Home Office Creation – The 5 Essentials

1. The Desk

Before you get anything else what so ever you will first need to think about a desk.  It doesn’t have to be a really expensive desk or the largest by any stretch of the imagination, but a desk that is going to: a) fit your room, and b) fit your budget.

It is common for people who are creating their first home office to believe they need the biggest most expensive desk they can possibly find, in order to impress clients.  But if you think about it you are not going to want clients in your home anyway, or if you do it won’t be regularly; therefore the desk becomes less of an issue.

Depending on the size of your home office a second desk could be a good idea, somewhere in which you can make phone calls, emails and get away from the stress of your working desk with all your documents on. The most popular desk for this sort of idea would be a small round table, usually associated with a café.

2. Chairs

Your chair can in essence be vital to how much work you get done in a day.  You need to be comfortable in the chair, yet supported after all you are probably going to spend up to ten hours a day in it if your job involves lots of computer work.

Too many people have the ideas that as long as a chair has a set of wheels and a tiny bit of back support they will be fine. What they do not realise is that specialist companies spend millions of pound, and hundreds of hours researching and investing in a good office chair.

Office ergonomics are becoming more and more of an issue in larger companies, but it doesn’t mean it’s not an issue in a home office, so do a bit of research into popular makes and models, and if you can, go and physically sit on the chair in a showroom to make sure it’s the one for you!

3. Stationary

This is a topic that people over look so often as we spend so long sending out emails, we forget about letters, invoices or quotes are often printed out as well. Things like a branded heading in letters, invoices and also business cards makes a company look established and gives the impression they are here for the long run.

4. Storage and Filing

A good filing and storage system is the unsung hero in the place of work.  When working from home you are more or less the office manager, this means you need to be prepared to do your own dirty work.

Look for a smaller filling system because the traditional ones are often too bulky for a home office and take up too much room.  Compact drawer systems can often hold vast amounts of paper, so it is important to test the drawer runners are going to be strong enough to hold the weight – which means don’t always choose the cheapest one you see!

5. Communications

Your business needs to be easily contactable so ensure you have a strong and reliable internet connection as well as a phone line.  Still in this era a telephone is the most common form of contact. Yet smaller business are lead to believe that having a mobile number ensures they are available 24/7.

There is nothing wrong with a good old fashioned landline; they make your business look established and more formal than a mobile number.  A very popular form of contact in a lot of industries now is via email – so make sure you can offer a simple and memorable email address that represents your business – in fact, buy the internet domain name if possible to enhance the branding further.

This article was provided by Ryan Hirst who writes helpful guides and tips for Eurofit Direct on their blog

Ergonomic Office Chair vs Executive Leather Chair

Ergonomic Office Chair

Ergonomic Office Chair

Ergonomic - it’s such a thoroughly modern word but what does it actually mean?

For some, especially those involved in marketing or retail, it is a magic word added to a product to give it a unique selling point.

It’s a bit like ‘serum’ or ‘scientifically proven to work’ plastered all over anti-wrinkle creams and skin potion pots. It encourages people to buy the product even if there is no real scientific evidence that the ‘serum’ will actually make you look younger.

The Collins English Dictionary Definition is as follows:

“designed to minimize physical effort and discomfort, and hence maximize efficiency”

The benefits of some products that are sold as ‘Ergonomic’ are questionable. For instance, I have personally never got on well with computer keyboards that are designed to mould to the shape of your wrists and hands. I don’t particularly find them comfortable or easy to use. Of course this is entirely subjective but hopefully you can see the point I’m trying to make.

However, the advantages of ergonomic office chairs are obvious. The health and general well being implications of a good comfortable office chair are well known. This is where ergonomic office chairs really come into their own because they have been specifically designed to support key areas of your body that are susceptible to injury or damage.

Executive Leather Chair

Executive Leather Chair

In some ways, this blog was slightly misleading because many executive leather chairs have ergonomic qualities and in fact some have even in be placed in the same category on our website.

