Creating a Touchdown Space to Empower Your Employees

Creating a Touchdown Space OFS LeanTo Lounge
In recent years, a new trend has emerged in office design: touchdown spaces. A touchdown space provides employees with a flexible and versatile working environment.  It allows them to work effectively, efficiently and dynamically. In this article, we’ll explore what touchdown spaces are, the different types, and how they benefit employees.

What is a Touchdown Space?

Because many wonder what the touchdown space meaning is, let’s break it down.  A touchdown space describes a flexible workspace that’s typically laptop-centric and designed for short-term use. These spaces are usually located in high-traffic areas of an office, such as near the reception area or other central location. In some cases in a privately carved out space. Touchdown spaces are designed to be accessible and comfortable.  They’re also designed to cater to employees who are typically on-the-go and need a space to work briefly for an an hour or so, right before their next scheduled task somewhere else.  Functional, comfortable and convenient for everyone, they offer a range of benefits for workers, employers and even guests.

The LeanTo Lounge Seating by OFS is a great example of an informal touchdown setup that can be used by individuals or small group of people.  With comfortable seating, an upholstered high back, and worsurface tablet, its perfect for a private/semi-private work oasis.


Photo: Darran Honey Workspace

Touchdown Space Types

There are several different types of touchdown spaces that can provide employees with a flexible workspace. A popular one are touchdown meeting spaces equipped with audio-visual equipment, whiteboards, and other tools for effective collaboration.  Another type are private working nooks or pods to accommodate individuals to concentrate and work alone.  A lounge, breakroom or cafe booth can also be a touchdown space for relaxed and less concentrated tasks.  And designated reception spaces can be perfect for on the go workers and guests as a touchdown space to catch up on work.

Touchdown Workspaces Allow Flexibility 

A great benefit of office touchdown spaces is that they provide employees a more flexible way of working that encourages them to be more productive at work. Unfortunately, many employees today spend almost all their time at work glued to their workstation or desk.  Traditional office setups typically foster this type of sedentary culture and doesn’t facilitate much inter-office collaboration or movement.  Touchdown spaces provide supplemental work spaces to encourage workers to get up, move around and interact with their peers throughout the day.


Photo: OFS Tangent Modular Lounge

Tangent by OFS is a modular lounge seating that can be configured many different ways in reception or lounge areas.  It’s equipped with power and charging capabilities, as well as table tops and layover tables, to comfortably accommodate workers or guests seeking a touchdown space.

A Touchdown Co-Working Space Promotes Community

An additional benefit of touchdown spaces is that they promote a sense of camaraderie among different groups within an office community.  In traditional office setups, departments are often very much separated and very rarely do they interact .  A touchdown co-working space can help break down divisions among departments by providing common spaces where everyone can go to and work.  This would allow workers to get to know each other better, interact and share ideas.  For remote workers who are not regularly at the office, this is especially important to reconnect with with the company and their office peers.  

Co-working spaces can be informal meeting areas, breakrooms and lounges, and sometimes offer amenities like a staff kitchen, juice bar, library or printing facilities.


Photo: ERG International Beta Table

The ERG International Beta Table is perfect for a touchdown co-working space, and can be equipped with a television screen for group presentations when collaborating with fellow employees.

Happier and More Productive Employees

Touchdown spaces can also help to improve employee well-being and satisfaction.  These days especially, more and more workers report being burnt out from the stress and demands of their routine tasks.  A comfortable and inviting touchdown area apart from their designated desk or workstation can help.  By providing employees with alternate areas to collaborate with others and/or concentrate on work, a change of scenery and pace is provided, as well as physical movement.  This helps to discourage a sedentary work culture, which in turn, foster happier and healthier employees. 

Individual Touchdown Space for Concentrated Work

For many open-plan workspaces where employees work alongside each other in benching workstations, sometimes a touchdown space is necessary for some peace and quiet.  It can be set up away from the busy main floor for individuals to momentarily escape and work with less noise and distraction. 


