Today, there are as many ways of working as there are job titles. Some of us share a desk with colleagues, and some use the local coffee shop or the kitchen table at home as headquarters. No matter where or how you work, or what time of day (or night) you do it, it helps to have a flexible workspace. With furniture that adapts to your needs and not the other way around.
Good ideas thrive where the unusual is business as usual. So surprise your body with movement now and then – even if you’re super-concentrated on something for a long time. When you shift position, your blood circulation increases. It makes it easier to relax your back, neck and shoulders. With a height-adjustable desk, it’s easy to vary your work position. It can do wonders for your creativity and focus, and even be a good substitute for that extra cup of coffee.
Sometimes we need to work on our own – sometimes we want to work together. Or just socialize. When we collaborate, we can share ideas, become inspired and create an environment where both businesses and people can flourish. To meet our changing needs, we need furniture that are as adaptable as we are. That makes it possible to create the workday we need and want.
Storage with casters is easy to get out of the way when you want to turn the workplace into something else. Perhaps shift focus from one task to another, make room for cleaning or less serious stuff? Office supplies fit perfectly in storage with casters. It makes them easy to bring to the desk, the sofa – or wherever it is you prefer to work.
Even if you have all your meetings online or out of the office, it can be a good idea to have an extra seat for colleagues or family members that want to stop by. When you’re on your own, you can use it for relaxation after a session by the screen – perhaps by doing a different type of work-task for a while. If you have little space, there are storage units approved to be used as seating as well.
Storage units developed for standing work are handy if you don’t have a need or the space for a big desk. They can be used as presentation-desks, and if you add casters to them, you can easily move them around and rearrange the room in seconds.
Lack of storage seems to be a universal issue – no matter how disciplined you are or what you do for a living. Large storage units are convenient when you’re sharing storage with someone else. They can also be used as room dividers to create individual workspaces without walls or doors.
If you go for closed storage, it will always look nice and tidy no matter what is hidden inside the cabinets. With glass doors, you get an overview of what’s in the cabinets and can protect your stuff from dust. They also give an opportunity to show visitors things you are extra proud of.
When you feel like working sitting down, choose a chair that adapts to you, not the other way around. Make sure it gives back support, is adjustable and can swivel – allowing for that all-important movement. You want to be able to sit upright and have your monitor at eye height, and your arms and elbows at a 90-degree angle with your hands just above your keyboard. If you need extra support for your lower back, choose a chair that has lumbar support.
A chair without armrests provides freedom for natural movement, but a chair with armrests will support the upper part of your forearms, thereby reducing stress on shoulders and back. Make sure the armrests don’t prevent you from drawing the chair close to the desk.
If you want a chair that can roll around and is easy to move, make sure it has safety casters. The safety casters make the chair stay in place when you get up from it.
Do yourself a favor, change position now and then instead of sitting or standing all day. A sit/stand support doesn’t have any back-support or armrests. It allows for a flexible work position at both desks and high tables. You get a more open posture – good for your circulation and core muscles, and awesome for both body and mind.
Cables. We need them, but we don’t want to see them. They’re easy to trip on, and it can be hard to know which one goes where. A cable management solution helps you to organize and hide the cables. It also makes your workstation look less cluttered and cleaning a whole lot easier. There are a several different cable management systems to choose from, see which one that suits you best.
There are a number of technological aids that can make your working life easier. With NFC (Near Field Communication) you can lock away your things with a card key instead of a regular key. There are also apps that you can use to control some desks. The apps can remind you to move around now and then, so you get a healthier workday. Or automatically set your favorite height if you share a height-adjustable desk with someone else.
Your ears should feel just as comfortable at work as your back, neck and shoulders. What someone thinks is calming background sound, can be noise to someone else. With soft-closing doors and drawers you can reduce noise pollution. You can also use fabrics, cushions and rugs to dampen sounds, soften echoes and give the office a homier feeling.
Apart from having flexible furniture, there are other things you can do to make magic happen at work. Decorate with plants that improve the air quality. Let daylight in – without causing glare. Make sure there’s access to hot drinks and cold water. But above all, challenge truths, try new things and ask for help if you need it. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable at work.
