Office Design: The Top 3 Items Every Office Must Have

Office design is a tricky thing, and it's not always easy to know where to start. That's why this article is all about office must haves! Today, we'll be rounding off the top three things every office environment needs to succeed. Just start with these items and work your way up from there. Before you know it, your office, cubicle, or conference area will be rockin' modern style, and you can rest assured knowing it's prepared for anything!

Everyday Office

- Modular Desk

- Ergonomic Office Chair

- Plenty of Storage

Whether it's at home or in an office building, the everyday office is almost always the easiest to decorate. However, it's important to remember that storage space, desks with modular design, and chairs with ergonomic benefits are absolute must haves for those that spend all day in this space. Obviously, ergonomic chairs prevent health risks like back pain and joint problems. Modular desks, on the other hand, keep everything within arms reach of the user. Thanks to diverse brand names, modular desks and ergonomic chairs come in all shapes, sizes, and colors to meet decor needs. Just make sure your space has plenty of drawers, cabinets, and shelving for storage, and your place is ready to roll!


Cubicle

- Ergonomic Chair
- Proper Lighting
- Ergonomic Computer Accessories

In most cases, cubicle instruments are provided by the company, not the user. However, not all users are created equal, and some individuals may have unique health concerns or work habits not supported by company-provided furniture. That's why we recommend users choose their own seating, lighting  arrangements and accessories when working in a cubicle. Choosing healthy mid back chairs with ergonomic features lets users adjust their chairs for themselves. In addition, customizable office accessories, like desk lamps, retractable keyboard trays and articulating computer monitor arms, allow users to meet their own needs. These ergonomic devices are not only convenient, but they also promote healthier work habits. When used properly, slouching, eye strain, and decreased blood circulation will be a thing of the past!

Conference Room

- Modular Table
- Good Conference Chairs
- Presentation Aids 

As the place where business owners play host to executives from other companies, there's a lot that rides on conference room curb appeal. Designs should not only be professional, but reflect company ideals and attitudes as well. For those on a budget, a good modular conference table is always a necessity. Tables that reconfigure and offer power capabilities equip the conference room to double as a work area, meeting room, or project center for employees when corporate guests aren't around. Stylish leather meeting chairs and presentation aids like whiteboards and projectors allow for easy idea sharing in an environment that maximizes workplace comfort.

Reception Area

- Reception Tables
- Comfortable, Appropriate Seating
- Reception Desks

Reception areas are a company's first impression on guests (and you know what they say about first impressions)! In this sense, it's important to cater to guests with comfortable chairs appropriate for your business needs. Thankfully, there are tons of reception seating options out there. Luxury, mesh, fabric, and convenient beam seating all have great waiting room potential. Never forget that guests need a place to put things too - you can never have a reception area without coffee and end tables. A noticeable reception desk by the entrance lets visitors know your company wants to help. And if you have time left over, entertainment in the form of magazines, wall art, or a television set are necessary to occupy guests until they're called.

Break Room

- Table Sets
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- (Coffee Machine)

Finally, we get to the break room. Unfortunately, the favorite room in the office is often the most looked over in terms of style. However, as the place where most everyone sits down for a bite to eat, even this room has some basic requirements. Obviously break room table sets are a must. Where else would you hear about all the office gossip if not in the break room, right? Additionally, a refrigerator and microwave for the bag-lunchers are a must have too. Shop by bargains, and you may still have enough cash left over for some plastic utensils and the most non-optional of all office supplies - the coffee machine.

Read more »

7 Essential Products for Business Executives

Executives work hard to keep companies up and running, but like any machine, they need to have all the right parts. Like their employees, executives need several tools to function. Of course, most have the absolute necessities like a computer, a desk, and a chair, but how do you know if you have the right kind? The modern age has brought with it tons of advancements in traditional office equipment as well as new innovations to improve work experience and increase productivity. Here's the top seven essentials to get you started!

Executive Desk

Every executive needs a place to work that exemplifies the purpose of their business. Most executives opt for the classic professional look, but it never hurts to toss in a bit of modern style. Choosing wood office desks for executive use is the perfect way to achieve this balance. Typically, they showcase the classic wood finished style executives have come to love, but they also boast chrome accents and sweeping curves to hint at the modern. For work purposes, be sure to look for executive desks that have modular design and plenty of storage. Their efficient design helps to increase productivity!