Photo: Arcadia Co-Op Lounge & Workspace

Arcadia’s Co-Op Lounge Seating is designed as private booth, and can be configured to accommodate a group of people, as well as a single worker.  With comfortable upholstered seating, a generous worksurface table, and great privacy and acoustics, it’s ideal for setting up touchdown stations for employees that need quiet and concentration. 

Overall Benefits of Touchdown Space

To recap, there are many benefits of a touchdown space. These include:

1. Increased Flexibility and Productivity

Happier employees are productive employees.  When you offer workers flexibility by providing them with spaces that cater to their needs, they’re likely to be more energetic, focused and get their tasks done.

2. Improved Collaboration

Touchdown spaces that are designed to be collaborative and flexible allow employees to work together on projects and tasks. This can improve communication and collaboration between different teams and departments.

3. Reduced Stress and Fatigue

By giving employees the freedom to move around and access comfortable and flexible alternate workspaces, they’re less likely to be stressed and fatigued.  Workers who are able to move throughout their day can reduce their overall discomfort and anxiety, which makes them more satisfied, happy and productive.

4. Better Work/Life Balance

Employers should recognize that employees are people too, and that have personal lives they sometimes have to tend to while at work.  In a lot of cases, they need to step out and give attention to a family situation or other personal matter that may suddenly arise.  By providing workers a touchdown space that allows them to go to during their breaks, they’re able to focus on the personal situation at hand, and afterwards can resume work less distracted and more engaged.

Photo: Darran Room Divider Screens

Touchdown Space Design and Touchdown Office Furniture

The touchdown space is an office trend that is gaining more and more popularity in modern offices.  This is especially so after the pandemic.  By providing a flexible and versatile touchdown space design, companies can improve productivity, collaboration, and work-life balance. However, it’s important to note that choosing the right touchdown furniture is key when designing these spaces.  Consult with the team at 2010 Office Furniture to help with your space planning goals and office furniture needs.  2010 Office Furniture has over a half-century of combined experience working with globally recognized corporations, universities, and small businesses throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Read Also: The Benefits of Touchdown Spaces in Office Space Planning and Design
Main Photo: OFS LeanTo Lounge
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia, Darran, ERG International & OFS

Designing a Collaborative Office Space to Ignite Creativity and Productivity at Work

Designing a Collaborative Office Space SitOnIt Seating Collaboration

The collaborative office space is a growing trend in today’s modern workspaces, with its importance and popularity gaining much momentum especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. These spaces are designed to foster teamwork, communication, and creativity among employees. 

What is a Collaborative Space?

What is the collaborative space definition? Collaborative office spaces are specially designed areas where individuals can come together, share ideas, and work towards a common goal. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of collaborative spaces, the type of office furniture needed, and why it’s important to have in the office, especially after Covid.Designing a Collaborative Office Space Arcadia TOOtheLOUNGE Seating
Photo: Arcadia TOOtheLOUNGE Seating

Both Arcadia TOOaPICNIC and TOOtheLOUNGE Seating can provide great setups for a collaborative area.  Their innovative booth-like designs and built-in worksurface tables offer a haven for small groups to share ideas and work, while minting some quiet and privacy.

Designing a Collaborative Office Space Arcadia TOOaPICNIC Lounge
Photo: Arcadia TOOaPICNIC Lounge Seating

Benefits of the Collaborative Office Space

Collaborative spaces provide numerous benefits to employees and the organization as a whole. These benefits include increased creativity, enhanced communication, heightened productivity and improved employee satisfaction.

Inspire Company Creativity

A great advantage of offering a collaborative office space to your employees is having a designated area for them to brainstorm, exchange information and share ideas.  This cultivates creativity and innovation, which then leads to developing new products and services.

Collaborative Office Interiors that Spark Communication

A collaborative workspace helps to break down communication barriers and encourage employees to share their thoughts and ideas openly. This leads to better communication among team members and helps to build strong relationships.

