Understanding Why Cubicles Are Effective and How We Design Them for Your Office When our truck or van pulls up to your office for a free consultation, you’ll know when we’re there because “Cubicle Office Environments” is printed on the side of our vehicles. For most people, “COE” is just another company name among thousands […]

“The breakroom.” That phrase carries with it a certain meaning, depending on where you work. In some workplaces, it’s a counter in the midst the work area; maybe a coffee pot offering overcooked dregs and some powdered creamer. In other offices, it could be a separate room with an Office-esque vibe: vending machines, a few […]

It’s the little things that count, right? Over the past few years, much-publicized research has emerged alerting office workers across the world of the dangers of hunching over, staying seated for long hours and hammering away at keyboards without the right support. Another interesting trend: customization. Some of the most popular movements within office design […]

No matter your profession, you should be able to take a few seconds during the day to sit back and relax. Those few delicious moments can serve as a quick rejuvenation, or at least time enough to offer your mind some respite as your office chair welcomes you into temporary bliss. But, as we’ve discovered […]

What comes to mind when you think of the word “veneer”? We’re guessing it’s not necessarily positive, and rightly so. Poorly constructed veneer has been the bane of offices, schools and universities across the country for decades. Which one of us doesn’t have memories of thin veneer being picked away to reveal the grainy particle […]

Transforming a workplace into a productive, creative environment can be daunting. In order to do so effectively, there is a plethora of factors to consider including desired results, aesthetics and employee well-being. A particular organization’s definition of productivity and creativity depends on the particular industry at hand. Employees must be comfortable in a space to […]

This month we launched an important part of our business: leasing office furniture. Having a leasing arm at COE is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, not only because it’s a need we hear about from our clients, but also because we know the first-hand benefits of leasing office furniture instead of […]

Standing desks are nothing new.   In fact, they go back hundreds of years to famous statesmen like Winston Churchill and Thomas Jefferson. They were also the preferred creativity platform of authors Ernest Hemingway and Charles Dickens.   Since the 19th century, standing desks have gone through cycles of popularity and obscurity. Why they came […]

The standing desk – such a disruptor. Or so you think. Over the past ten years, standing desks have become more and more popular, partly because they’re so different than the cubicles most office workers are used to, but also because studies have shown that sitting for long hours during the day is literally hazardous […]

The breakroom is no longer an afterthought. As companies have moved toward a more employee-focused philosophy of operation, the breakroom has emerged as an opportunity for engagement and connection. It is no longer the domain of faded furniture, old coffee and yellowish fluorescent lights. Industry experts have encouraged companies to go all-out in the breakroom, […]

We’re one quarter into 2017 and, if you’ve been keeping an eye on office trends, you know what’s happening. If not, don’t worry; that’s a job we enjoy taking on. Now, we know that office furniture isn’t really seen as a “beautiful” thing, but there is a certain amount of elegance to the way that […]

Part of what makes our work so important is the undisputed link between how your office is organized and how your employees perform. An essential aspect of workplace organization is privacy – employees perform at the creative peak when they feel like they have their own space. Another key here is community. A well-designed workplace […]

Imagine yourself on a job interview and you’re getting a tour of your prospective company’s facilities. The cubicles aren’t so inspiring, but they’ll do. The reception area was Spartan, yet refined. HR’s offices were, well, HRish. But then you round and a corner and the person giving you the tour of the premises says, “Aaaaand […]

You’ve decided it’s time for a change. Your company’s identity has taken a turn for the better over the past year, your branding has transformed and you want the inside of your office to reflect the momentum that’s taking place outside its walls. We specialize in helping you decide how to make that happen. Part […]

If you’ve stopped by our website to shop for office furniture, you’ve probably noticed we offer desks in two different types of material: laminate and wood veneer. Knowing the difference between the two isn’t common knowledge; many times people use the terms interchangeably. Just knowing the difference between laminate and veneer is only part of […]

Anyone who has spent long hours in an office chair can relate to the back pain that can go along with it. Putting too much stress on your spine can also lead to potential medical problems. For these reasons, the office furniture industry has embraced the use of ergonomic design in today’s modern office chairs, […]

