Go Bold in Your Office Color Schemes

Quiet beige cubicles and carpeting with off-white walls have been normal color schemes in office spaces for many years, but now trends show that bold colors are in and they can set the tone for a positive office experience.

Read on and see what colors and office designs can do for your space and brand.

What is Color?

Light bounces off or reflects off an object and we see the colors. Color is “the aspect of things caused by differing qualities of light being reflected or emitted by them” as defined by Pantone.com.

We interpret the colors and they can influence our energy levels and emotions. And those personal traits influence how well we perform our jobs.

How Colors Impact Office Moods and Well-Being

Colors add depth, and warmth, and stir up creativity—or end up creating a dull environment, depending on your color scheme.

Imagine having an office decorated all in white: walls, chairs, and cubicles. You’re lost in a sea of white. It would seem stark, strange, and even disorienting. Browns and other monotone color schemes wouldn’t work, either.

Who wants to work surrounded by gray cinder-block walls?

Now, if those gray walls had hardwood décor or splashes of magenta they could be fun.


Photo: Source International Axis Chair

On the 2010 Office Furniture Office Inspirations web page, you can compare various office settings and see how colors and furnishings establish the setting and tone so work areas can feel spacious and inviting.

In a preview of the upcoming industry trade show NeoCon in Chicago, June 2023, interior designer Pallavi Dean of Roar, a Dubai-based interior design studio, told DeZeen magazine that, “The safe beige, grey, and white walls are on their way out.”

She says bold hues and darker tones add depth to space.


Photo: Source International Scape Seating

Click on The Modern Industrial Office which uses wood, metal, and red brick. Let in plenty of light and the space can convey strength and efficiency instead of being dark and overpowering.


Photo: Source International Lore Chair

Dean also believes, “We’re leaving the haven of neutrals and stepping into a rainbow!”

Look at the Abstract Modern Office and how a range of bold colors creates a playful and energetic atmosphere.

What color patterns are right for your office?

It will depend on the ambiance you want to create, so read the listing of colors and the moods they create.

Qualities of Colors and Their Impact

As you consider color schemes, remember that every color has variations. So there isn’t just one blue or red, but there are numerous shades of light blue leading to a color like teal and darker blues.

The advice of Dean is to, “Tread with caution when you choose your shade; it can impact your mood and change your perception of the size of your space.”

A comprehensive summary is found in a timeless article in Smashing Magazine which lists:

  • Warm colors: red, yellow, and orange—think autumn leaves.
  • Cool colors: green, blue, and purple—water and night. These colors are relaxing.
  • Neutral colors: black, white, gray, brown, beige, and tan. These colors serve as backgrounds and can convey elegance. Brown offers warmth and wholesomeness.

Shades of blue may help reduce tensions, foster relaxation, and lead to greater employee output while yellows can get creative juices flowing. A 2018 article in LinkedIn’s Pulse, “The Surprising Effect of Color in the Office” says that “white is the worst color to paint the office” since it’s sterile and can “hinder productivity.”

Match Furnishings with Your Environment

Creating the best office designs and color schemes for your office has never been easier. If you want to refresh your office to reflect your brand and make your space a destination, then choose from the types of furnishings in the color patterns that work best.

For example, the DARRAN Chameleon Workspace comes in a variety of veneer, laminate, and metal finishes.


Photo: DARRAN Chameleon Workspace

It might fit with the Green Office or the Abstract Modern Office, depending on the colors you choose.


Photo: Rouillard Lead X Chair

Choose the right office color schemes of your ergonomic chairs and lounge furniture to blend in.

Leverage Color for Maximum Office Productivity


Photo: Source International Repeat Benches

You’re in control of your office space—from workstations to the colors of your breakroom. The available color combinations for a range of modular furniture give you the opportunity to make an environment that reflects your brand and sets the tone for your team.

Benefit from Office Color Schemes Experts

Plan your space and choose office color schemes for furnishings with expert input from the team at 2010 Office Furniture. They have over a half-century of experience assisting clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses.

Contact them with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: Design Your Office Space for Residential Comfort and Professional Results
Main Photo: Stylex Dau Seating
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: DARRAN, Rouillard, Source International & Stylex

Creative Ways to Plan and Design a High-Performance Office Space

A high-performance office space isn’t just a sea of cubicles or workstations. You can have rows of open-plan bench seating or enclosed private offices but neither of those may encourage an atmosphere of goodwill and collaboration.

What can?

Furnishings that fit spaces defined for different needs.

Depending on their moods, many people like to move from one setting to another to finish their tasks.

What are the personalities of your team and how can planning and designing a variety of spaces develop a high-performance office environment?

Because you’re designing spaces that let people adapt to their individual needs.

The Purpose of Office Space

An office is an environment where work is done in support of a company’s goals. Think back to the 1950s and 1960s and you’ll see how drastically offices have evolved.

You may not remember the GM plant in Van Nuys but that’s a great example of an assembly line where the office space supported a highly regimented workflow. The aerospace, automotive, and entertainment industries reigned supreme.

Office spaces were functional with little thought given to personal comfort. The office was more of a one size fits all concept versus a flexible or multi-use idea.

How does your company or nonprofit organization operate? Let’s see how you might incorporate more personal comfort and use different spaces for different stages of product development or carrying out services.

Brainstorming Spaces

Tossing around ideas is important for just about any type of business. If your company in Orange County designs robots, then you’re conceptualizing the uses of a tool like a robotic arm and how you’ll improve the functionality.