The main difference is that while an executive leather chair can be comfortable for an individual sitting for long periods, it may not be suitable for another person.

In other words, if you work in an industry where more than one user might sit in the same chair in a 24-hour period, an executive leather chair may not be the best choice. You would probably be wise to choose an ergonomic chair instead.

Most ergonomic office chairs will also have an adjustable lumbar control which is a part of the chair designed to support your lower back.

Executive leather chairs tend to be more managerial in style and luxurious than their ergonomic counterparts. However, it is possible to get a leather office chair that is modern and stylish yet also supports your back and neck so that strain or injury is less likely.

To summarise, you could argue that all modern office chairs have been ergonomically designed to some extent. But I’m sure you know as well as I do that not all office chairs were created equal. At the end of the day, choosing an office chair that is right for you is a very subjective and personal choice. I wish you luck!

I welcome your comments and thoughts. In fact, if you don’t comment I will personally come round and make you sit in a really cheap computer operator chair for 30 minutes!

Swap your Office Chairs for Couches and Sofas

It is often said that more business deals are sealed over a relaxing lunch or dinner.

Of course this is often due in part to the obligatory consumption of alcohol which helps clients to relax and communicate more effectively (until the slurring of speech and dribbling begins! )

What this highlights however is the fact that alcohol has played a part in helping to create a relaxing environment, conducive to business.

Now I’m not suggesting that you ply your clients with booze as a matter of course at every business meeting. However, some business owners are finding that removing their office chairs and replacing them with sofas, easy chairs and other comfortable seating is improving their business meetings. Some company directors have even gone so far as to create a ‘living room’ feel to their office by stripping out most formal office furniture

If you think about it, this makes perfect sense. Most people are generally going to feel more relaxed in a home-like environment rather than a formal office with those standard issue executive chairs. It makes it far more likely that conversation will be less formal and that people will  be prepared to talk about more personal and social issues which is important for building bonds.

An additional benefit is that people are more likely to talk about your business and recommend it to their friends and colleagues. They’ll remember those lovely plump sofas and comfortable easy chairs and how the business deal was formalised to easily.

A study conducted by researchers at Kansas University found that levels of stress were significantly reduced in client meetings which were held in a comfortable and less office-like environment.

Re-design your Office Meeting Room

Try arranging large comfortable chairs or sofas around a round coffee table instead of having a formal office desk and office chairs that most other businesses use. This creates an ambience that will inevitably aid easy conversation.

Standard boardroom tables or office desks are a psychological barrier, a bit like when you go to an interview and find yourself sitting in a chair that is noticeably lower than that of your interviewer. Therefore you should avoid any office desk that is higher than a standard coffee table.

Next consider adding some plants. Real ones are best if you are able to keep them maintained but there are also some excellent realistic artificial plants available which will suffice. Try to keep your office colour scheme neutral. Garish and extreme colours can lead to increased stress levels.

Offer your client a choice of seat rather than directing them to a particular one and then sit opposite. Make sure there is clock clearly visible from any part of the room so that nobody is embarrassed about having to look at a watch when pressed for time.

Finally, make some snacks and refreshments available to your clients and then measure the benefits for yourself. I’m fairly certain based on the body of evidence and research I’ve found that you should see instant and positive results.

Another study found that attendees of a presentation held in a comfortable environment exhibited lower stress levels and were generally more attentive than their counterparts who heard the same presentation in a more formal surroundings. This was measured by testing skin temperature across the two test groups.

Still not convinced?

Think about therapists and counsellors for a moment. Why is it do you think that they conduct their meetings in comfortable and relaxing surroundings?

The simple answer is because it helps to make people feel more at ease.

Of course I’m not comparing your business meetings to a therapy session but I’m sure you see the point of this analogy.

Office Chair Guide

In the beginning…

Once upon a time there was an office chair.

It was a lonely office chair and one of a kind. There were no other office chairs.

All alone in the world and devoid of company, the office chair sought out its creator, who duly decreed that ‘thou shalt go forth and multiply’.