With an overwhelming percentage of the working force operating in offices, many businesses are looking for the healthiest, most comfortable, and most productive work spaces to offer their employees. This applies to more than quality lighting and regular breaks – office workers will spend the majority of their careers sitting down at their desks, and […]

When someone is just starting out in a new business venture, their running funds and allowable expenses are meticulously allotted out in every detail. When it comes to one of the most expensive start-up expenses such as purchasing office furniture, saving money is always going to be a top priority. The more money one can […]

Purchasing office furniture can be a daunting task. Luckily, there is a wealth of choices in the market today, along with new and innovating achievements in design within the industry. Standing desks have continued to be a popular office furniture item, which purports to enhance worker productivity. But do they? With all the new innovations […]

There are many options available in today’s market when it comes to choosing office furniture for your new business. But what are the differences between new, used, refurbished or remanufactured office furniture? And which choice is best for promoting a happy, productive working environment. This article will touch upon these subjects, and shed some useful […]

Planning the style, functionality, and characteristics of your new office furniture are important financial decisions that need to be done right the first time, in order to avoid a case of disheartening buyer’s remorse later.  Listed in this article are three major tips that cover some essential aspects of choosing the right office furniture that […]

As Robert De Niro once said, “If it’s the right chair, it doesn’t take too long to get comfortable in it.”  However, many of us are forced into using uncomfortable chairs at work.  Instead of the chair molding itself to our body, we are forced to mold our bodies to our chairs.  As a result, […]

Whether you’re setting up a new office, remodeling your old space, or moving to a new location, you’re going to need some office furniture. There are a plethora of choices available to you, there’s no doubt about that. There are high-end, mid-range, budget, used and refurbished options in most areas. One type that you may […]

When you begin your business, moving into your first bricks and mortar space is a huge step.  Sometimes in order to achieve that step, you must make sacrifices, such as much less overall square footage in office space in order to keep down the monthly overhead. Running a business out of a smaller than expected […]

When budgets are tight (and they normally are,) it can be easy to prioritize other things over the desks that you and your colleagues work at. If they are still standing and haven’t actually pinned anyone with a splinter, people are inclined to ignore them. This is really unfortunate. Desks are important tools in our box. Having […]

Deciding on the type of furniture that best suits your office space in terms of size and shape is only part of the equation. It must also provide your employees with a productive and comfortable place to work. In the past, that meant a private office with a solitary desk, chair and extra storage furniture. […]

In today’s modern world, careers of every kind are making offices their home base. An office is where you will spend the majority of your working hours, making it an area which should be personal, functional, and efficient. Whether your office is an entire room or a small cubical, having it operate at its full […]

Creating a space where your staff and visitors can feel comfortable, confident and engaged is one of the most important things a business needs to consider. It’s great having plenty of room but if you are not using it effectively and maximizing potential you could be losing out on a number of levels. Are your […]

Whether you are relocating your business or renovating your office, there often comes a time when you have to face the fact that you have more furniture than you need. Used office furniture allows you to sustainably dispose of unwanted office furniture without having to put unwanted cubicles or file cabinets in the trash. If you […]

As a business owner, it is important to have a plan for everything, right down to what happens the day someone sits down too hard on a chair or when a leg is kicked out from under the conference room table. The other side of that, of course, is that you can’t spend too much […]

Conference tables give an office a professional look. They also make it easier for workers to cooperate with each other by providing a working space to share. Conference tables are an investment which pays dividends every day. With all that they do for you, it makes sense to preserve and maintain them as best you can. […]

Having the wrong desk for a job can cause frustration, inefficiency, and can even cause long-term physical problems. To avoid this, you need to keep a few things in mind when selecting desks for your office or workplace. Here are the top three factors that make a difference in whether a desk will be a […]

While buying used office furniture can allow you to save money and stretch a limited budget, it’s critical to ensure that a piece meets your needs before you buy it. Otherwise, you risk spending more money in the long run by replacing poor purchases with other used items. Ask these 4 questions before you buy. Why are you […]

Conference room tables set the tone in offices. They dominate the room and become the focus of many tasks. This is why picking the right one for your company is a tricky business and takes some planning. The first thing a purchaser must consider is how many people will need to sit at the table. There […]

