Buying furniture for a business is very different to buying furniture for a home. The type of furniture you buy could have an impact on the productivity of your business and your company image. Below are just a few tips for helping you to buy the right furniture. 

Shop online

Most physical furniture stores focus on furniture for home use. Some will sell office chairs, desks and other furniture – but you may not always have access to the best range or the best prices.

When you shop online, you have access to a range of sites that specialize in commercial furniture. Many of these have a huge range and much better prices that you’d find at a general furniture store. The internet is also a great place to find niche commercial furniture such as school furniture or restaurant furniture. 

Don’t skimp on quality

The quality of your furniture can be a good indicator as to the quality of your company. Even if the furniture is comfortable, it needs to look good quality and function well.

This is why you should be careful when buying used furniture that may be partially damaged. While this furniture can be a lot more affordable, it could create a poor impression for customers – you may then be more critical of the quality of your product or service. Always inspect used furniture thoroughly before buying it – when buying online, consider picking such furniture up in person so that you can examine it first.

Quality matters to your employees too. Employees are going to feel less proud working for a company if the equipment is low quality – whether it’s an office chair or a break room chair. 

Prioritise health and safety

You also don’t want your furniture causing injury to anyone. Most commercial furniture is built to be very safe, but it is not always built to protect against injuries from long-term use.

Office chairs are the biggest culprit. Your employees will spend a long time each day sat on these chairs, and so they need to be comfortable – not just to keep employees happy short-term but to reduce repetitive strain injuries. Features such as height adjustment, adjustable headrests and adjustable armrests can allow employees to find the perfect level of comfort to reduce straining. 

Be space-efficient

While you may like the idea of a large executive desk, it may not be practical in a small office. Nowadays, desks typically don’t need to be large because there’s much less stuff being kept on them. Of course, you still want enough arm room and legroom so that employees are comfortable. 

It could be worth thinking carefully about your workplace layout before you buy furniture. Oddly shaped workplaces may benefit from custom desks that can fit snugly into corners or around pillars to maximise space. 

Reflect your brand

Think about your brand image when selecting furniture. Some furniture may be more fun and playful, while other furniture may have a more serious and sophisticated tone – it’s important that your furniture matches the tone of your business.

Colors may be possible to incorporate into commercial furniture. In these cases, you should consider your brand colors. You could also consider adding signs with logos to reception desks.