If you’re a nonprofit with after-school programs in the San Gabriel Valley, you also have a conceptual phase. That could be identifying how to make your services more efficient. Perhaps it’s how to put a creative fundraiser into action.

Maybe you’re an engineering firm in the Ontario, California area and you’re bidding on a municipal construction contract. You need input on what to include so you don’t miss important elements.

Your bottom line is turning ideas into action and solutions.

What makes for a high-performance office space for brainstorming?

Society has become casual, especially in Southern California. Some communities, like Hollywood, have been re-designed so people can work close to where they live. There’s a co-mingling of our personal and professional lives in ways that didn’t exist during the height of our industrial output.


Photo: Humanscale Element Vision Desktop Light

Plan and design spaces that have the fabrics, colors, and feel of home with the durability of commercial spaces. Bring in accessories like ergonomic lighting, a moveable whiteboard, and office plants to design a lounge that’s both relaxing and offers surroundings for brainstorming.


Photo: Allermuir Kin Chair

You can brainstorm in a traditional conference room setting with the requisite chairs and conference tables, or you can change your options using modular furniture with a personal touch.


Photo: Global Ballara Lounge Seating

Look into the Global Ballera Lounge Seating arrangement. It can fit in an environment like a law firm in downtown LA or a grassroots nonprofit in Sherman Oaks. Want something more playful and just as functional? Try the Arcadia Lounge Seating and Bench. Choose from bold color options and an array of seating arrangements.


Photo: Arcadia Serafinita Lounge Seating and Bench

So what happens when it’s time to get back to the desk?

The Get-the-Work-Done Space

Once brainstorming finishes, each person retreats and focuses on their individual tasks.

Your work may be processing donations, analyzing enrollment data in a university, or project managing complex web designs. You could be designing marketing collateral, troubleshooting issues for clients, or managing a portfolio of sales accounts.

And you need a high-performance office space for focus to concentrate, perform and get things done.

Try the HON Abound Height Adjustable Workstation, designed for numerous configurations that meet the needs for one person or a team of people working together.


Photo: Enwork Cayman Desk

Private offices can use a model like the Enwork Cayman Desk with pleasing lines and the ability to add needed accessories.

Sometimes you need to get away from the desk and have relaxed personal space.

Take a Breather Space

Let’s say you get a call or you’re mulling over a report and you just need to get up from your desk. Stretch breaks can give you the breather you need and so can relocating to modular furniture. It’s useful for arranging into group spaces and serving individual needs, too. The furnishings are made as multi-use solutions.


Photo: OFS Coact Lounge Seating

The OFS Coact Lounge Seating is designed to fit in a private office or a social setting like a café. Plenty of privacy options are available so you can have alone space but not feel lonely.

A lounge space with just a few seats pulled together is also ideal for meeting with clients or vendors in casual conversations. They can feel welcomed but not isolated.

Don’t forget the break room. This casual space can be a valuable area to create stimulating conversations where people can exchange useful insights over coffee or lunch. Get ideas on how you can furnish this space by visiting the 2010 Office Inspirations page and browsing through modern breakrooms.

Now, how about training spaces?

Learning Together Spaces

Need to tackle compliance issues or similar topics?

Establish training spaces that are just right for your team. Resources you can use include architectural walls in open floor plans, specially designed tables for training, and stackable tables and chairs.

Set up a multi-media space for videoconferencing or meeting virtually with clients or employees working remotely.

Rely on Experience for High-Performance Office Space Setups

Plan and design spaces to get the highest possible performance and engagement from the talent you hire.

Contact the team at 2010 Office Space, a company with a combined half-century of experience planning spaces and furnishing for clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished for-profit corporations and not-for-profit organizations.

Let them know your needs and ask how you can maximize your spaces.

Read Also: Plan Your Office Branding for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: OFS Applause Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, Arcadia Contract, Enwork, Global, Humanscale, and OFS

Office Furnishings and Ideas for Keeping Your Employees’ Energy Levels and Moral High

When considering office furnishings, let’s first remember a few things.

Energy to power office buildings and personal energy for employees are both essential so we don’t come to a grinding halt.

Where does the energy in the office come from? That may seem obvious when the electricity is on. How about your windows?

A British start-up named Water Filled Glass is doing just that—using water-filled glass to heat and cool buildings. Their window technology uses a thin layer of water between glass panes that absorbs heat from sunlight or other sources like heat leaving a room.

The warm water pumps through pipes to cooler areas of the building or is directed into thermal storage.

It’s an innovative solution that turns everyday materials we’re familiar with and turns them into sustainable energy.

How about your people? Humans are more complex than glass.

It’s always important to design and plan your office to energize your team and reduce fatigue factors that result in conditions like brain fog or absenteeism.

Energy for your office building is important, as is energy for your company’s employees.

What will energize your team? Another way of looking at the same issue is using resources to keep your employees engaged in their work.

Start with Ergonomics

You know what happens when you have office furnishings such as a wobbly desk or a chair that doesn’t fit quite right and hurts your lower back? You’re distracted and you expend extra energy trying to stay comfortable and overcome your physical obstacles.

Ergonomics benefit workers because the equipment and surroundings are fitted to their needs and people can work more efficiently instead of expending excess energy.


Photo: Loftwall Rooms Wall System

Assess your work environment and see how the right types of quality ergonomic chairs and workstations will serve your team.


