide a certain amount of fun that may feel much less scary or offensive to people who don't particularly care much for Halloween. These magical tales are familiar and cherished, making them very popular around Halloween, and the themes are very easy to decorate with. Here's a few decorating ideas and themes sure to boost your Halloween spirit:

Spooky Halloween Movie Themes:

1.) The Nightmare Before Christmas
2.) Ghostbusters
3.) The Wizard of Oz
4.) Halloween Charlie Brown
5.) Alice in Wonderland
6.) James and the Giant Peach

* Each of these Halloween family movies make fun costume themes either for people or for office desks. They are beloved for their childlike humor, familiarity, and relative innocence, usually making them safe choices to balance the spookiness of Halloween with the appropriate level of quirky humor that can be tolerated in a business environment.

Halloween Craft Ideas:

1.) Small tissue paper ghosts and bats suspended from the ceiling.
2.) Caution tape wrapped around ergonomic office chairs and desks.
3.) If you have ergonomic monitor arms attached to your computers, you can tape paper eyes and teeth to the computer screen to give the illusion of a friendly computer monster.
4.) Use tape and colored paper to dress up your computer's mouse like a real mouse.
5.) Tiny pumpkin paperweights ( you may want to draw funny faces on them to mimic jack-o'-lanterns)
6.) Candy-themed decorations.

* We hope this article has inspired you to enjoy this spectacular season for all its worth, both at home and at the office! Remember to stay safe, keep things appropriate, and most of all, have a very happy Halloween!

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Cool Workplace Furniture Trends

Whether your business is geared toward services specifically for people or you just want to stay hip to the modern age, keeping your office updated with the coolest workplace furniture trends is a great way to start. However, keeping up with what's hot can be really difficult if you don't know what to look for in your office furniture. But never fear, with this handy tutorial on how to keep things looking new and exciting, you will have your workplace tricked out with all the latest styles and gadgets, finding yourself on the cutting edge in no time!

Metal

One of the coolest design trends on the market today is the sleek look of metal. This shiny, solid material is not just sturdy, but the extra sheen coupled with other materials such as wood or glass gives any place a spectacular feeling of balance and modernization. Even if your workplace decor is full of glass and dainty lines, metal can convey strength to even things out. If your workplace relies a lot on wood furnishings, adding metal is a great accent that brings a touch of the new age into the room. Office products that make the best use of metal accents are usually modern office desks and computer desks, as well as glass office desks for any home or business.  There are even a few modern executive chairs out there that will match this new combo and add a splash of color to tie in any existing decor! When it comes to metal, there are tons of options. Whatever you choose, know that adding any of these great products is a surefire way to make your office shine. Literally!

Glass

If you want a workplace that looks crisp and stylish, there is no better material to use than glass. In fact, a few glass accents here and there are often just the thing needed to complete a room. Glass looks great with any decor because it is so incredibly versatile. It can come in a transparent shade of almost any color and be molded into just about any design imaginable. But, if you want to go for the modern look, clear or a nice pale blue are the ways to go. Adding glass signifies honesty in the workplace as well as a strong sense of the modern age. If you want to go green or symbolize a rebirth of some kind, glass is the also perfect thing, as it can easily be melted down and molded into something new. No modern office should ever be complete without a few glass accents, and the best office products to do it with are glass office desks and glass computer desks for your home or workplace. Other ways to bring in glass are with a few stylish storage cabinets with glass doors, or with glass end tables in a waiting room or lounge.


White

One of the biggest trends of the modern age is the addition of white office furniture to workplaces. We've all seen it at the Apple Store, but now the trend has become huge, and for good reason. White conveys a sense of cleanliness. It easily matches any color and looks great when compared with other solid colors or unique designs. Subconsciously, pale tones like white or light blue make rooms appear more open which is especially important if you have dark furniture. In fact, the white-black color combo is one of the most stylish modern designs of today, both colors working to contrast one another in a way that makes any room feel whole, complete, and well balanced. Office products that are great opportunities to incorporate white into your color scheme are through stylish office chairs, such as the Hendrix White Leather Conference Chair by Woodstock, or in cool office desks like the ones offered in the Verde Collection by Cherryman for office use.



