Top Selling Reception Desk Styles of 2014

The month of January has now passed, which means the trending results of the new year are in! In the world of office furniture, chairs, desks, and tables from all sorts of styles have taken off. Entrepreneurship is a trend that has skyrocketed, which is probably why there has been a rise in the sales reception desks as well. Reception furniture is vital to any commercial business environment, and guests need a place they can go to for information and direction in a place they have never been to before. To help you choose the best for your business, here are the most popular reception desk styles of 2014!

Rectangular

For interior designers, these are your desks that can go anywhere. The basic right-angle design of a rectangular desk makes these them highly accessible from all directions. As long as they can be easily accessed from the room's entry point, they work equally well in corners, against walls, or in the center of the room. Rectangular reception desks are perfect for waiting rooms and lobbies, but they work especially well in standard business practices that have great need for them. Dentistries, doctors offices, pharmacies, and places with generally geometric decor enjoy the straight-edge style of the classic rectangular reception desk. However, for those that still want the interior design functionality of a rectangular desk without the exclusively geometric shape, desks like the BRIGHTON-RECEPTION Modern Rectangular Desk by Mayline can serve as compromises. This table features the traditional angular shape of a classic desk, but with curves featured in the design that make it a wonderful addition to any contemporary welcome area.

L Shaped

Desks like the NRSLBB Napoli L Shaped Reception Station by Mayline are adored for their traditional L-Shaped functionality. These desks are ideally designed to fit in corners, but have been known to be found elsewhere in a room. They are perfect for receptionists who have multiple tasks, and are best suited in places of high activity. The L-Shape is almost like having two rectangular tables in one, and with two tables comes more work space. The extra extension can serve as a block, effectively "hiding" the receptionist from the rest of the room for interior design purposes, but it also gives the receptionist more room to deal with files, papers, and other tasks. Stations like the NRSLBB L Shaped Reception Station by Mayline create wonderful impressions in businesses because, with L shaped desks, more surface area often equals more style. The Napoli desk is made of AA-grade North American hardwood and it even features a tempered glass transaction table for an added sense of the modern. If you're looking for a reception desk with the perfect balance of past an future, great modern desks for office reception like this one are perfect for you!

Curved

If you have the space, it's hard to go wrong with stylish curved reception desks for office use. It's not that these desks are necessarily any bigger than the more angular styles. In fact, they are actually quite smaller than many L-shaped desks, but the curved design may be harder to fit in a reception area where space is tight. With geometric angles, it's easier to organize furniture in a grid pattern or layout, which is often the layout of choice for many new designers. However, if you want to compete in the contemporary era with chic style, curved desks are all the rage! These desks are ideal for any reception area because they can go just about anywhere in a room. The curved design makes them approachable from all directions, and because they have no angles, guests and receptionists don't feel obligated to pick a side. Desks like the 55316 OFM Marque 5 Unit Reception Station offer a curved design that almost totally encloses the receptionist for maximum approachability by visitors. They are often very easy to assemble, and usually boast both wood, chrome, or glass accents. A favorite of salons, spas, hotels, and cosmopolitan businesses, curved reception desks offer a superb blend of the past and future in one circular design!

Multi User

Although many receptionists have been working beside another for years, reception desks large enough to house two or more individuals can be very hard to find. Many businesses end up having to group more than one receptionist by shoving two desks together or trying to find a place big enough for one large desk. Unfortunately, in the welcome furniture world, a "large" reception desk is still usually made for one, and often receptionists are stuck trying to make use of an L-shaped desk in which each person gets a side. They're then left to spend the rest of their days fighting over whose chair wheels keep getting in the other person's space. For all of you who know this pain, there is good news! Cherryman Industries has taken up the task of manufacturing quality multi-user reception stations. Desks like their AM-404N Amber Multi User U Shaped Reception Desk are ideally designed for use by more than one user. They fit wonderfully in larger welcome areas and the U-Shaped design makes this desk easily accessible from both the front and the sides. It can go in the center of a room, close to a wall, or in a corner without obstructing the receptionists. With breathing space a-plenty, the days of bumped chairs and crammed coworkers are over!