And it did.

Through a combination of invention, mass manufacturing and developments in ergonomic design, our office chair suddenly found that it was faced with the threat of extinction, due to a disturbing increase in the number of rival ‘designer’ chairs.

Their ranks began to swell even further and soon the original office chair was overwhelmed by a legion of sophisticated and superior quality chairs. The tired old office chair wheeled itself out into the wilderness, full of regret, lonely and forgotten.

Office Chairs | Office Chair | Ergonomic Office Chairs

Cut to the present…

We have no record of what happened to that original office chair but can only assume that it ended its days in a landfill site surround by thousands of other redundant chairs.

This analogy serves to illustrate the difficulty imposed on us by simply having too much choice. Our hope with this guide is to simplify the process of buying an office chair.

Choosing Your Office Chair

Your choice of office chair will almost certainly be determined by the following factors:

• Budget
• Comfort
• Style & Material
• Colour
• Ergonomic Design
• Specific User Requirement

Of course your choice of office chair is largely subjective.

One person’s perfect chair can be quite different from another and this can be determined by a number of factors. These include user body shape, the chairs’ purpose and how often the chair will be used.

For instance, I am sitting here writing this blog in a chair which my colleague finds incredibly uncomfortable. But for me it works, and suits my body shape while I’m sitting for long periods. So therefore if it’s for personal use, try to actually sit in the chair you are interested in rather than buying online.

Although I can literally choose from 100′s of different office chairs (the benefits of working in an office showroom ), my chosen chair is actually not one of the more expensive models. I just happen to find this particular chair comfortable (it’s a Gresham Platinum Ergo in case you were wondering!)

Let me now explain to you some of the main types of office chair that you can expect to find in stores or online.

Ergonomic Office Chair

Ergonomic office chairs are designed to help prevent back pain and help to improve your posture when sitting for long periods. They generally provide good lower back support and are available with or without arms and headrests.

A good ergonomic office chair will have tension adjustment and gas height lift.   Make sure that your chair has lumbar support. The lumbar spine on an ergonomic office chair has an inward curve that helps to prevent straining your lower back when sitting for prolonged periods.

If your choice of chair has arms, it is preferable to make sure they are adjustable. This allows you to rest your arms so that your shoulders are relaxed.

Mesh Chairs

Mesh office chairs are designed with ergonomics in mind.

A mesh chair allows the natural heat that your body produces to disperse through the material. They are also considered to be very comfortable because the mesh moulds itself to the shape of your body and at the same time supports your back and lower spine.

Some office chairs only have a mesh back (like the one in the image shown), although it is possible to get mesh chairs which also have a mesh seat. Whether or not you choose a padded seat or mesh is purely a matter of preference but some people like to have the seat mould to their shape also.

Executive Leather

Executive leather office chairs are designed with comfort in mind. They are often favoured by managerial types because they make you look important and powerful.

This is probably due to their luxurious nature and the association that an executive chair has with authority.

As a general rule, executive chairs don’t have as many controls as an ergonomic office chair although they may have a standard ‘rock & tilt’ mechanism and gas lift height adjustment.

Some models have a ‘knee tilt’ mechanism which allows you to rock and lock the chair into position.

Manager Chairs

Managers Chairs are available in leather and fabric but are probably most common in fabric.

A managers chair usually has a high back and removeable arms and is generally bigger in dimension than a standard computer chair (see below). They are also considered more luxurious, comfortable and have deeper foam than other cheaper models.

They will usually have a ‘rock & tilt’ and/or ‘knee tilt’ mechanism and are available in a variety of different fabrics and colours.

Factory Chairs &  Draughtsman Chairs

If you work at a counter, in a laboratory or a factory, you may need some extra height on your chair.

They can be distinguished from ordinary office chairs by the foot ring. They will also tend to be on wheel glides rather than casters.

Factory & draughtsman chairs are suitable for anyone working up to a height of around 900mm. They are beneficial because when raised, the foot ring offers support and the extra height makes it much easier to stand.

