A new office requires a strategic mix of workstations, ergonomic seating, storage units, and specialised furniture for reception and boardrooms. Essential items include work desks, panel screens, and breakout area seating.
Furniture budgets vary significantly based on the choice between loose items and built in joinery.
Workstations and ergonomics
Staff typically spend more than seven hours of an eight hour shift sitting. This makes ergonomic chairs and custom workstations critical to preventing unproductivity and physical discomfort. Proper seating ensures employees can focus without spinal knots or chronic pain.
Meeting and collaborative zones
Productive offices require boardroom design sets and dedicated meeting room furniture to facilitate collaboration. Collaborative tables and meeting room sets allow teams to move from focused work to group discussion. Properly specified tables improve the flow of communication during internal briefings.
Reception and customer areas
Front desk and reception pieces are necessary to manage customer area seating and provide a professional entry point. These areas often require a combination of custom reception desks and comfortable waiting furniture. Selecting the right seating for customers is a key part of the total office design service.
Storage and custom joinery
Storage can be delivered as loose units or as built in joinery such as storage walls and custom cabinetry. Built in joinery is typically used for reception areas and executive office sets to create a permanent architectural finish. This choice impacts both the final budget and the long term flexibility of the layout.
Activity based working setups
Activity based working setups using standing desks and acoustic booths typically cost more than traditional workstations. These configurations allow employees to move between different work zones depending on the task. While they hit the budget harder, they are often more effective for modern team dynamics.
Furniture procurement and budgeting
Furniture is often a larger budget line than tenants expect. Progressive Corporate reduces these costs by working directly with local suppliers to avoid expensive retail pricing. Using high quality refurbished furniture is another option to save thousands of dollars while maintaining a professional look.
How to specify your furniture requirements
Progressive Corporate’s design team can help you identify the exact furniture mix required for your headcount and layout. Contact us to schedule a consultation and begin the search for your ideal office furniture.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between loose furniture and joinery?
Loose furniture includes items like desks and chairs. Joinery consists of custom built in items such as storage walls and reception desks.
Is second hand furniture a viable option for a professional office?
Yes, high quality refurbished furniture can save thousands of dollars and still look great in a commercial setting.
Does furniture impact employee productivity?
Poor seating conditions often lead to unproductivity because employees focus on aches and pain rather than their work.
Questions to ask your fitout company before you sign
- What is the cost difference between traditional workstations and activity based working furniture?
- Which items should be specified as built in joinery versus loose furniture to balance budget and flexibility?
- How will the furniture selection and procurement method impact the total fitout budget?