Getting a rundown of some of the pros and cons of a flex space can help you make an informed decision about whether it would be advantageous for your business to have one or not.

What Is a Flex Space?

A flex space is a sizable building that can have office space, retail space, and warehouse space with a shorter lease than traditional office buildings have.

These spaces are lightly zoned buildings that can serve multiple purposes for businesses and provide employees with various places and ways to work. To determine whether you should pursue the idea further, keep some important things in mind.

Things to Consider: Should Your Business Have a Flex Space?

Flex spaces offer business owners significant build-out opportunities to customize the area to meet the needs of their companies and employees. It can include communal work areas, enterprise solutions, private offices, meeting rooms, hot desking, and more.

Consider the following:

1.    Increased Potential for Growth

Flex workspaces can grant businesses the opportunity to grow (or shrink) as circumstances change. If the sizes of your team and/or inventory are increasing at a fast pace, there will be flexible space to allow for that. If you decide that some of your teams are able to work from home, this can accommodate you by being able to transform it smaller.

2.   Short Lease Terms

Leases for flex spaces are much shorter than those for traditional office spaces. So you’ll have more wiggle room if unexpected things (like a COVID-19 pandemic) arise. You won’t be stuck paying for an office space that isn’t being used.

3.   Lower Upfront Costs

The costs of setting up a new business space can be an enormous drain on your bottom line. With a flex space lease, rent is the only main expense you will need to worry about, instead of the traditional costs of renovations, utilities, design, and more.

Is a Flex Space Right for You? The Bottom Line

The main drawback is that, in most cases, they won’t have the frills that traditional office spaces have. However, most frills aren’t necessary to carry out business anyway and can be excuses for landlords to charge higher rents.

For the most part, if you want to customize your workspace without overspending on remodeling or long-term leases, a flex space may be right for you. Browse our collection of beautiful office furniture that can be great assets for your new flex space, and contact us with any questions you may have!

As an office owner or manager, part of your job might be choosing all kinds of features, furniture, and furnishings for your office desk and workspace. Maybe that includes the space that employees work in or simply pertains to your own workspace. The colors and styles you incorporate into your surroundings are important. As they can actually impact everything from the mood of employees to their productivity levels and more.

With such important things riding on your decision when it comes to buying office furniture, it’s helpful to know how to choose the right desk colors for your work area.

Choosing Office Desk Colors

You’re likely interested in choosing office desk colors that are the most beneficial. And believe it or not, there are scientific reasons why some desk colors are better than others.

What’s Your Goal?

What makes some colors better choices for your space depends on what you hope to accomplish. It’s beneficial that you’re taking the time to weigh your options carefully because your choice can inspire everyone and boost their energy when done right!

What’s the Vibe of Your Office Like?

If your office space requires quiet reflection, deep thought, or active research, it’s likely not the best idea to opt for desk colors that are loud, bold, and distracting. By the same token, if your environment is often noisy and hectic, an energetic desk color like neon green may make the hectic atmosphere chaotic.

Office Space Desk Colors and Their Effects

Colors have the power to alter the atmosphere of a workspace, whether they promote creativity, boost productivity, reduce stress, or encourage focus. Some desk color options and how they can impact the workspace are:

  • White: Versatile and open; great for minimalist offices and promoting focus
  • Blue: Enhances serenity and productivity; popular in high-emotion settings
  • Maple (Yellow): Offers a cozy, warm, inviting feeling of positivity to office spaces
  • Cherry (Red): Energetic, powerful; promotes strength and conversation
  • Orange: Evokes enthusiasm; boosts energy levels and creativity
  • Green: Calming and soothing; encourages focus and relieves eye strain
  • Gray: Inspires feelings of tranquility and peace

The most popular desk color for office spaces is brown, mainly because many desks are made of wood and have a wood stain finish. It’s a classic choice, and there are good reasons for that: brown signifies reliability and consistency, which of course, are awesome qualities to promote in any office environment!

Looking for the next great office desk color for your office space? At Office Furniture Direct, we love to help clients optimize their workplaces. Browse our selection of desks and other office furniture, and reach out to us if you need help!