Photo: Friant Amenity Task Seating

An ergonomic chair is one that lets the user sit comfortably without strain on the elbows or knees and provides needed lower back support. A good chair will also shift easily with the user’s movements so the body isn’t confined or working against the chair.

Photo: Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair
A good example is the Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair that’s easy to use and adjust, including a weight-sensitive, mechanism-free recline.


Photo: SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair

The SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair has wide seat cushions and padded arms that “provides a new standard to ergonomics.”


Photo: Nucraft Alev Table

Workstations are essential and fit in any office setting.

Want a sleek and unencumbered look? The ODS Artiv Desk has a minimalistic appearance and fits into any style office, including the style known as the Scandinavian office. The ODS Artiv Desk is designed for excellent wire management. Wires are routed along the structure below the desktops using wire trays that are hooked to the aluminum beam.

Ergonomics also includes details like lighting and sound.

Maximize Sunlight

Sunlight is a big deal because getting enough of it helps people stay alert during the day so they sleep more deeply at night. Get as much light flowing through the office as possible by using translucent dividers in place of solid walls. If natural light is limited, or if your office is on a middle floor, then use the more efficient LED ergonomic lighting solutions instead of fluorescent.

Reduce eye strain with LED lights. They convert up to 95 percent of their energy and only about 5 percent is considered “wasted.” The lifespan of LED lighting can be more than double the lifespan of fluorescent lights and LED doesn’t contain potentially harmful gasses.

Looking for lighting solutions?

The best task lighting solutions are ones that direct the right amount of light where you need it most so you don’t have to squint.


Photo: Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Lighting

The Humanscale Horizon 2.0 Desktop Light and the Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Light are glare free and are made for long life spans.

Channel Sound

Sound is a major disrupter for people trying to concentrate and it’s one of the most common criticisms of the open office floor plans. Walls of private offices were taken down so workers could collaborate. But the problem was neighboring conversations and chatter from private phone calls and keyboards clicking away irritated employees trying to concentrate.

Earbuds and headphones were used to block out the outside world and people who were in close proximity became strangers to each other.


Photo: Loftwall Arbor Wall Panel

Accessories like sound panels and green walls help absorb sound waves. But another strategy is letting workers do their work in semi-private areas if they want or settle in lounge areas for informal meetings.

Promote Mobility

Using modular lounge furniture is a way of promoting mobility. Stretches at desks and getting up every 90 minutes to 2 hours for quick walks keeps blood circulating and is a natural way to keep a person’s energy levels up.

Why?

As WebMD explains, “Oxygen-rich blood surges through your body to your heart, muscles, and brain.” Blood provides the nutrition a body needs.

Here’s an idea. Make sure people stay hydrated. It’s another way to keep their energy up. Encourage them to get up regularly and take a long stroll to the breakroom to get water so they don’t get thirsty.

Office Furnishings for an Energy Boost

Well-planned office spaces that have the right furnishings take deliberate planning. Consult with 2010 Office Furniture on developing a space that’s right for you, whether you’re refreshing an existing office space or designing one that’s entirely new.

2010 Office Furniture’s clients are among the most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Contact the team at 2010 Office and share your project needs.

Read Also: Create an Office Wellness Plan for Optimal Thinking
Main Photo: ERG International Carlton Stools
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: ERG International, Friant, Humanscale, Loftwall, Nucraft, SitOnIt Seating and Workrite

Designing a Sustainable Office Environment

Interior designers are imagining a sustainable future for the products they create. The cubicle you erect or the next ergonomic chair you sit on may have come from a collection of commercial waste metal and fashioned into a product you can use for many years, thus contributing to the ongoing efforts for sustainable office design.

Read on to see how circular design, artificial intelligence, and sourcing local materials are inspiring this movement in product design and office furnishings.

Necessity Inspires Creativity

The life cycle of products is changing so when a product no longer serves its purpose, it can be transformed into something completely different. It’s a practice known as circular design. The trend will be featured during 3 Days of Design at NeoCon 2023 in Chicago June 12 – 14.

Issues bringing circular design to the forefront include environmental concerns and the desire to reuse materials instead of discarding everything. This extends the traditional life cycle of products. There’s also a push to source materials locally and reduce the cost of manufacturing products during a time of inflation.

Today’s modular office furniture fits current design trends because of the various benefits it offers.

3 Benefits of Modular Office Furnishings

MULTI-USE

Modular office furnishings are similar to the circular design and multi-use concept. Separate pieces of furniture can be brought together in a cohesive unit or used separately.

Think of a sectional sofa that can be used as one large unit or broken into sections. The same furnishings can fit appropriately in larger corporate environments, small business operations, and nonprofits.


Photo: DARRAN Honey 120° Workspace

Look at the variety of cubicles and workstations that can be used in a Fortune 500 corporation with teams of people or configured to be functional in an office of just a few people.


Photo: Scale 1:1 G Series Workstation and Desk Lounge

Something unique like the Scale 1:1 G-Series Nester Workstation and Desk Lounge adapts well to different office settings. The two-seater sofa is integrated with workstation capabilities.


Photo: Friant Novo Workstation

The Friant Novo Open Plan Workstation is another solution that adapts to various environments. It has whiteboard panels and acoustical panels made to diffuse sound.

DURABLE

Modular cubicles and workstations are easily configured by one person or just a few. They’re convenient to set up and add onto as needed, and they’re built to last for the sustainable office.


