The Quest for Best Ergonomic Chairs 2023

Best Ergonomic Chairs 2023 SitOnIt Wit Chair

Looking for the best ergonomic chairs in 2023 makes sense. You’re equipping your office to meet the physical needs of your employees so they’re more productive and have better overall well-being.

It’s the opposite of telling them to sit on whatever chair is available, no matter how rigid and uncomfortable it is.

Why Ergonomics is Important

Ergonomics is a study of how people relate to their surrounding environment while they’re working. It doesn’t just deal with how we sit but uses a holistic approach.

For office workers, this can mean how well the chair supports your body and allows you to sit at an angle that is gentle on the lower back and knees. When you’re typing on your computer your elbows and wrists should be in a comfortable position, as well as your eyes so that your head doesn’t tilt too far forward.


Photo: Friant Tango Chairs

Ergonomics gives us a standard to adhere to. As you go on your quest for the best ergonomic chairs you can do so confidently, knowing that the investment is in the best interests of your team and the company.

Fewer aches and pains mean a greater focus on the tasks at hand and reduced absenteeism.

How Ergonomic Chairs Benefit Users

Just how do quality ergonomic chairs help users?

The chairs assist in keeping proper posture by adjusting to the user’s preferred height. That’s important because poor posture where a person is bent over will reduce lung capacity by as much as 30 percent.

And what does that mean?

It means less oxygen is flowing to the brain which decreases mental alertness throughout the day.


Photo: 9 to 5 Seating Neo Chairs

So go on your quest to procure the best ergonomic chairs for 2023 because it’s an investment in your workers—and they are working to support the company’s goals and profitability.

Remember that sitting is not a passive activity. We’re moving when we’re sitting, even if the movements are subtle. We’re reaching for phones, keyboards, paper, and fun things like snacks.


Photo: Humanscale Liberty Task Chair

Quality ergonomic chairs like the Humanscale Liberty Task Chair, which has a mechanism-free reclining system, support a person’s natural movement. So instead of facing resistance, your ergonomic chair works with you.

What to Look For in an Ergonomic Chair

Many chairs adjust to a comfortable height where you can comfortably keep your feet flat on the floor and have your computer screen at eye level.

Lumbar support is absolutely necessary. The lumbar spine curves inward and sitting for prolonged periods will stress the structure and lead to slouching, which flattens the natural curve of the body. A quality ergonomic chair will have a lumbar adjustment so each user gets a proper fit.


Photo: Rouillard Lead Chair

The Rouillard Lead Chair is a good example of an ergonomic chair with excellent lumbar support.

The chair’s backrest should also be able to support the spine’s curve. If the back and seat are separate then the height and angle should be adjustable. If the backrest and seat are one unit the backrest should be adjustable in forward and back angles.

The materials should be comfortable, and it helps if they’re breathable as well. Some users prefer a cloth or mesh material.

Armrests should be easy to adjust so that the chair is customized to the user.

Who Needs Ergonomic Chairs?


Photo: AMQ Tizu Work Chairs

Employees who spend several hours a day in the office at their desks will certainly benefit from the best ergonomic chairs. It makes sense. Those on a hybrid work schedule or outside sales staff will have less of a need.

Executives, mid-level managers, and receptionists who are multi-tasking can definitely benefit. So keep those positions in mind when you’re buying chairs like the iDesk Eon Chair, built with tilt and slider adjustments.

The chairs can be used around conference tables, too. They can help people stay attentive during prolonged meetings.

Best Ergonomic Chairs Friant Ignite Chair
Photo: Friant Ignite Chair

Get the Right Equipment for the Right Tasks

Using the right equipment for the right tasks pays in productivity and the well-being of employees. Chairs may seem like a commodity and not as important as our electronic devices. But bad backs, sore knees, and hurting wrists have adverse effects that take the mind off the task at hand.


Photo: 9 to 5 Seating Core Chairs

Select the best ergonomic chairs for a healthy workplace and a productive year in 2023.

Trust Experience

The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than 50 years of combined experience providing space planning solutions and furnishings for clients that are among the most recognizable corporations, universities, and small businesses in Southern California.

Contact 2010 Office Furniture with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: 7 Ergonomic Seating Solutions to Elevate Your Office Seating
Main Photo: SitOnIt Seating Wit Chair
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: 9 to 5 Seating, AMQ, Friant, Humanscale, Rouillard & SitOnIt Seating

7 Ergonomic Seating Solutions to Elevate Your Office Seating

Ergonomic Seating SitOnIt Wit Side Chair

Your team spends precious time sitting in cars or ride-share vans while commuting on Southern California’s crowded freeways, then up to several hours sitting in the office each day.  How do you reduce the stress of sitting? Read on and discover ergonomic seating furniture solutions that promote overall well-being and productivity.

Sitting stresses people physically when they’re not properly supported. A quality ergonomic office chair supports the lower back and reduces chronic back and leg pain when it’s adjusted to the right height. Ergonomic seating solutions fit a variety of needs from workstations to guest chairs and conference rooms for training sessions.


Photo: 9to5 Seating @nce Chairs

It’s an important lesson in office ergonomics—planning and equipping the office environment to meet the needs of your employees.

Here are seven types of ergonomic seating that are worth referring to time and again.

Workstation Ergonomic Seating

When people are comfortable in their seats then they’re productive at work. And they’re healthier with fewer absentees due to strained backs and joints. Think about how much movement occurs when you’re sitting. Shifting from one side to another. Leaning back to stretch and leaning forward to type on a keyboard or read reports.

Sitting is not a passive activity so chairs need to support a person’s weight and how they move.

