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

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 

Office Desk Guide

When choosing new office furniture, most people will naturally place the most emphasis on choosing an ergonomically designed and comfortable office chair.

However equal consideration should also be given to choosing a suitable office desk for your workspace. This is often overlooked as simply an object of substance and that style and functionality are of little relevance.

In order to provide your employees or indeed yourself with a comfortable and productive working environment, the following points should be considered:

How Will The Office Desk Be Used?

The way your employees use their office desk should of course have an impact on your ultimate choice. These days, it is rare to find an office desk that does not have a computer perched on top.

CPU Holder and Monitor Arm

If your employee is using a desktop computer (rather than a notebook or laptop), it is a good idea to install a CPU holder and monitor arm. This obviously helps to maximise the working area of the office desk and helps to keep it free from clutter.

Cable Management

You may also want to consider different power/data solutions. With a little careful planning, it is possible to create your own cable management solution for your officedesk. For instance, you could let your cables run through cable spines or cable baskets available in various lengths. Our 3WT cable channels stick on to the underside of your desk and allows cables to run through it horizontally.

We can also provide smart power / data solutions that fit into cable baskets or to the desk top. The space saving pop up or flip up versions are hidden in the desk when not required.

Additionally, some of our office desks have multiple cable management solution configurations built in. See our Opteam Office Desk Range for an example.

Office Desk Storage

This is another consideration that often gets neglected, in part due to the fact that most offices have subsidiary storage in the form of cabinets etc.

However, if you want your employees to be productive, efficient and organised it might be beneficial to add complementary storage and pedestal options. This ensures that your staff’s paperwork and stationery is always to hand.

Modesty Screens

If your choice of office desk does not have a pre-fitted screen, you may want to consider this in order to preserve and protect the modesty of your female employees.

Large Office Desks

For senior members of staff such as managers, supervisors and company directors, you will probably want a larger desk to accommodate different types of working scenario. An example of this might be holding a meeting with several people at the same time, all of whom need office desk space for taking notes.

Shaped desks often offer the best solution to these types of scenarios. ‘L’ and ‘U’ shaped office desks are popular choices as they will allow both you and your employees enough space to hold a meeting and have a solid surface for keeping notepads and paperwork.

Style, Colour and Materials

Naturally you will want your office desks to compliment the rest of your office furniture and therefore styling is an important factor to consider.

For instance, an ultra-modern glass desk in an old-fashioned office may stick out like a meat stall at a vegan convention. So you need to decide first of all if you want a glass desk, or a wooden desk. Also, desks are available that come with metal legs. This can provide a further opportunity for concealing cables because some are designed with built-in cable management features.

Additionally, wood desks come in a number of different finishes:

• Laminate
  great value | different finishes and colours available
  
• Metal
  sensibly priced | highly durable
  
• Solid Wood
  high quality | look great | different wood finish options | durable | more expensive than wood veneer
  
• Wood Veneer
  looks fantastic | cheaper than solid wood | less durable than solid wood

Needless to say, there are numerous different colours and shades of wood to choose from. Again you should make sure that your office desk does not clash with your other office furniture.

On a final note, remember that first impressions really do count, so if you want to impress your clients with your office furniture then please read my blog How To Impress Your Clients With Your Office Furniture.

Office Desks – Imperial Qudos Range

Imperial Qudos Range - Cockpit Desk

The Imperial Qudos is an executive range of office desks which incorporates cantilever desking, pedestals, storage and accessories. Designed with style in mind, Qudos offers total practicality to any office environment. This range is enhanced by adding more products for more flexibility focusing on 600mm deep desking options. This is due to the demand for more compact office environments by fitting more people into a specific office space. Qudos as standard incorporates stylish fully cable managed cantilever legs and is available with five optional modesty panels.

Refreshing and creative shapes provide a positive feel, accompanied by vivid Polaris wave screens stimulate an optimistic environment. Qudos offers total functionality to modern office furniture. Cable management is incorporated as standard, allowing efficient access to power and data. Radial end tambour storage units create stylish storage solutions and provide additional working space. All Qudos products are FIRA accredited BSEN 524-2:2002.

The Qudos range offers a choice of 18mm or 25mm thick desktops with 2mm PVC heavy duty edging tape. All Qudos products are available in 14 MFC board finishes including walnut, cherry, Canadian maple, Japanese ash, apple, beech, oak, Calva oak, silver, grey, white, Santiago cherry, stone oak or black. Desktop sizes range from 800mm – 1800mm dependant on shape and these office desks also offers both 600mm and 800mm deep tops. Leg finishes in this range are available in silver or grey. Desk tops are available in many different shapes including rectangular, wave, radial, eclipse radial, classic conference radial, conference radial, combination radial, universal radial, stealth universal radial, segment, conference or kidney workstations. A selection of storage units have been designed to complement the Qudos range. Available with 25mm tops and an 18mm solid back as standard. Filing cabinets are manufactured as 2, 3 and 4 drawer variations. Storage cupboards are available with side opening or vertical tambour doors, lockable hinged doors or in a basic open format. All units accommodate various shelving accessories to offer total functionality and efficient storage solutions.