Photo: HON Accelerate Workstation

A leading brand that 2010 Office Furniture makes available is from the manufacturer HON which states on its website, “Thoughtful material choices, precise engineering, and lean manufacturing practices result in products that withstand extended use, multiple reconfigurations, and continue to look great over time.”

ACCOMMODATING

Photo: Friant System 2 Workstation

One of the greatest advantages of modular furniture is that pieces can fit the available space. The Friant System 2 workstation can have a variety of configurations. Several people from one department or who are working on a project can work and collaborate, or, if needed, one office manager can comfortably make use of it.

The products are made to support the sustainable office as much as possible. Friant Novo, under the heading Embracing a Green Sensibility, says it has “found a way to use 40% more fabric from each roll, resulting in less landfill waste.”

Cubicles have improved over the years, but other more dramatic changes are coming to offices.

Artificial Intelligence

As stated in Business New Daily, artificial technology is “expected to take digital technology out of the two-dimensional screen and bring it into the three-dimensional physical environment surrounding an individual.”

AI solutions are adding a futuristic twist to dictation and that’s another development coming to NeoCon 2023 as described in Dezeen magazine:

“While using AI in the creation of products or buildings is nothing new, last year saw an explosion in software such as the popular Midjourney, which converts text or audio information into computer-generated images.”

Imagine a meeting between a marketing team and graphic designers where someone describes a logo or image for marketing material and the group sees the result on screen.

How about sensors on ergonomic chairs to help employees keep their posture and avoid stress on the joints and lower back?

Sound far-fetched?

A new AI product, Tempo Move, delivers trainer-guided home workouts using smartphones or TVs and lets users check their form. Sensor technology is easy to implement for a variety of uses.


Photo: OFS Obeya Architectural Wall

Developments like this, along with the ongoing use of video conferencing, mean audio and visual spaces will take on greater importance. Consider the use of architectural walls to easily create these types of interactive centers.

No matter how technology changes, the goal of improving office settings and furnishings remains the same: caring for employees and helping them do their best.

Expertise for the Sustainable Office

Stay on top of office design trends to plan your spaces and use the furnishings that meet your needs the best. The team at 2010 Office Furniture has over 50 years of combined experience assisting clients who are among Southern California’s most recognizable brands.

Contact them with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: Illuminate Your Office Space Intelligently
Main Photo: OFS Modelo Chair
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: DARRAN, Friant, HON, OFS & Scale 1:1

2024 Office Trends to Create an Engaging Office Environment

2024 Office Trends Senator Haven Pods

What’s in store for 2024 office trends and what do we watch out for?

When Edmunds, the car people, opened their office in Santa Monica several years ago they suspended a Corvette above the reception desk.

The staff coffee bar was designed without traditional solid walls and featured chrome wheels arranged behind the coffee pots.

Fun? Engaging?

These touches reinforced the staff’s mission and created a creative office environment.

Workstations were grouped together according to tasks and departments, but people were free to move around the office if they needed a change of scenery.

How do you plan an office space with design trends that bring the best out of your team and puts them in a mindset to succeed?

Let’s read on.

Creating Community

Think of your office space as an engaging community, not just a place that’s solely functional. In a pleasant community, there are places where residents converse and move easily along a main street.


Photo: Friant Nik Lounge Chair

They know they belong.

Harvard Business Review addressed this just a few years ago and found that 40% of people feel isolated at work. Look at the benefits of belonging, as described in “The Value of Belonging at Work”:

“High belonging was linked to a whopping 56% increase in job performance, a 50% drop in turnover risk, and a 75% reduction in sick days.”

Creating a place of community and belonging is definitely up there in 2024 office trends.  Now take some steps in creating a community.

Your 2024 Office Trends Roadmap

2024 office trends are all about creating engaging spaces.  And engaging offices don’t just happen. They’re well-planned. The team at 2010 Office Furniture knows this. They bring over a half-century of combined experience planning office spaces and furnishing recognizable brands in Southern California.

Think through your own roadmap. Start by thinking through the following questions:

Function: how is your office currently functioning and how can the functions be improved? Does the workflow bog down in any specific area?

Charting the function helps you to see how to brand your office for employees and visitors from the time they step into the reception area and move to the interior spaces.

Needs of the team: what types of workstations, desks, and chairs best meet the task needs and physical needs of your team?

Bring ergonomics into the picture by matching the employee’s needs with the furnishings that will provide for their well-being and help them do their best.

Aesthetics

Now you can integrate your branding with the details that help motivate your team by placing them in a positive mindset.

Check the 2010 Office Inspirations page, an online showcase highlighting 2024 office trends that lend to an engaging environment.

See how different elements like furnishings and colors blend to create inviting workspaces with a specific look and feel.


Photo: OFS Eleven Wood Table

The Scandinavian office has minimal simplicity while an upbeat contemporary office mixes and matches an array of colors and furnishings.


Photo: Stylex NYC Wrap-Over Lounge

Everyday Life

In communities, people like to come together but still have quiet spaces. It’s like being alone … together.

Open office designs are here to stay, but 2024 office trends bring a sense of boundaries back in.  No doubt, it’s important to define spaces such as specific places for workstations in a department. Let’s use the marketing department as an example. Someone will need creative focus when writing up the campaign slogans of a specific product.

However, they can’t do this in isolation. They need to interview others to get their inspiration.

Have interactive spaces where the marketing team gathers with the production team to highlight the benefits of your next great project. This is where you let ideas flow with robust conversations.