Seating possibilities for workstations range from shared bench seating solutions to individual chairs in a cubicle or desk.

The Via Seating Genie Chair is height-adjustable, supports posture, allows for a comfortable range of motion, and it’s built to last for several years.


Photo: Via Seating Genie Chairs

For versatility, the Wit Side Chair from SitonIt Seating features a lightweight frame, built-in pull handle, and is an option as primary seating at desks or shared workstations. It’s also useful as accessory seating in cubicles.

For shared surface areas in an office with a minimalist style, the Encore Nexxt Chair and Stool is an impressive furniture solution to use.


Photo: Encore Nexxt Seating

Executive Desk Ergonomic Seating

Seating should be comfortable enough to support the thinking process and many decisions that go into running a company.

Can sitting straight with good posture actually promote clear thinking?

Slouching reduces lung capacity by up to 30 percent, as described in an article in Inc. Magazine so sitting in a quality ergonomic chair can maximize the supply of oxygen to the brain.

Support the head and neck movement with the dynamic Humanscale Freedom Headrest Chair. Designed with foundational physics, the chair easily reclines for maximum comfort.

Executive desk seating options come in traditional styles like the 9 to 5 Seating Mila Chair that supports the user’s weight and natural body motions.

Capture a more exclusive look and feel with Via Seating’s Vero Chair. Angling cushions give a pleasant appearance and have luxe ergonomic seating support.


Photo: Via Seating Vero Chairs

The OFS Madrid Executive Chair fits well in executive suites and conference rooms. The chair can be customized with a wood finish or aluminum for the arms and control functions.

Receptionist Ergonomic Seating

A receptionist who’s answering phones, greeting visitors, and completing a variety of tasks throughout the day is often in constant motion. Sitting really means swiveling in the chair and constantly shifting weight. Keep your receptionist comfortable and healthy with quality furniture solutions that are ergonomically designed and manufactured.

The Focus Chair by SitonIt Seating and the Friant Amenity Chair are styles of ergonomic chairs that are supportive and durable.


Photo: SitOnIt Seating Focus Chairs

Guest Seating Lobby

The reception area is the first impression that visitors have of your office—and so do employees when they arrive for work. Whether it’s an office for a professional firm or a creative company specializing in some type of marketing or entertainment, create a comfortable space for those who may have to wait.

Choose guest chairs that complement the look and feel of your office design and theme.

A comfortable option for health professionals and waiting rooms is the SitOnIt Seating Anytime Chair that can be customized for use in training rooms and break rooms.

Go a bit retro with the iDesk Crazy Horse Chair that showcases both style and fashion.


Photo: SitOnIt Seating Anytime Chairs

Lounge Seating for Individuals

Offices need touchdown spaces, places where employees can catch a breather and take a personal phone call or step away from their workstation and work in a living room style setting. It’s the type of furniture that’s becoming a fixture in current office design trends.

Lounge seating is also important for employees on a hybrid work arrangement. If they come into the office, then offer comfortable ergonomic seating where they can also be productive before or after the meeting session.

The Friant Anza Chair offers a timeless look of quality and is cushioned for the best in relaxing comfort. Or go with a calming feeling with the Krug Avatar Lounge Chair.

Lounge Seating for Groups

Lounges can also be rooms where small groups can meet comfortably in a setting that has a casual feel. Modular lounge furniture can serve individuals or groups. The Krug Zola Modular Lounge Seating allows for numerous configurations.

Step away from routines and the traditional conference room space to more home-like settings. Use accessories like moveable white boards and sleek tables to create the right environment.

Conference Room / Training Room

Conference room and training room ergonomic seating is a popular furniture need. If you’re bringing associates in to a central training facility or your working with local staff then use the chairs that help people remain attentive.

The Allermuir Axyl Chair, Stool and Bench is available as a stacking chair, a stool for use in breakrooms or in shared workspaces, and as a bench that fits in a variety of office settings.

The ERG International Carlton Chair and Stool fits many office environments, including lobbies and break rooms.

Finding the Right Ergonomic Seating

Turn to 2010 Office Furniture as your trusted solution in office space planning and sourcing the right ergonomic seating and furniture you need in your office environment. Rely on the 2010 Office team’s 50 years of working with clients who are among the leading corporations, universities, and small businesses in Southern California.

Contact them with your project needs.

Read Also: Make Office Ergonomics Your Next Smart Move
Main Photo: SitOnIt Seating Wit Side Chairs
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: 9to5 Seating, Encore & SitOnIt Seating & Via Seating

Leveraging the Benefits of Informal Workspaces in Office Planning and Design

Informal Workspaces Edge Collaboration Spaces

Informal workspaces are a strategic use of your existing office space.  They are much more than having a ping-pong table available for team-building exercises.

It’s an important step in ergonomics.  Furniture equipment should meet the needs of the worker instead of making the worker use the equipment at personal expense.

Planning and designing informal office workspaces will:

  • Accommodate remote workers and accommodate staff who work full-time in the office
  • Encourage collaboration among a diverse workforce
  • Promote transparency
  • Utilize spaces that would otherwise sit empty for hours on end

Why should you refresh your work environment and plan to use informal spaces?

With informal workspaces, you can make your office a welcome destination by using space that “will reflect the organization’s purpose, vision and culture … and inspire a workforce,” as Blake Searles, senior managing director for Jones Lang LaSalle in Los Angeles, said.  Jean was addressing attendees during a panel discussion of Navigating Workplace Needs, hosted by the LA Business Journal in 2021.

How Informal Workspaces Emerged

Google and tech startups in the early 2000s did more than change how we access information. They changed the standards of a professional office setting. Programmers and other tech creatives, who were often recent college grads, showed up in jeans and T-shirts.