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Simple and Easy Tips On How to Keep the Office Clean

It's no secret that offices can get dirty fast, especially around this time of year when companies are pressed for sales. With everyone working hard or hardly woking, papers can fly, desks can get dirty, and if nobody takes the time to sanitize, the whole workplace may end up with a cold. No one likes it, so why endure it all if you don't have to? Practicing cleanliness on both an individual and a group basis can help you better prepare for the holiday season so your workplace can get the sales without getting the bugs. It only takes 21 days to start a habit, and there's no better time than now! Here's some great cleanliness tips to help you get started:

Be Clean By Yourself

Proper cleanliness starts at the individual level. If you want to avoid the runny November nose, start by staying clean on your own. Watch where your food falls during meal times and clean it up right away. Constantly sanitize your office desk, especially things that you or others may touch frequently, like computer keyboards. Tidy up your office space as you go. Instead of waiting until the end of the day or the end of the week to sort through papers, sort through them on the spot. Have designated areas for papers you might end up using later, and toss the ones you know you'll never need again. This kind of meticulous organization not only forces a clean lifestyle, it also increases productivity and efficiency at work. However, while all of these tips are helpful, you must maintain the most important one of all to keep from getting sick - wash you hands constantly!

Be Clean With Others

Individual cleanliness is useful, but it doesn't do very much in a public environment unless everyone practices it. That's why keeping clean with others is so important. Group cleanliness will not only give a good impression of your business, but it also increases workplace efficiency and productivity exponentially! Think about it: cleanliness means organization which keeps important things from getting lost, jumbled, or cluttered, and sanitation keeps people from getting sick so they spend more time working. If you want to improve the cleanliness of your office, start by emphasizing group clean ups. Assign everyone a job and a space to clean with a group of co-workers at the end of the day. This technique is already used in schools in many Asian countries in order to teach responsibility and cooperation. When everyone works together, it works like a charm!

Hire a Cleaning Crew

If your workplace is too big and to bustling to effectively emphasize group cleaning, there is a great alternative. With cleaning crews, the only thing your workplace will have to emphasize is organization. The job of a cleaning crew is not to know what papers go where, but to sanitize, and they usually do a spectacular job of it. Both employees and customers will benefit from an organized and sanitized environment because the clean look gives a good impression of your business, while the cleaned surfaces prevent the spread of sickness.

Don't Eat at the Office Desk

Eating at the office desk can cause all sorts of problems where cleanliness is concerned. Repeated use of retractable keyboard trays for office use is dangerous enough without degenerating food particles festering between the keys. When food particles are lying around it can attract pests in the night, including bugs and rats that carry disease and spread germs even further. The good news is that if you and your coworkers clean your desks regularly and refuse to eat at them, the bugs will have no reason to show up. In addition, you also prevent the spread of germs from sharing computer keyboards. Finally, the greatest byproduct of microbial cleanliness is that, with all the intense sanitation, everyone can see your beautiful computer desks with modern design, rather than leaving them hidden under piles of papers!

Efficient Office Layout

You may never realize it, but the layout of your workplace actually has a lot to do with how your workplace functions. Inefficient placement of furniture can hamper workplace productivity and have a negative impact on the way your workplace looks and is perceived by guests. In this case, the best remedy to promote effectiveness and cleanliness is to change things up! When you've got a lot of employees, keeping them trapped in a field of cubicles or jumbled together at islands of office desks just looks cluttered. Instead, improve the efficiency of your workplace by adding stylish workstations for multiple users, so that they can work closely, yet comfortably. Multi user workstations are efficient, easy-to-power, modular, and often ergonomic. In addition, choosing comfortable ergonomic chairs for desk use can improve the way employees feel, leaving them with more energy and increased work ethic. With a more efficient office, it's much easier to keep things clean and functioning properly. Don't risk losing sales or employees to the dreaded cold season. Just keep things clean, and reap all the benefits!

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Top 7 Things Every Office Needs

Everyone wants to get as much done at the office as possible, but just like any job, its impossible to get things done without the right equipment. Did you know that using outdated office furniture can actually lower the overall productivity and efficiency of your workplace? It sounds hard to believe, but it can even take a toll on the work ethic, health, and mood of those who use it as well. The good news is things don't have to stay that way. There are tons of amazing, affordable office products out there designed to take any business to new heights. To help you out, here's a few great products that no office should ever be without!

Monitor Arms

Got a computer at your desk? Good. They're fabulous ways of getting tons of work done, and in the digital age, that's no small task. However, leaning over your desk to type and see the screen could be taking a terrible toll on your health. Spending too much time hunched over can cause all sorts of back problems, including awful pain, sciatica, and even a deformation of the spine! Ouch. Just because it happens to thousands of Americans though, doesn't mean it has to happen for you. By adding ergonomic monitor arms to your desk, you can stop the health problems before they even start. These handy little inventions can mount to either walls or desks to support your computer screen. The best part is that they're complete with stretching retractable arms that bring the computer to you, so you don't have to strain yourself trying to get to it!