Our lovely Amanda here at BT Office Furniture has very kindly created a render (which took all weekend to make!) – so that you can see a fly-through of the Delta Desks which are part of the Imperial Qudos Range.

This particular range has the following features:

• 25mm thick desk tops in various wood finishes
• All desks have cantilever silver metal legs
• Available in a variety of finishes
• Available in variety of modesty panels
• Cable access ports in desk tops
• Storage doors fully lockable
• Cupboards accepts foolscap and A4 lever arch files
• Storage units comes with adjustable shelves
• Storage units available in various heights
• Under desk pedestals fully lockable

Office Desk – Effex Beam System

We are often asked by prospective clients if we offer any office desk ranges that can be configured in multiple ways.

There are a number of reasons why highly configurable office desk systems are desirable.

For some people it is simply about maximising the amount of space in their office. For others it is purely an aesthetic choice or perhaps to ensure the comfort and privacy of their office staff.

One of our most popular ranges of office desk is the Effex range which can be put together in many different ways.

The image below provides just some examples of typical arrangements and should help to get your creative juices flowing!

The Effex configurations can be as varied as your imagination will allow. Just about any combination of desking, links and extensions can be used to generate the perfect working environment. From individual desks to height-adjustable mobile tables and hot desking, the Effex range is the ideal solution.

Tops and links in the Effex Office Desk Range are designed to be both versatile and ergonomically beneficial. But they can also be put together to create an interesting and unusual effect. With reference to the image below you will notice that there is a choice of straight, radial, angular, wave, convex, concave, bow, pear – the list of shape options is almost endless!

Whatever your choice, all office desk tops are finished with new sleek 2mm edging for a cleaner modern look.

CLICK HERE to view the full brochure as a pdf file.

Our helpful and friendly team are always on hand to offer advice and a more detailed explanation of the ‘Beam System’ is available if required. Please Contact Us for more details.

Unbelievable, staggering, remarkable, awesome. These are just some of the superlatives that have been applied to the truly stunning and unique ‘Bugatti Inspired’ desk that has been created by Alan Sawyer and his dedicated team at Luzzo Bespoke. I’ve been in the office furniture industry for more years than I care to remember (!!) and I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like it.

Luzzo Bespoke is a specialist company responsible for manufacturing bespoke furniture and lifestyle products for the discerning purchaser. A neighbour of Luzzo MD Alan Sawyer has a pristine Bugatti Type 37 racing car. This stunning piece of ‘automotive art’ became the inspiration for this piece of furniture that has taken the office desk into hitherto uncharted territory.

The design and construction teams were insistent that the aesthetics and mechanics of the desk should accurately reflect the iconic design of the Type 35, 37 and 59 racing cars created by the great Ettore Bugatti in the 1930′s. To this end, the desk is coloured French Racing Blue, the drawer fronts incorporate the honeycombe effect present on the grills of the cars, the desk height adjustment is by way of driven gears that are magnified versions of the carburettor synchronisation quadrants from the Type 59 car and the leather inset top uses the same kind of grained leather that was used for the straps that held the bonnets of the racing cars closed!!

The desk is even constructed in a similar way to a car. The ‘bodywork’ is formed from aircraft grade sheet aluminium sheet which id then set on a ‘chassis’ of machined aluminium. Each desk consists of an astonishing 350 bespoke components that take 2000 hours to create. Only 10 of these fabulous desks will be built. Each will be individually numbered and have its’ own log book recording the build team, materials, colour and finishing processes.

The one concession to the high tech digital world in which we live is the inclusion of an Apple Mac that rises from inside the desk, through the desk top. True to form, however, the Luzzo team could not find an ‘off the shelf’ solution for the computer deployment that met their quality criteria so they designed and built a mechanism themselves in a 1930’s sympathetic style from a combination of rods, joints, bushes and springs.

There are many fantastic desks on the market and here at BT Office Furniture we are able to advise you on a huge range of them. From the ‘Goggle‘ currently wowing viewers on the Jonathan Ross show to those made from hand laid wood veneers or various colours of glass. None, however, we feel will ever match the complexity (350 components!!), the sheer audacity of the idea (it’s based on 1930’s racing cars!!) or the staggering price (a frankly dizzying £155,000.00!!) of this most magnificent piece of furniture.

Goggle desk

Office Desk Wood Veneer

Office Desk With Curry Coloured Glass

BT Office Furniture announces new range of space saving office desks that promise to save you money without compromising employee productivity or moral. more…

Does an untidy desk full of clutter mean a messy mind? If so, surely no-one would want an empty desk?

Film-maker Aaron Trinder has looked in to this idea and investigated the different relationships people have with their workspaces in an engrossing 6 minute video.

He investigates the common thought that a messy desk relates to an unproductive and disorganised work life, he also looks at those who defy that trend, such as Albert Einstein who had a notoriously cluttered work space yet an uncluttered working life. more…

Selecting office furniture that is flexible has the potential to save an organisation money, maximise use of space and make the work environment more efficient.

The dynamic work environment of today often requires work spaces to be adaptable. Allowing work stations to be easily rearranged for meetings, to accommodate new staff members and to make space for new pieces of technology are just some of the reasons why this is important.

more…