Office Furniture

Workplace Furniture: Buying Guide

Chairs that are used for long periods of time need to be ergonomically designed to allow the user to sit at a height and angle best for their size. A lumbar support backrest and adjustable height go a long way to minimising nagging backache. Attach a memory foam lumbar support to existing office chairs if necessary to make all the difference, or consider a saddle seat. Other tools to gain the best work position are a footrest, and for the desk, a gel mouse support, with or without a gel palm support. These products help to reduce stress in the arm and hand.

“Operator chairs" have castors and sometimes armrests. They come in various materials, from hard-wearing polyurethane to comfortable padded or mesh-backed versions. Look out for adjustable backrests. When extremely long periods of use are called for, choose a chair that is recommended for 24-hour use. These chairs are also durable enough to withstand constant shift usage.

For reception seating, you could choose the super-plush “tub armchair", or install one of a range of comfortable reception or conference-type chairs. These may be chosen more to match the surroundings than anything else, since all are designed as good waiting area chairs. The list is extensive, and mesh-back, leather and fabric are all options. Remember to supply waste bins in public areas.

Very useful in clinical and commercial scenarios is the “stacking chair," which actually stacks up to three high. There is a wider, bariatric version available, and the standard chair comes with or without armrests.

Desks and pedestal units come in a melamine finish, in straight, L-shaped-with drawers, or an L-shaped without drawers design. Free-standing pedestals, storage cupboards or filing cabinets will accommodate your equipment neatly. Convenient boltless office shelving has optional extra shelves or back panels, and is perfect for lever-arch files. Add a meeting table, or a modular, upholstered reception table to complete the setting.

Bistro or aluminium tables match the corresponding stackable chair. In public or commercial settings, it is a good idea to make sure that you have good signage to help visitors find their bearings – for example, towards lifts, information, ramped access or washrooms.

There is a wide range of stackable chairs available. The materials used vary from heavy-duty welded, to lightweight aluminium (suitable for outdoors), to polypropylene (versatile and colourful), to fabric or mesh back. Many are stackable up to three or four, but for chairs that must be regularly stacked and moved, choose from bistro chairs, aluminium mesh chairs, conference chairs or stacking chairs with chrome or with black frame. The latter two are both padded – good choices for conference rooms – and are available in arm or non-arm styles. These chairs can stack up to eight or more. Move your stacked chairs over a distance using a handy chair bulk load sack truck.