Maybe you're stuck in a cubicle without a lot of room. Maybe you're looking at your home office and wondering if there's a way to arrange things more efficiently. Whatever your reasons for thinking about space-saving office furniture, here are just a few tips for redecorating, and reorganizing.
As the centerpiece of your office, your desk should be functional in a way that encourages productivity while also being comfortable and convenient enough that it isn't a chore to remain there for hours.
While "mini desks" or "micro desks" are a thing, they can fail at the comfortable rule. They can also lack the storage space necessary for someone working with a lot of documents or using a lot of office supplies.
A better alternative is a desk with a modular design. This is a desk that can be arranged or assembled in different ways depending on your needs at the time. Here are a few examples of modular elements:
A key feature of modular desks is that their unused elements can be stashed or set aside in a way that doesn't take up space. For example, a pull-out tray might slide underneath the top of the desk and take up no room when it isn't needed.
You can also search for uniquely designed desks like the "floating desk" that mounts to the wall without legs. Its architecture is unusual, but it can be a great space saver. Another option is a "corner desk" that takes advantage of every square inch in the room by kitty-cornering the opposing wall.
Your desk chair is another area where you don't want to skimp on comfort. At the same time, however, you might not have room for a plush, thickly padded leather throne.
To save on space, you should look for desk chairs that embrace a minimalist style. They can still be ergonomic by offering things like cushioned seats, adjustable height controls, and lumbar support, but they should be basic in their shape and design.
Armless chairs, for example, get rid of a feature that many people don't use that much anyway. Backless chairs are less common, but they can be an option for those with good posture. You might also look for small or modular backs rather than full-body ones.
As for the seats themselves, don't feel like you're limited to the flat, square and traditional seats of yesteryear. Bucket seats can feel luxurious even when the chair itself has a sparse, no-nonsense design. Mesh or fabric seats can offer a lot of give. Bamboo seats can add a bit of flair to your office decor as well.
If you want to forego a desk chair entirely, purchase a standing desk. You'll save space and enjoy health benefits all at once.
Modular shelving is usually collapsible or foldable in some way. It assumes that you won't need it all of the time, so you can take it down, bend it in half or hook it against the wall to free up floor space.
Again, it's important to break out of any preconceived notions of what your furniture "should" look like. Traditional shelves might be flat, horizontal platforms, but today's models can be everything from floating geometric circles to metal boxes or cubes with stackable properties. You can even find things like hanging, ceiling-mounted shelves that require no wall space whatsoever.
It's also quite common for modular shelves to be built directly into desks, bookcases, file cabinets, and other office furniture.
File cabinets for small spaces can be difficult. There's only so much that you can do when bulky stacks of paper are involved.
One trick is to take advantage of your vertical space. Go ahead and buy high, unreachable file cabinets for storing documents that you don't need that much. When retrieval becomes necessary, you can fetch a footstool.
Another possibility is stackable boxes and drawers that you can pile anywhere in the room. You don't have to buy something that's actually labeled "file cabinet." Lots of storage containers can be repurposed as file cabinets if you're willing to get creative.
Last but not least, consider creating your own file cabinets in the unused spaces of your office and office furniture. For example, if there's a big gap between your knees and the bottom of your desk, you can convert that empty space into a document drawer.
What if you aren't furnishing an office for personal use? What if you're furnishing an entire floor filled with employees who need functional, productive workspaces?
The good news is that the right kind of office furniture can save space while also being comfortable and cost-efficient.
For seating, consider things like benches or beam seats rather than dozens of individual office chairs that will keep wheeling into each other. For tasks like printing, copying, and scanning, buy all-in-one machines rather than separate units.
Desktop computers can be upgraded into laptops and tablets. Monitors on the table can become monitors mounted to the wall. File cabinets spread horizontally on the floor can become file cabinets stacked vertically in the corner.
At the end of the day, the size of your office is much less important than the way that you furnish it. Even small spaces can have big energy when things are arranged efficiently, productively, and stylishly. Don't be afraid to play around with different types and layouts of office furniture until you find what works for you.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.