CPU Holders

Speaking of computers, you may have accidentally kicked the drive that takes up so much space under your desk more than a few times by now. Annoying right? Well, did you know that keeping your computer's hard drive on the floor is dangerous? Not only does it take up all the leg room, but it can also be a recipe for disaster. Anyone whose spilled their morning coffee should easily be able to envision spilling a drink on their computer's hard drive. The flurry of sparks and steam is probably nothing compared to the rages of an angry boss who now has to pay to fix your office computer. Avoid the train wreck before it derails with a simple, inexpensive CPU holder. These nifty little devices mount underneath desks to keep hard drives off the floor. In addition to freeing up desk space, you also skirt tons of potential disasters. You even get much of your leg room back!

Ergonomic Seating

If you waited too long to buy that monitor arm and are paying for it with back pain, never fear. Office furniture manufacturers have recognized the plight of office workers who are plagued with back pain, and they've developed a solution to knock pain out of the park! Ergonomic seating is one of the fastest growing trends in office furniture today. All ergonomic furniture is highly adjustable, designed to improve the comfort and productivity of the workplace. Nowhere is this more evident than in ergonomic office chairs. Just as there is an ergonomic seating solution for nearly every office need, there is also an ergonomic chair for just about every ache. So whether you have back problems, joint pain, leg cramps, or even poor circulation, know that there is an affordable ergonomic office chair out there with your name on it!

Efficient Lighting

Few people realize how important proper lighting is in the workplace. It may seem like a simple thing, but poor lighting in indoor environments can take a huge toll on work ethic, mood, and energy. Studies have shown that employees that work under bad lighting conditions have a much higher propensity to develop eye problems, drowsiness, and even depression. Instead of suffering through it, crack open a window and let the sunshine in. Natural lighting is the best antidote to things like depression because it works wonders on the psychological mind, making individuals feel brighter and more energized to get their work done. However, if your workplace lacks windows, artificial lighting works good too when its sufficient. Instead of living like a vampire, brighten things up with a desk lamp or two. You may be surprised how much better you feel.

Modular Furniture

Ever feel like you're constantly running around the office in search of the things you need? Modular furniture is definitely your answer. The word "modular" refers to the idea that everything should be kept within arm's reach for maximum efficiency. Businesses that have incorporated ergonomic workstations for office use into their practice will certainly attest to their efficiency and superior design. This type of furniture nearly always frees up a ton of space by replacing scattered islands of traditional office desks with workstations for multiple users who can work together comfortably in a more efficiently designed space.

Comfortable Welcome Area

In a public work environment, having a comfortable place for guests is an absolute necessity. If guests are happy and contented, it gives businesses more leeway in relations with them. In order to improve visitors' perceptions of your workplace and earn their respect, make sure your guests are catered to. Incorporating curved desks for office reception use makes guests feel as though your business wants to help them. The rounded design is approachable from all sides, and visitors will certainly notice. Additionally, provide them with comfortable seating solutions such as lounge chairs and sofas; perhaps even some refreshments. Remember, the more comfortable they are, the better their view of your business is. As they say, "the customer is always right!"

Professional Meeting Furniture

Keeping up appearances is valuable in all walks of life, but it is perhaps nowhere more important than in the workplace. Having professional meeting furniture around shows business executives that your business cares about what they think. Always be sure that guests from other companies are comfortable by providing stylish conference chairs with leather upholsteries and modern design. Show guests hospitality by providing refreshments and conversing with them in an elegant, contemporary conference room. It may sound like a lot of work, but putting in the extra effort that other companies may not always do could make a great difference if your workplace depends on company relations. Don't fall behind where it counts!

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5 Ways to Create An Eco Friendly Office

With all this talk of climate change and all the shows on TV about the animals affected by human expansion, its no wonder that the "green revolution" has truly taken off. People everywhere have taken on the responsibility for the effects on the world they can't always see. They've taken up recycling, changed their lighting fixtures, reduced their shower times, and all that other good stuff. But what about when you're at work? Even if you're the greenest guy or gal at the office, its hard to keep up the routine if your workplace doesn't provide avenues for it. Here are some great ways to go green at the office, and possibly save some cash in the process!

