Business Furniture

When you're furnishing an office it's nice to create a pleasant working atmosphere, but unless you own a design agency cutting-edge style won't be top of your priority list. The comfort of your workers on the other hand is important - there are fire rules and health and safety laws to be obeyed. Furniture from any good supplier will meet all the right certifications so it just falls to you to choose what you want.

Obviously the tables you choose must be large enough to work on - whether you have computers, laptops, lots of paperwork or files, the desks must have enough surface space and storage space to make ongoing work convenient. If mess starts to pile up you'll need to invest in some filing cabinets or shelves too, and you might need a smaller table for your fax machine or office printer - often these things are overlooked! Bear in mind that any electrical equipment will have to be near plug sockets, or you'll need somewhere for the cables to run. This might mean buying furniture that fits into specific spaces in which case you'll need to plan the layout and measure carefully.

Your workers will spend much of their time in their office chairs so it's very important these are comfortable and adjustable for all shapes and sizes. You should also invest in some spares in case of breakage - even after training on how to sit correctly, many workers will lean back in their chairs or put extra stress on them and accidents sometimes happen!

If the public use your business you'll have a completely different set of considerations. Firstly the furniture won't be personal to one particular person who uses it day in and day out - customers will use it for a few hours only so comfort isn't as big a concern. Your chairs should be comfortable for the duration of a meal but not neccessarily any longer.

Space is a larger concern - you need to fit as many people into your cafe or bar as possible without it being overcrowded, so you'll need to avoid very bulky furniture. Customers shouldn't be hindered by having to squeeze past others all the time, and the service of your staff will be affected if they have to work around massive chairs and tables.

Multi-functional pieces are perfect for businesses of this type. Tables that can be pushed together to create larger spaces for example, whereas normally they can cater for couples or customers who are on their own. Stools at the bar are perfect for people drinking or eating alone.

Cafe and bar furniture has to be strong and durable - although one particular customer won't use it for very long, several people will sit in one chair during the course of a day, and the furniture will be subject to being moved by customers. It should also be easy-to-clean as it will be at high risk of spillage.

The design of your furniture has to take into account all of these practicalities, but luckily good companies cater for this. Often you can choose the type of furniture you want and then have it upholstered in the colours you choose which is a great way to find something that blends in with the rest of your decor.

Modular furniture has become increasingly popular in recent years, featuring not only in design catalogues but in high street furniture shops too. The emphasis is on making the best use of space - for example the large corner-sofa made up of squares pushed together allows you to use the corner of your living room and is a move away from traditional furniture shapes.

Modular tables are perfect for cafes and so easy to use - you literally just push them together or pull them apart to create different seating configurations. For medium-sized parties however round tables are the most customer-friendly solution. They allow everyone on the table to be involved in the group rather than having a few people stuck out on the ends. Round tables aren't as flexible so you have to make a decision whether to include any in your establishment.

Modular chairs are less popular for cafes and bars, because you never really need to push chairs together. Instead, easy-to-move, slimline chairs are the best solution as they can be moved into any configuration. If your chairs are too heavy both customers and staff will find them difficult to use.

Your choice of furniture covering or upholstery can have a big impact on the atmosphere of your office or cafe, and also on the comfort of your customers. Whatever your business you'll need a fabric that's durable and easy to clean. Sometimes removable covers are the way forwards because you can change them often if they become dirty or outdated.

Some businesses enjoy very high foot traffic, for example gyms and leisure centres. Any business that has a waiting room knows that this is the first impression visitors get of your company so it's important to get it right first time and keep it that way. Carpets, seating and even the paintwork can start to look shabby after a while, even if you clean them often.

A good way to keep your paintwork fresh is to install chair rails or 'buffer rails' at the height your chairs rub against the wall. This easily stops marks and scratches. If you have a lot of doors, install kickplates along the bottom to stop them being damaged by people pushing them open. These inexpensive treatments can help your decor last a lot longer than usual!