Comfortable Office Chair

There's a lot of perks to being an executive, but one of the best has got to be the big comfy chair! Ergonomic design has turned workplaces all over the nation into living organisms of efficiency and comfort, and nowhere is that comfort more enjoyable than in the executive office. Much like ergonomic task chairs were created to improve the work experience of employees and computer users, executive office chairs with ergonomic design were created for executives in the same way. Ergonomic executive chairs come in a wide array of designs, from the classic plush black leather look, to the modern mesh back chair.

Ergonomic Keyboard Tray

Keyboard trays are beneficial for anyone that works on a computer, whether all day or even just a few times a day. By mounting underneath the office desk, they remain at arm's level so user's don't have to strain their arms upward to reach over the top of their desk to type. When user's keep their elbows at right angles to their bodies and their wrists and hands parallel to their forearms when typing, it allows the blood flow between these joints to remain at optimum levels. By doing this, ergonomic keyboard trays for computer use greatly reduce the risk of users developing joint pain, arthritis, poor circulation, or carpal tunnel syndrome overtime. Best of all, they're a great value!

Dual Screen Monitor Arm

Wish you had a bit more workspace for your computer? Well, there's no better way to get it than through a dual screen monitor arm. Serious gamers have long made use of dual screens to improve their gaming experience, and not executives and business owners all over the nation are finally hipping up to this improvement on work style. Now, you may be thinking that the space taken up by multiple computer screens at an office desk would render them impractical. However, computer monitor arms improve office efficiency by keeping the screens off of the desk, effectively increasing work space! Monitor arms can support one screen or eight depending on the one you buy, and most offer adjustability features for convenience. Just mount one to a desk or wall and you can surf the web with the best of 'em!

Professional File Cabinets

Even though files have become something we largely associate with computers nowadays, most businesses still keep traditional paper files around in some capacity, but they can be a big mess with no place to put them all. In executive offices that depend on style and professionalism to make an impact on guests, clutter definitely takes away from the effect. Adding storage devices in the form of wood cabinets, bookcases, or vertical file cabinets for office storage can become an appealing way to clean up a space while simultaneously protecting your clients' files and information.

Paper Shredder

Speaking of protecting information, there's no better way to ensure it than through a paper shredder. With all the confidential paperwork executives have to deal with on a daily basis, keeping discount paper shredders for office use around is a great convenience. For around a hundred dollars, executives can have this convenient piece of equipment to destroy old information or records so that they don't wind up in the wrong hands. They're useful, compact, and they usually last a number of years!

Desktop Organizer

And finally, we leave you with an oldie but a goodie. Desktop organizers have long been a part of the office experience, and they aren't likely to leave any time soon. As much as we rely on computers, paper is still an essential part of office life, which is fine, as long as it doesn't make a mess. Unfortunately, paper certainly has the reputation for doing so. The good thing about desktop organizers is that they're super inexpensive, durable, space-saving, and very convenient. If you get a lot of notes and letters throughout your work week, a discount desktop organizer may be just the thing you need to reign it all in.

Read more »

5 Helpful Items Your Office Is Missing

Most of us love our office spaces, especially if we designed them ourselves. Being able to pick your own desk and office chair, and decking out a place to fit your style is one of the best aspects getting your very own workspace. Unfortunately, many offices lack the items many experts consider essential. Most of the time, a simple desk and chair are just not enough, and choosing the wrong ones for what you need can lead to decreased efficiency, productivity, and even health. But never fear! Here's a list of the top five helpful items your office is probably missing.

Desk Plant

You may be thinking, "Really? A desk plant?" but hear us out on this one. Many studies by reputable universities have conducted research that shows the benefits desk plants can provide in a work environment. People that keep certain plants in their office have reported more energy and clearer thinking than people who don't. Studies by the universities of Hawaii, Minnesota, Rutgers, and Penn State, and government organizations like NASA have shown that some low-maintenance greenery like peace lilies, spider plants, lemon balms, and gardenias are incredibly adept at removing harmful substances from indoor air. The plants absorb the toxins like VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and replenish your office atmosphere with fresh oxygen, which allows most people to think and breathe much easier. Keeping a desk buddy like a pot of golden pothos in your office gives your office a look of vibrance and energy in more ways than one, and all of the plants listed here require very little maintenance. We highly recommend them elderly individuals or anyone that wants to improve their overall health!