Computer Chairs & Operator Chairs

Computer chairs and operator chairs are suitable for people with limited finances.

However, although they are at the budget end of the scale, it is still possible to get computer chairs and operator chairs that have ergonomic features.

These include tension support, gas lift height adjustment, moulded back cushions and spine support.

The main difference between these chairs and the more expensive ergonomic chairs is the depth and quality of the padding and fabric. Additionally, the back and seat are separated.

Other Office Chair Considerations

Cantilever Chair

Here are a few more office chair options that you should consider before buying:

- Do you require a standard, medium back or high back office chair?

- Do you need a chair with arms?

- If you decide upon a high back office chair, do you also require a headrest?

- What level of adjustment control will suit your requirements?

- Do you want a chair with gliders, casters?

- Are you likely to use the chair for prolonged periods?

- If you are a larger user you may need an extra large chair with a more powerful gas lift function

- If you want a fixed office chair (no wheels), do you want legs or cantilever (see image)?

Office Furniture Installation for 4Com

We recently supplied office furniture to accommodate 180 staff at 4Com and it’s a refit that we’re incredibly proud of.

The office furniture installation for a job on this scale required all of our specialist installation team working flat out over a 5-day period!

One of the most pleasing aspects of this office furniture installation was that the Meeting Rooms had tables that were Imperial iBench ’Specials’ and the Management Suite had ‘Special Radial Desks’ and ‘Special Conference Extensions’.

These items were designed by Nigel Curtis and Derek Flood from BT Office Furniture. Imperial the office furniture manufacturers then proceeded to make them as ‘Specials’ and were so impressed with the designs that the Meeting Tables have subsequently appeared in their Price List!

Never shy of a challenge, Nigel & Derek can be relied upon to fit office furniture into practically any office space – even if it has to be designed from scratch and custom built.

The only major problem we encountered with this refit was provided for us by the good old British weather.

4Com were due to have their Grand Opening and relocation party on 22nd December starting at 4:00pm. The custom made Reception Counter was delayed on its journey from Italy and arrived on site on the 22nd at 10:00am. Our installers left at 2:30pm!! There’s nothing like a deadline to keep you on your toes.

Where possible, we always like to use our own installers who deliver, assemble and install on site. This helps to ensure that the office furniture installation is achieved quickly, efficiently and reducing the risk of damage to the furniture.

As illustrated by the following images we also installed their Canteen and Reception Furniture, thus creating a wonderfully relaxing and aesthetically pleasing environment for 4Com’s employees.

The ‘Before & After’ gallery below clearly demonstrates the scope of work involved in a major office refit.

4Com Office Refit – Before & After

Office Furniture Supplied by BT Office Furniture

• Desking – Imperial iBench
• Boardroom – Babini Studio Table and BTCH06 Black Leather Cantilever Chairs
• Meeting Rooms – Imperial iBench Tables and BTCH02 Black Leather Cantilever Chairs
• Main Chairs – BTCH03 Black Leather Office Chairs
• Office Storage – Bisley Eurotambours (White)
• Canteen – Gresham LTD Tables, Air Jiggy Chairs, Elite BS Stools
• Reception – Maro Reception Desk and Premier 610 Leather Sofas

Leather Care Guide

We are often asked by our customers for advice on how to protect, preserve and clean leather office furniture, in particular our executive leather office chairs.

For this reason, we’ve compiled this handy leather care guide to help you properly look after your leather office furniture. This will help to prevent damage from improper use of cleaning products and help to prolong the life of your product.

