New vs Used Office Furniture: Which is Better?

When it comes time to furnish an office, one of the first decisions that need to be made is whether to buy new or used office furniture. Both options have benefits, so it can be tough to decide which is the best option for your business.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss buying new vs. used office furniture so you can make an informed decision.

New Office Furniture

When looking for new office furniture, you want to make sure that you are getting the most for your money. You want furniture that is not only stylish and functional but also affordable and high-quality. One of the benefits of new office furniture is that it can bring a new look to your office.

If your office has been looking a little outdated, new furniture can help to give it a fresh and modern look. This is especially true if you choose furniture in a popular style or color. Furniture that is new and trendy can help to give your business a more contemporary image.

When you first meet a client, the last thing you want to do is worry about the state of your office furniture. You need to be focused on building a relationship and establishing trust.

New office furniture can help with that by making a good impression on your clients. It shows that you’re professional and that you take your business seriously.

Used Office Furniture

There are many reasons to consider buying used office furniture. First and foremost, it’s often more cost-effective than buying new furniture. Second, used furniture is often high quality and can last for many years if well taken care of. Finally, used furniture is a great way to reduce your environmental impact.

When shopping for used office furniture, be sure to consider the condition of the furniture, the price, and the delivery time. Also, be sure to ask any questions you have before making a purchase.

When you buy used furniture, you’re not only saving money, but you’re also doing something good for the environment. Here are four reasons why:

1. You’re reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfills.

2. You’re saving trees that would have been used to produce new furniture.

3. You’re conserving energy and resources that would have been used to manufacture new furniture.

You can find great deals on slightly used, high-quality office furniture that still looks new.

New vs. Used Furniture: Which Should You Choose?

Instead of deciding to go with new vs used furniture, why not choose both? Furnishing your office with a mix of new and used pieces allows you to stay within budget while still making a great first impression and helping the environment!

Contact Workspace Solutions if you are in the market for new or used office furniture. We can help you find the perfect furniture for your needs and budget.

Choosing the Right Furniture Colors for Your Lobby

Nearly 20% of businesses fail in the first year. There are many factors that influence this including financial issues, increased costs, and tough competition. One of the biggest factors in your company’s success, however, is how your customers perceive your business.

Your customers get a first impression of your business as soon as they step into your lobby. Interior design, including furniture colors, plays a big part in how they look at your company as a whole.

Read on to learn more about how to choose the best furniture colors for your specific business.

How Colors Influence Your Mood

The first step to picking furniture colors is understanding how colors influence your mood. Colors directly affect your emotions and how you make decisions.

Cool colors such as blue or green can create feelings of tranquility and calmness while harsher colors such as red and orange can evoke feelings of passion and energy.

So, you need to decide what emotions you want to pull from your customers and choose furniture to support this.

Choosing Furniture Colors for Specific Industries

You may want to choose your furniture based on the industry you work in. Here is a quick breakdown of the best furniture colors for certain types of businesses.

Business Offices

You want potential clients to get a sense of professionalism in your lobby. For this reason, it is best to go for a simple design. Most offices have white walls, so choosing business furniture that gives a small pop of color is never a bad idea.

Consider choosing office furniture colors in shades of blue. It has been proven that workers in a blue office make 20% fewer errors. Blue furniture can make you and your clients feel more productive and inspired.

Healthcare Facilities

Many people are nervous when visiting medical offices. Use your furniture to create a sense of calmness and tranquility. Opt for lobby furniture colors such as blue or green. Green promotes harmony and balance, which will make your customers feel more relaxed.

If you own a healthcare facility for children, then add a bit more color to the space. This will make the lobby feel more kid-friendly for the little ones who visit.

Beauty Services

Customers visit salons and spas to feel refreshed and free of stress. For this reason, go with cream-colored furniture to convey feelings of rebirth and cleanliness. If you want to add a pop of color, purple hues are said to connect to spiritual feelings and will add a softness to the room.

In addition to furniture, you could consider adding natural elements to the walls such as stone or glass. These additions will add some ambiance to your space.

Consider These Furniture Colors Today

Choosing furniture colors may seem intimidating at first, but with the right tips and tricks, you can choose pieces that your customers and clients will love.

The experts here at Workspace Solutions are dedicated to creating a beautiful environment for your business. Feel free to check out our office furniture to find pieces that fit best for your company’s needs.

5 Rewarding Benefits of Ergonomics in the Workplace

Tilt your head to the right, bringing your ear to your shoulder, now to the left. Doesn’t that feel better? Most of us know the feeling of having a crick in our neck after spending too long in an uncomfortable position. Oftentimes, we accept this as a normal part of our workday. 