Ergonomic Monitor Arm

 The next thing that most offices lack which can vastly improve your work experience are ergonomic monitor arms for computer use. These are arm-like devices attach to computer screens and mount to either a wall or desk. They allow users to tilt their computer screen, move it back, forward, and side to side for maximum convenience. With traditional computers, many people who have them poorly placed can often unconsciously be causing their own neck and shoulder pain. When a computer isn't directly in front of the individual, the neck works extra hard to look for it and stay an an undesirable position to stare at the screen. Over time, the neck and shoulder muscles can shift and become a bit lopsided, causing them to stiffen and generate pain. Users that rely on ergonomic monitor arms have the option of adding more than one computer screen, and they rarely experience the same pain that traditional computer users do.


Ergo Office Chair

If you haven't made the switch to an ergonomic office chair, your whole cubicle might as well be a cardboard box for all the efficiency you get. Ergonomic chairs are incredibly important for any modern office because they are remarkable pain relievers, and they're excellent for increasing productivity. Business owners everywhere have incorporated affordable ergonomic chairs for office desk use into their practice because of the amazing health benefits these chairs provide. Capable of high adjustability in height, armrests, and tilt tension, ergonomic chairs are super customizable. Those with waterfall seats allow increased blood flow to the legs, while adjustable arms relieve joint pain. Incredible lumbar support is a staple of almost all ergo office chairs for back pain relief. They're made with all sorts of materials, from fabric to leather, and most are incredibly affordable. Some stylish mesh chairs with ergonomic features even run for less than $100. Ergonomic chairs have been the subject of extensive study by engineers, designers, and medical specialists everywhere. If you want to revolutionize your entire office experience, an ergonomic office chair is never a bad place to start.

CPU Holder

For those of us who aren't tech geniuses, a "CPU" probably sounds more like a character from Star Wars than an actual device. Still, if you've got a computer, it's a safe bet to assume you probably have one. CPUs, or Central Processing Units, are basically your computer's external hard drive (the big blinking boxy thing that your computer needs to survive). They're usually hogging up all the space either underneath or on top of an office desk. External CPUs are often bulky and difficult to handle, which is why they're such necessary banes to most offices. However, discount CPU holders for sale can solve a lot of problems you probably just assumed you'd have to deal with. These devices mount to the underside of your office desk to keep CPUs off of the ground. The reason they're on our list of the most helpful accessories for office use is because most people don't realize they need them until it's too late. Anyone that's accidentally kicked their computer's CPU or dropped a beverage to witness a flurry of sparks followed by the dreaded computer death ought to give CPU holders some consideration. These gadgets are affordable, easy to install, simple to use, ergonomic, and they save lots of desk space. The allow CPUs to be drawn out from under the desk and flipped around to attach cables and they give the space under your desk back you your legs. CPU holders: An accident preventer if there ever was one.

Keyboard Tray

Even if you already have a keyboard in your office, you could probably stand to gain a whole lot from the last item on our list. If you have arthritis or joint pain in your wrists and hands, choosing ergonomic keyboard trays for computer use may be one of the best business decisions you make. These devices ae typically designed to mount on sliders underneath your office desk. With a keyboard set on it, they allow your computer keyboard to slide in and out of your office desk. Many of them can often tilt or adjust height to suit the needs of all users. Those with spaces for computer mice built in are the best kind, and adept at relieving joint pain. Keyboard trays with mouse pads prevent users from having to switch between the desk and the keyboard to click and type, increasing efficiency. Because they mount under desktops, keyboard trays are typically at arm's reach, and if they aren't they can usually adjust so that users hands are kept parallel with their arms, improving blood flow and reducing pain and inflammation in the joints. Like office plants, keyboard trays are excellent for the elderly. Individuals with joint problems, and those who want prevent them will never regret adding one to their office space!

Read more »

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!

Read more »