Designing a Collaborative Office Space OFS Lotive Tables
Photo: OFS Lotive Tables

The Lotive Table from OFS is efficient and streamlined, light enough to transport anywhere.  With many whimsical colors available, workers can easily have their own individual Lotive Table set up in front of them as they work together in groups.

Heighten Office Productivity

Setting up a collaborative area with the appropriate collaborative office furniture can provide a conducive environment for employees to work together towards a common goal. This leads to increased productivity and better performance.

Achieve Improved Employee Satisfaction

Smart space planning and the right furniture selection are important.   A comfortable, well-thought out collaborative office layout can help to create a sense of community among employees, leading to improved job satisfaction and engagement.

Designing a Collaborative Office Space Loftwall Rooms Wall System
Photo: Loftwall Rooms Wall System

Loftwall Rooms Wall System can help carve out spaces in your office, to designate areas for collaboration.  With three space models available and nine standard typicals to choose from, you can configure a set up that’s as private or open as you need it to be.

Collaborative Office Furniture

The type of collaborative office furniture needed in a collaborative office space depends on the type of activity that will be taking place in the space. When planning a collaborative office design, some common furniture items that must be considered include:

1. Office Seating: A collaborative office space design require comfortable seating that can accommodate different people and activities. Seating options may include lounge chairs, sofas, and benches.

2. Office Tables: These spaces require tables that can accommodate different types of collaborative work activities. Tables may include occasional or cafe tables, standing tables, and conference tables.

3. Office Storage: A collaborative office space design requires storage options for items such as books, files, and equipment. Storage options may include shelves, cabinets, and drawers.

4. Office Accessories and Technology: Collaborative spaces require accessories and technology that can support collaborative work activities. This may include large screens, video conferencing equipment, and whiteboards.

Designing a Collaborative Office Space Scale 1to1 MonoLink Space Divider
Photo: Scale 1:1 MonoLink Space Divider

Scale 1:1 Marc Marker Board and MonoLink Space Divider are great for brainstorming and sharing ideas, as well as providing separation and privacy.  While the Catalina Work Island from DeskMakers offer a collaborative worksurface with built in storage below.  Its also on wheels for quick impromptu meetings, and can be moved easily from room to room.

Designing a Collaborative Office Space DeskMakers Catalina Work Island
Photo: DeskMakers Catalina Work Island

Importance of Collaborative Spaces After Covid

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we work and interact with each other. As we continue to adjust to the new normal, appropriate covid office furniture in collaborative space design has become more important than ever. Some important reasons for collaborative covid office solutions are: to address ongoing office social distancing that still exist in some offices; improve office flexibility to support remote or work-from-home workers; promote mental health; and inspire company growth and innovation.  Enwork’s Skyline Screen allows social distancing at work while meeting with others by providing clear barricades to be set up on table tops.

1. Social Distancing: With the need for social distancing in some businesses still existing, a specially designed collaborative office space provides a safe environment where employees can work together while maintaining a safe distance.

2. Flexibility: Collaborative spaces provide flexibility in terms of work arrangements. With remote work becoming more common, these spaces provide a space where employees can come together and work on projects when needed.

3. Mental Health: Provide an environment where employees can interact with each other and build relationships. Collaborative spaces help to promote mental health and wellbeing, especially during times of stress and uncertainty, as well as ongoing remote work that typically isolate employees.

4. Innovation: Collaborative spaces provide an environment where employees can come together and share ideas. Oftentimes, it’s the act of interaction and collaboration among peers and colleagues that help spark new discoveries.  This leads to innovation and the development of new products and services.Designing a Collaborative Office Space Rouillard Coast Media Table
Photo: Rouillard Coast Media Table

The Rouillard Coast Media Table provides a flexible and informal collaborative office setup, perfect for video-conferencing and brainstorming with others.  Available in 3 sizes and multiple finishes, you can customize its fabric and colors to match any style. Enjoy its high-quality sound-absorbing properties for great acoustics, and wire management for instant connectivity.