Modular Design

If you're already thrilled with the way your office looks, but maybe aren't so thrilled with how it functions, there are some remarkable products out there to help you with just that, and they all rely on the same concept: modular design. Now, if you're wondering what "modular design" is, don't worry - its very new - but knowing a few tricks about modular design can really help you out regarding the functionality of your office. The whole concept revolves around keeping everything at hands' reach in the office and making the most use of the space you've got. A few of the products that best showcase this concept are multi user workstations and cubicles for business purposes. These products always make great use of space, often allowing more than one individual to work from the same unit. They are great for businesses that fluctuate in activity, part of their modular design including the ability to add or remove units as needed. However, if you've already got desks or workstations, it doesn't mean you get to miss out on the benefits of modular design. Adding sliding keyboard trays and monitor arms to your computers are easy ways to clear up desk space and improve office function. Mounting CPU holders under desks free up leg room and prevent accidents by keeping your computers' hard drives off the floor.

Ergonomic Features

Perhaps one of the biggest trends in office design today revolves around ergonomics. This new style of furniture is design to reflect the findings of different ergonomic studies, meaning all products are designed to improve comfort and efficiency in the workplace. The office products that do this best are without a doubt, ergonomic office chairs for the home and business. Products like the OFM Verte Ergonomic Office Chair above are some of the most comfortable chairs money can buy, moving in every way that your back does. Other ergonomic desk chairs come with all sorts of features, including the ability for height and back adjustment, seat adjustment, and removable arm rests. There are even a few stylish ergonomic office desks out there, in case you need a desk that features height adjustment or provides tilt control over the surface. Adding ergonomic workstations are great for the health of your employees and, in turn, the health of your business. Even if your office is as stylin' as ever, without the addition of ergonomics, know that your workplace is seriously missing something in the realm of the modern age: comfort and efficiency.

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Top 7 Ways to Improve Your Office

Looking for ways to get things done faster and more efficiently but aren't sure how to do it? If you've been feeling cramped and stifled at work, it may actually be due to your office. Keeping an office space efficient and manageable is a critical first step to a successful business that people often overlook. A clean, well-designed office allows for more productivity, greater effectiveness and speed,  a better business image, and it gives you one less thing to worry about. Here are the top seven ways to improve your office space so that you can improve your business!

An Ergonomic Office Chair

If you are looking for the best way to improve your office space, ergonomics is definitely the way to go. Ergonomics refers to the study of comfort and efficiency in a work environment and the studies have led to a whole range of products developed just to better your work experience. Chief among all of these great new inventions are, without a doubt, comfortable office chairs for your business. There are great ergonomic chairs designed for all purposes, from ergonomic desk chairs to guest chairs, and all are built to rectify discomfort. No more back pain with these babies! From their heights to their inflatable seat cushions, these chairs are designed for the individual to be adjusted by the individual so you can decide what is best for you. These affordable chairs are sure to keep you and your employees feeling comfortable and ready to take on the world!

Get Organized

Keeping an office space clean an organized is always a great place to start if you're looking to refine your office. Cleanliness is not only pleasing to the eye, but a truly clean place is a healthier environment  where everything is easy to find. However, if a workplace is tight on square footage, sometimes cleanliness is not always possible. There's just so much stuff! Sometimes stacking things along the edges of office desks can't be helped right? Wrong. There are tons of simple, affordable ways to keep an office clean, no matter how small it is. Adding mobile office carts is a wonderful example. They're made to provide space for everything that clutters up desks, such as files, pens, directories, even printers, and they can be rolled out of the way when not in use. Another great way to clean things up is by making use of vertical space. Building up instead of out with great storage cabinets and office shelving gives you more of your square footage back, and is much more efficient. You may even find your office has become a little feng shui by the end of it!

Ergonomic Monitor Arm

The screen's too high, too far down, too tilted, too angled, too... not right! If you find yourself struggling to see your own computer screen, things definitely need to change and fast! Ill-placed computers can cause a lot of health problems. If you find yourself bending unnaturally to see the screen in any way, you could be giving yourself headaches or major back pain that can lead to bad moods or even sciatica. Fortunately, the uncomfortable battle with computer screens has been fought many times before. There is a way to defeat discomfort without having to give up desks, stylish executive chairs, or even computers. Just go ergonomic! Mounting ergonomic monitor arms to your desk or wall is the best way to end the pain. These fancy little devices are easily installed and attached to computers and flatscreen TV mounts so that you can tilt and move the screen wherever you want. Maybe you use more than one screen? No problem. There are multi-screen monitor arms too. And as an added bonus, they also clear up desk space!


Proper Lighting

Does your office seem gloomy? Have you or your employees been feeling down? Has your productiveness slowed exponentially? Don't worry. Chances are, not all of you are depressed at the same time. Most likely, you business just has poor lighting. Proper office lighting is critical for office environments. Without it, employees, guests, and even CEOs can feel crestfallen and when that happens, productiveness can take a huge dive. Additionally, trying to read in lame light is terrible for the eyes. Making sure your workspace is well lit either with natural or artificial light is very important for the health of you, your employees, and your business. If you've been feeling blue, try adding a desk light or overhead task light to shed some light on your office experience!