Organizing your business notes, charts and discussion questions, is very important in order to have a successful corporate meeting or training session. Most people do not realize that the room layout is just as important. By using conference tables, you can create different environments that suit your meeting type. Here are three different possible setups. 1) […]

This summer, the Industrial Designers Society of America announced that the Herman Miller Locale concept won the International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) in the Office & Productivity category. While more than two dozen awards were handed out, this one has high relevance for businesses that are interested in improving the bottom line. How Locale Came […]

For a solution called “Quiet Spaces”, the new architectural offering from Steelcase is certainly making a lot of noise in the office furniture industry. This manufacturer has created many notable designs for the “cubicle era” and continued its success with the transition to workstations for the open office after the walls started coming down. Now, […]

The NeoCon 2014 Editors Choice selections are featured here for our final blog post in this series. This is certainly office furniture for the discerning eye. The pieces range from thoughtful to dramatic to whimsical. The only underlying theme this year seems to be the people-centric nature of the furnishings. It’s about more than how […]

This week, we’re featuring a mashup of some of the light and lovely designs on display at NeoCon 2014. While some gold winners were plush and luxurious, these items are streamlined and modernistic. Nucraft: Kai Kai is named in honor of a Hawaiian word for “ocean”. In fact, it does look a bit like a […]

This week’s NeoCon 2014 gold winners demonstrate a firm grasp on the concept of shared spaces. It’s all about the lounge and the conference room. Whether employees are gathering for a mandatory meeting or voluntary collaboration, they should be served with the best furniture. Lounge Furniture It’s a bench. No, it’s a worktable. Or is […]

It’s week #2 in our tour of NeoCon 2014 Gold winners. This time, we’ll browse a selection of supporting office furniture—those items that fill the spaces between desks. While these don’t get as much attention as cubicles or traditional workstations, they serve an important role. First up are the new storage systems. File & Mobile […]

The sit-to-stand trend is only one way for people to get in a workout at work. Office chair exercise accessories allow employees to enjoy movement while they stay seated. Here are three pieces of equipment that can transform a traditional workstation into a miniature fitness center. What’s Under Your Desk? The “Cubii” from Fitness Cubed […]

Is it time to revamp your employee break room or collaborative lounge area? Consider some of the new designs that debuted at NeoCon 2014 this week. They’ll shift how you think about the traditional office lounge chair. There’s definitely something for every taste, from sporty to modern to zany. A Catchall Design The Mitt chair […]

The last thing employees want to see on their annual performance review is an accusation of being lazy. But spending some time in a horizontal position at work isn’t necessarily a problem. It might actually help people be more productive. Let’s see how more work could get done when employees lie down on the job. […]

The physical office building is one of a company’s greatest assets and investments as well as a substantial source of liability. If the facility is well designed, properly maintained, and used to its fullest potential, all is well. But when it is in disrepair, the workplace can become unpleasant or even hazardous. If space is […]

Last week, we took a look at what the “Digital Natives” in Generation Y expect from a user-friendly workspace. This week, we’ll put together a sample collection for the modern office environment—the all-important lounge area. Don’t let the name fool you. Serious work can be performed here if the furnishings support the way younger employees […]

Recently, we explored some pretty cool DIY hacks for office desks and chair. But today, it’s time to see how the pros do it. There’s more and more high tech office furniture on the market each year, making life (and work) easier. Stir Kinetic Desk Breathes for You Not really. But the Stir does pretty […]

I often cringe when I walk into my office and turn on the lights. The fluorescent bulbs make work in a small space seem that much more like work. My alternative has earned my workspace the title “the bat cave,” because I firmly and proudly hold onto as much natural light as I can. I […]

While carving up and modifying office furniture at work is frowned upon, there’s nothing stopping you from experimenting with some home office furniture hacks. Here’s a roundup of some of the ways hackers are adding electronic relevance to everyday desks and task chairs. USB Hub – Office Makeover Edition From John Edgar Park comes this […]

