How to Plan Office Furniture When Employees Have Different Work Styles

When purchasing office furnishings it's not just about getting desks and chairs which look nice together. It means providing every individual with their own working environment whether people like to work in isolation, in a team or with someone else.

Not every employee works the same way, so one standard desk for everyone doesn’t work. Businesses want furniture that is comfortable and fits the space they have. This is why interior companies like Serein Spaces plan furniture around people first and floor area second.

This guide will explain what office furniture planning entails, the factors to take into account and some office furniture ideas for various office work styles.

What Is Office Furniture Planning?

When planning office furniture, it isn't a matter of selecting pieces off a list and hoping they will fit. It’s the process of choosing and placing desks, chairs, storage and shared furniture to match how people work. A sales team that works between sales calls and meetings is going to have a very different setup as compared to a finance team that is involved in detailed work throughout the day.

Good office furniture planning generally covers these areas:

• Understanding the daily work activities of each team
• Choosing design suitable for various tasks
• Arranging furniture to support movement and comfort
• Achieving a balance between employees needs and available space and budget.

But all this comes before the purchase itself, and that's a primary reason why it's wise to plan.

Why Is Office Furniture Planning Important?

Furniture is among the larger expenses in an office and after spending cash on purchasing it, it is difficult to rectify. And when there's no plan, many offices find themselves with unoccupied desks, uncomfortable chairs and narrow walkways.

A good plan generally brings these benefits:

• Better comfort for employees over long working days
• More efficient use of office space
• Easier collaboration and communication
• Better support for focused work
• More flexibility as teams and work patterns change
• Less likelihood of purchasing furniture that isn't suitable for you.

Planning early costs far less than replacing furniture later, so it helps to know what a good plan includes.

Key Elements to Consider in Office Furniture Planning

Workspace Layout and Furniture Placement

The best office layout will be the one that will make the furnishings work effectively.

• Desks placed away from busy walkways and entrances
• Quiet areas kept apart from meeting rooms and shared spaces
• Clear walkways, so people can move without squeezing past chairs
• Space kept free for future desks or meeting tables

Desks and Workstations

Select desks based on the job, and compare desk sizes with the space per person requirements prior to ordering.

• Individual desks for focused work
• Modular workstations that can be added or moved
• Shared work spaces for those who work in the office perhaps only some days a week
• A sit/stand station for those in need of a sit or a stand.

Ergonomic Chairs and Comfort

People sit for hours, and good ergonomic chairs can reduce tiredness and back strain.

• A seat height and back support that can be adjusted.
• Desk and monitor height that suit the person using them
• Armrests and seat depth that suit different body sizes
• Chairs made for long hours, not just short meetings

Meeting Furniture and Collaboration Areas

When team work is needed furniture should be easily moved.

• Meeting tables sized for the usual group, not the biggest one
• Movable chairs for quick discussions
• Breakout furniture for informal conversations
• Furniture that works for both small meetings and larger meetings

Storage, Power and Cable Management

Little things make a lot of difference to the practicality and tidiness of the workplace.

• Cabinets and lockers are near the individuals that use them.
• Power points within easy reach of every desk
• Wires out of the way of the floor:
• Shared working areas for people working outside of the office.

All these selections determine the furniture's effectiveness in supporting each style of work.

Benefits of Office Furniture Planning for Different Work Styles

There are several benefits of planning office furniture for various styles of work.

• Focused work, through comfortable workstations and screens that reduce distractions
• Collaboration, through shared tables and flexible seating that make teamwork easier
• Meeting heavy days, through the right tables, comfortable chairs and easy access to power
• Shared desks, lockers and other storage solutions provide an option for hybrid working.
• Modular furniture which can be easily rearranged to meet changing team needs.

When the furniture fits the work, people spend less time adjusting to the office and more time getting things done. The next question is whether to choose fixed or flexible furniture.

Traditional Office Furniture vs Flexible Office Furniture

Office Furniture Ideas for Different Work Styles

Furniture for Focused Work

A quiet workspace is typically required for roles such as accounts, research or coding. The provision of individual desks, chairs that provide a good ergonomic fit and appropriate privacy screens are helpful, particularly at a distance from noisy pathways.

Furniture for Collaborative Teams

Shared tables and movable chairs and open discussion areas work best for the design, marketing and project teams. Often furniture can be moved in the day to make use of the space for quick chats and longer sessions.

Furniture for Meeting Focused Work

Many hours of your time are likely spent in meetings as a sales person or client service and management. Access to tables, comfortable seating and power to laptop and video calls are most important.

Furniture for Hybrid Teams

If the people are not in every day, shared work stations, lockers and rearrangeable furniture is an appropriate option. Clean storage policies keep shared desks clean.

Common Office Furniture Planning Mistakes to Avoid

• Purchasing furniture prior to determining staff requirements and tasks.
• Choosing appearance over comfort and function
• Ignoring desk sizes and walkway space, which makes the office feel tight

• Overcrowding the office with workstations, which leaves little room to move
• Forgetting power points and cable management, which leaves wires across the floor
• Choosing furniture that is hard to move or adapt when the team changes

Avoiding these keeps the furniture comfortable, practical and easy to change as the team grows. Checking each point before you order takes a little time but can save a lot of money.

The Serein Spaces Approach to Office Furniture Planning

Understanding Your Workspace Needs

We begin by getting an understanding of how each of your teams works, how many people are in the office on a normal day and what your budget is.

Selecting Suitable Furniture

Desks, chairs, and storage are chosen according to the Team's working method and factors such as comfort and durability are checked.

Planning the Layout

The furniture arrangement clears walkways, utilizes space and allows for flexibility of future changes.

Coordinating the Wider Project

Furniture decisions are managed alongside the interior design process and fit out, so everything works together.

Conclusion

The initial step in a successful office furniture arrangement is to take into account the way your staff members work and what they do day in and day out. A flexible office, with comfortable furniture that is suitable for the job and utilises space effectively, will have better working employees. There are ways to plan an office location that will serve you and your current staff, and will also allow you to accommodate the future team of employees you will need.

If you're planning furniture for a new or existing office, Serein Spaces can help make it a reality.

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