Whether you are a long and well established firm or a brand new company just starting out, it is of paramount importance that you have a plan – and not just a business plan but a plan for your office furniture.

No matter what you do when you start hunting for some new office furniture, never buy the first lot that looks acceptable, simply because you are in a rush and feel you have more pressing matters to attend to.

Your main point of reference should be how your staff will use the office furniture.  If you have a lot of staff to squeeze into some office space then consider modular office furniture.  The modular sort often includes screen cubicles if you want them as they allow some privacy yet make it easy for communication and feeling part of a team.

Modular furniture is not fixed to just one spot as some imagine.  Indeed, it can be moved around at your will and is very flexible.  They are easier to install and are ideal if you feel your needs might change.  You can add or remove pieces as you see fit, and purchase extra if required.  It is ideal if staff need to share pieces of equipment as it can be organised how you like.

For many health and safety experts and many members of staff who do not profess to be experts in this field, the most important piece of office furniture in any respect has to be the office chair.  Getting the right chair can be crucial in terms of getting the job done correctly and quickly.

There have been many studies in the past that have demonstrated how the wrong office chair can cause health issues such as repetitive strain injury, aching necks and aching backs, resulting in sick days and lost profits.

The right office chair can greatly contribute to higher productivity and fewer sick days and therefore the success of a business.  Ensure that you do not just go for the style and look of a chair but for its ergonomical factor too.

After all, the office chair is used more often than any other piece of office furniture and you are sat in it for a great proportion of the day so make sure you get the right back support, adjustable height and arm rests.  The more a chair is adjustable to the individual who wishes to use it, the better.

In a recent article, we discussed not only how first impressions count but also how the style and appearance of an office, such as a director’s or company manager’s office, is important too.

It is important to take this into consideration if you are looking to attract more business, customers, useful contacts and even the right staff to work for you.  You might not want a new suit or new office furniture but you still need to ensure your office looks good as it reflects on you and your business.

The personal touch and personal impression counts as well.  Be sure that your clothes are well pressed, your shoes are well polished and that you arrive on time to work each day.  People might not notice these things consciously but on a subconscious level they do.

Ensure that the office is kept clean.  Make sure the tops are dusted and the bins are emptied.  Dusty office chairs are just as bad as seeing yesterday’s coffee cups left on the side.  Many successful businesses started off small but they did not get where they are today without ensuring they made the right impression with the right people from the beginning.

Company managers, owner and directors are often in their positions because on one level or another they appreciate that first impressions count, they have made their impression and they want their offices to reflect the way they do business.  Getting that right look for a corporate office is important and requires a little thought being put into each area, whether that is the lighting, the flooring, the office furniture and anything else.

The office is not only where you will entertain your clients but where you may also conduct negotiation, networking and interviews so pay special attention to the office furniture in this area.  If you have the space, it is a good idea to have a table and chairs in the corner where you can sit if you need to be a little more informal and allow you space for a cup of coffee.

Consider the effect you want, whether you want it to make you seem professional, successful or welcoming, as each requires a slightly different approach in terms of the decoration as well as the office furniture.

For an ever increasing number of women, there is a tough choice sometimes between having the career they always wanted or bringing up a family.  Many women try to have both but with the increasing cost of childcare and now the economic crisis, this is not as easy as it sounds.

Working mothers often feel incredibly busy, feel that they are either missing out on their children growing up or on their career – they never feel they can have it all and they want to feel fulfilled in both areas of their life.

Even those who do want to stay at home and be a full time mum can find it difficult if they still need the extra cash.  Home workers are also becoming more popular with both men and women and most of these jobs require a computer.

To work from home gives everyone the chance to have the best of everything but it will only work if you design your office properly.  If you do not have the space for a proper office, then a corner of the room will do but it still needs to be dedicated as an office.  Having your own little office space makes you feel more professional and helps you be more productive.

