Big ideas can come from small spaces. Small offices provide creative workers with the opportunity to exchange thoughts, brainstorm freely, and hothouse innovations that will set the company apart. Yet even the most inspired workers need furniture for small office spaces that will support them throughout the process of bringing their ideas to life. Small office space planning requires office designers to overcome unique challenges inherent to spaces with fewer square feet in the real estate budget. Multipurpose furnishings support several activities without adding to the required space in which to place them. As one of the most important pieces of furniture in any workplace, office chairs must meet the requirement to provide comfort and support while not consuming more room than necessary. With a luxury of space at a designer’s disposal, furnishings can be chosen with a singular purpose in mind. Specialized desks and chairs chosen for a unique function will not place an undue burden on the office’s capacity.
In absence of a generous area to furnish, designers must embrace the ingenuity of multipurpose furniture to supply workers with the tools they need. Chairs especially must suit several tasks, from comfortable discussions with coworkers to more focused times of work. They must have ample support for employee health, but without the bulk often present in larger, executive seating. Today’s office furniture for small spaces offers an unprecedented variety of multipurpose chairs suitable for closer confines. As you consider your options for small office furniture, look to respected brands such as Herman Miller for quality furnishings that will both repay your investment and content your employees. Options exist for workspaces of all sizes, from cozy yet professional niches to areas with more room to move. High-end stackable seating is also a viable choice for those who may need extra chairs for specific occasions. Make your selections with an eye towards possible future requirements as well as current needs.
Premium office chairs such as Herman Miller’s Aeron occupy a reasonable footprint, and will last for many years after purchase. Smaller chairs such as the Herman Miller Setu require even less space in your office without sacrificing quality or longevity. For portable seating that can stack neatly out of the way, the Caper chair from Herman Miller represents an excellent option. Comfortable and convenient, this chair weighs little enough for true flexibility in seating configuration in any situation. No matter the size of your workspace, Benhar Office Interiors possesses the knowledge and experience to help you create the design you hope to achieve. Contact us online, or call us at 212-481-6666 for more information on our small office space planning services. Tags: chair, office furniture for small spacesFrigidaire 25.5 Cu. Ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator Call for Our Best Price 39 dBA Dishwasher with ProScrub Option - Stainless Steel Front Load Washer with LuxCare Wash - 4.3 Cu. Ft.
Front Load Perfect Steam Electric Dryer with 7 cycles - 8.0 Cu. Ft. [View All Appliance Specials +] [View All Furniture Specials +] [View All Mattress Specials +] [View All Accessory Specials +]I suffered two years of upper back pain, brought on primarily by (a) stress, (b) carrying a child, and (c) sitting hunched over a computer. There wasn’t not a lot I could do about a and b, but c could be fixed. That eminent scientific outlet, LifeHacker, informs us that sitting is killing us. My ridiculously good back doctor and the Columbia ergonomics office assured me this is not all hype, and that a standing desk would probably be a good move.I enjoy the standing more than I expected. I do not get tired. My back has never been better, though weaknesses with my home desk option do bother it a little. Crucially, I discovered a trick for ensuring my feet never hurt (see below). Below the fold: My experience with high-end desks (for the office) and cheaper options (for home).
First, in 2012 I looked at several options. Helpful were review articles from WireCutter, Business Week, and StandingDeskReviews. I also tried out the desks of colleagues: Suresh Naidu’s Steelcase ($1500 range), and John Huber’s Anthro Elevate. The Anthro was my favorite, but easily the most expensive ($3000 range). Most of the sit/stand options are high-end, in the $1000-$3000 range. When I first bought my desk, I thought this sit-stand capability was crucial. I liked to sit about 10-20% of the time at first. After a year, though, I very seldom feel like sitting, and can spend hours at the desk. Of course, the days that I’m tired or sick, or have just come back from a run, I love the sitting function. My 50-year old self may also like it more than my current 39-year old self. My recommendation: If you can afford it, an expensive sit/stand is as wise an investment as a good bed. You spend most of your waking hours at one or the other. If you can’t, there are still good options for <$300 or even <$100.
I return to these below. For my office, in the end I got the Anthro. To be honest, this is partly because I have serious back problems and so the University disability office offered to pay. I have never spent more than $3000 on something that does not have wheels and an engine. But it is simply fantastic, and I have zero complaints. My back has never been better. Looking back, however, even if disability hadn’t offered to pay, the Anthro would have been money well spent. And I am someone who doesn’t have a single piece of furniture remotely that expensive in my home. For home, though, I was more budget conscious, in part because I don’t spend as much time at my home office. I also did not want to have to throw out my current desk. I looked around and, again following John Huber, opted for Ergo Desktop’s Kangaroo for the iMac ($300-600). It comes highly recommended at all the review sites. The Kangaroo sits atop your existing desk and smoothly goes up and down from sitting to standing position.
It can be slid out of the way, to the side of the desk, fairly easily. It mounts a very heavy monitor without issue. I live with the Kangaroo, but I don’t like it. I am six feet tall–not an unusual height–but I can’t quite get it up to the arm and monitor height I need. Thus my back troubles me a little. The Kangaroo is also jiggly, even with the stabilization arm. And you cannot lean on it, which I find helpful from time to time if spending hours at the desk. In retrospect, I would probably have bought this <$300 Safco standing-only desk or something similar. I may still, and so please let me know if you’ve found a good option. I’d prefer more desk space. So far one of my favorite and most important purchases, though, is this traveling standing desk: The Ninja. Basically, this folds down to the size of a large-ish laptop, and sets up in 3 or 4 minutes on the back of most doors. It can also be nailed into a wall for more permanent use. I bring it on every trip.
Unfortunately, most of the time I am facing a door, but occasionally I have been able to set it up facing a vista. In the picture I’m look out over the Black Mountains in NC. Highly, highly recommended for traveller. Finally, for the truly budget conscious, there are many <$100 do-it-yourself options that won’t have the sit/stand capability. I did this for a few weeks before making the big purchase and it was an improvement over sitting. The height issue on the Kangaroo: partly solved. I spoke to Ergo Desktop, and they design their models for a 30″ desk. The keyboard surface is then supposed to raise up to 15″ above the desk surface, for a maximum height of 45″. I find the maximum stable height is about 14 to 14.5″ above the desk, however. In theory, this (just barely) gets me the recommended height for a 6′ tall person: 44″. Unfortunately, my desk is 29″ high and I use a mat which adds 1/2″ or so. So I am about an inch below my preferred height.