The idea fit into the California lifestyle of beaches and mountains, and led the way for informal workspaces.

Informal offices turned into beanbag chairs with programmers glued to their laptops.  They played foosball or ping pong during break times or problem-solving discussions.

Tables like these are fun—and can help reduce workplace tension which is why 2010 Office Furniture carries the Scale 1:1 Nomad Conference Table. You can gather a team around it for planning, use the surface as a whiteboard, or have a robust ping-pong match during breaks.


Photo: Scale 1:1 Nomad Conference Table

Many white-collar companies never adopted the hip tech approach, and many stayed with the traditional, closed-wall settings of individual executive offices. That is, until open office plans with freshly designed cubicles and bench seating became the go-to trend, a nod and step toward informal workspaces.


Photo: DARRAN Honey Workstation

The need for privacy and personal space remained and thanks to the widespread use of laptops and cell phones, companies began setting aside dedicated areas like lounges for employees who wanted time away from being elbow-to-elbow with others.


Photo: ERG International Hetfield Table

Ideas for Office Informal Workspaces

See how a variety of office settings are arranged on the 2010 Office Inspiration page.

Here are a few ideas for creating an atmosphere that’s unique to your company’s brand and workflow—allowing for both structured and informal workspaces:

Each of the many office plans meets specific needs and builds on trends of earlier years like open office floor plans. Critics said one of the downsides was that concentration was impaired. 2010 Office Furniture provides Open Plan solutions with many open plan desking options that also allows for personal space.


Photo: Friant Dash Workstation

When COVID-19 led to mandatory remote working then employees found they could be in an informal setting of their homes or coffee shops yet remain productive. Virtual meetings kept staff tuned into the corporate office.

Getting employees back into an office that truly supports their work was a concern.

The colorful Upbeat Office, or the minimalist office in the Scandinavian style, and the use of nature in the Green Office show how the work environment can be pleasing and even preferred over remote locations.

But nothing truly replaces face-to-face interactions.

So it’s out with walled individual office space, all-day tasks done only at the cubicle or workstation, and in with informal workspaces. A key benefit is that more office space is used throughout the day.


Photo: Stylex Free Address Tables

How Informal Workspaces Maximize Office Usage

When workers were expected to stay at their desks several hours a day, portions of offices, like breakrooms and conference rooms, sat empty for hours at a time. Spur of the moment or planned meetings were held at desks, which could be intimidating in certain work relationships. And other times, important meetings might be postponed while employees waited for a conference room to be available.

There’s less need to step into a designated conference room. Common areas can be used for small group meetings away from workstations. And minimal tables for monitors and online meetings can be set up so they remain unobtrusive.

Informal Workspaces Source International Scape Seating
Photo: Source International Scape Lounge Seating

Stepping out for a working lunch can be a nice change of scenery, or a meeting at a coffee shop can meet the same need. But a breakroom where lunch and coffee are available can serve a similar purpose in the mornings, during lunch, or in the afternoons.

Encouraging mobility makes the office more functional and dynamic than only having specific desks where all the work is expected to be handled.  This is why informal workspaces accessible to everyone works, and make good use of otherwise unoccupied office spaces.

Informal Spaces are Professional Spaces

Informal spaces can certainly serve collaborative efforts and meet the needs of individual employees. Planning your space is essential so your team has room for those important spur-of-the-moment ideas that lead to greater productivity and professional satisfaction.


Photo: Scale 1:1 Nomad Conference Table

In today’s world, boundaries are blurred between personal lives and professional careers.  Informal spaces help employees relate to each other and meet the need for social interactions.

Rely on Expertise and Experience

Contact the team at 2010 Office Furniture for help to create your informal workspaces.  Get trusted advice from their combined half-century.  They’ve provided solutions for distinguished clients throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.

Read Also: Design and Plan Your Office for Collaboration and Inspiration
Main Photo: OFS Edge Collaboration Spaces
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: DARRAN, ERG International, Friant, Scale 1:1, OFS, Source and Stylex

How to Decide if You Should Buy Used or New Office Furniture in Orange County

Orange County Used Office Furniture Senator Group SetMe Workstations

Businesses in all industries face the same question: is It better to buy office furniture new or used?

No matter the company, from a digital marketing agency in Mission Viejo, a professional health practice in Fullerton, to a startup tech company in Irvine, one may wonder if you should invest in new or used furniture.

Read on to clarify your decision-making process.

Supporting the Well-Being of Employees and Visitors

Our physical and emotional health is a priority. The purpose of office furniture is to properly support your employees so they’re physically comfortable in handling their tasks.

Clunky chairs, tables that wobble, and height-adjustable desks with worn-out gears are a distraction and they can impact how you sit or stand.

Let’s look closely at office chairs. A chair that’s made well assists in good posture and has the necessary lumbar support to reduce strain on the lower back, knees, and elbows.


Photo: Friant Amenity Seating

Can the quality of used furniture match the quality of new?

You have to make similar comparisons. Not all office chairs that are branded as ergonomic are comparable in quality. 2010 Office Furniture will only sell quality new or used furnishings.

An office chair with an ergonomic design like one from Boss that’s on clearance is built to last and serves executives, mid-level managers, and freelance team members.


Photo: Boss B9471-GY Chair

The Herman Miller Aeron Chair that’s pre-owned is another example of quality used furniture that’s worth purchasing for startup firms or established corporations.

Quality chairs affect employee performance. If you can’t get good quality in a used model, then it’s worth purchasing new ergonomic chairs.


