We all wish we could have the newest, top-of-the-line furniture. However, this isn’t always an option. Most of the time companies have an office furniture budget that they have to consider. This doesn’t necessarily mean a company can’t create an ideal office that suits their needs. Incorporating modern furniture and natural light, and only using the furniture that you need, are just a few ways you can transform your office while sticking to your office furniture budget.
Everybody has their own idea of the perfect office. The minute you use the word “budget” possibilities seem to dwindle. This doesn’t always have to be the case. What if there was a world where you could have your ideal office without making sacrifices? It doesn’t seem like “budget” and “perfect” go hand in hand, but following these steps, being mindful of employee needs, and understanding the furniture options available, can help you get your perfect office.
Modern Furniture Necessities
Not all companies are created equally and neither are their offices. The scope of work usually determines what employees need to successfully do their jobs. A company might need to provide private spaces for all employees. They might need large collaborative spaces so employees can work together. Understanding your employees’ needs, the type of work, and what should be prioritized are ways to ensure you get the most for your budget. An article on LinkedIn talks about different elements that go into modern office furniture and design.
Having a clear budget and expectations can help you create the best office possible for you and your team.
Regardless of the budget, there are some necessities that can’t be avoided. Usually, when working with a budget, you don’t have the opportunity to try things out. This usually means you have to get it right the first time. That’s why it’s important to start designing an office with an understanding of what employees need to do their jobs. If employees hold frequent meetings, then collaborative spaces are important. If privacy is essential, acoustic furniture might be important. Regardless, functionality is a necessary focus.
Although functionality is important, a company shouldn’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for functionality because of a budget. Being knowledgeable of what is available on the market when furnishing your office can help with creating purposeful and multifunctional spaces. Workspaces that have several uses and storage solutions that double as workspaces are both ways to reduce the number of furniture pieces needed. Doing this can save money while maintaining the exact aesthetic a company is trying to achieve.
How to Work with an Office Furniture Budget
Cutting corners and trying to design the cheapest office possible isn’t necessarily the best idea. Working with a budget this way can result in an inefficient and poorly furnished office. Traditional cubicles, filing cabinets, and basic desks might be appealing because of the cost, but even for the price, this might not be the best option out there.
Having a clear budget and expectations can help you create the best office possible for you and your team. Sometimes we get too worried about saving money and we focus on cost. When sticking to the budget, saving money shouldn’t be the ultimate goal. The goal should still be creating the best office possible with what you have available. A budget might limit the possibilities, but it doesn’t make it impossible.
Functionality in Modern Furniture
Gone are the days when a desk was a desk and a filing cabinet was a filing cabinet. Office furniture doesn’t serve only one purpose anymore. This makes it possible to design an office to meet all employee needs without needing more space for a variety of individual furniture pieces.
Multi-purpose modern furniture is usually associated with space-saving or hybrid work models. Offers office storage and wall units provide adequate storage while doubling as work surfaces. But what does this mean for the budget?
There’s a lot that goes into deciding how you will furnish your office, but ultimately considering what employees need to do their jobs, succeed, and be productive and efficient should be at the forefront of the conversation.
We’ve all heard the phrase “more bang for your buck” and that’s exactly what multiuse or multipurpose functionality can get you. Furniture that can serve more than one purpose reduces the need for multiple pieces. Taking this approach when furnishing your office can offer a wealth of benefits. One of them being budget management.
Among the product collections, modular furniture can create easily repurposed spaces. This two-in-one office design mentality not only helps you stay within your budget but it can also help improve productivity and efficiency.
Employee Needs
Listening to employees and those who work in the office day-to-day will help you find a starting point. You might know the budget and what you want and even have a vision, but if you don’t know what your employees need, furnishing your office might be a waste of time and money.
Setting employees up for success can lead to an increase in productivity, efficiency, and morale. For example, an article featured on Forbes talks about the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. While ergonomics can be incorporated into virtually any type of modern furniture, certain aspects should be considered when updating and furnishing a modern office. Employees need comfort. Neglecting comfort and ergonomic furniture will lead to a less-than-satisfactory work experience that can ultimately impact productivity.
Taking the time to talk to employees can save a lot of confusion. Maybe one of the goals of furnishing a modern office is to create a space more suited for employees. If this is the reason, satisfying employee needs should be the number one focus. Here are some things to consider when talking to employees:
- Do employees have adequate space?
- Is there a need for collaborative space?
- Do employees need privacy to be productive?
There’s a lot that goes into deciding how you will furnish your office, but ultimately considering what employees need to do their jobs, succeed, and be productive and efficient should be at the forefront of the conversation.
The Bottom Line
When furnishing an office on a budget, the bottom line is important, but it doesn’t have to be the most important part. The most important part of the process is creating a supportive and fostering environment. Strong Project has extensive product collections that can help you design and furnish the office of your employee’s dreams.
Ready to furnish your modern office? Find out how Strong Project can help you and stay within your budget!