But it doesn’t have to be. 

With ergonomics in the workplace, discomfort is a thing of the past. Read on to learn more about how ergonomics can transform your workplace.

What is Ergonomics?

One simple ergonomics definition is the study of creating a workplace that fits a worker’s needs. Ergonomics seeks to eliminate pain and discomfort at work by modifying workstations.

For example, imagine an office chair that is far lower than the height of the desk. In order to work on their computer, a worker has to lift their arms up to shoulder level and crane their neck up to see their screen properly. Over time, this office worker is going to feel discomfort in their neck and back.

On the other hand, an ergonomic chair will be height-adjustable. The worker can lift the chair to the right height so that they are staring head-on at their computer. They will likely also have armrests where they can rest their elbows while they are typing at their computer.

The Benefits of Ergonomics in the Workplace

The benefits of an ergonomic workplace extend beyond simply keeping employees comfortable. Read on to learn more about why your workplace should keep ergonomics front and center when choosing office furniture and layout.

1. Increased Productivity

Despite simply eliminating the fatigue and discomfort that comes from poor design, ergonomics can also increase productivity. With the proper setup, employees can actually decrease the amount of time it takes to do a task and are likely to be focused on completing that task.

2. Higher Quality Work Product

When ergonomics is front and center in your office design, employees are more likely to consistently deliver high-quality work. When employees are sitting on an ergonomic office chair, they are less likely to experience fatigue and discomfort that distracts them from consistently delivering the highest quality work product.

3. Improved Health and Safety

Ergonomics can help to keep employees safe and healthy while also contributing to company culture. Employee morale increases when they feel as though their health and safety are prioritized.

4. Optimized Worker Engagement

Job satisfaction is critical in keeping workers engaged and energized about their work. With an ergonomic desk setup, workers are less likely to feel frustration, fatigue, and discomfort that pose a risk to their engagement and satisfaction.

5. Reduces Cost

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for a third of all workplace injuries in the U.S. The indirect costs of these claims average over $32,000 per claim. With ergonomic design, workplaces can eliminate the discomfort that causes MSDs. Ultimately, this saves the business money and decreases employee downtime.

Transform Your Workplace Today

Ergonomics in the workplace can change the way that you do work. With happier and healthier employees, your business can thrive.

At Workplace Solutions, we do more than sell you furniture. Our team of experts will help you pick out the best furniture, create an efficient layout, and install all of the furniture for you.

Contact us today to learn how we can transform your office space.

Choosing Training Room Furniture: Top Tips to Keep In Mind

training room furniture

The United States office furniture market was worth $14.9 billion in 2022.

The market continues to grow as businesses expand and need specialized furniture for their office spaces. One of the most crucial rooms to furnish is the training room.

The training room layout is vital for good communication and learning. Keep reading to learn what training room furniture your business needs.

Conference Tables

The conference table is the heart of the training room.

Training is most effective when there is a shared space for collaboration. A communal space where everyone can see everyone else and share materials in the center is ideal for this reason.

If you have a big enough space for it, you can arrange several smaller tables into a U-shape. This creates the same space for a central collaboration zone but allows for more people into the space.

Check out our meeting room table options here.

Chairs

It’s important that everyone is comfortable in the training space. Too often businesses buy the cheapest chairs available to them for the sake of saving money, but end up with chairs no one wants to sit in.

Training rooms are usually occupied for long periods of time. This means you want enough support in the training room chairs so that people are comfortable the entire time. After all, people are more productive when they’re comfortable.

Look for chairs that have enough cushioning, back support, and armrests. It’s standard for most offices to get chairs with wheels so there isn’t a loud scrape of chairs as all the people move around.

Technology

A multimedia approach to training is often found to be the most successful. This means training material should be a combination of different types of videos, images, and text content, delivered by a facilitator.

The easiest way to accommodate this approach is with technology being incorporated into the design of the room. Rather than bringing in a monitor when you need it, incorporate a TV or projector into the room.

Make it possible to control the screen from the table so the facilitator doesn’t have to continually move between the two. Make sure the screen is big enough that everyone in the room can see it.

Consider built-in speakers too, since you’re likely going to play videos on this technology at some point. A central control panel for managing speaker settings and plugging in microphones means the room can handle conference calls too.

This broadens your options when it comes to training material and resources.

Collaboration Through Training Room Furniture

Training room furniture impacts how well people learn and work in the space. For the best results, make sure your business invests in good tables, chairs, and technology.

Once you’ve got the right technology, you’ve got to set it up. Focus on creating a central collaborative space, and the rest should fall into place.

Contact us for all your office furniture and design needs!

