Many businesses make the mistake of deciding that it’s a good choice if it looks nice and is priced right. When purchasing furniture for your company, you should consider both aesthetics and price.
The old saying ‘you get exactly what you pay’ is more true than when it comes to choosing office furniture. Poor furniture selections can ruin a carefully designed workplace and undermine the organisation’s health, engagement and wellbeing drivers.
When choosing commercial furniture in Australia for your business, you should consider the following factors:
- Quality Construction
Nails, staples, or glue will hold cheap and less durable furniture together. Dowels or screws are used on mid-range furniture. Furniture of the highest quality will feature timber joints such as mortise-and-tenon or dovetail. The better the quality of the furniture, the longer the piece will last.
- Materials of high quality
Cushions that are only foam-filled are not as durable or comfortable. Dense cushions are a sign of higher quality furniture. These are dense cushions that have a block or foam wrapped in Dacron cotton, or down. Think about the comfort of the furniture as well as its width, height, firmness, and how long it will be used.
- Scale and proportion
On the plans, furniture should be scaled. Volume is also important. Consider the ceiling height, corridor widths and how an item will sit in a large, open space. It is not good to have too little furniture or too much of it in the wrong proportions.
- Longevity
Do you wish to replace your furniture every five or ten years, or would you prefer something durable? If you buy high-quality items, maintenance will be reduced and the lifespan of your item will be extended. It is also better for the environment to buy for durability. This will reduce waste and landfill.
- Cost per use
Let’s say you spent $1,000 on a task chair (or desk chair). This chair is used three times per week on average. This equates to an annual cost of $8.20 or $2.75 per day. The chair will pay for itself in 10 to 15 years!
- The Sustainability of the Economy
Items that are made with an eye towards the environment will last for a long time and will reduce waste and landfill. An item that is well made can be updated by adding a new coat of varnish, or reupholstered. Quality furniture is not only a wise investment but also an environmentally friendly choice.
- Fake vs authentic
Do you allow your children to copy the work of their classmates? Would you purchase fake Louis Vuitton bags? Would you download illegally movies? Would you steal intellectual property from someone else? In Australia, there is a heated debate over replica furniture. We are in full support of the European approach that has made fakes illegal in many countries. Designers who are worth their salt will never recommend a counterfeit designer item.
- Ratings and rankings
Sort the furniture items according to their use and impact. Spending less on a desk and more on a task chair ergonomic for those who sit at the desk is advisable because of the greater physical impact. Spend more money on chairs in rooms with long board meetings and less on kitchen stools or breakout stools, where people sit for shorter periods. Invest more money in the items that you will use most.
- Ergonomics
Furniture settings must be ergonomic, as people are working more flexible and at all times. The more expensive the product, the better the ergonomics as the designer has spent time on human-centred design and the way the item meets people’s needs.
- Investments
The quality of a product can be felt by the user, even if they cannot see it. The choice of furniture and design reflects a company’s attitude and ability to invest in what is important, whether it be furniture, people or strategy.
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