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Acquiring office furniture is often exciting, whether for an office makeover or a completely new office. However, given the many subtleties to consider, buying office furniture can be a tricky affair full of mistakes. While we can learn a lot from mistakes, it is perhaps better to avoid making them in the first place. Here are some common office furniture mistakes that you can avoid.
Picking Low Prices over Quality
It is hard to deny how appealing low-priced items are, especially when working with a tight budget. However, cheap office furniture often fails to provide the quality that their expensive counterparts have to offer. For instance, while two office chairs may look almost indistinguishable, the more expensive chair may be more comfortable and last several years longer than the cheaper chair. You will often get better value for your money by paying extra for more expensive office furniture.
Not Testing the Furniture
One of the mantras you should live by on matters of office furniture is “try before you buy.” Always enquire about the kind of office furniture your prospective dealers have in their respective showrooms. For instance, when buying office furniture from a reputable dealer like Danny’s Desks and Chairs, you can visit their Sunshine Coast store to get a feel of the furniture available.
Check if the office chairs you plan to buy fit and look well with the desks you have in your office or the desks you plan to buy. Testing office furniture before buying is a short but essential process that could save you from purchasing the wrong items and wasting a lot of money.
Picking Aesthetics over Comfort
This is a common mistake people make when buying office chairs. While there are many unique and aesthetically pleasing chairs, they hardly mean anything if they are not comfortable. Always factor in the comfort of the people intended to use the chairs.
It is necessary to have visually appealing office furniture; however, this should not be the entire basis of your decisions. Put yourself in the shoes of someone who sits in that chair for several hours every day, and decide whether it will be a good purchase.
Buying Excess Furniture
Adequately planning for the future is always a good idea. However, this does not imply that buying furniture in excess of your needs is appropriate. In most cases, the manufacturers of your favorite office furniture will continue making them. Hence you can always place more orders in the future if you need to.
If you are contemplating buying more furniture than you need to maximize on a temporary discount, ask the dealer if it is possible to extend the period of your contract by a few more years. Always have this conversation before placing any orders to avoid disappointment due to unclear terms of agreement. Remember, ordering more furniture than you require is a lot easier than selling furniture you never required.
Choosing Inappropriate Fabrics
In most furniture, fabrics are often the least durable part, hence the first to show signs of wear and tear. In areas where the furniture is used more often, e.g., break rooms and lobbies opt for durable and easy to clean fabrics such as Vinyl and Crypton. Low-use areas such as boardrooms can have less durable, yet more visually appealing fabrics such as leather. Mesh fabrics are ideal for work areas since they allow airflow and are relatively durable.
Also, beware of overly trendy fabrics. Trends have short life spans, and there is a likelihood that a manufacturer may discontinue a trendy material, meaning that future furniture may not match the existing furniture’s fabric.
Overlooking Ownership Costs
The price of office furniture is just a single cost factor. Consider other factors such as taxes, freight, installation and maintenance when evaluating office furniture. Review the warranty that your dealer provides, and enquire if the warranty covers both parts and labor costs. For instance, will you cover any costs of fixing an office chair if adjusting its height becomes a problem?
Factor all potential fees into your decisions. This will help you avoid the trap of buying inexpensive furniture that incurs too many expenses during its lifetime.
Inadequate Planning
Like most other investments, impulse buying and not following a plan often lead to regretful decisions. It pays to have an accurate office space drawing and a good furniture plan to assess the furniture needs with certainty. Also, think long-term and avoid overemphasizing design trends that can quickly become obsolete.