Photo: Rouillard Lead X Chairs

Guest chairs should be comfortable and supportive for a visitor waiting in a lobby or sitting in a conference room. Since a guest may only use the chairs for minutes or perhaps a couple of hours, then the impact on the body isn’t as profound as it is on employees.

The chair should look stylish and have a pleasant appearance to reflect your company’s brand and expertise.

Purchasing used guest or multi-purpose chairs can work just as well as purchasing new ones. See the available choices on the 2010 Office Furniture’s Used Office Chairs page.

Brands like 9 to 5 Seating Used Cydia Guest Chair with a cool, mesh finish fit well in offices for professional consultants, universities, or health offices.

Add a dash of color and a unique style to your office lobby or meeting room with the Cherryman Used Jade Guest Chair.

Sitting stresses our bodies. Purchase office chairs and guest chairs that benefit a person’s well-being.

Supporting Form and Office Functionality

Choosing a workstation, desk, cubicle, and other standard office items has less impact on the body than selecting the correct chair. However, they should fit with the overall style and function well.


Photo: Krug Latitude Height Adjustable Desk

Desks support work by offering enough surface area for reviewing papers or hosting meetings. Workstations and cubicles should be comfortable and welcoming in appearance.

Used desks, workstations, and cubicles come in a variety of styles and colors. If there’s a brand or model you’re interested in, but don’t see on our pages then the 2010 Office Furniture Team will make every effort to procure the item you’d prefer.


Photo: Chessman Emerald Desk

Is buying used worth it? Yes, when the quality exists and the price is a substantial discount.

The AMQ Used Dual Height Adjustable Workstation is an example of a used product that was used on display in a showroom and is about 75% off the cost of the original price.

A conference table is another item that’s often worth buying used.

The Maverick Used Pacifica Conference Table is styled for any professional conference room setting at a fraction of the new retail price.


Photo: Maverick Pacifica Table

Plan Your Space Well

The furnishings you choose, how you arrange them, and the atmosphere you create will impact overall productivity and the employee mindset.

The team at 2010 Office Furniture offers space planning as a service because they’re passionate that a well-planned space will make your employees and visitors feel that you operate in a cohesive manner.

Once you’ve settled on the layout, then it becomes easier to choose the used or new furniture and storage solutions that will meet your needs.

This gives you a competitive edge among the many entrepreneurs and established professionals in Orange County while boosting your own confidence that your organization is run efficiently.

Rely on Our Experience

Trust 2010 Office Furniture to plan your space and meet your furnishing requirements based on our half-century of experience working with the most distinguished brands as our clients in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and the Inland Empire.

Contact us with your needs and we’ll gladly be of service.

Read Also: Plan Your Office Branding for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: Senator Group SetMe Workstations
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Boss, Cherryman, Friant, Krug, Maverick, Rouillard & Senator Group

Designing for Comfort and Employee Well-Being with the Resimercial Office Trend

Resimercial Office Trend HON Westhill Lounge

Lines between our personal and professional lives have blurred with instant communication and cloud storage. Kids and colleagues can get in touch as needed. There are boundaries, of course. But the 2020 stay-at-home orders showed that many companies found a way to keep operating with nearly all of their employees at home.  Enter the Resimercial office trend.

Now that the focus is once again on the corporate setting, the Resimercial office trend is more popular than ever.

Create an inviting office where home-style comforts are mixed with commercial durability. The benefits of resimercial design include increased comfort with a boost in productivity.


Photo: Snowsound Perline Acoustic Panel

Why can’t a corporate office have the needed functionality plus personality?

This type of office bridges the settings of home and work—while being flexible enough to incorporate the best of both residential and commercial.

A well-planned resimercial office space following the resimercial office trend will have the furnishings that are needed with intangible elements that can make your office a welcome destination.  The addition of biophilic design (bringing elements of nature indoors) also is a huge benefits as it helps improve overall office wellbeing and positivity.

Resimercial Office Trend: Attitude and Atmosphere

Use as many large windows as possible to get rid of stuffy feelings inside. Southern California has a diverse landscape of beaches and mountains, plenty of sunshine, and some of the best weather in the U.S.

Office settings that incorporate natural elements create a pleasant atmosphere—especially when maximizing natural light and using colors that represent the surrounding environment.

Offices in Pasadena or Monrovia can use as much window space possible to capture the red and purple hues of the afternoon sun on the San Gabriel Mountains.

In Playa Vista or Culver City, an office can make use of ocean scenes and equip an outdoor space to experience the ocean breezes.

Use green on your walls strategically with the Nevins Bio Canvas Frame. Bark, moss, and stone panels are tastefully arranged in this no-maintenance option.

These touches make an office personable while getting rid of a sterile feeling.

Work is demanding, but these familiar connections can reduce stress and show employees that they don’t have to be separated from the soothing elements of the world.

Resimercial Office Trend: Furnishings and Fabrics

Office spaces that are planned effectively have a clear purpose. Visit 2010 Office Furniture’s resimercial office trend page to stir your own creativity.

Don’t wall people off from each other. Use furnishings that allow for a flow of open interaction yet provide private spaces. Placement, look, and feel are factors that the team at 2010 Office Furniture considers when assisting clients in planning their spaces.


Photo: Maverick Apex Desk Workstations

You’ve got many choices ranging from the inventive DARRAN Chameleon Workspace to the Maverick Apex Open Plan Desking and the Global Zira Desking Workstation.


Photo: Darran Chameleon Workspace

Each solution is unique with finishes that look pleasant, has comfortable seating, and can be incorporated into a soft, office design.

In a home office, you should have a dedicated workspace, but you’re free to move around and work on the sofa or at the kitchen table. Design that same freedom into your office setting.