Furniture is a key element in any functional office space, whether you have an open-concept design with shared workspaces or everyone has private cubicles. When you expand, move to a new location, or decide that your current office furniture is outdated, it may be time to install new furnishings. How can you prepare for delivery and installation?

Situate Employees

Whether moving to a new location, remodeling the current office, or simply upgrading desks, chairs, and tables, make sure employees are prepared to handle the transition seamlessly.

This means notifying them of scheduling. Also, providing instructions, and determining an interim work environment, whether you lease temporary office space or allow for working remotely. Staff should know what’s happening in advance. So they can remove personal effects and are less likely to be stressed during the process.

Schedule Remodeling Work Furniture Well in Advance

If you’re remodeling as part of an office update, ensure the process is complete before installing furniture. Perhaps the most important element to complete is the flooring.

You can always build walls, paint, and install lighting fixtures after furniture arrives, but it’s not ideal. At the very least, you’ll have to cover everything, and you could end up with damage. When you schedule remodeling for completion prior to furniture installation, you won’t have these problems.

Deep Clean Furniture

If you’re not remodeling, you’ll want to take the opportunity to deep clean your office space before installing furniture. With no cubicles or desks in the way, professional cleaners can steam carpets more easily. They can also wash interior windows, and even get up on ladders to dust light fixtures.

Understand the Process

Is furniture arriving pre-assembled, or will it be assembled onsite? Can you choose the option you prefer? When will installers arrive, and how quickly will they unload and set up furniture? Can you provide installers with a layout plan ahead of time? Or will you need coordinating team members to guide them?

These are all details you should know before furniture installers arrive for delivery. You’ll want to have a schedule and inventory list in advance. This is to ensure a streamlined process, and you’ll need to coordinate with installers throughout. This is the best way to ensure successful and seamless delivery and installation.

When you’re ready to expand your operation or update current office furniture, Office Furniture Direct has the elegant solutions you seek. Contact us to schedule an appointment and discover how we can elevate your office interior.

There are dozens of details that go into planning the layout and design of office space, from the square footage to the placement of artificial lighting to ergonomic solutions that cut down on injuries. Some items are more important than others in a big-picture view of arranging office space. What are the most important considerations to start with?

1. Available Office Space and Number of Employees

Before you start ordering desks, chairs, cubicles, and other office furniture, you need to make sure you have adequate space to house it all. This means taking accurate measurements of your office so you can determine how best to add and arrange furnishings for the employees who will use the space.

From there, you’ll want to consider whether each employee should have a separate and dedicated workstation or teams should be grouped together, saving some space and encouraging collaboration. The answer could depend on the square footage you have available as well as the work environment you want to support.

2. Office Space Privacy

This is an important consideration in office planning. While plenty of companies still rely on traditional cubicles to provide privacy, others are adopting an open-space mentality.

If you’re nervous about the impact of taking down all the walls between workers, consider a happy medium. Install transparent barriers that allow light to flow through the space, creating an open, airy ambiance but still providing some measure of privacy for employees to conduct phone calls or focus on their work without unduly disturbing nearby coworkers.

3. Functional Design

Remember that people not only work in this space but move through it as well. You need to account for this for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, you have to make sure your workspace is safe, and that means following guidelines for capacity, fire safety, and ADA standards. Empty space is just as important as the square footage taken up by desks and cubicles.

You also need to consider how movement in the space will affect worker concentration and performance. Make sure to leave enough space in walkways so that the mail cart doesn’t ram cubicles, but maybe not so much that people are encouraged to gather in groups and chit-chat. Reserve that space for lounge areas away from where people are working.

Office Furniture Direct has everything you need to create a modern, functional, sophisticated office space. Contact us today to schedule an on-site appointment and discover the best solutions for your specific needs.

While some corporations have developed an appreciation for the benefits of a remote workforce, many are returning to offices intent on rebuilding in-house teams and creating a collaborative work environment. Of course, you may have downgraded office space during the pandemic, or perhaps you’ve expanded your team.