Designing Your Collaborative Office Interiors

Collaborative spaces have become an essential part of modern offices, providing numerous benefits to employees and the organization as a whole.  Remember that the collaborative office layout you design, along with the collaborative space furniture you choose, are critical in creating an office space that doesn’t only look attractive and pleasing—but one that works! 

Need Collaborative Space Ideas?

As we continue to adjust to the new normal, the collaborative office space has become more important than ever, providing a safe environment, flexibility, mental health benefits, and opportunities for innovation.  If you need collaborative space ideas and guidance, the experts at 2010 Office Furniture can help—with more than a combined half-century of working with clients who are among Southern California’s largest corporations, nonprofit organizations, and robust small businesses.

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

Read Also: Design and Plan Your Office for Collaboration and Inspiration
Main Photo: SitOnIt Seating Collaboration Setup
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia, DeskMakers, OFS, Rouillard, Scale 1:1 & SitOnIt Seating

6 Types of Spaces Every Office Needs

6 Types of Spaces Every Office Needs Trendway Standing Height Table

Keep those cubicles up and the office lights on. Why? If you’re thinking work-from-home isn’t working for you and your company, you may be right.  Studies show that there are essential, different types of spaces that make for a productive and positive workplace, that working from home just doesn’t accommodate.

The corporate office remains important because we think more clearly and benefit from collaboration. 

The return to offices after COVID-19 showed that the office setting provides social interaction that individual remote offices can’t.

Researchers also learned that employees were productive in the home setting. 

In conclusion: the two environments don’t need to be mutually exclusive. 

Instead, plan to utilize spaces effectively so team members feel comfortable in the corporate office or the home office. Think through the types of spaces your office needs to help your team function productively.

Offer Welcoming Spaces

Home offices are often pleasurable because you feel welcome and comfortable in a space that you know well. It’s yours. 

Well-planned corporate offices can integrate the elements of home yet maintain an atmosphere where tasks are accomplished. 

Welcoming spaces include colors and furnishings like break areas that have a living room feel. Use bright colors or pleasant earth tones throughout the office space. Fabrics and accessories like throw pillows can give a down-home, be-yourself feel.


Photo: Encore Seating Chance Guest Chairs

Being at home is as comfortable as wearing a pair of old shoes while an office has more rigid expectations and requires equipment that gets the job done. Bring the personal and professional together with a variety of ergonomic chairs like the Friant Amenity Chair or the Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair. Both have lower back support and adjust to the user’s weight and movements. 


Photo: Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chairs

Provide accessories that give workers support while using keyboards and well-lit desks.

Check our Inspiration Center’s Resimercial page to see how tables, lounge furniture, and specially designed chairs lend to collaborative conversations.

Bridge Distant Spaces 

We’ve been convening from long distances long before the pandemic hit, but with quarantine, media rooms have become even more of a necessity.

Provide a setting where your team can access the latest technologies needed for teleconferences and other forms of distance communication by using architectural walls that have character, yet maintain a clean, professional atmosphere.

Different Type of Spaces with Trendway Volo Wall
Photo: Trendway Volo Wall

Enhance Group Spaces

Trends show a continuing reduction in the individual workspace, but an increase in spaces for group work. How should you approach planning your space for either individuals or groups, like ad hoc groups?

Are informal meetings an important part of your company’s culture? If so, remote work can undermine it according to a 2021 article in the Harvard Business Review, Do You Really Need All that Office Space?

Managers “need to think carefully about what role informal interaction plays in their team and how working from home will affect it.”


OFS  Beck Table

Group workspaces can, and should, be welcoming spaces, too. Plenty of quality benching solutions are available. Keep it sleek and simple with the ODS Artiv Open Plan Benching, or create a group setting for personal privacy using acoustic panels with the DARRAN Honey Workspace. 