Make your breakroom personally stylish using items like the Arcadia Betwixt Table.


Photo: Arcadia Betwixt Table

Consider the DARRAN Honey Lounge Seating. It’s a seating solution that incorporates nature, provides ergonomic comfort, and has been proven to help reduce stress, bolster productivity and enhance well-being.


Photo: Darran Honey Lounge

Storage space is important in both the residential and commercial worlds. Step away from gray metal with the OFS Hitch Shelf and Storage, a unique, modular storage system available in a range of wood veneer finishes.

Resimercial design has a range of ergonomic benefits when quality furnishings are used.

Expect durability. Commercial grade furniture is meant for heavy use, several hours a day, while a sofa in your home is meant for much lighter use. You can still have comfort with quality seating and workspaces.

People and Productivity

The Resimercial office trend isn’t just about furnishings. It’s about letting your employees work in comfort while maintaining high levels of productivity.

Promote well-being.

Quality office chairs are a good place to begin.

The OFS Pret Chair is the type of ergonomic seating solution that’s pleasant to look at while supporting an individual’s body weight and shape.


Photo: HON Solve Chair

Lighting matters, too. Forget big and bulky lamps. Sleek is in for corporate settings and home offices. The Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Light focuses light as needed without getting in the way. It’s one of many ergonomic lighting options.

Channeling sound is another way to make the office pleasant and comfortable. Use acoustic panels of all shapes and colors to deflect and absorb potentially distracting conversations and clacking keyboards.


Photo: Nevins Bio Canvas Panels

As you make the office comfortable, employees will find it a desirable setting to work in. It could become their home away from home.

Rely on 2010 Office Furniture for Resimercial Office Trend

The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than 50 years of combined experience working with clientele that are among Southern California’s most notable corporations, universities, and other not-for-profits, and small businesses in all industries.

Contact them with your office needs and questions.

Read Also: 6 Reasons to Use a Resimercial Design for Your Office
Main Photo: HON Westhill Lounge
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia, Darran, HON, Maverick, Nevins & Snowsound

Using Resimercial Office Design as an Employee Retention Strategy

Resimercial Office Design OFS Edge Structures

Imagine if your employees left your office feeling refreshed and not burned out after a day or week on the job. Office design that supports overall health and well-being can have a positive impact on people. Resimercial office design holds that possibility.

A resimercial office design can lead to greater employee engagement, loyalty, and productivity.

Here’s why you need to bring quality into your workplace.

What Matters to Employees

Brand your office as a pleasant atmosphere and you’ll boost your chances of retaining top talent. Design a space that’s well-planned, equip it with quality furnishings, and use fabrics and colors that look like they could be in a tidy and productive home office.


Photo: HON Preside Table

Your office environment and remote-work policies are being quietly, or openly, evaluated by your employees.

Well-being, flexibility, and work-life balance are of utmost importance in today’s workforce, according to global consulting firm McKinsey. A recent study the firm conducted shows that employees with and without children want flexibility and that includes remote work up to three days per week.

Yet, people want the best of both worlds because the findings show they don’t want to be isolated by being at home. Your team wants connections in a supportive office environment.

Microsoft discovered this in an international survey, published in the article The Next Great Disruption is Hybrid Work: Are We Ready? Researchers found that over 70 percent of workers want flexible remote work options to continue. Yet, over 65 percent are craving more in-person time with their teams.

Turn to resimercial office design to satisfy the internal desire for the personal touches found at home while meeting professional needs and desires in the workplace. See examples on 2010 Office Furniture’s Resimercial page along with other office design styles on the Inspiration tab.

Photo: OFS Beck Table

Resimercial office design bridges the home-work divide by prioritizing personal comfort leading to professional productivity.

How?

By creating an atmosphere that lets employees work comfortably and become as productive as possible. It’s the concept of ergonomics—fit the surroundings to meet the needs of the workers.

Design for Personal Comfort and Professional Productivity

Let’s take a Big Picture look at resimercial design. It’s not a gimmick or fad. The style has proven popular and it will continue. It doesn’t have one particular look, but lends itself to a variety of colors, styles of furnishings, and fabrics.

A lesson learned comes from the Hana Bank headquarters in Korea. The building was designed during the COVID-19 shutdown and features an atrium and a 12-story “ribbon park” integrating green space and public pathways into the workplace. This combines with other elements like curved surfaces and the use of wood to create an atmosphere with the goal that “people will leave the workplace feeling better than when they arrived.”

Reduce stress in the workplace by offering soothing or soft designs. This achieves two key results:

  • Supports emotional well-being
  • Emphasizes physical comfort

Designs that incorporate elements of nature like natural light, plants, and accessories like indoor fountains are soothing and allow for a sense of order and harmony. Plan a sense of flow from one set of workstations and offices to another while at the same time setting boundaries for private places.

Physical comfort is emphasized so that workers feel welcomed and have a supportive environment to perform to the best of their abilities.


Photo: 9to5 Seating Aria Chairs

Modular systems give you freedom in configuration, like the Global Sidebar Desking Workstation with an aesthetically pleasing woodgrain finish and personal storage capabilities. Use quality ergonomic chairs and proper lighting to ensure a positive experience.


Photo: Global Sidebar Workstations

Breakrooms with a trendy kitchen table can double as informal conference and work tables.

Involve Your People

Show your team color options, styles of workstations, desks, chairs, and lounge furnishings. Modular units make it easy to add or reduce desk area depending on how many will be in the office or working remotely.

Set aside different areas. One for huddles and another as a multimedia space to bring people together with a unit like the OFS Obeya Architectural Structure, giving a ”warm, familiar feeling.”


