Sitting or Standing: the Great Debate

Gresham Crank Handle

It's become widely accepted in recent years that an office should be laid out a certain way. The basic structure generally consists of a desk, with a computer and phone of course, a little bit of personal storage and an operators chair. A new trend is developing however. Question marks are being raised about the long term future of the conventional office chair, and the standard heights of the desks that we use too. Whilst it'll never be suggested that seating should be entirely eradicated from our modern offices, the emphasis and the nature of this seating is shifting ever so slightly towards a healthier and more malleable office space.

iBench Height Adjustable

Various health studies have found that cardiovascular and circulatory problems, and a vulnerability to diabetes, can develop over time if people are sat at their desk for too long. Whilst the quality and affordability of available seating has improved no end, this can never alleviate the risks entirely. Mobility around the office has been found to be very important for maintaining a good circulation, which in turn encourages a better attention span, creating an energetic, productive and healthy workplace. It's widely accepted however that standing desks aren't a practical permanent solution - which is the main drive behind the development of height adjustable desks.

E-Lite Crank Handle

Height adjustable desks are being continually developed to be easier to use and cheaper to manufacture, which is making the concept of the standing height office a far more realistic one. There have been some fantastically designed height adjustable desks in recent years, but these are rarely cost effective enough to be practical for large scale offices. Likewise, there have been some very cheap ranges developed - but these are considered too impractical or time consuming to adjust, and are therefore not right for the wider office either. Once an effective compromise has been reached, we can see height adjustable desks being a mainstay in the majority of offices. After all, not all people are the same height - so why should all desks be at the same height?

E-Lite Electric Adjustments

With the continuing development of the height adjustable desk, we're sure that the office of the (not too distant) future will be more flexible, healthier and more productive than ever before.

Office Storage: Getting it Right.

Creating a neat, tidy and organised office is essential for the smooth running of any business - and there are lots of factors which can determine how your office is run. Whilst the personnel running the office, and the systems that are in place are of course essential, it's also very important to consider the storage and filing that's available to them. An office needs to have the right amount of the right style of storage in order to run at maximum efficiency. Whatever you need, we'll have something available to suit!

Pure Desks with Mobile Pedestals

Pedestal Drawers

Personal storage for each desk is important for encouraging every employee to keep their own desk neat and organised. Pedestal drawers, whether they're under the workstation or integral to the desk, help each worker to feel more at home whilst at work. They create a personal space, and somewhere to organise their paperwork and avoid cluttering the desk. Under desk pedestals can be mobile to allow greater flexibility in a malleable office, which are perfect for businesses which have a high staff turnover, large numbers of seasonal workers or hot desks. 

Two Door Cupboards

Standard cupboards are available in a variety of styles and sizes. They're particularly popular at desk height to create continuity throughout the office and a consistently practical worktop, but they're also available at full height, and plenty of sizes in between. A range of available internals and a wide choices of finishes make this basic style flexible to suit your space and your needs. 

Tambour Cupboards

Tall Tambour Cupboard

If you're looking to introduce secure storage into a tight space, then tambour cupboards could be the perfect solution. The very nature of tambour doors means that they don't need a lot of space to open out. The full depth of the unit is used for storage, which allows you to maximise the use of a narrow area. Some people find that cupboard doors can get in the way if they're not closed properly, whereas tambour doors don't have any risk of that problem. 

Filers

Side Filers and filing cabinets are perfect for creating an organised and practical office space. Papers and brochures can be stored effectively and accessibly, with no risk of being lost or buried among piles of other things. Filers are where the users become just as important as the storage itself: we can provide you with the best filing storage imaginable, but unless everybody adheres to the system in place then they won't go very far!

Floor to Ceiling Fitted Storage

Fitted Cupboards

With office space at a premium, made to measure and fitted storage is becoming ever more popular. You can make the most of every nook and cranny within your office by tailoring the storage to fit, and it's often far more cost effective than people expect. You can cherry pick the types of storage you need in your office too: whether you need pigeon holes, roll out filing, suspension frames, fixed shelves or anything else - we can design you a cupboard to suit. 

This is only a 'whistle stop guide' to the office storage that's on offer. Beyond the standard ranges, dedicated teams of specials designers are also on hand to put together fresh ideas to suit any unique needs that you might have. Ultimately, whilst we're always on hand to advise about what storage is most effective, you're the person that knows your business best, so please let us know about any specific requirements that you have.

A Selection of Available Storage

Choosing the right desk

As with all of our ranges, we have a huge selection of desk options available for your office, so making sure you're looking for the right ones can be a bit of a minefield. Every office in every business will have different requirements, so it's essential that you're aware of the different types of desk available to be able to make an informed decision about what's best for you and your company.

Standalone Desk:

Brevis 120 Degree Desks

The 'basic' desk. This has been the focal point of offices for decades, and is sure to be around for decades to come. The frames and top shapes have evolved as trends and fashions change to create a really flexible style, but the basic desk remains much the same. These have the great advantage of allowing you to create a consistent style throughout your office, whilst deploying a range of different shapes to suit different employees. A configuration of rectangular shapes might be ideal for some, whilst others may need the additional space created by a corner or 120 degree desk - the possibilities are endless!

Pure Combination Wave Desks

Combination Desk

Some ranges give you the chance to add an integral pedestal to the design. This has some great benefits as both a space and money saver, although it does reduce the flexibility of the desks slightly. Built in storage reduces the number of components, which helps to keep costs down. Combination desks also ensure that each workstation is compact, without limiting the amount of desktop space that's available to the user.  

Bench Desk

Ambus Bench Desks

Incredibly popular in large and small offices alike, bench desks are perfect for creating a consistent run of workstations. Shared legs mean that every bench that's added reduces the cost per user, and double sided benches (with optional divider screens) can bring the individual user costs down even further. Bench desks are also great for managing cables: sliding tops and cable trays are simple to add, and make a huge difference to the overall practicality of the style.

Executive Desk

Traditionally Stunning: Fulcrum Executive Desks

Executive ranges are designed with a bit more style and panache in mind. Whilst the workstation still has to be practical, it needs to bring a certain level of style and authority to the office. Large returns, plentiful storage and meeting sections are commonplace with executive setups, because they often have very different requirements to standard desks. Executive desks are perfect for making a statement of intent about your business, so it's always important to get right!  

Fulcrum CE Executive Glass Desks

Glass Desk

Perfect for home offices or an executive suite, glass desks are modern and bright. The nature of a glass top puts a lot of emphasis onto the style and quality of the frame - and there are some truly stunning designs available. A quality glass desk can last for years and, whilst they're not the most cost effective option, the beautiful and quality designs will really tempt you to go with your heart rather than your head...

So there you have it: a huge range of desks to consider. Not forgetting that within these different styles we have a range of designs, finishes and price points that can give you even more options to choose from. We've always got our dedicated sales team on hand to offer product advice and help narrow down your options, so all you have to do is give us a call and let us know what you need - we'd love to help!