Different Type of Spaces with DARRAN Honey Workspace
Photo: Darran Honey Workspace

You can have a traditional meeting room or in an open office plan, designate an area for group discussion with the use of specific chairs and modular furniture. 

Mobile whiteboards, plants, and bookcases with artfully placed pillows and books help muffle the sound.

Use Clustered Spaces

An open office design can have a cluster of workstations with privacy screens and mobile or stationary filing cabinets. 

Use office plants to serve as boundaries between other workstations while helping filter the air and deflect sound waves.

Allow for Empty Spaces

Try reading a web page or printed page with huge blocks of text and no white space. 

Sound intriguing? Hardly. You’ll gloss over the page or skip reading it entirely. 

Think of office design like text and images on a web page or in a magazine. Layouts should attract the users and empty or open space has tremendous appeal if used correctly.

Desks and accessories that are simply squeezed together or scattered with no thought to flow or organization create an unappealing space. Concentrating is tough and so is finding personal space to reflect.


Photo: Darran Chameleon Workspace

Empty space can be a strategically designed space to give the office a clean look.

Personal Space

In an atmosphere with daily or weekly deadlines, it’s necessary to have spaces where employees can move away from their desks to work, take calls, or simply sit and refresh. Break rooms or lounge areas can fulfill this purpose for a change of pace.

Different Type of Spaces with OFS Tangent Lounge
Photo: OFS Tangent Lounge

Partner with 2010 Office Furniture – Create Different Type of Spaces

There are many ways to make the office a desirable destination for employees.  Creating different type of spaces is one important one.

The team at 2010 Office has over 50 years of experience advising and supplying the most distinguished corporations, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses in Southern California.

The team will show you how to create a pleasant and productive atmosphere. 

Contact them with your space planning and furnishing needs.

Read Also: NeoCon 2022 Trends: The Future of Office Furniture
Main Photo: Trendway Standing Height Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Darran, Encore Seating, Humanscale, OFS Brands and Trendway

 

Creating Workspaces to Bring Employees and Their Ideas Together

Creating Workspaces to Bring Employees and Their Ideas Together

Designing an office and creating workspaces that spark ideas and innovation is different than creating ones based solely on square footage and placement of workstations.

To get the most from your work environment, think of the office as more than a facility and a collection of desks.

Think of it as a collision center.

Here’s why.

How to Measure the Value of an Office

Offices in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Irvine and around Ontario aren’t cheap. For the foreseeable future, many employees will work remotely for at least one or two days per week. The amount of money you’re paying per square foot could seem like a waste of money. You may want to get out of a lease if you have one or downsize in some other way.

Create workspaces that become a place of engagement. Unused spaces could be places for new opportunities.

Consider how the environment is currently set up, and see if it really brings about the interactions that can propel your company forward to meet your specific goals.

The value of an office is more than what you pay for—it’s how the space is planned and whether or not it allows for people coming together easily and naturally.

The work environment can be engineered to bring about desired outcomes.

The Office as a Casual Communication Tool

In recent decades, there have been some interior design changes in buildings such as open ceilings where the duct work is visible among others. In comparison, the tools we use to work have changed drastically.

Even though surveys show people enjoy the benefits of remote working, creating workspaces that leverage the power of community and allow casual conversation will always be attractive to employees.


Photo: Allermuir Jinx Lounge

Why casual?

Imagine you’re working on a project and you feel stymied. When you pause to take a break, you get up for a drink or a snack and your mind relaxes.

During a casual conversation with another team member, you might bring up the problem while you’re away from the pressure of the moment. You’re not tense, and solutions come to mind.

An article in the Harvard Business Review, “Workspaces that Move People,” notes that “The team’s break area becomes a crucial collision space. At one call center, the company expanded the break room and gave reps more time to hang out there with colleagues. Paradoxically, productivity shot up after the change. Away from their phones, the reps could circulate knowledge within the group.”