The Best Benefits of Collaborative Workspaces

It’s estimated that by 2024, around 5 million people will be working in 42,000 coworking spaces worldwide.

Over the last few years, the way we work has changed from showing up at an office every day to working from home. 

But, collaborative workspaces strike the perfect balance between socializing with other employees and having flexibility with your work routine. 

So, what are the collaborative workspace benefits that make this setup better than the traditional office environment? 

Keep reading to learn more about why you need to use collaborative workspace spaces.

Why You Need To Use Collaborative Workspaces

Collaborative workspaces are where different companies work in the same space, ranging from large corporations to small startups.

Unlike traditional workspaces, this design is meant to encourage people to show up at an office without being restricted to staying for several hours.

Often, collaborative workspaces have a common area and separate work areas so people can socialize between work tasks. But, there are many benefits of collaborative workspaces. 

For instance, you can easily set up these workstations. 

Easy to Setup

All you need to create a successful collaborative workspace is an empty work office environment and high-quality furniture. Theoretically, you could turn your home living room into a collaborative workspace with the right tools.

But, most people rent office space and add furniture for employees. You can charge people a fee to use the collaborative workspace, which can generate significant business income. 

Pick a Great Location

Another benefit of collaborative workspaces is that you can pick any location. You don’t need to be confined to a dull, grey business building. Instead, you can open a collaborative workspace by the beach if you want to. 

Although if you want to make the office open to everyone, you pick a busy business hub in the center of a city. This will be guaranteed to attract employees and businesses. 

Save Money

Nowadays, businesses are including a hybrid model for many workers, so there isn’t the same demand for fully rented office buildings. This gives you more flexibility with your budget. 

Using a collaborative workspace is ideal for giving people a place to work that’s not their home, but it reduces the cost of renting several building floors. 

Plus, you can share the rental costs with other companies who share the space. 

Encouraging Design

One of the main reasons that people leave a job or show up unhappy with their shift is because the environment is uninspiring.

With the rise of wellness and the focus on mental health, having an encouraging workplace is essential. 

Thankfully, collaborative workspaces enable you to create a calming, welcoming space that’s open and friendly. When you invest in high-quality furniture, your employees will love going to work.

They won’t suffer from back pain, and the space will look incredible.

Invest in the Best Workspace Furniture

Without the right furniture, you won’t be able to achieve a successful collaborative workspace. The little details like chairs, desks, and lounge areas are key to having a productive office. 

Collaborative workspaces are only as good as you make them. So, invest in the best furniture with our unique collaborative workspace solutions. 

Contact us if you have any questions. 

Reasons Your Business Should Upgrade to Back Support Office Chairs

Are you a business owner with a team of employees who complain about sore and achy backs? Or maybe you notice that their productivity plummets as the day wears on? You’re not alone. Several people suffer from uncomfortable back pain from sitting in a chair for long periods. That’s why it’s important to upgrade to back support office chairs.

Let’s take a closer look at the reasons.

Poor Posture Causes Long-Term Health Problems

A vast majority of people spend a large part of their day sitting down. Whether we’re working at a desk, driving a car, or relaxing on the couch. And while there’s nothing wrong with catching your breath, taking a break, and kicking back for a while, poor posture can lead to long-term health problems.

When you sit up straight, your spine is in alignment, and your muscles can work more efficiently. In addition, sitting up straight can help you avoid tension and pain. When you slump or slouch, your muscles have to work harder to keep you upright, leading to tension and pain.

Additionally, poor posture can cause problems with digestion and circulation. And it has even been linked to headaches and migraines. So if you want to avoid health issues down the road, be sure to sit up straight.

Improved Productivity

Back support office chairs are ergonomic, which means they’re designed to support your back and keep you comfortable. When you’re comfortable, you can focus on your work and be more productive.

Employees who use ergonomic office chairs are more productive than those who don’t. So if you want to increase productivity in your workplace, upgrading to back support office chairs is a great way to do it.

Reduced Absenteeism

When your employees are in pain, they’re more likely to call in sick or take days off. This can have a negative impact on productivity and profit.

Back support office chairs can help reduce absenteeism by keeping employees comfortable and pain-free. When your team is taken care of, they’re more likely to show up for work and be productive.

Invest in your team’s health and happiness by upgrading to back support office chairs today. Your employees will be happier and healthier, and your business will benefit from improved productivity.

Helps You Stay Alert

These office chairs are comfortable and help you stay alert during long work hours. Since back support office chairs keep your spine in alignment, it also improves blood circulation. This increased blood flow helps deliver vital oxygen and nutrients to your brain, keeping you alert and focused.

