Thursday, June 30, 2011

A Guide to Buying the Right Office Desk

Buying an office desk? You will be fascinated by the sheer variations of the types and varieties that are on the market right now. The office itself should be a functional and organised place, and businesses put plenty of importance and time on buying the most suitable desk, or indeed any office furniture.

We put together this quick guide to buying an office desk; hopefully it will help you avoid buying inferior furniture or overspending!

So what good is an office without a desk? Employees and colleagues would not expect to work all day standing up but its essential to find desks that fit within the office budget, furnish the space well and of course is functional. Buying the most suitable office desk for the user is important, but its also a feature of the office and if style is also important to you then you may want to look at the different materials that desks are built with and the alternative designs they are available in.

Stepping into the world of shopping for the office desks you will see that you're given plenty of opportunity to research how the desk best fits the businesses needs. Considering whether the durability of the desk will perform well for the next ten years and whether or not the design and style fit in smoothly with the office décor will help make a positive decision, but do not neglect the cost over style and functionality - colleagues will appreciate a good comfortable working desk more than they will be impressed you blew the budget on a designer price tag.

Pick up brochures from speciality office suppliers as well as visiting the larger high street stores to compare prices. These will usually give you a good range of options as well as a good range of prices, if you are on a budget then set a price and stick to it - it may take more time to find something that is right for the business, but the boss will be happy to save the money as its more feasible.

Getting value for money these days can be much easier by looking at different brands, and just because you might be looking for glass or solid wood it doesn't mean the desk is going to be expensive and shopping around will give you the information you need to make a decision. Don't be taken in by a cheap price - remember that most office suppliers will be happy to negotiate, especially on bulk orders, so trying to get a discount once you have chosen the most appropriate product is a good move. However, even if you decide to select a cheaper option, try to avoid making the mistake of buying a badly shaped desk or one of poor quality.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/a-guide-to-buying-the-right-office-desk-2851884.html

Monday, June 27, 2011

A Few Tips in Making Your Office Desk More Ergonomic

Many of us spend most of the day sitting at office desks working on the computer.  While we are sitting at your office desk, you will want to make sure that we are as ergonomic as you can be in order to reduce pain and stress on your body.

First off, you should make sure you have correct posture while sitting at your office desk.  In order to prevent your eyes from having to continuously focus, make sure your eyes are within a good distance away from your monitor.  Also make sure to keep your phone on the side of your body that is used least often.

If your office desk is just a standard desk, you may need to have your keyboard positioned underneath your desk in a roll out tray.  This will allow your office desk keyboard to be positioned correctly, where your elbows are aligned properly.

Try to keep your office desk as organized as possible.  Keep the most important documents, pens and pencils, and other important things as close to you as possible.  Constantly reaching for items will increase strain on your body, and increase neck and backaches.

Keep the area underneath your office desk clean.  This will allow you to better stretch your legs and prevent any strain that way.  Once your desk is ergonomically positioned, keep your feet flat on the floor, or use a footrest.

Accessories for your office desk will also help promote better ergonomics.  Use a document holder when typing a hand written paper, so you aren\'t constantly crouched over and moving your neck from side to side.  For office areas that are not as well lit, use a desk lamp while working as to reduce strain while staring at the computer screen.

These tips will help reduce pain in your legs, back, neck, and arms while you are sitting at your office desk.  Most importantly however it to make sure you take frequent breaks from sitting.  Walking a little around the office, getting a cup of coffee, or just stretching will keep your body in a better condition while you sit.  While you are sitting, also make sure to stretch your arms in front of you, up in the air, and side to side.

Sitting properly at your office desk, and using proper ergonomic principles, as well as stretching out your muscles will help prevent strain and injury while you work.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/a-few-tips-in-making-your-office-desk-more-ergonomic-4757155.html

Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Office Furniture Checklist

If you have just started your business and you now have a few employees you are no doubt in need of an office space and even more in need of some office furniture. When selecting office furniture it is all too easy to go for the best price or to go for the best look. There is a lot more research that is needed in order to determine what office furniture you buy. There are a lot of questions that you need to ask yourself before buying each piece of office furniture. The answers really do depend on your industry therefore do not assume that every piece of office furniture will cater for your need. Let’s begin with...

Office Desks:

•  Does it have enough space for a computer as well as other tasks (i.e. writing, sketching)
•  Is the desk the correct height for the majority of your employees?
•  Does it provide the correct amount of leg room?
•  Are the desks easily aligned (e.g. are they congruent with the other desks?)
•  Can they resist high amounts of wear and tear?
•  Does the desk offer the capability to manage electrical cables? (e.g. computer, phone, fax)
•  Do the desks require extra storage such as drawers?

So you have your desk sorted out, now you need an office chair:

•  Does it need arms?
•  Will it fit under the desks? (this can help save a lot of space)
•  Can the chairs be stacked?
•  Are the chairs the correct height for the majority of your employees?
•  Do they need to swivel?
•  Do they need wheels?
•  Are they comfortable?

The next price of office furniture that is of importance is office meeting tables:

•  How many people can fit around the table?
•  How much distance will each individual get when seated around the table?
•  How much leg room will people get?
•  How much surface room will each person get?

Another vital part of office furniture is office storage:

•  What do you need to store?
•  How much space do you have in your office?
•  Does it need to be a secure (lockable) cabinet/pedestal?
•  How many of these do you need?

This is just a basic checklist of things you should ask yourself when buying each piece of furniture. Office furniture can mount up in price and so you want to be able to get it right. Hopefully asking yourselves a few of these questions will mean that you select the best possible furniture and you and your employees will be happy workers for years to come!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/the-office-furniture-checklist-925779.html