Retractable Keyboard Tray

Are you tired of leaning over the desk to type? Good! It causes tremendous back pain and is terrible for your health. But that doesn't mean you have to suffer to get your work done. Adding retractable keyboard trays to your office furniture arsenal is another fantastic way to end discomfort and bring productivity back to the office. Retractable keyboard trays mount easily against the underside of desks and can drawn out so that they rest just above your lap for you to type and then stowed away out of sight back under the desk when not in use. It may be a small thing but these little devices are great ways to improve your health and your posture. You can count on ergonomic monitor arms and retractable keyboard trays make a perfect tag team for cleaning up space and keeping you comfortable!


CPU Holder

One great way to guard against expensive accidents without spending an arm and a leg is by getting a CPU holder. Anyone who has ever spilled their morning coffee and was terrified their computer's hard drive would get wet has not worried without reason. Accidental spills have been the catalyst for many trips to the electronics store to purchase new computers. The good news about CPU holders is that they not only keep your computer off the ground and away from the splash zone, but they also grant you extra leg room, and if you ever need to adjust the wires in the back, the hard holder can slide out much like a keyboard tray and flip around for easy reach.


Modular Furniture

Adding modular furniture is a trend that has been sweeping the nation with good reason. Modular furniture not only helps keep things organized and users from straining themselves, but it is also stylish and super efficient. The whole idea behind modular workstations is to make the most use out of the smallest space given, and keep everything within arm's reach so users can spend more time at the desk and less time running around looking for what they need. Of course, to do this, modular workstations provide excellent storage capabilities. Most are designed with the whole office in mind and many offices have seen the benefits multi user workstations that allow numerous individuals to effectively make full use of smaller spaces. If your business fluctuates in the number of individuals that work there, modular cubicles are wonderful ways to accommodate that by allowing units to be removed or added depending on your needs.

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What to Expect from a Modern Office

The modern office is a thing of beauty. High tech work environments of the 21st century are built for productivity are built for productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness. Knowing what to expect in a modern office will help to better prepare your business and keep you on the cutting edge!


High Tech Office Desks

Any modern office worth its salt is sure to have high tech office desks for their executives and employees. Great modern office desks are wonderfully easy to power and function many of the same capabilities as cool modular workstations so they are easy to add on to as a business grows. Today's ergonomic workstations are designed to solve problems. They often come with adjustable attributes so that each desk can be as individual as its user! Modern desks are often complete with levers or electronic buttons that allow users to adjust desk height so you never have to bend over or reach up to work.  And the best part is that they are always stylishly designed to match any decor!


Modular Design

Looking at the subtitle above, you may be asking yourself what "modular design" is. Well, one way to describe the concept is by thinking about trains. When trains have more passengers to carry, more cars are added. If there are less passengers, cars can be removed to save time and energy. In the world of office furniture, manufacturers have applied this concept to their products, incorporating what they call a "modular design". There are lots of businesses out there that fluctuate in activity that benefit from office furniture with this design. Today's modern cubicles are not only stylish and ergonomic, but they are also modular, meaning each unit is designed so that it can easily latch onto another unit or it can be easily removed, and modular workstations like the one above take up less space by effectively seating more than one individual. Not only that, modular design also refers to the idea of keeping everything within arm's reach so that users do not have to expend more energy than they need to running to mobile carts to get what they need. Everything is right there. Whether you're referring to the arrangement of desks in a space, or the storage capacity that desk provides, if it has a modular design, you'll never need to pick up a feng shui book again!


Ergonomic Products

If you're wondering what truly makes an office exemplary in current times, just know that its all about ergonomics! Confused? Don't be. Ergonomics is a wonderful concept that has helped many businesses all over the world become more productive, improve efficiency, and introduce comfort. The word "ergonomic" refers to the study of ergonomics which is the study of efficiency in working environments. Ergonomic products can include everything from chairs to retractable keyboards trays,  to desks and much more and they're all designed to improve efficiency by making the workplace more comfortable and less of a hassle. A good modern office is never complete without any of these great ergonomic products: a good tablet mount that hooks computer screens to desks so that they take up less space, ergonomic monitor arms for computer screens and flatscreen TVs that mount to walls, so that you can move the screen around or tilt it to your liking, and CPU holders mounted under desks to keep external hard drives off of the ground in case of spills or other accidents. These fabulous devices save time, add comfort and security, and are an absolute must for any up-to-date office!