Here’s another trend to be aware of.

Add video conferencing to the mix so you can have internal teams and participants working remotely.

How do you handle it all?

Go Modular

2024 office trends includes the power of keeping it flexible and adaptable.  And Modular furnishings keep you in control. You can easily accommodate workers on hybrid schedules and people working on a freelance basis. They can come in at scheduled times for a day or a meeting before leaving to finish their tasks elsewhere.

Just like a community, isn’t it?

People come and go but they’re brought together under the banner of fulfilling corporate goals.

Think of the breakroom as the General Store where informal discussions can lead to collaborative gatherings.


Photo: ERG International Carlton Stools

Cities use parks as green spaces to enhance the quality of life. Your equivalent could be designing lounge areas for both spontaneous small group use and individual use.


Photo: OCI Seating Breeze Lounge

It’s also possible with So Cal’s sunny weather to design indoor-outdoor spaces.

Why be limited by four walls?

Make sure office functionality is present and people’s needs are met. Use these ideas to make your office environment an engaging place that inspires people both professionally and personally.

Great Office Spaces with 2024 Office Trends

An engaging office environment is one where people know they’re supported while being challenged professionally.

Get expert input from 2010 Office Furniture and their space planning services along with their ability to furnish what you need.

Their focus is on helping you create the spaces that work best while bringing in quality that will last.

Contact them with your questions and possible project needs.

Read Also: Plan Your Office Branding for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: Senator Haven Pod
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: ERG International, Friant, National, OCI Seating, OFS, Senator, Stylex

Stylish Noise Reducing Office Furniture Trends for 2024

Noise Reducing Office Furniture OFS Intermix Table

Reduce office noise and boost employee engagement by incorporating noise reducing office furniture at the workplace.

That’s not an easy task because we’re immersed in noise.

During commutes, listening to an audiobook or the radio in your car is pleasant but there’s still noise. Think of the noises that you hear in your backyard. Or how about parking near your office, whether it’s in a downtown Los Angeles high-rise or an office near John Wayne Airport?

When you get into the office and settle at your desk, you won’t endure car horns or neighbors blasting music during backyard barbeques but you’ll have other distractions.

Take a look at this:

Even moderate noise in an office can result in high levels of stress and lower task motivation, according to a 2021 study from Cornell University:

“Workers in the noisy office experienced significantly higher levels of stress, made 40 percent fewer attempts to solve an unsolvable puzzle, and made only half as many ergonomic adjustments to their workstations as did their colleagues in quiet offices.”

Does that mean you have to put up solid walls?

No. Get fashionable.

You can use noise reducing office furniture that help with office acoustics with stylish designs that blend with your existing decor using some of the latest new fabrics.

Channeling and reducing sound helps make the office a desirable place for your employees.

Here’s a fabric that keeps the office looking stylish and absorbs noise: PET Felt.

What is PET Felt?

When you take the materials used to make plastic bottles and reuse it as fabrics — that’s Polyethylene Terephthalate, better known as PET Felt.

PET is especially well-suited for use in design-led acoustics since it’s lightweight, dense, durable, and rigid: all properties that make it ideal for acoustic design. Add to that it achieves a Class O fire rating, as noted by Sound Zero, an acoustic sound design firm in the U.K.

Let’s see a specific use of this recycled material.

Lamps with PET Felt

Reducing or channeling office noise doesn’t mean putting up barriers. Help can come from unexpected places using noise reducing office furniture with the right materials.

Like PET felt on office lamps.

Now, would you have thought an office lamp could absorb sound? Dutch designers did and showcased their products on Dezeen.com.

The lamps hang nicely above tables with a relatively low profile and act almost like an upside-down umbrella. They don’t call attention to themselves but blend in nicely with the surroundings.

Noise Reducing Office Furniture Absorb and Deflect Those Noises

Now let’s look at other ways to reduce noise in the office with accompanying noise reducing office furniture.


Photo: OFS Intermix Conference Table

Set up a welcoming type of conference room. Click on the 2010 Office Inspiration page and browse a modern conference room space. It doesn’t have to be completely enclosed. Imagine a space with one wall as a whiteboard, another wall being a clear architectural wall, and a monitor attached to a wall with a doorless opening to walk in and out of freely.


Photo: Snowsound Clasp Fiber Room Divider

Many lounge seating arrangements are attractive, comfortable, and are designed to keep conversations focused around a table so the noise doesn’t drift away. In fact they make great noise reducing office furniture because of the padding and fabric that they’re usually made from.


Photo: Arcadia Contract TOOtheLOUNGE Seating

Look at the Arcadia TOOtheLOUNGE Seating with practical configurations and colorful appearances to brighten any office environment. It can be an individual “oasis” or set up to accommodate a few people. Make it as closed or as open as you want.


Photo: Nevins Bio Canvas Frame

Green office panels help you control the acoustics while adding a touch of nature to your surroundings. The Nevins Bio Canvas Frame has a lightweight frame and uses bark, moss, and stone panels. No maintenance is required.

Bookcases are another way to absorb and deflect sounds and make great noise reducing office furniture. What do you put on them? Decorative pieces. Plants. Books. Trophies from the office softball team. Get creative.

You’ve got plenty of options to choose from. Look for an eye-catching design like the OFS Hitch Shelf and Storage. It’s a modular system to showcase your personality.


Photo: OFS Rowens Shelf and Credenza

The OFS Rowen Shelf and Credenza has a library feel while the DARRAN Chameleon Storage has a more boxy style.