Leather Cleaning Guide

You may need the following depending on the result you are trying to achieve:

1. Cleaning cloths (specialised E-cloth microfibre furniture cleaning cloths can be used on leather)
2. Distilled water
3. Isopropyl alcohol (also known as Rubbing Alcohol) & cotton wool (for removing ink stains from leather). Rubbing alcohol can also be used for removing mildew and mold from leather.
4. Talcum powder or cornstarch (for removing oil or grease stains from leather)
5. Chamois cloths, white wine vinegar, linseed oil (for nourishing and preserving leather products). Vinegar can also be used for removing salt stains from leather.
6. Ice – for removing gum from leather

How To Nourish & Protect Your Leather Office Furniture

Mix together some white wine vinegar and linseed oil in a ratio of 1:2 (1 part vinegar to 2 parts oil). Using a chamois cloth, rub the leather using circular movements for at least 15 minutes. Once you have covered the entire surface, remove any excess liquid using another dry chamois cloth. Allow to dry naturally.

How To Remove Mold & Mildew From Leather

Mix together some rubbing alcohol & water in equal quantities. Apply to the leather surface using a damp cloth and then allow to dry naturally away from direct sunlight.

How To Remove Oil & Grease Stains From Your Leather Furniture

N.B Do NOT use water on its own as this could cause the stain to spread.

Blot up any excess oil or grease using tissue or absorbent cloth. Next cover the stain with either cornstarch or talcum powder and allow to sit overnight. The powder helps to absorb the grease or oil and you should find that using a soft, dry cloth the following day will help to remove the stain.

How To Remove Ink Stains From Leather

Carefully treat the ink stain using Isopropyl alcohol and a cotton wool ball or swab. Leave the rubbing alcohol to work into the stain for 15-20 minutes. Dry the area with a clean cloth.

N.B It is advisable to spot test a small, inconspicuous area before treating large ink stains.

How To Remove Gum From Leather

To remove sticky gum from leather you simply need to apply some ice until the gum hardens. Then carefully peel away the gum, ensuring you don’t scratch the leather beneath if using a sharp object.

How To Remove Salt Stains From Leather

This final tip probably applies more to leather clothing than furniture. However,  if for some reason you end up with salt stains on your leather office furniture, this is how to remove them. Mix a solution of vinegar to water in the ratio of 3:1 (3 parts vinegar and 1 part water). Using some cotton wool, gently wipe away the stains and allow to dry naturally.

Leather conditioner, specialist leather care kits, and leather wipes are also widely available from supermarkets and DIY stores.

Please CLICK HERE if you would like to download this guide as a PDF file and feel free to distribute and share accordingly.

Office Furniture Feng Shui

The ancient Chinese art or science of Feng Shui dates back more than 3000 years.

Literally meaning ‘Wind’ ‘Water’, it is alleged that the positioning of furniture, ornaments, trinkets and paintings can directly affect the flow of energy in any given space.

Whether or not you actually believe that Feng Shui works, there can be no doubt that some of the principles have sound logical and practical elements that can affect your home and office environment.

Do you have a favourite public house or restaurant that you like to frequent? If the answer to this question is Yes then you will probably have a preferred place that you like to sit. The same is no doubt true within your own home. The reason for this is that some seating positions just seem more favourable than others and are perceived to be more comfortable and auspicious.

This of course could simply be attributed to something as simple and obvious as a good view, provided by a window seat for instance. However on the flip side of this, if you sit with your back facing the room and cannot see what’s going on behind you, it is not likely to be your first choice of seating.

For this reason I’ve compiled this quick guide to help you position your office furniture according to Feng Shui. This list is by no means exhaustive, but is merely designed to provide an insight into the more obvious benefits of Feng Shui.

Office Desk and Office Chair Placement

- Your office desk should be positioned so that you have a clear line of sight of your office door. This will help to protect you from betrayals. It also improves your general feeling of security because you will able to monitor those who enter or leave your office.

- Here are two of the more obvious benefits of Feng Shui but firstly, make sure that your office chair fully supports your back. Secondly, ensure you sit with the wall behind you. If you sit facing the wall you are more likely to encounter difficulties in obtaining promotion and other career path obstacles.

- If you don’t have overall control of your office environment or it is simply not possible to move your office desk, you can negate the problems associated with facing a wall by hanging a painting or picture of a beautiful landscape. This helps to create feelings of abundance and represents opportunity.