In times like these, when everybody is watching every penny, a company cannot be sure where its next pound is coming from and so few businesses are looking to move premises or invest heavily in anything that is not absolutely necessary.  As a result, office space may very well be limited for small companies that have grown substantially but are unwilling or unable to move premises.

Luckily, office space can be maximised by using office furniture solutions to allow you to re-arrange the office space available and make more room.

Perhaps some of the old office furniture was inherited or just old, so if it is heavy and getting in the way then sell it on to invest the cash in better office furniture that can help you to maximise the available space you have.  Modular office furniture is one such type of furniture that allows you to add and remove pieces as required at a lower cost.  Modular furniture has many advantages but its main one is that it gives you the room you want in the way you want it and is easy enough to purchase more as and when required.

Use some space saving office furniture to maximise your space and give your office a whole new look.

Time off work with back problems or stress can be a sign that there is definitely something wrong with the office furniture in the office, and this sort of problems are more commonplace than you might think.

The wrong sort of office chair can cause all sorts of health problems, resulting in sick days and a high cost to any company.  Repetitive strain injury, an aching back or other such issue can lead to feelings of general ill health too.  Recently, studies have demonstrated clearly that a bright, cheery office with the right office furniture improves productivity as well as the staff’s general well being.

Unfortunately, we all spend a large proportion of our life at work and if you work in an office then you will likely spend a lot of time sat at the office desk.  Seating is important, including the height of the chair, the way the back rest is set and how the arm rests are adjusted.  Health and safety requires a decent workstation for everybody and it is important that companies make sure their staff is safe and comfortable.  It also improves productivity so the money lost through purchasing foot rests or wrist pads is often more than earned back through profits in the business.

It might be winter, but if you find yourself feeling more tired than is normal and taking an unusual amount of time off (not simply because it is currently Christmas Day!) then consider whether your office could be partly at fault.

Poor lighting, poor air conditioning, damp walls and even the office furniture can contribute to an increased number of staff sick days and poor performance in work.

Health and safety regulations and experts often say that the office desk should be at the right height and the office chair should support the user in all the right place in order to prevent aching joints or muscle issues but the general atmosphere is actually just as important.  The temperature should be right, the lighting should be right; all these things contribute to how we feel.

Research has shown that for the money that companies spend on working conditions, they get twice as much money in return, giving quite an incentive to the bosses to get it right.  If you feel ill at work on a regular basis, perhaps it is the colour of the walls, the ventilation or the lighting.

Perhaps you have heard the term ‘modular office furniture’ banded around for some time now and are considering whether or not this sort of office furniture could be the right choice for your business.

This sort of office furniture has been made popular in previous years by a certain Swedish furniture retailer and has the advantage that generally, the manufacturer intends for this furniture design to be around for some time and you can buy the particular number of pieces that you need now safe in the knowledge that you can add to it as and when you need to, as your company expands and grows.

It isn’t just about growth and expansion though, but about a company being flexible as its needs change.  It helps if you want to get more staff into a smaller space but also much of it is interchangeable so it is easy to ensure you can move people around easily.

Go for the best you can afford as office furniture can vary in both price and quality.  To ensure all the modules fit together as they should, try to purchase it all from the one supplier and make sure you use a reputable online office furniture supplier.

The office furniture you choose for your office refurbishment, or even your new office, needs to be fit for purpose and that does not just mean an office chair you can sit in or an office desk with space for cabling and working on.

When you start to look around for some new office furniture do not forget that your company image is part of the whole ‘fit for purpose’ philosophy.  Getting the right office furniture is important because it gives off a certain impression about your company.

Researching office furniture online could not be easier, although it is important to ensure that you purchase your new items from a reputable office furniture supplier.  Ensure you get the right furniture for the job, do not just go for the latest ‘fad’ if you will not be replacing your new look for some time.

Consider the space you have to use and do not forget to purchase the furniture for a meeting room or conference room as well.  Consider if you would get better use from modular office furniture and be sure to consider all your needs before you rush off to click and buy the first piece or design you have seen.