Photo: DARRAN Chameleon Storage

Don’t forget green plants. Wider leaves deflect sound waves and all types of plants purify the air. Plus, they’re visually refreshing. Good Housekeeping compiled a listing of 15 plants including the spider plant and birds nest fern.

These ideas are relatively easy to implement and we didn’t even include cubicles or architectural walls.  But all these are good options for noice reducing office furniture.

Office Space Planning and Design for Noise Reducing Office Furniture

Absorbing sound waves are one part of overall office planning.

What do you feel your greatest needs are? Ask the team at 2010 Office Furniture and they’ll bring more than 50 years of experience into your space planning and furniture sourcing solutions.

2010 Office’s clients are Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.

Contact them with your potential project needs and when you’re ready to include noise reducing office furniture into your office space.

Read Also: Choosing the Best Office Dividers and Filing Systems
Main Photo: OFS Intermix Conference Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia Contract, DARRAN, Nevins, OFS and Snowsound

Design Your Office Space as a Welcome Gathering Place

Welcome Gathering Place SitOnIt Reya Desk

Why the need for an office welcome gathering place?

Just a few years ago, the office was everything. Remote work or occasional telecommuting was talked about, but in reality that practice was the exception. In 2018, only a third of the workforce could do their jobs at home, according to figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What’s it like now?

A 2021 survey from FlexJobs conducted in July and August shows that up to 97 percent of workers want some form of remote work. The 10th annual survey shows that:

  • 58 percent of respondents want to work remotely full-time
  • 39 percent want a hybrid work environment

What’s going to happen, and how does this impact how you should plan and design your office space?

A Work Trend Index from Microsoft published in March 2021 found that 66 percent of employers worldwide are redesigning their offices to accommodate hybrid work arrangements.

We don’t know how long the hybrid work model will continue. If companies, and especially the major corporations, find that they’re more profitable with employees in the office, then there will be a push to have workers return either full-time or mostly full-time.

But we know that employees can easily be connected from their home offices. People are also saving money on commuting costs, especially with the current price of gas in the Los Angeles-Long Beach area ranging from $4.05 to nearly $5.00 a gallon.


Photo: HON Solve Chair

The reality is that our professional and personal worlds have merged like never before, and leading architects say that we shouldn’t make hard boundaries between the home and office.

Perhaps it’s time to blur the lines; a convergence.  Merging spaces to accommodate this shift in our work culture and create a welcome gathering place.

Blurring Categories to Create a Welcome Gathering Place

At the NeoCon gathering in October 2021, the most important event for the commercial design industry, the award-winning architect and interior designer Lauren Rottet told attendees that, “The world separates us, wants to categorize us.”

She disagrees with the philosophy and is blending spaces through her designs.

Offices are becoming fun, says Rottet. When she’s pitching a major office design, she says she doesn’t hesitate to refer to previous work she’s done in hotels for inspiration to her clients.


Photo: HON Westhill Lounge

The trend is bringing communities together in a instead of separating them.

A keynote speaker at the conference, Jeanne Gang, and her firm designed the Vista Tower in Chicago which is a blend of hotel rooms, residential condominiums, a 5-star hotel, restaurants, and amenity spaces. It  creates “a vibrant social center.”

This welcome gathering place concept is similar to the Paseo in Pasadena and the Americana in Glendale where retail shopping and living spaces go hand-in-hand.

The Re-Imagined Office

Imagine your office as a social center and not just as a place to work. Given today’s array of modular furniture and a range of office design options, it’s easy to do.

What do employees want?

They want to know that they’re valued.

According to Gallup, engaged employees are “those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.”

Engaged employees outperform their peers that are not engaged. Overall, companies with high employee engagement are 21% more profitable.

How does office planning and design accomplish this?

Having remote work options is one way, according to Chief Information Officer magazine. That means giving your team freedom to work in the office from the most comfortable locations.

Use welcome gathering place designs that bring out the best in people and provide balance as we merge our professional and personal lives.

The Resimercial office design remains popular for that reason. Elements of home, or a residence, are brought into the commercial setting. Create spaces for people to meet and eat like using informal conference tables that double as a lunch or snack site. The spaces are warm, inviting, and informal so the sharing of ideas and interaction can take place easily and in a way that’s relational and not rigid.


Photo: OFS Obeya Wall and Nineteen20 Table


Photo: Safco Resi Collaboration Workstation 

Use colors that stimulate creativity and are calming, and select attractive furniture that’s durable and made with antimicrobial fabrics.


Photo: Stylex Still Screens

Get Expert Input on a Welcome Gathering Place

Get more ideas for planning your office as community using the expertise of 2010 Office Furniture. Our team at 2010 Office Furniture has about 50 years of combined experience working with Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small business from Los Angeles and Orange Counties to the Inland Empire.

Contact us and let us know about your potential project needs.  We can help you create the welcome gathering place for your office.

Read Also: Work From Home Office Furniture
Main Photo: SitOnIt Seating Reya Desk
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: HON, OFS, SitOnIt Seating, Safco & Stylex Seating

6 Reasons to Let Your Employees Work from Home

6 Reasons to Let Your Employees Work from Home SitOnIt Reya Desk

Working in the Covid era has shown how knowledge-based businesses and professional firms can be productive even when employees work from home offices.

Corporate offices are still needed as hubs that lay out the mission and set direction, but some employees can function more effectively at a home office setting.

Why?