- You should avoid sitting with your back to a window because doing so symbolizes a lack of support. From a modern perspective this is another obvious one. Although it is highly unlikely that the ancient Chinese had computer screens, sitting with a window directly behind you could potentially cause screen glare!

- Placing an image or figure of a rooster on your office desk will help to protect you from malicious gossip, backstabbing and other office politics.

- Put a smooth, round object such as a glass crystal or orb on your office desk to negate negative energy and ensure a productive and harmonious working environment.

- Avoid sitting directly opposite a work colleague. Doing so can create a damaging build-up of negative Chi energy and can potentially lead to confrontations and conflicts. If you have no other option other than to sit facing another person in your office, consider mounting an office screen. Don’t forget to hang your picture of a landscape on the office screen! (See point above re. facing a wall).

Office Storage

Clutter is considered to encourage the flow of negative energy in Feng Shui and should be avoided.

- The obvious way to eliminate clutter in your office is to use office storage to help keep your office organised.

- It’s especially important to keep your office desk organised and tidy. This helps you to improve your focus . Once again, this makes a lot of sense from a practical point of view because removing clutter ensures that you are more efficient and productive. It’s also great for increasing your personal sense of wellbeing and positivity.

- Strong colours play an important part in Feng Shui and red is considered to be particularly favourable as an aid to prosperity and wealth generation. Try to incorporate some red office storage as part of your office furniture re-organisation.

- A gap of about 8-inches should be left between your office cupboards, office bookshelves and other office storage. Again this is supposed to encourage a positive flow of energy in the workplace.

Office Meeting Seating Arrangements

- Here’s a great Feng Shui tip if you are conducting an office meeting. Ensure that the office chairs or sofas are arranged into a triangular shape which faces your own office chair or office desk. This subliminally strengthens your position in the room as a centre of power and allows you to more easily take control of the meeting or discussion. It also makes your colleages feel comfortable and at ease.

- An additional benefit of forming this triangle is that it ensures the other meeting participants are all angled slightly towards each other. This creates an ‘all-inclusive’ environment which stimulates the flow of positive energy in the room and aids creativity and brainstorming activities.

If you have any additional tips or Feng Shui advice, please feel free to comment and let us know.

A Brief History Of The Office & Office Furniture – Part 2

Office Desk Evolution

Before the invention of the printing press, all books and literature had to be copied by hand. It is widely thought that the Chinese invented paper possibly as early as 100BC.

The constituents of this early paper was quickly improved upon and people were probably using it for writing within a few years.

12th Century Chinese Editing Desk

Therefore we can safely assume that some form of writing desk would probably have evolved at the same time. So the desk or bureau has been with us for at least 2000 years.

Before the moveable type printing press appeared in the 15th Century, text was hand printed with blocks or written by hand. This led to the evolution of desks with special slots and spaces for writing instruments and tools.

Circa 1450

The first recorded mention of writing deskes in England was around 1450. These early desks were little more than portable boxes with a sloping, hinged lid used for writing.

Circa 1660

Bureaus began to be imported from Europe and were widely used by the upper classes and aristocracy, mainly for writing letters. Bureaus also had sloping, hinged lids which could be pulled down for writing on and for storage inside.

Circa Late 17th Century

After the bureau came the Bureau Cylinder and Roll-Top Bureau, both from France. The Cylinder Desk had a curved wooden lid that rotated inside the desk when open.

The Roll Top had a lid made from slats of wood glued to cloth which allowed the lid to also be pushed inside the desk to reveal the writing space and storage inside.

Circa 1700

Around about 1700, the first proper desks appeared with knee space that we are familiar with today.

These were called Knee Hole Writing Tables and allowed the user to be able to write at the desk without compromising comfort, storage or freedom of movement.

Circa 1850

The Victorians advanced the design of the office desk still further with their pedestal desks which generally had large flat, stretched leather writing surfaces with plenty of drawer storage space and legroom.

Circa 1900

By 1900, in the US alone there were around 100,000 people working in offices in clerical and administrative roles.