Recycle

Recycling is often the first thing people think of when they try to go green. Obviously, offices use tons of paper, which kills trees and wastes an unnecessary 55% of water compared to recycled paper. The list of office products that can be recycled is pretty much endless: papers, metals (paperclips and soda cans), cardboard, but one of the most important things you can recycle as a business is plastic. You may not know, but when plastic isn't properly recycled, it has a good chance of floating around over the years until it reaches the ocean, where it can float around for a very long time. That plastic bottle you're drinking out of, if you don't recycle it, could very well end up in one of the five oceanic gyres filled with plastic. According to 5gyres.org In each of the world's oceans, there's an area where all the currents meet and swirl pretty much infinitely. Any trash or plastic in the water will eventually make it there to become part of a giant trashy soup. These plastic gyres pollute the water and trap animals. Sometimes migrating fish can swallow tiny bits of this plastic. If they're caught by us, the fish are usually eaten, which basically means we are eating each other's trash, albeit in small quantities. Every human born since the 50s has plastic in their bodies and scientific research shows that drinking or eating from plastic containers can contribute to developing cancer. 

Recycling at the office is a great way to help break this cycle since workplaces house numerous individuals that would recycle if given the opportunity. You may even choose to check with your local government to see if it offers cash rewards to businesses that recycle! 

Pull the Plug

Did you know that devices plugged into walls are always sucking power? Even if your cellphone is fully charged or your hairdryer is completely off, if its plugged into the wall, both the environment and you are paying for it. What the electric companies don't want you to know is that the best way to lower your power bill is to unplug all your stuff when its not in use. Even if your employees set their computers to "low power mode" when they leave the office, if its plugged in, its likely costing the tons of money on the electric bill. A study done in California determined that "low power mode" is responsible for 10% of total electricity used in homes in California. A great way to save the environment and save yourself some cash is to change your computer's settings so that it saves energy. You can look up how to do this depending on your computer, and you'll be surprised just how much energy this saves. Also, don't forget to pull the plug on things like TVs, DVD players, and other gadgets when not in use either at work or at home. You may end up saving your workplace a few bucks and a few polar bears by reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned!

Carpool

Soccer moms and high school kids have taken this collective mode of transport to the max. Of course biking, taking the bus, or riding a scooter to work are far more eco-friendly than driving a car, but since most people can't get away from it, carpooling is the next best thing. Talk with your co-workers to see who lives near you and ask if they'd like to carpool. Not only does it save all of you money on gas if you all pitch in a little bit, but it also saves gas. Research shows that around 8 billion gallons of gas would be saved if every car in the U.S. carried just one more person. Carpooling is a wonderful opportunity for co-workers to bond and become friendly with one another. After all, you spend all day together anyway, why not get to know the folks in the office cubicle configurations next to you? Some employers even pay there employees a little extra just for riding together! Who knows? You may even gain a best buddy while you gain cleaner air!

Green Office Desks

This is one for the employers rather than the employees. While its probably not worth the trouble if your workplace is already filled with quality office desks, those of you thinking about starting a new business or redesigning your office can consider choosing eco-friendly office desks. Great multi user workstations for business use are easy and efficient to power even if they're not made out of sustainable materials. By housing more than one individual, the desks can save space, making your workplace appear cleaner and more efficient, but they also use less power, saving you money on the company's electric bill. For those of you considering redecorating, recycling the old desks and looking for stylish office desks for sale made from sustainable materials like recycled metals, recycled glass, bamboo, or other sustainably extracted hardwoods is another great way to go green!

Smart Office Lighting

Choosing the right lighting for your office can make a world of difference for both the environment and your pocketbook. We've always said that natural sunlight has always been the best sort of lighting for office scenarios if you have a sufficient source. Natural sunlight saves tons of money because it costs none, and it has wonderful psychological effects on employees and guests alike, making them feel better, more upbeat, energetic, and friendly. However, if your office simply can't do this for whatever reason, never fear! There are plenty of great desk lamps and office lighting solutions out there that can save both the environment and you some worries. Choosing compact fluorescents and LED lights that use little energy can give you better lighting and save you more money over a longer period of time than traditional incandescent lights. These lighting options burn brighter and more efficiently for much longer than traditional lights, and can sometimes burn for years, saving you tons of money and the environment tons of fossil fuels. Going the extra mile by springing for lighting systems that have motion sensors can also help your green theme by shutting off when there's no sign of physical activity. Schools everywhere have already made wonderful use of this nifty invention, why not see if your workplace will too?

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