Either way, you might be on the lookout for options to make the most of available space as your office fills up. With a bit of ingenuity and a flexible approach to your layout and design, you can find plenty of ways to save space and create the efficient work environment you prefer.

Swap Out Individual Office for Team Workstations

Pre-pandemic, some offices were already turning to a more open-concept design featuring collaborative team spaces. Instead of compartmentalizing with neat rows of individual cubicles, you might want to consider options like workstations designed for groups. This can save space and create pods where small teams enjoy shared space and a certain camaraderie.

Create Flexible Office Use Spaces

Offices typically consist of a variety of functional yet separate spaces. In addition to executive offices and employee workstations, you probably have meeting rooms, break rooms, a cafeteria, and perhaps even lounge spaces for employees to clear their heads so they can return to work re-energized.

Optimizing square footage could be as easy as creating flex spaces where any number of activities could occur. For example, a large meeting room with a coffee bar could double as a lounge and break space for employees.

Or it could become a training room for new employees. With a variety of seating options and a number of small tables instead of one large conference table, you could configure the room in all kinds of ways to suit myriad purposes.

Choose Space-Saving Furniture

The average employee may not need a huge desk to get the job done. Furnishings should be comfortable and suitably sized to meet employee needs, but you can certainly save space with pieces that support economical use of space.

Opt for Modular Storage Solutions

Storage needs can change over time as you generate records or move them off-site to long-term storage facilities. If you haven’t yet gone paperless, it’s wise to choose modular storage solutions that can easily be scaled up or down to meet your current needs and save space in the long run.

Saving Space with the Perfect Office Solutions

Finding space-saving solutions for your office is made easier with assistance from the qualified professionals at Office Furniture Direct. Contact us today to learn more about our furnishings and consultation services.

Unless you have a background in design or engineering, you might not be prepared to plan an efficient and effective office layout. Luckily, you’re not reinventing the wheel, and there are plenty of resources to help you get started. Here are a few tips to get you on the right track.

1. Start with an Office Layout Floor Plan

Creating an effective layout starts with knowing how much space you have to work with, so take accurate measurements of your office, complete with any impediments, like columns, nooks, and even low-hanging fixtures (HVAC components or soffits, for example).

Next, find a good layout software and see which furniture dimensions will allow for the best use of available space. Alternately, you could schedule a free consultation with a furniture supplier that offers planning services to work out the details for you.

2. Consider the Benefits of Open vs. Partitioned Office Layouts

Offices of old frequently featured large, open rooms filled with desks. Over time, corporations moved to a more segmented layout, with cubicles offering some measure of privacy for workers.

Lately, there’s been a return to more open layouts, but with a hybrid philosophy that includes versatile, modular cubicles with low or clear dividers. This way, employees have a semi-private space, but they can still feel connected to coworkers. It also improves the flow of natural light throughout the space, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment.

3. Choose the Right Furniture

With so many options for desks, chairs, tables, storage, and other office furnishings, it can be difficult to find the pieces that fit your space, support a comfortable and productive work environment, and create a cohesive design that represents your brand. These considerations are important if you want to create an attractive and efficient space that promotes performance and morale.

Of course, you also have a budget to stick to. What you need is a supplier specializing in new and refurbished office furniture. You’ll want one that also offers consultations to ensure that your unique needs are met.

Make Office Layouts Easy with the Right Partner

Are you preparing to welcome remote workers back to the office, or have you scaled your operation to the point where your current furnishings no longer meet your needs? The friendly and experienced team at Office Furniture Direct is here to help you find the perfect pieces for your updated office space. Contact us today to learn more and discover how we can revitalize your corporate workspace.

Workspace design is important for the overall feel of an office and the comfort of employees. But did you know that it can also greatly impact creativity?

No matter what industry you are in, creativity is key to success. Whether you’re trying to come up with new ideas to help the business or using novel ideas to solve problems, you use creativity every day.

Here are a few ways that workspace design influences creativity.