With the rise of the white collar worker, innovations in ergonomic office furniture design and space planning was essential. This led to many advances in the workspace including steel mass produced desks, filing cabinets and creative office layouts.

Ultimately, this all leads us to the present day where ergonomics, cable management and flexible, modular office furniture are paramount in modern day working environments.

To read more click the following link:
A Brief History Of The Office & Office Furniture – Part 1

Office Furniture – Modern & Contemporary Office Furniture Suppliers – BT Office Furniture UK

A Brief History Of The Office & Office Furniture – Part 1

Office Storage

Although there is no conclusive proof that offices were used by early humans, we do know that neolithic people were building storage shelves.

This picture taken from Skara Brae 5, Orkney, Scotland clearly shows this.

The site is thought to date from around 3100BC and in addition to the storage shelves and dresser, there is other stone furniture such as seating and preparation surfaces. Even stone shelving above the bed areas is evident, perhaps for storing more personal items and possessions.

Of course there is no specific evidence that these shelves were used for storing anything other than pots and pans. However, it does serve to highlight that early humans were more advanced and organised than we might otherwise imagine.

It is certainly true to say that people have been trading with each other since time immemorial. Therefore we can assume that those who acquired possessions from others would need a safe place to store them.

In a sense this can be viewed as ‘business’ and these acquisitions would no doubt have to be organised and stored away ready for the next transaction.

The word salary itself is thought to derive from the latin word salarium, which links employment with soldiers. In other words, early Roman soldiers were paid in salt which was considered a valuable commodity. Again, the soldiers would need a place to store this salt and it could be argued (perhaps tenuously) that this was the origin of the home office.

Organizations & Government Offices

It is a fairly safe assumption that ever since people organised themselves into hierarchical structures, those who held the power base at the top would need to have a space for issuing their commands and dictates. They also needed an office of one kind or another to perform their clerical and administrative duties.

Developed nations would have had some form of office space for hundreds of years. This has evolved rapidly in recent times, especially in the 19th and 20th Centuries with the advent of modern communications and networking.

Office Technology & Communication

The use of offices and office furniture for business, both private and commercial increased exponentially with the invention of the telegraph and telephone.

During the 19th Century in the US for instance, as the rail and road networks rapidly expanded, so did the proliferation of offices. It became normal to conduct business from commercial offices, especially with the advent of electric lighting, the typewriter and calculating machines.

Wherever there were manufacturing facilities, an office would be required to handle the administrative duties.

Of course the single most important invention that has contributed to office evolution is the computer. They allow users to perform complicated administrative tasks more easily and effectively. Computers enable people to network and share files within their own office environment, and also with other users in offices all around the globe.

Office Space Evolution From 1904 – Present Day

Circa 1904

American mechanical engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor is credited as being one of the first people to actually design an office space.

He was obsessed with trying to improve industrial efficiency.

Consequently he came up with the idea of packing his workers onto the floor with the senior staff and management in individual offices on the perimeter.

This is similar to the factory concept and is still common in countries such as China and India.

Circa 1950 – 1960

Eberhard and Wolfgang Schnelle created a new type of office planning called Burolandschaft – which means office landscape.

They based their layouts on the type of open plan offices that developed in the US around 1940.

These offices were a lot less formal than the type that Frederick Taylor created. In fact their office landscapes did away with office screens and often used strategic placement of plant pots and lighting to further enhance the working environment. The idea was to make it easier for people to discuss ideas with each other.

Circa 1964 – 1968

The Action Office was first designed by Robert Propst in 1964 and sold by Herman Miller.

Inspired by the Burolandschaft, it is essentially a cubicle system which is still in use today in some offices. It was the first example of modular office furniture with flexible office desk spaces and dividing screens.

It was eventually superseded by the Action II Office Range which is still in use today and is essentially what we think of as a cubicle system.

Circa 1980

Cubicle Farms (also known as Cube Farms or Sea Of Cubicles) appeared in the 1980s and in retrospect are probably one of the most unpleasant office working environments imaginable.