Creating Workspaces with Collision Spaces

Office spaces that bring co-workers together in face-to-face interactions are known as “collision spaces.”

The seemingly informal areas allow for a free flow of dialogue and help people process. In a more formal setting, like a conference room during a team meeting, stronger personalities, or those with authoritative titles, often rule the day—and the outcomes.


Photo: Stylex Open Office Lounge and Workstation

Many times, employees don’t speak up because they’re afraid of saying the wrong thing in front of others.

However, in a place where someone can sit and relax with a pad of paper and pen, or easily cradle a laptop, there’s less pressure to perform.

The placement of furniture is one way to create an informal, collaborative area that leads to brainstorming.

Photo: OFS Kintra Table, Stylex Free Address 2.0 Open Office and Global River Lounge

Have comfortable lounge chairs with plenty of personal space between each one, but stagger the direction they’re facing. Use furnishings that are easy to re-arrange so chairs can be brought closer together or turned away from each other for maximum privacy.

Take a new approach with cubicles.

The Benefits of Today’s Cubicles

Casual conversations don’t only have to occur in informal areas.

Departments can plan collaborative spaces using the many solutions that encourage focused communication. Say you have workstations attached together in pods, like the HON Adobe Workstation.


Photo: HON Abound Workstation

And rather than have a more formal conference room, you have one cubicle that’s set apart for sessions that can either be planned or take place on the spur-of-the-moment.

You can set up a cubicle that has plenty of space for a table and a few chairs. The Friant System 2 Workstation is a good example. Panels can be installed so that there are three walls and an opening, so it has privacy with a friendly feeling.


Photo: Friant Systems 2 Workspace

When space is planned for effective interactions, then the office can become a desirable destination. Work and meetings can be done remotely, but the missing ingredient, notes the International Association of Independent Accounting Firms, is the ability to have those prized moments of unexpected, but useful, conversation.

It’s a way to capture the entrepreneurial spirit and keep morale high. The office becomes a center for synergy that lead to solutions and positive outcomes.

Get an Expert Perspective on Creating Workspaces

Arrange your office to get the maximum amount of productivity from your employees when creating workspaces for your different departments. The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than 50 years of experience planning spaces for corporations, centers of higher education and small-to-medium sized businesses in Southern California.

Contact them to share about your possible needs and projects.

Read Also: Designing an Office to Support Your Employees
Main Photo: National Mio Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, Friant, HON, National, OFS, & Stylex

Equipping Employees for Both the Corporate Office and Home Office

Equipping Employees for Both the Corporate Office and Home Office

Today’s corporate and home office environments will remain dramatically changed in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Are you seeing it in your work setting?

Expect a hybrid trend to continue. Employees will work up to a few days each week in the corporate setting and then put in the remaining hours each week at a home office or other remote location.

Savvy executives and office managers will plan and design their spaces so employees will be properly equipped at home and in the work setting.

Read on to see how you can create spaces that are productive and also meet expectations for workers and the company.

Why Employees Want to Work at Home

Surveys shows that office workers have a lot of practical reasons for working remotely at home or another location.

Reason 1: Plenty of quality furnishings are available for home offices like height adjustable desks, ergonomic chairs and accessories to create a professional setting.

Reason 2: They don’t face stressful commutes and they save money by not going to the office. You know the stories of what it’s like battling traffic every morning and late afternoons on freeways like the 405 through West LA and the 210 into Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.

The people surveyed estimate that savings in gas and other personal expenses saves them up to $ 5,000 a year.

Reason 3: Concerns about Covid—and this comes in a distant third.


Photo: OFS Aptos Private Office

Here’s a breakdown from a survey of 2,000 adults that Flexjobs, an employment agency, did in April 2021:

  • 84% of people didn’t want a daily commute
  • 75% personally saved money
  • 32% still had Covid concerns
  • 26% enjoyed being closer to their pets and home responsibilities
  • 15% said a home office made childcare easier

Another reason workers like their home office is they don’t have to wear face coverings. Physical distancing and mask requirements are easing up in California beginning mid-June. But according to updated guidelines from the state’s department of public health, masks are supposed to be worn in indoor settings:

“In indoor settings outside of one’s home, including public transportation, face coverings continue to be required regardless of vaccination status…”

Exceptions are made for people working alone in a closed room or office.