Photo: OFS Obeya Structures

You might find that people will want to spend more time in the corporate office and less time in their home offices. And, if employees are pleased, then retaining top talent just got easier.

Refresh with Resimercial Office Design

Building an intricate indoor-outdoor 12-story strolling ramp may not be in your budget like it was for Hana Bank. But you can take small steps to refresh your space whether you’re a tech start-up in Orange County or an established corporation in the Los Angeles area.

Re-do the break room and conference rooms in a resimercial office design. Get a feel for color schemes, tables, and chairs. Consider modular lounge seating and see how your office begins to come together.


Photo: Darran Bota Tablet Table

Larger companies can refresh a specific floor before doing an entire building. As you see it unfold, you can get an idea for what will work and enhance your office experience and environment.

Get a Resimercial Office Design that’s Right for You

Choose the designs and plan the spaces that are right for your organization. The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than 50 years’ experience assisting clients from Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and nonprofits with space planning and furnishings.

Contact 2010 Office Furniture with your questions and needs.

Read Also: Designing Your Office Space from Top-Down to Bottom-Up
Main Photo: OFS The Edge Architectural Structures
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: 9to5 Seating, Darran, Global, HON & OFS 

Design and Plan Your Office for Collaboration and Inspiration

Design and Plan Your Office for Collaboration and Inspiration AIS Calibrate Table

Elevate your office from the mundane to a setting that generates collaboration and inspires your team to do their best. The thought invested in planning spaces, choosing the right furnishings, and using color schemes that matter keep morale high and your employees working at peak efficiency. 

Tech companies around Los Angeles are known for breaking out of the traditional gray and brown industrial colors to use shades that represent the sun and surf.

Companies that have a break-the-mold business model such as The Honest Company, founded by actress Jessica Alba, maximize light and use sleek-looking architectural walls to frame meeting areas. 

Symbols also create unique experiences. At Red Bull’s headquarters in Santa Monica, a 420-foot skate ramp flows over storage spaces down the center of the office.

Read on for ideas that will perk up your office’s design, make the best use of your existing space, and boost goodwill among your employees.

Getting Started

Look at your goals and budget, then choose the need that best describes your situation:

  • freshening up your office
  • overhauling an existing space
  • planning a brand-new interior 

Consider what you want the end result to achieve, like creating more common spaces for office collaboration or deciding how to get the most from your current floor plan.

Look at your overall use of space, color, and light. Set the tone for the atmosphere or vibe by considering your company’s brand. Are the promises you make to customers carried into your office setting?

Plenty of options exist to give both small businesses and corporations vibrant settings that become valuable places for employees.


Photo: Arcadia Domo Lounge Chairs

You may want a minimalist design with clean lines and plenty of natural interiors, also called the Scandinavian office.


Photo: Stylex NYC Loose Lounge Sofa

A minimalist interior can also come in an industrial flair like the Modern Industrial Office using a brick- and-mortar approach. Or try a modern look with bold colors and eye-catching designs.


Photo: Source International Scape Lounge Sofa

Get Smart with Ergonomics 

Make your environment and equipment work in support of your team and their overall office collaboration – so they are more efficient while staying as healthy as possible both physically and mentally. 

Ergonomics is more than having a height-adjustable desk so a keyboard and laptop monitor are at the right height.


Photo: OFS Aptos Private Office Desk

Accessories are important but investing in furniture, lighting, and colors helps the overall environment by assisting the workers and boosting morale. You promote productivity, profitability, and goodwill among your team members.

Seating

Select chairs that are designed for long-term comfort and well-being so that team members can fully engage in their tasks. A quality ergonomic chair is sensitive to the user’s body weight and shifts effortlessly as the person moves.

Look into the 9 to 5 Seating Agent Chair for durability; the mesh technology in the Humanscale Diffrient World Chair; and the OFS InSync chair that’s customizable. 

Sitting for long periods of time stresses the body so use chairs that support different body shapes.

Desks and Workstations

Desks that aren’t chosen properly can make a room feel crowded and make the user uncomfortable. Decide how much surface space is needed and how the person likes to do their work, such as spreading out and then gathering things when finished with tasks.

Some desks will convey authority or fit in with the surrounding décor regardless of title and position.

Open plan benching and modular workstations accommodate teams performing similar tasks while creating personal boundaries. Use configurations that work the best for your area. 


Photo: Friant System 2 Workstation

Need face-to-face with privacy screens and mobile storage? 

How about clustering people in a group for easy sharing of ideas?

Your options are highly customizable. You can shape your setting in numerous ways and choose from colors that complement your office surroundings.

Movement

Allow for as much movement as possible in the office.  This is important especially to promote office collaboration and office wellness. Encourage stretch breaks every couple of hours. Provide lounge furniture and break areas inside or outside where your employees can sit comfortably to work away from their desks, have a focused discussion, or just take a quiet moment.

Moving keeps blood circulating and eases pressure on the lower back, wrists, and knees.

Design and Plan Your Office for Collaboration and Inspiration Arcadia Domo Bench
Photo: Arcadia Domo Bench Seating

Colors and Light

There is a science to choosing colors that inspire or soothe to create a pleasant background. Just for kicks, here’s a fun experiment from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Cal Tech in Pasadena showing how beads seem to change colors under different shades of cellophane. Different shades affect moods and emotions.

Aristotle believed all color was either black or white and related them to the elements of water, air, earth, and fire as described by the Smithsonian Libraries. His views were held for 2000 years until Isaac Newton studied how light changed when passing through a prism.

Now, let’s hear it for sunshine. Bringing in as much natural light as possible keeps people upbeat and emotionally sound.