They have the equipment, a dedicated space, and can function free from inter-office distractions like breakroom conversations, clashing office personalities, and employees who are ill.

But let’s be clear: the center corporate office is still very much needed.


Photo: Maverick Apex Workstation

Read on to learn the 6 great reasons to let your employees work from home, as opposed to the office.  Also, it’s important to understand the differences between the two office set-ups and how both environments can work together for everyone’s benefit.

Reason 1: Home Offices Provide Functionality

A variety of employees have as much functionality at a home office as they do at a central location.

Data entry, marketing specialists, and sales teams can enter information, create content, and contact customers. The financial team can access accounts via the Internet, and executives can hold online meetings.

What’s needed to make a home office work well? Start with the basics.

A Dedicated Space

When employees work from home, having an area where the focus is on work is crucial. It can be a separate room, or a designated space within an existing space, such as a living room. Use dividers to reduce distractions just like you would in an open floor plan.

The home office shouldn’t be cramped.

In greater Los Angeles and Orange County, the moderate temperatures and sunshine during the year can let back yard decks and patios also be part of the home office setting.

Internet Connection is Key When Employees Work From Home

Being connected with smartphones and a reliable Internet connection is the reason that 18 percent of the U.S. workforce works full-time from a home office or other remote location, according to OWL Labs.

Citigroup and Google are among the top corporations who have employees work from home, and have establishing hybrid arrangements, as reported by SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management.

Citigroup says most of its 210,000 employees now work remotely two to three days a week.

Desks

Say goodbye to the bulky desks of the past and embrace today’s sleek designs. Simple table-top models, height-adjustable desks, and modular workstations can all be used in the home.


Photo: Deskmakers Ascend Height Adjustable Desk

The Desk Makers Ascend Height Adjustable Desk is an example of a contemporary design that lets users move from sitting to standing position in seconds.

Lighting

The right lighting is essential to working well in any setting, even in a home space. An office that’s lit properly reduces eye strain, the stress of glare, and promotes restful nights. Natural lighting is optimal while LED lighting is preferred over fluorescent lighting which has been shown to make office workers tired.


Photo: Humanscale Nova Light

When employees work from home, affordable office lighting solutions come in a variety of shapes to focus the best light on the task at hand.

Ergonomic Chair

Sitting stresses the spine and lower back so make sure home offices are equipped with an ergonomic chair that supports the body’s shape and natural motions. A quality chair will last for many years. It’s an investment that promotes well-being by reducing strain on the back and joints.


Photo: SitOnIt Seating Wit Chair

Laptop and Monitor

Laptops have plenty of power for nearly every need. Specialists like graphic artists may benefit from a desktop set-up and large monitors. But laptops can hook up to larger monitors, as well.

Companies can develop policies when employees work from home, using personal computers versus ones purchased directly by the corporation.

File Storage

The paperless office still has paper, but minimal file storage is needed. Designs like the OSF Beck Credenza tend to have more traditional appearances. A modular storage system like the Desk Makers Catalina Cubbies can also serve as a room divider in home offices or at the main office


Photo: Deskmakers Catalina Cubbies

Combination Printer, Copier & Scanner

Like it or not, printers, copiers and scanners are still needed even with the advancement of new technology and widespread use of electronic communications. Top-rated printers with combo functions include HP Office Jet Pro 9015e, HP Office Jet Pro 6978, Canon PIXMA TR8520 and Brother MFCL-2710DW.

Reason 2: Workers Have Health Concerns

Covid isn’t the only virus that spreads germs. Other illnesses like the common cold and flu can be transmitted at the work office.  Office wellness can mean that employees work from home when they’re not feeling well.

Being active is important and taking stretch breaks or quick walks every two hours may happen more easily at home than in the corporate setting.

Reason 3: Workers are Connected Remotely

Work vocabulary now includes Zoom as often as Google. Nouns have taken on another life as verbs. Connections via email, social media messaging, and inexpensive or free face-to-face platforms make communication easy.

What may be challenging or tough is disconnecting after hours, weekends, or while on vacation.

Reason 4: When Employees Work From Home, They Save Money

The cost of gas around Los Angeles is pushing $5 per gallon or higher. Reducing a daily commute to a few times a week, or less, lets your team keep more money in their pockets.

Fuel isn’t the only cost.

There’s wear and tear on the car in addition to buying lunches.

Reason 5: Top Talent Likes Flexibility

A friendly and flexible work environment aids in retaining top employees. Studies made pre-Covid are evidence that it’s preferably for many to have employees work from home. A 2019 article on HR Daily Advisor.com reports that the firm Crunchbase, a company specializing in business insights, “found that by offering flexibility around family life, it was able to attract and retain top candidates.”

Reason 6: A Central Office is Still Needed When Employees Work From Home

Why is the corporate office still important?

Employees have social needs which is why arrangements that include working from home with time in the office are popular. No one truly wants to shut the door on a space where there’s stimulating collaboration.

How can you make the corporate office a desired location?

Schedule regular meetings that are interactive and filled with shared insights.

Use office designs and layouts that are welcoming, have break rooms that are well-supplied with beverages and healthy snacks, and create lounge areas.

The central office can be a destination where collaboration happens, while the home office can be a place to focus on specific tasks.

We’re Here to Help Your Employees Work From Home

The team at 2010 Office Furniture has supplied furnishings and planned office spaces for some of the most recognizable brands in greater Los Angeles, throughout Orange County, and in the Inland Empire.