Plus, back support office chairs have adjustable features that allow you to customize the fit. This way, you can find a comfortable position for yourself, and it helps you stay alert.

Back support office chairs are a great investment for any business owner who wants to improve the health and happiness of their employees. Not to mention, they’re also a powerful productivity tool. If you’re ready to make a change, upgrade to back support office chairs today. Your team will thank you!

Are You Looking for Back Support Office Chairs 

Workspace Solutions provides turnkey office solutions perfect for businesses of all sizes. We have the perfect solution for you, from private offices and team rooms to open coworking spaces.

Reach out today and learn all about our office solutions.

How to Make the Most of Your Office Storage Space

Are you finding it difficult to find space for everything in your office?

To work in an efficient and effective manner, you need to keep your office organized. Otherwise, you might find yourself looking for things when you could focus on your projects instead. 

Yet, offices often require you to store a decent number of items without giving you an unlimited amount of office storage space. So, knowing how to take the right advantage of your office storage is essential. Below, we’ll get into everything you need to know about maximizing your workspace storage. Keep reading to learn more!

Have a System

One of the key features of an efficient office space is a well-organized system. Without a system, you might get tempted to shove things wherever they fit best. In the long run, this could cause you to lose important items and documents.

Finding the system that works best for you might take some trial and error. You can start by taking a look at your office space and asking yourself which items you’ll need most often. These might include your computer and a notepad or calendar. Place these on your desk. If possible, they should be within reach when you’re seated.

Next, think about the items you can’t store in cabinets or drawers. For instance, if you have a desktop phone, set aside a space for it on the top of your desk.

You should keep personal items and decorations to a minimum. If you do have them, contain them in one area of your office.

Less-used items can go in your cabinets and drawers. If you have a lockable cabinet, use it to secure your most important documents. 

Know When to Shred and When to File

One of the easiest ways to get disorganized is to have a lot of paper lying around your office. As such, you should know when to shred and when to file your documents.

Many workers use the one-touch rule to keep their desks organized. The rule is simple: when you pick up a piece of paper, read it over quickly and decide whether you want to keep or discard it. If you need to keep it, put it in a file that’s organized either by topic or alphabetical order. That way, you can refer back to it when needed.

To discard your documents, shred them. Shredding prevents pertinent, confidential information from making its way into the wrong hands. 

Get the Right Furniture

The right furniture will make office organization easier. Take stock of what types of office storage you think your workplace needs and then place an order for them. 

You can get office furniture in a variety of sizes or styles. Look around to find the pieces that best match your company’s culture!

Ready to Get Office Storage Solutions?

If you’re looking for office storage solutions, you’ve come to the right place. 

At Workspace Solutions, we don’t just specialize in selling furniture. We help you create office space solutions that work best for you. So, whether you’re looking for a single piece of furniture or a full-on room design, we have something for you!

Ready to get started? Contact us today!

Understanding Your Remote Work Options in a Post COVID World

The Covid pandemic created a situation where businesses had no choice but to let employees work remotely or face shutting down. With the existential threat of Covid at least partially resolved, companies started talking about a mandatory return to office policies.

This met with a resounding backlash; around 64 percent of employees would consider quitting. The tenuous compromise is a hybrid model.

With part-time remote work becoming the new norm, employees must consider their remote work options in a post-Covid world. Keep reading for some of your options.

Full-Time Remote

While some people crave the social aspects of the office, many people discovered that they prefer remote work. It spares them a commute, which can mean a lot for employee happiness among those living and working in major cities.

Just as importantly, some companies read the signs and now offer fully remote positions in addition to their hybrid and in-office positions. This gives you options for where and how you work best.

Hybrid

If you’re in that group of people who miss the social aspects of working the in office, a hybrid position offers you the best of both worlds. In some respects, it’s also a smart employee decision.

You can leverage the best benefits of having face time in the office, such as mentorship and collaboration opportunities. You can also retain some of the flexibility in your personal life that most people seem to value about remote work.

The only real pitfall is that businesses are still working out just what hybrid means. There is no consensus yet on how many days per week hybrid employees must come in. It’s also unclear who should decide which days hybrid employees come in.

Setting Yourself Up for Success

Even over two years in, a lot of people lack a permanent home office setup. If you plan on working remotely for the rest of your career, You don’t necessarily need a completely separate room. You do need a permanent work area.

The best home office contains some essentials, like a desk and office chair. If you want to incorporate some health benefits, you can go in for a standing desk

You’ll also need:

  • High-speed Internet
  • Desktop or high-end notebook computer
  • Webcam
  • Microphone or earbuds with a mic

There are countless other office accessories that make life easier, but the list above meets most, if not all, of your remote working needs.