Inspiring New Ideas for Creativity

New ideas don’t always come naturally to all people. For some, bringing something new to the table can be a tall task. You should aim to create an environment that inspires, rather than one that feels like an out-of-the-box, stuffy office.

Simple things like comfy furniture, distributed workspaces, bright colors, and unique design elements can do wonders to inspire creativity and new ideas.

Incentivizing Collaboration

Collaboration is key to many creative projects. Employees working together toward a common goal often develop some of the most creative ideas. Groups of people can bounce ideas off each other, fill in the gaps when needed, and help each other approach problems from a new point of view.

Employees will be less likely to coordinate and work together naturally if your workspace doesn’t incentivize collaboration. Be intentional about creating comfortable and flexible spaces that invite impromptu and formal group gatherings. Employees should have natural places to meet throughout the course of their day.

Comfort Linked to Creativity

We know that a comfortable office can impact a person’s mood, motivation, and a host of other feelings. Creativity is no different. When employees are comfortable, their mind is free to focus on the task at hand. Sitting in a fluorescent-lit, hidden cubicle in an uncomfortable chair does not exactly inspire massive amounts of creativity.

You should aim to create comfortable permanent workstations and common areas where employees can come to work to get a change of scenery. Sometimes simply moving to another area of the office can be all it takes to unlock an incredible idea.

Improve Your Creative Space with New Furniture

Whether you are looking to make a few furniture upgrades to your space or take on a complete office redesign, Office Furniture Direct can help. We offer both used and new office furniture that can meet your needs. Contact us today to get started.

It’s time for workspaces to reflect the realities of the workers and account for the fact that everyone is different. The one-size-fits-all approach to office spaces is on its way out. Workers are diverse, and their way of working is as well.

Neurodiverse people make up as much as 20% of the world’s population, but their unique ways of working are rarely accounted for.

Here are four ways to design your workspace for neurodiversity and inclusivity.

1. Incorporate Choice

Most people have preferences when it comes to working — cold or hot, loud or quiet, bright or dim. However, many neurodiverse people experience these sensory inputs differently, and their preference can mean the difference between having a productive day and a terrible one.

Employers should aim to offer a variety of workspace office designs. Your office should provide traditional, quiet, and brightly lit workspaces, quiet and relaxing workspaces, and social workspaces for collaboration.

Offering choice is the most inclusive way to ensure all workers have a space they feel comfortable in.

2. Be Mindful of Workspace Light and Color

While neurotypical people may not be highly sensitive to differences in lighting and color, the same cannot always be said for the neurodiverse. Many neurodiverse people are sensitive to bright lighting, unnatural lighting, and bright colors.

Options like dimmable lights, neutral colors, and maximizing natural light can make a big difference. If your workspace does not lend itself to a lot of natural light, try sun lamps, faux skylights, or glossy surfaces to brighten up the space.

3. Be Intentional About Office Furniture

Some neurodiverse people work best in ways that may seem unconventional to neurotypical people. For example, they may be most comfortable laying down, lounging on a couch, or having the privacy of an oversized chair.

Your office space should always incorporate traditional and comfortable pieces that can offer an alternative to your employees.

4. Re-Think Your Workspace Layout

Navigation should always be a consideration when designing your office’s layout. However, for a neurodiverse person, navigating an office space can be a completely different experience.

Make your office layout as simple as possible, create clear paths, and choose unique furnishings to avoid everything looking the same.

Redesign Your Office Today

When you are ready to make your workspace more inclusive, contact Office Furniture Direct for your one-stop shopping experience. We have everything you need to make your office the optimal inclusive space for both the neurodiverse and the neurotypical.

 

A small cubicle is a given in many modern office spaces where space is at a premium. How can you make your space feel larger by maximizing the cubicles for your employees? Fortunately, there are a few key ways to make good use of the room you do have with these top tips.

1. Take Advantage of Wall Space

Whether your cubicle is defined by walls or partitions, you can take good advantage of that space to install shelves above the desk. If you have a lot of paperwork that gets shuffled around, many people like to have pockets hanging on the cubicle walls for storage and organization. You can even hang small hooks to hold sweaters or purses.