2010 Office Furniture has more than 50 years of combined experience to address in-office or hybrid work arrangements, as well as home office needs.

Contact us with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: Reasons to Refresh and Improve Office Layout
Main Photo: SitOnIt Seating Reya Height Adjustable Desk
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Deskmakers, Humanscale, Maverick & SitOnIt Seating

How to Help Protect Workers in Open Office Floor Plans from Covid-19

How to Protect Workers in Open Office Floor Plans From Covid-19

(IMPORTANT NOTICE: The recommendations on this article on how to help protect workers are NOT from health experts, and have not been medically tested nor proven as an effective cure or prevention for COVID-19 or any other diseases.)

Open offices are facing changes as companies work to maintain a healthy workforce and answer today’s most critical question: How to protect workers from the risks of Covid-19.

Don’t expect drywall to suddenly appear and start separating workers. Risk mitigation plans can include modular furniture solutions to maintain an open office atmosphere while helping to protecting

How Open Offices Became Popular


Photo: National Epic

As Silicon Valley started booming in the early 2000s, start-up tech companies needed talent to work closely in collaboration with each other. Office spaces without walls provided a non-traditional communication flow that worked well.

The rest is facility history as companies in all industries found that open offices were budget friendly and flexible. It was easy to add workstations when hiring more workers or change floor plans to accommodate fewer workers. Permanent walls were a mess and costly to re-configure.

Why Open Offices were Criticized

Privacy became something of the past and the hoped-for collaboration took a hit as employees wore earbuds and noise cancelling headphones to block out the conversations and phone calls of co-workers.

Instead of providing a place to focus, critics said the open office was filled with distractions.

Open Offices Needed Private Spaces


Photo: Senator Group Chemistry

That shift created the need for personal break areas and one-on-one or small group meeting spaces. Office furniture reflected that demand with innovative meeting pods and the design of flexible workstations.

Open Offices Risked Germs Spreading Before Coronavirus

An office space is a breeding ground for bacteria and germs passed from one person to another. Moist droplets travel whether they’re in the restroom, the breakroom or on the main office floor. In 2011, a Danish study found that open office workers had a significantly higher incidence of sick days than those working in “cellular” or individual offices. The findings were published by the National Library of Medicine.

But there’s no need to cancel the open office floor plan. Help protect employee health using modular furniture and accessories.

How Open Offices are Using Modular Solutions for Protection


Photo: Friant Shield Panels

Open offices faced criticism, but just think of all the open spaces people normally gathered in like neighborhood pubs and restaurants, sporting events, concerts and parks. Innovative solutions are already available.

An array of protective office shields and dividers are available through 2010 Office Furniture:

The different styles of dividers allow you to help protect workers without making them feel isolated or cut off from other co-workers. You can help reduce the risk of spreading viruses but maintain an atmosphere of collaboration.

Space Planning for the Office in the Post-Pandemic Era


Photo: Friant Novo & Dash

Adjust floor layouts to create physical distancing. The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) takes a comprehensive approach to planning offices for employee health and well-being. In its online coronavirus resource center, the IFMA recommends thorough space planning.

Adjust workstations to give employees the recommended six-feet of physical separation or purchase new, flexible workstations.

Know how many office visitors to allow in at one time and eliminate items in high-touch areas like light switches. Update traditional doors that have handles with automatic doors. Provide plenty of anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitizer. Encourage workers to wear masks when necessary.


Photo: DeskMakers ReFit

The team at 2010 Office Furniture has decades of expertise helping established corporations and small-to-large sized businesses plan their space to adjust to changes in the marketplace and respond to the question of how to help protect workers in our current pandemic.

Use this time to re-imagine how your office is laid out. Check the 2010 Office Furniture office inspiration center for designs ideas to help create privacy and focus.

More Tips for a Healthy Workplace


Photo: Loftwall Split Space Divider

Remember other key office wellness tips like encouraging your team to take breaks and go for walks outside to keep the blood flowing. Stay hydrated throughout the day and maximize the use of office plants to bring nature indoors and keep the air fresh.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) recommends that businesses give employees flexibility to:

  • Work from home if not feeling well
  • Care for ill family members
  • Return to work without a health provider’s note if the employee has a respiratory illness

Helping to reduce the risks of spreading the coronavirus doesn’t have to halt your office operations. Make the needed changes and get your employees to join in and take ownership for their health and the well-being of those around them.


Photo: OFS Staks Workstations

Making adjustments shows that you care about your team and that you want the best for them.

The organizational consulting firm McKinsey concludes that there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach for offices on how to protect workers against the spread of coronavirus. How offices will look “will be based on what talent is needed, which roles are most important, how much collaboration is necessary for excellence, and where offices are located today, among other factors.”

Get the input you need on planning, ergonomics and desking solutions. The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than 45 years of experience working with large corporations, non-profits and small businesses throughout Southern California.

Contact them with your project needs and questions.

For Your Reference

Here are links to public health agencies in Southern California:

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Orange County Department of Public Health

San Bernardino Department of Public Health

Riverside County Department of Public Health

Read Also: Social Distancing Tips and Adjusting to the Realities of Covid-19 in the Office
Main Photo: Friant Interra
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Friant, National, Senator Group, Loftwall, OFS, DeskMakers

(IMPORTANT NOTICE: The recommendations on this article are NOT from health experts, and have not been medically tested nor proven as an effective cure or prevention for COVID-19 or any other diseases.)