Adjustable Office Chair

Now, if there were a product that showcased all the advances and benefits of ergonomic studies, it would have to be the office chair. No medium has provided more opportunity to expand and discover ergonomic possibilities as the office chairs you sit in every day. Today's comfortable office chairs are completely different than the chairs we sat in ten years ago. They are adjustable, reliable, durable, and individualized so that each person can make their chair as comfortable as they want. Any business with good ergonomic desk chairs or will gladly attest to the well being of their employees as far as comfort goes. But comfort and functionality isn't just limited to executive office chairs anymore. There have been major advancements in the realm of guest chairs and as well! Seating options such as training chairs and beam seating for guests have improved drastically, seating occupants  while providing comfort, saving space, and nesting capabilities for easy storage. Any workplace that includes the advancements of modern seating is sure to wow everyone that steps inside!

Cutting Edge Storage Products

Everyone could benefit from a little extra space, but finding it when you have a limit on square footage can be hard. Fortunately, in the modern workplace, you don't have to worry about it anymore! There are tons of great office accessories and products out there with fabulous storage capabilities to give you all the space you need. Products like desk pedestals are great for places tight on storage, especially if they are mobile. Wheels give things the ability to be rolled out of the way when not in use. If your home or office is tight on space, its best to build up instead of out. Vertical bookcases are extremely helpful and shelving keep things off of the floor to free up space. Additionally, things like vertical file cabinets are great for keeping files, books, binders or anything else that isn't regularly used out of the way, and locking features keep all the stuff safe from marauders! So, if you want your office to stay on the cutting edge, make sure you provide tons of storage to free up your space!

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Top U Shaped Desk Configurations

A U shaped office desk helps to maximize the square footage potential of any space. Desks of this nature are composed of a main front piece with either bow front, straight, or peninsula section. The focal desk is highlighted by an attached return and rear credenza to form the full U shape design. As the most popular style of executive desking solution on the market, you'll be at no shortage of models to choose from. Luckily, this post highlights the best of the best for your workspace!

First up, the Brighton BT23 Typical by Mayline. This popular configuration features a glass accented hutch, ample storage, and peninsula front desk that combine to create a stunning modern office. Priced at $1129.99, this unit is truly an excellent value! Both the cherry and mocha finishes compliment well in executive environments. As an added bonus, the Mayline Brighton series is typically in stock for those in need of new products in a hurry!

Second on the list of top 5 U shaped executive desks is the Affirm configuration by HPFI. This station includes 4 pieces for the $2615.99. While this might be a bit pricey for the average consumer, the Affirm collection is designed for high end work atmospheres with luxury style. The honey cherry and rouge mahogany finishes boast success and class while the bow front desk portion offers a traditional look sure to earn your space a host of positive compliments. Those unfamiliar with HPFI office furniture should definitely take a peek at the Affirm and Atlas collections as they truly create beautiful work environments to be proud of!

When it comes to corner office desks, using a U shaped design is always a great choice! Manufacturers like Cherryman Industries specialize in quality desk sets designed to fit in corner and small office spaces while still offering a cutting edge look that doesn't sacrifice valued professional qualities. Lines like the Cherryman Verde Series offers some of the most cutting edge modern office desks for sale on the market today. Pre configured furniture packages like the Verde VL-745R U station even include a matching mobile pedestal with choice of 3 fabric cushion options. These little add on packages make for a space saving guest seat that also provide versatile office storage. The white glass accents are definitely the main style attribute of these stations. Available in your choice of 2 finishes, Verde sets are amongst the top selling business office furniture solutions of 2013.

You can never go wrong with Offices To Go Furniture and chairs for the home or business. This line of discount office furniture includes a variety of stunning U desk sets and accenting leather executive chairs sure to highlight any office on a strict budget. Units like the Ventnor executive desk package offer a choice of 2 color options to meet your stylistic needs. Excellent desk storage pedestals are included in most OTG suites that lock for added workplace security. Stunning edge details and well made surface grommets make for a well rounded collection of executive office desks for sale that won't let you down!

Last but certainly not least, if you're looking to impress with modern style, the Mayline executive desks for sale from the popular Napoli collection will definitely do the trick! This line of modular workstations combines glass, wood, and metal accents to form an industrial yet commercially influenced modern line of products that really impress. Units like the NT31 Napoli Typical are an excellent example of Mayline's industry leading craftsmanship at it's finest. High grade American hardwood veneers and Italian influenced design qualities make for a cutting edge look that can't be denied. Choose from three popular finish combinations with plenty of executive cabinets and storage products to complete your space.

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