The on-going regulations may sway people to work from home.

What CEOs Want for the Corporate Office

Not surprisingly, CEOs and other executives surveyed wanted their people at corporate workstations, although they understood that workers got used to remote locations. In a survey conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers in January 2021, most corporate leaders agreed that a hybrid office model can work.

Here’s the breakdown of how many days the CEOs want their employees to spend in the office:

  • 5 days a week—21%
  • 4 days a week—18%
  • 3 days a week—29%
  • 2 days a week—15%
  • 1 day a week— 5%
  • Only 1 – 3 days monthly—6%

The most pressing concern for executives was keeping their teams aligned with company culture. Too many days spent working remotely would lead to drifting and a loose association with the company’s goals and values.

Companies can attract employees by offering quality settings that can’t be duplicated remotely. The other draw of a corporate setting is the social interaction. Make the office a positive place to be.


Photo: HON WestHill Lounge

The Power of the Flexible Office

A property management authority was commenting on commercial office leases in Long Beach and remarked “that a lot of tenants that don’t really know what the world looks like — don’t have a good grasp of, once we’re out of this pandemic, what their office space needs are going to look like.”

Products made for a flexible workspace design are more important than ever.

If you need more workstations, or fewer, then consider solutions like the DeskMakers TeamWorx Open Plan Desking. It’s easy to configure and comes with many different privacy options.


Photo: Deskmakers Teamworx Workstation

The Attraction of Ambiance in the Office

A popular office trend in workspace environments is known as Resimercial, which means combining the best of a home office and residential setting with the durability and demands of a commercial space.

The lines between work and home are more blurred than ever.

It’s acceptable for office lounges to look like living rooms when they’re properly furnished and arranged well.

You can also create an upbeat office setting where people want to be. Use primary colors and furniture with clean lines. Triangular shapes and circles add depth and intrigue.


Photo: Arcadia Contract Domo Benches

Add plenty of indoor plants to bring in the best of nature and make sure a maximum amount of natural light is flowing into the space.

The Support of the Healthy Office

Show employees that they’re safe and well-protected with mobile glass screens and an array of space dividers. Private and semi-private office cubicles are useful for distancing while still offering a sense of collaboration.


Photo: HON Ignition Chair

Get the Ideas You Need for the Corporate Office and Home Office

Smart space planning is essential to laying out an office setting for maximum productivity and employee engagement. The team at 2010 Office Furniture has over 50 years of combined experience working with office managers and executives at the most distinguished companies in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Inland Empire.

Contact them with your project needs and questions.

Read Also: How to Help Protect Workers in Open Office Floor Plans from Covid-19
Main Photo: Arcadia Contract Avelina Table
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia Contract, Deskmakers,HON & OFS

(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.)

Designing Your Office for Better Inter-Office Communication

Designing Your Office for Better Inter-Office Communication

Communicating well in an inter-office setting is more than just having a conversation or written memos exchanged between two or more people. Well-designed and planned spaces promote collaboration and sharing ideas.  This leads to an in-depth understanding of goals and objectives and how to reach them boosts productivity and morale. The end result leads to satisfying outcomes for customers and for employees.  Read on below and keep key furnishings in mind that impact inter-office communication.

Re-Imagine Office Walls

Walls are barriers. They define space and through much of the 20thcentury, walls stood between executives and the rest of the company.  The open-office concept has brought the walls down, but sometimes they’re necessary. For large open-office spaces, the right kinds of architectural walls can provide quiet zones where teams can pore over documents and plans without disturbing other workers.  Manufacturer Trendway has three distinct types of easy-install walls: the Clear Wall with options related to clear glass or glazing; the Trendwall, a solution that’s more sustainable than drywall; and the Volo Wall which features attractive movable panels.  Remember to use walls to guide inter-office communication, not prevent it.

