Why nice office furniture makes a difference

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Nice office furniture makes a difference if you want your business to succeed

You have a doctor’s appointment. You’ve never been to this physician before and don’t know much about him. You walk into the office and it is horrendous looking: dirty, dark and dank. The chairs are plastic and wobbly. The walls are vomit color. The light is so dim you cannot see a foot in front of your face. This does not make a good or welcoming impression. Best to turn around and not look back.

There are numerous reasons why nice office furniture makes a difference. And, no, it doesn’t necessarily entail spending a fortune to convey the message it is a professional setting, clean and comfortable and not some shady operation.

Skimping: Not Smart

Do not make the mistake of skimping on waiting room furniture or the overall decor in the reception area. This is where first impressions are made. The goal: to keep customers returning and spending their money with you. If they are turned off by the appearance of the reception area, chances are they will not be back. You have just shot yourself in the foot and lost a customer.

When decorating an office, there are various considerations to keep in mind:

Lighting

Do not overlook the importance of lighting. It makes all the difference to you, your employees and your customers/clients. Lighting should be evenly disseminated, energy-efficient and easy on the eyes. No one should be required to work in dim lighting. This is damaging to the eyes and causes headaches. Furthermore, your customers are not going to enjoy sitting in a dark, dingy waiting room.

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Task Chairs/Ergonomics

Task chairs, those employees sit in while working on a computer or doing other desktop activities, must be fully adjustable, foster movement and made from breathable fabrics. Ideally, the furniture is ergonomically correct, minimizing injuries while keeping people comfortable and supported. Ergonomics is the discipline exploring the way people move their bodies while working. When a person moves incorrectly, day after day, this leads to injuries and other health issues.

Look for chairs that are not contoured because contouring puts pressure on nerves, tendson, skin, bones and cartilage. This type chair is too rounded to lodge the natural body curve. You want chairs that are supportive and comfortable, limiting stress and maintaing the natural S-shape curve of the spine, eliminating fatigue and back pain.

Color

Do not underestimate the importance of color in your office because it does have a striking effect on employees and clients. You want to convey a positive image, which can be achieved through color in furnishing upholstery, accessories and wall art.

A good rule of thumb: the brighter the paint color, the less serious the business. An attorney’s office, for instance, is likely to be decked out in subdued colors such as dark, green,navy blue and burgundy, because this connotes responsibility, control and sureness.

The color green is linked to feelings of security, money, growth and calmness while dark green is frequently used in corporate offices because it suggests prestige and wealth. The hue of your reception room should be reassuring. Consider subtle blues and greens.

However, if your business is a beauty salon you can successfully use pinks and corals because these colors suggest luxury and pampering.

For your training rooms, use turquoise because it inspires creativity while also calming nerves.

Put serious thought into the decor, furnishings and color you choose for your office because these features have a huge impact on the success of your operation.