When it comes to setting up the right office environment, you might not think that office furniture has a big effect on how a job gets done. But when it comes time to choose office furniture, more and more businesses are realizing that the decision affects a lot more than general Feng Shui. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that your office surroundings have an effect on how you feel and approach your work. When choosing furniture from a gsa approved vendor, there are a lot of different considerations to take into account. And while saving a buck on office furnishings and supplies might seem like the smart move for smaller businesses and budding start-ups, the truth is that you could end up losing money in an office environment that leaves workers feeling bored, stagnant, and uninspired. If you’re on the hunt for the best quality office furniture, here are a few things to keep in mind before you buy.
Ugly Furniture Encourages Laziness
No, it’s not an urban myth: Furniture that’s uninspired or cheap-looking will make you feel uninspired. Think about staring at a gray wall, day in and day out, with no artwork, illustration, or even any kind of pattern to latch onto. It wouldn’t take long before your spirits would sink and you’d find yourself frustrated and bored with your environment. The same philosophy applies to office furniture. No one wants to have to work in an ugly, uninspiring workplace. Even if you’re setting up a traditional 9 to 5 office space, it won’t take long for workers to start yawning and retreating to the break room for more and more frequent coffee breaks if your office is cluttered with boring, gray surroundings. Workers don’t want to feel like they’re trapped or confined. Even people who don’t feel like they respond to visual stimuli tend to have different responses to different spaces and objects. In general, workers enjoy the ability to decorate their own space the way they want and choose furniture that isn’t drab or depressing.
Color and Cleanliness Revive Low Spirits
If you’ve been to a doctor’s office, community center, or college campus recently, you probably noticed a lot of vibrant colors, wall decorations, and artwork that’s designed to take your mind off of the potentially intimidating or uninviting aspects of the space. There’s clear reasoning behind this: Any communal space that can’t be personalized benefits from bright colors and a playful atmosphere. Not only does it make the space seem more friendly and fun, it can actually spark creativity in workers and visitors alike. The same goes for cleanliness. For many workers, just the sight of a pile of folders, files, books, or office supplies is enough to bring on a feeling of stress or panic. Getting furniture that allows for easier cleaning and better organization is a great way to make your employees feel great about coming to work.
Organization is the Key to Success
Your workers don’t want to view their workplace as a chaotic place. Even if they take the time to organize their own space, having to deal with co-workers or communal areas that are messy and unkempt can be a source of unnecessary stress, especially for workers whose jobs involve wearing a lot of hats and juggling tons of tasks. As someone building a business, your job is to help create an environment where your workers find it easy to do their job. Anything that’s obstructing or compromising their ability to do the best job possible doesn’t just reflect badly on the business, it reflects badly on you.
Lighting Makes All the Difference
We’ve all felt the effects of fluorescent office lighting. In spaces that are separated by felt cubicles and defined by an absence of natural light, it’s easy for morale to fall in record time. That’s why thinking mindfully about your office furniture is so important. If you purchase furniture that allows for a more open office environment, including hot desks, standing desks, and alternative chair and desk designs, you won’t just be creating a more creative, light-filled space to combat depression, stress, and anxiety. You’ll be saving money on artificial lighting and creating a space where your workers are encouraged to communicate and work together to solve problems, rather than viewing themselves as separate islands cut off from each other. Never underestimate the power of natural light in a workspace. Nobody wants to cut off from the outside world for nine hours a day. Do your workers a favor and design a freer, lighter workspace for maximum creativity and productivity.