The Sea Of Cubicles shown in the image almost certainly arose from a desire to maximise working office space, while offering a degree of privacy for employees.  Additionally with the rise of middle management, there was a need to accommodate their office requirements and give them an illusion of importance without supplying individual offices. These were reserved for senior management only.

Circa 1994 – Present Day

Networking and the virtual office appeared with the phenomenal and exponential computing power of CPUs in the early 1990s.

There is a classic story about an Ad agency in the US whose CEO decided it would be a great idea to have an open plan virtual office with no individual desks.

Each morning, there would be a mad scramble as employees grabbed themselves a laptop and ran to claim the best available office chair and desk.

Needless to say, productivity dropped and the company became something of a laughing stock.

Nowadays of course more and more people are able to work remotely from their home office or in fact from pretty much anywhere that has an Internet connection.

For those that still work in a traditional office environment, most computers and peripherals will be networked together.

To make the most use of available space and to keep desk space clutter-free, there are many ranges of office furniture which are modular and can be configured in almost any way imaginable.

To read more click the following link:
A Brief History Of The Office & Office Furniture – Part 2 

Unusual Office Furniture

1. Vespa Workstation

How about this for an office desk…

An Australian blogger decided to customise his 1968 Vespa Sprint and convert it into a fully functional and comfortable office workstation. According to the creator, the Italian scooter was beyond restoration.

“I have tried to maintain the traditional characteristics by converting the back half into a functional workstation, complete with adjustable lap top stand.”

Vespa Workstation

2. Portable Office

Could this be the ultimate in office furniture chic?

Welcome to the Louis Vuitton Portable Office Trunk!

Louis Vuitton Office Trunk

This stylish and classy office comes complete with DVD player, TV, solar power and coffee maker. The coffee maker is actually powered by a small can of petrol.

I recommend you check this can is empty before embarking on any international travel. Explaining the petrol can to customs could result in severe embarrassment, or even worse – arrest!

Not recommended for destinations to the Middle East or USA!

You will probably need a suitcase of equivalent size stuffed full of cash to pay for this!

3. Kruikantoor – Portable Office Furniture

This takes some beating.

Dutch designer Tim Vinke has created this impressive office ‘suite’ which can be wheeled around like a wheelbarrow.

His lightweight office is actually made from EPS foam and covered with a coating of polyurea hotspray.

Amazingly, this office comes complete with 2 office chairs, an office desk, light, electricity connection and office storage. As you can see from the images, it can be put together and wheeled around to almost any location.

Not quite as cool perhaps as the Louis Vuitton Office Trunk but certainly a lot more practical. You’ll be the envy of your friends when you wheel this down to the park to work on a sunny afternoon. Be aware you may get stopped and asked if you sell hotdogs.

Kruikantoor Portable Office Furniture

Office Desk With 2 Chairs And Storage

4. Hip Office

All the health experts agree that you should avoid sitting for prolonged periods at your office desk. This next unusual office accessory is called a Hip Office and has been ergonomically designed to provide a solution for those who wish to get up more often from their office desk.

For fitness fanatics and the more adventurous amongst you, why not try stretching while you work or perhaps even go for a gentle jog around the office.

A bit of friendly advice – just like you shouldn’t use a mobile phone while driving, avoid typing while jogging and remember to look up occasionally. You don’t want to knock over the tea lady.

Hip Office

5. The House On The Table

This final offering is probably my favourite. Created by design studio Design Mong it is literally a house that fits on top of your office desk.

We all need a bit of space and some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of the office. For many of us the only way we can achieve this during the working day is through multiple extended visits to the office convenience.

Of course by doing this you may end up being the subject of office speculation concerning the frequency of your movements. It’s also possible you may be disciplined for spending too much time away from your office desk.

The solution? This wonderful office den which gives you all the personal office space you could ever need. Imagine how pleasant it would be spending your working day cocooned inside your own personal mini house.

If you get really creative, you could perhaps use it for holding regular private meetings with the office hottie!

The House On The Table