Knowing the result you want from your office environment, using the right equipment, and planning for an overall pleasing atmosphere will help your place of work become a desirable destination.  If done correctly, you will see obvious improvement in quality of work, team camaraderie, office collaborations and overall employee wellness. 

Koncept Splitty Lamp for Office Collaboration
Photo: Koncept Lighting Splitty Lamps

Call on 2010 Office Furniture

Planning an office that works for your firm requires a custom approach. Do you need a hybrid model with work-at-home solutions? How will your plan support flow of information and tasks?  Is it conducive to good office collaboration?

The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than 50 years of combined experience working with clientele that are among Southern California’s most notable corporations, leading universities, and small businesses in all industries. 

Contact them with your office needs and questions.

Read Also: 3 Popular Office Layouts to Meet Your Office Culture
Main Photo: AIS Conference Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: AIS, Arcadia, Friant, Koncept, OFS Brands, Stylex and Source International

Design Your Office Like It’s a Neighborhood Destination

Design Your Office Like It’s a Neighborhood Destination Trendway Volo Wall

Every neighborhood has a unique look and atmosphere and so does your office environment. Single-family homes, apartments, local coffee shops, eateries, and parks make your neighborhood distinct from others.  The same goes with the office, especially now.  When comparing pre-covid / post-covid office design, we realize how important all the different components that make our “office neighborhoods” really are.

Your office should have a unique look and feel based on your company’s culture, branding, and the personalities of employees in their respective positions. Work environments should feel welcome and comfortable.

The neighborhood feel of a company’s office is going to be different than an employee’s home office.

Design your space for movement, mutual support, and the connections that won’t be made anywhere else.

Pre-COVID and Post-COVID Office Comparisons

Comparisons between pre-covid / post-covid office cultures are staggering. Telecommuting has been around for a couple of decades, but the shutdown radically popularized the concept of working remotely.

Pre-Covid / Post-Covid Office SitOnIt Novo Chair
Photo: SitOnIt Seating Novo Chair

Pre-COVID, the City of Los Angeles had only 35 of about 50,000 employees working remotely, according to a write-up on the tech industry website dot.LA. 

Suddenly, in March 2020 about 18,000 employees were allowed to work remotely. And in mid-2021, it was estimated that 60% of the city’s workforce could work a hybrid schedule.

Now that the shutdown is a fading memory, many companies expect employees to spend more time in the office and there’s less enthusiasm for hybrid schedules among big corporations.

By summer 2022, a CNN report noted that Goldman Sachs had all employees back in the office full-time while 90% of JP Morgan’s staff returned at least three days a week. 

Give them a place where they’ll look forward to being in. A well-planned environment helps employees feel fully engaged.

The Perks

Many workers believe they were just as, if not more, productive at home when the pandemic hit as they were in the office. According to career research firm Zippia, about 2/3rds of Americans work remotely, at least part-time. And they like it because they cut down on commute times and feel productive. 

But here’s where the office setting has an edge over a home office or other remote locations.

About half of those surveyed reported that they feel lonely at least once a week. Digging deeper, we find that 19% of work-from-home employees stated “Isolation” as their #1 problem, and 70% felt left out of their workplace.

Build a community feel in your office to engage your employees so they have a positive vibe when coming to the main office.

Turning Data into Office Planning Strategies

Businesses are successful when they meet needs in the marketplace. What if you treated your employees like they were the customers of your in-office brand?

Yes, they have to meet company goals, but if they’re satisfied with the support they receive in their immediate environment then they’ll feel engaged in their work. They’ll make it through daily challenges, and morale will remain positive.

That alone will give your firm a boost over the competition.

Developing an office that has a neighborhood vibe requires thorough planning for space allotment and functionality.

Workstations as Neighborhoods

The aim of the office isn’t just to get work accomplished, because that can be done remotely for many positions. But the purpose is to bring people together in support of company goals even if employees aren’t there 40 hours a week.

Organize workstations for an efficient flow of tasks and the sharing of mission-critical information. Bring one department together in one area, or create specific project areas if people from different departments and skills are needed.

Your neighborhood can change and adapt as projects start and finish.

The DeskMakers TeamWorx Open Plan Desking allows for numerous configurations so your team can give input on how their neighborhood is established. 


Photo: DeskMakers TeamWorx Open Plan Desking

Gathering Spots as Neighborhoods

Just like the General Store is a symbol of where communities gather, your office can have important gathering spots. What better place to start than a conference setting, breakroom, or lounge area?

Pre-Covid / Post-Covid Office OFS Riff Table
Photo: OFS Brands Riff Table

Elevate your conference room from the mundane to a place of inspiration. Select décor that puts the mind at ease. One way is to bring in nature by making green walls with the Nevins Bio Canvas Frame. These acoustic moss frames require no maintenance.

Equip your room with stylish and sleek tables that foster open collaboration and fit well within the space.

Design Your Office Like It’s a Neighborhood Destination Stylex Verve Chairs
Photo: Stylex Verve Chairs

Add character to your meeting areas and equip them with the latest distance communication capabilities by using solutions like the OFS Obeya Architectural Structure. 


Photo: OFS Brands Obeya Architectural Structure

Bring flair to your breakroom and lounge with furnishings that allow for either face-to-face chats or personal private moments in the same setting. 

Consider the ERG International Laguna Lounge Seating which is perfect for a range of public settings and common areas like cafes and lobbies. It’s constructed for maximum enjoyment and reduces the need to constantly shift positions.