Remote Work Options and You

Moving forward, you will have two main remote work options: full-time remote and hybrid. Those who discovered they liked their jobs and despised the office will opt for full-time remote positions. People who missed the social and career-boosting elements of the office will opt for hybrid positions.

In both cases, however, you need a good home office setup to keep up with your work responsibilities.

Workspace Solutions specializes in furnishing office spaces. If you need help with your home office and or creating a hybrid office setup, contact Workspace Solutions today.

5 Productive and Calming Office Colors

Need a change? While it’s a simpler task to select paint colors for your home based on your personal preferences, it’s a little harder to select colors that will work well for your office.

The right office paint colors can relax you, brighten up a space, or induce stress. It could affect your employees’ productivity.

So, what are the right office colors to create a calming workplace? Read on to learn about 5 calming colors that will improve workplace productivity.

1. Blue

Blue is one of the best colors for offices.

People unconsciously perceive the blue color as calming and relaxing. Painting your office spaces blue will make your employees feel calm and less anxious.

Furthermore, the color can soothe employees and reduce stress while encouraging them to be more productive. Blue is one of the most used workplace colors.

2. Green

Green is also perfect for any office environment. The color green provides needed balance.

Furthermore, green has proven to be the best color choice for office employees working long hours. It is indeed a top-priority color commonly found in medical offices.

3. Purple

Purple is often associated with luxury or magical connotations.

Creative industries such as design studios often use purple to encourage creativity and teamwork. While you may not want to paint your entire office in purple, it’s a great color for accent walls and decor to help boost productivity.

4. Brown

The color brown color feels powerful in office spaces. It blends well with wood office furniture colors and gives you a pleasant warmth. It is also similar to the blue color in that it is naturally soothing.

Applying brown in your office space will give your employees a sense of security, credibility, and reassurance. These senses can empower people to be more productive.

5. Orange

You may not think of the color orange as a calming color. But it can be both calming or energizing depending on how it’s used. 

The color is associated with warmth, power, and tolerance. However, because it is also an energizing color, use it sparingly and as a complement to another calming color to prevent increased energy and decreased productivity.

Get a Designer to Help You Choose the Best Office Colors Today

The choice of your office colors is not just for aesthetics. In fact, colors can affect workers’ moods and motivation. Colors can also help your employees to be more productive.

At Workspace Solutions, our designers can help you choose the best office colors for walls and furniture to create a calming, productive workplace that is tailored to reflect your brand.

Call us today to find out how we can assist you in finding the best solution for your space.

4 Things You Need in Your Smart Office

Are you unhappy with your current office setup? Is your space hindering your productivity? A new solution to your problem is on the horizon. Many people around the world are using smart technology in their homes. But have you ever heard of a smart office?  

Smart offices are a great solution to the challenge of modernizing your office whether you work in an office setting or at home. They are the future of modern workspaces.

What Is a Smart Office?

A smart office is a modern office that uses technology to aid employees in working more efficiently. Smart offices use the Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to streamline every aspect of the workday.

Keep reading for some examples of IoT which would be implemented in your smart office. 

1. Smart Lighting

Smart lighting is lighting that can be controlled via the internet. Smart lighting allows you to turn lights on and off, dim them, and even change the color of the lights, all from the convenience of your smartphone or computer. 

Smart lighting, as well as smart climate control (which we’ll get into) also monitors energy usage. Going “green” is crucial to the sustainability of our culture and smart energy is a great way to do that.

2. Climate Control

Similar to smart lighting, smart climate control allows you to control the heat and air conditioning from your phone or computer. Rather than go to the trouble of installing thermostats in every room of your office, you can now do it all on one streamlined system.

Just like smart lighting, smart climate control makes tracking your energy usage easy. This is important to both saving money and the environment. 

3. Collaboration & Productivity

Technology that allows team members to easily collaborate is a must-have, especially in today’s work environment when employees may be working remotely. 

Tools like Slack and Asana allow team members to manage projects and tasks and keep track of what needs done as well as deadlines. 

Zoom, WebEx, and Go To Meeting are online conferencing tools that allow employees to meet, share screens, and share files. 

4. Video Monitoring

In 2021, there were over 10,000 cases of theft in the U.S. Now more than ever it is crucial to have video monitoring in your smart office. With video monitoring, you can get an alert on your phone every time someone comes in and out of the office. This is especially helpful after hours. And, if anything does come up missing, you’re able to look back at the feed to see who was in the office at the time.

Start Designing Your Smart Office

Now that you know all about designing your smart office, you can start doing it today! Smart offices are a great investment toward modernizing your office space, whether it be in a traditional office space or at home.