Replace the Traditional Cubicle

Cubicles now offer personalization and customization that are more appealing than the old-school, traditional gray ones. Today’s office cubicle options define space, allow for privacy, but invite collaboration. In addition, many have removable panels as the need for privacy changes.  A plus is choosing cubicles that maximize the flow of natural light, which is known to be a morale booster.  The Friant System 2 has attractive colors and styles that are easy to configure and reconfigure.  Initiate Workstation by Hon offers durability and long-term value. It provides an appealing space for individuals and yet offers room for quick huddles and conversations, contributing to improved inter-office communication.

Create Conversation Spaces

Open, informal spaces can encourage conversation and flow of ideas. Or they can be areas to delve into topics that are mission-critical.  A wide variety of creative seating arrangements are available to meet the personality of any office.  Coact from First Office fits in offices that have flexible seating arrangements or structured private offices. It balances structure and freedom.  Supportive and cushioned chairs are available with the Domo Lounge by Arcadia. Tablet and power port accessories are also available to power your electronic devices.  You can also customize tables to accommodate spreading out charts and supporting documents.  Remember to match furnishings with your company’s communication style to encourage collaboration and positiveinteractions.

Inter-Office Communication

Checking off these items above will surely contribute to better inter-office communication, and can help integrate it into your company culture — all in all promoting an office that his more productive, successful and happy.

Enhancing Office Communication for Best Results

Enhancing Office Communication for Best Results

Sharing ideas, tackling tough issues, and simply engaging in casual banter is all part of office communication. Laying out workstations and lounge areas to support effective dialogue requires planning.  A lack of information flow gets teams off alignment (as noted by this article with a survey from Clear Company). Achieving the best use of space that fosters effective communication can build consensus and keep the team tracking toward the same goals.  Here are several types of communication and how a layout can enhance each one.

Project-Focused Sharing

A collaborative team faces a tight deadline and needs adequate time and space to give and take input. Open plan workstations like Teamworx by DeskMakers and Novo by Friant allow for small teams to gather in collaborative workspaces.  This style of workflow provides good office communication that’s ideal for brainstorming, planning and charting progress. An office set-up such as this will allow for coming together easily and then retreating to implement ideas.

Open Meetings

Great news such as promotions and landing large accounts are always more easily shared and celebrated. Addressing tough topics at the office however is more delicate. Promoting office communication with open meetings that allow for honest discussions help keep teams together in good times and in lean moments.  Office arrangements that include custom conference tables and multi-purpose chairs or adaptable lounge areas can enhance this office communication need.

Active Listening

Active listening is challenging in an office environment that’s busy and filled with phone calls and client meetings. It is especially difficult in an open office setting. Create a space for small groups or one-on-one discussions to take place without feeling like everyone is listening in. Private and semi-private seating arrangements such as Qove and Heya by OFS, Co-Op by Arcadia, and Coact by First Office are great examples of lounges that provide a focused space.  These types of setups promote focused conversation and effective office communication.

Keep Moving

The most natural environment where employees interact is the staff lounge or lunchroom.  One way to enhance office communication here is by promoting staff to move and get their blood flow going. Consider a multi-use product like the Nomad Sport Conference Table which can be converted and used for a ping-pong match. This can let off steam and lead to a robust time of sharing ideas and solutions.  Remember, communication is most effective when there are breaks and spaces for people to move around and absorb what’s been shared. Lounge areas are ideal for escapes and offer places to mill around, socialize, relax and re-focus.

Implement Better Office Communication

If you are interested in designing your office to promote better office communication, please don’t hesitate to ask us for help.  Our office furniture experts are here to guide you and help you every step of the way.

Read also: Office Communication Best Practices: Goal Setting

Image Source: Scale 1:1 Nomad Table