Pre-Covid / Post-Covid Office Erg International Laguna Lounge
Photo: ERG International Laguna Lounge Seating

Outdoor Spaces as Neighborhoods

Your outdoor areas may be limited, but it’s crucial to make use of them. Natural light is vital for our well-being and even small patio areas can be reserved for work, periods of relaxation, or as meeting areas.

Set up a canopy, provide durable seating like the SitOnIt Seating InFlex Chair, and use a sturdy table made with steel and aluminum, like the classic-looking Allermuir Turo Table. These options make it easy to freshen up outside.


Photo: Allermuir Turo Table

Turn to 2010 Office Furniture

Wrestling with pre-covid / post-covid office design and ideas?  The experts at 2010 Office Furniture can help, with more than a combined half-century of servicing and supplying clients who are among Southern California’s largest corporations, nonprofit organizations, and robust small businesses.

Contact them with your space planning and furnishing questions and needs to make your office space not only more functional, but a desirable place to work.

Read Also: Design Your Office Space as a Welcome Gathering Place
Main Photo: Trendway Vollo Wall
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, DeskMakers, ERG International, OFS Brands, SitOnIt Seating and Stylex Seating

Infusing Offices with New Energy Using Fresh Interior Design Office Tips

Interior Design Office Tips Friant System 2 Screen

The upcoming year have many of us starting anew and looking for ways to freshen up our office.  And like most things, we want our workspace to look and feel better, as well as work more efficiently for our needs.  These great interior design office tips not only help revamp and elevate your office space, but truly are more practical than you’d think — and incredibly simple to incorporate.

All in all, it’s all about bringing in new positivity, so don’t forget to have fun.

Interior Design Office Tips ODS Artiv Workstation
Photo: ODS Artiv Workstation

Interior Design Office Tips

Boring office environments should fade away because there are tremendous options available to design a workplace that reflects your brand. Don’t worry about busting budgets since modular furnishings make it possible to start small and expand as needed.

An office that’s planned well can boost morale and be a key to retaining top talent. This leads to greater productivity and profitability.

But how do you capture the best interior?

Plan the Area

The first of these interior design office tips is planning.  Take note of the personnel, their tasks, and how often they’re in the office. Who works full-time, in-office, and who works a hybrid schedule of working in the office and working remotely?

List your needs including:

  • The number of workstations
  • Flexible meeting areas
  • Communication plans with remote workers
  • Storage


Photo: Deskmaker Catalina Storage

Don’t cram an area with furniture; leave open space where possible. This acts like white space on a website to draw people in.

Reflect Your Brand

Designing your office is a reflection of your brand. If you’re a professional firm, you don’t need to be stiff and formal, but you should inspire confidence in your staff and clients who come to visit.

Begin the moment the office door is opened. Make sure the first impressions in the reception area and foyer are well received. Use furnishings that are welcoming so they don’t have the appearance of barriers.


Photo: Global Adaptabilities Reception Desk

Look at the DeskMakers Overture Reception Desk as an example of a light color that also brings a unique wood look into the office.

Have comfortable seating arrangements for visitors who need to wait.

You can also check out 2010 Office Furniture’s Office Inspirations page to see how colors, placement of cubicles, and open plan benching impact the surroundings, in conjunction with these interior design office tips.

Light Up Your Spaces

One of the most important interior design office tips is to address your office lighting.

Stream as much natural light as possible. Enlarge windows, use skylights, or create outdoor spaces on patios and balconies.

Natural light is proven to boost morale, aid employees in being as productive as possible, and helping them to sleep well at night.


Photo: Koncept Gravy Desk Light

A well-lit office is part of the overall use of ergonomics. Check for the best lighting accessories so sore and tired eyes don’t become problems.

Desk lamps, floor lamps, and LED concept lights like the Koncept Mr. GO! Lantern, with a curved light handle, provide the right amount of light at the workstation. You can easily move it around the office or to a common waiting area.

Use Natural Materials

Compact offices can be inviting and reflect a brand just like their sprawling corporate counterparts. Eye-catching concepts bring greenery into the office in unique ways like the Nevins Bio Canvas Frame. It’s a maintenance-free collection of moss, bark, and stone on easy-to-install frames.


Photo: Nevins Bio Canvas

Incorporate Green Office design to bring more of nature into the work setting, known as biophilic design. The concept isn’t new; think back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. This design helps us renew and rekindle our connection to nature.

Get more ideas and learn from a retail tea shop in Brazil that’s home to a popular brand. The shop uses plenty of natural materials and items like rope on the staircase, as seen on Dezeen.com.

Have a Health-Conscious Focus

Today’s offices can promote employee health through the use of specialty fabrics and plenty of accessories that reduce the spread of harmful bacteria. An example is the Social Distancing Office using antimicrobial fabrics, countertop shields, and privacy screens.


Photo: Enwork Deskwrap Screen

Freestanding screens come in a variety of heights and hues.

Try Plywood

Plywood is well-known in residential construction for walls and as decking on roofs, but you can also use plywood to create stylish offices as seen in the article Ten stylish plywood interiors that give the material a luxurious upgrade.

Create benches or increase your storage using plywood.

The material can act as a warm space divider and sound barrier. Decorate using hanging baskets filled with indoor plants, decorate the wood with fabrics, or both.

Get in Touch for Interior Design Office Tips

Get input on your potential design or re-design with a commitment-free consultation. Our team at 2010 Office Furniture has decades of experience advising and supplying major corporations, leading universities, and small businesses throughout the Los Angeles basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Contact us for more interior design office tips and share your questions.  We’re happy to help!

Read Also: Plan Your Office for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: Friant System 2 Screens
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Deskmakers, Enwork, Global, Koncept, Nevins & ODS