2. Eliminate Paper Systems

How much room does paperwork take up in your current office setup? One way to make your staff happier in a smaller space and boost their efficiency is to transition to a digital system. As you come to rely less and less on traditional paper, you will be able to eliminate the need for organizational items, such as filing cabinets.

3. No Rugs

Some office managers believe that throwing a rug down in a small cubicle can make it feel like home. However, this serves to break up the flow of the space and can actually make the cubicle seem smaller. Stick with the same flooring material from wall to wall, no matter how many cubicles you have.

If you want to protect the floor, opt for chair mats instead.

4. Buy Small Furniture

The best thing you can do if you have small cubicles is to purchase furniture designed to fit into a smaller space. Look for small workstations instead of purchasing the biggest and most solid desk you can find. You can look for a desk that uses space more efficiently with features like:

  • Built-in file cabinet
  • Pencil drawers
  • Small worktop with holes cut for cords

This is similar to purchasing smaller appliances for an apartment with a tiny kitchen. You wouldn’t want an industrial-grade freezer in an apartment kitchen. Likewise, you don’t need a huge desk in a cramped office space.

5. Eliminate Cubicles

Of course, the other solution is to eliminate cubicles. This would allow you to create a more open feeling in the office with common workspaces that employees share. You can also try transparent partitions to get the same feel.

Get the Right Office Furniture

When you have small cubicles and need to make the most of your space, allow our expert team to help you make smart decisions. Contact the crew at Office Furniture Direct to learn more about the solutions we can provide for small cubicles!

Are you thinking about making a major change to your office layout? If so, you know that you want to make it feel modern and fresh. After all, the design in your offices can influence your employees’ well-being in surprising ways, so you need to prioritize a layout that encompasses the latest design trends.

For more information on the top trends of 2022, this breakdown will give you everything your office truly needs.

Comfort and Function

One of the leading trends for the year is the incorporation of more comfortable elements into the office. Seating should be comfortable and functional, but many places of business are getting away from the standard cubicle and office chair.

Instead, they may have modular sofas in their common workspaces. Look for pieces that make your office feel more like a home with a relaxed atmosphere rather than a sterile office space.

Simple to Clean

With the pandemic still in mind, many office layouts are trending toward surfaces that can easily be sanitized. This might mean chairs that can be wiped down with disinfectant, less carpet on the floor, and even swapping out touch points such as:

  • Door knobs
  • Elevator buttons
  • Directional signs or office signs
  • Light switches

All of this serves to make it easier to clean the office, making it less likely that your staff will be calling in sick. 

Natural Lighting

Offices are trending more toward natural light, but don’t worry if you lack windows in your space. You can get a similar effect with diffused lights designed to imitate natural light indoors. If the windows you have shine too brightly, you can minimize the glare by planting shrubs or trees just outside the glass.

A More Modern Feel

Many offices want to keep the same items they have relied on for years. With this new trend, you might be able to do just that without sacrificing style. Interior designers are mixing things up by including both old and new elements into a given office space. Keep those antiques but add a table with clean lines made of natural wood.

Upgrade Your Office Today

When you are ready to upgrade your office, you need to head to a one-stop shopping experience like that offered by Office Furniture Direct. We have everything you need from workstations to accessories. Contact the team at Office Furniture Direct to schedule an appointment with our experts!

Let us take care of your office needs with a Professional Consultation

Take full advantage of your workspace by consulting with our team. When you schedule a free design consultation, one of our staff members visits your location to assess your available space and help you design a floor plan for your new office furniture that meets all your functional and stylistic needs.

Schedule a Professional Consultation

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Fast delivery and installation services are available at affordable prices. Our team can quickly and safely assemble your newly purchased furnishings to your exact specifications. Your ultimate satisfaction is important to Office Furniture Direct, so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

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Since opening for business more than 15 years ago, Office Furniture Direct has sold and installed furniture for small, medium, and large businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Call us at (503) 546-1546 to see how we can service you.

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