  Maximize Workplace Comfort with Correct Ergonomics The goal of ergonomics is to design a workplace environment that allows you to do your job in the most natural position.  Advantages include maximizing work efficiency, preventing repetitive injuries, and reducing sick leave.  Simple changes in your work environment can allow you to support your body in a more […]

If you spend eight hours a day in the office, adding a plant to your workspace can help add a festive splash of color to your desk. Now that’s it’s officially spring, you’ll have access to plenty of plants. But what plants are good for the office? Obviously, you don’t want anything too messy — […]

Will it meet or exceed our expectations? According to a LinkedIn survey that was turned into a charming infographic by Needa Shredder (yes, they sell shredders), workers have certain expectations for what things will look like in 2017. Among the items they think will be obsolete are Rolodexes, fax machines, and cassette tapes. That’s probably […]

Does going to the office make your employees feel blue? They might feel differently if they had a Haworth workspace equipped with Bluescape. This product is the result of a joint effort by Obscura Digital and Haworth. It’s a good example of the kind of “intelligent office design” that’s been sweeping the office furniture industry […]

Sometimes, a cluttered workspace can clutter your mind. Whether you work in a tiny cube or an executive office suite, it’s important to keep things tidy so that you can reach your maximum level of productivity. One way to check and see whether or not your setup is efficient is to take the three-minute test. […]

Personalize Your Cubicle With Accent Furniture! When you’re at work for 8 to 10 hours a day, things can start to get a little dull– but what if your cubicle was decorated to better reflect your personality? Taking the time to add a touch of personality to your work area can make a great difference […]

Today’s guest post is from S. Arefin, a small office customer relationship management specialist who works for an online CRM company, the CleverTim. Arefin shares advice about the “big 3” factors that make your office space effective and enjoyable. Do you work solo in a small home based office? Do you have just a few […]

It’s been a few weeks since the first post in this series, so it’s high time we returned to our tour of the best Systems Furniture at NeoCon 2013. We’ve put together a collection of very modern concepts for your enjoyment. This week’s theme is workstations that were designed around office task chairs. Hocus Pocus, […]

Now that the dust has settled and participants have started to process the NeoCon 2013 office furniture wonderland on display in Chicago, there are plenty of good news articles about the show. Here’s a quick roundup from across the web showcasing a few of the cool designs on display. Chicago Business The convention may be […]

Last week, we gave some bragging space to Steelcase. But Herman Miller did even better, bringing in its own collection of awards at NeoCon 2013. The company’s booth and showroom was recognized as the best place to visit in the entire convention. You can see HM’s “Living Office” concept page here and even download the […]

You know there will be dozens of attendees live blogging and tweeting the NeoCon 2013 contract furniture convention in a few days. Right now, it’s still about the anticipation. The trends are already being scrutinized intensely to pick out the new direction for office furniture. Here are some juicy bits of gossip from around the […]

At NeoCon 2013, systems furniture is really showing off its curves. We’re spotting this trend all over the place from full sized workstations to small occasional work areas. In a world where office footprints are all squares and rectangles, this isn’t the best way to fit the most people into the smallest possible area. However, […]

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article about the uptick in demand for faux residential furniture. This stuff is made of cardboard, plastic and cloth. Each piece folds or rolls up into a tidy package for storage or shipping and can then be expanded to normal size for installation. These fake furnishings are apparently […]

It’s hard to believe that another year has passed and NeoCon 2013 in Chicago is just around the corner. As always, Cubicles Office Environments will be showcasing information about dozens of award winning designs right here on our blog. It’s the next best thing to being at the show! This year, NeoCon will be playing […]

Have you ever wondered what office furniture would look like if it was designed by a young person with boundless energy? Darryl Agawin, a med student turned product designer shows that the stereotype of the “couch potato” generation has it all wrong. Generation Y may actually be the first to crack the problem of the […]

Are you trying to find the right balance between your closed and open office furniture systems? There’s a very specific “typology” that encompasses both formal and informal, business and relaxation, work and hospitality, enclosure and collaboration. These furnishings are both less than and more than cubicles. They are designed to bring people together while also […]

These days, all manufacturers regularly use CAD and other design and manufacturing software to create office furniture. If they didn’t, we wouldn’t have the chance to enjoy delightful new workstation tools or the latest ergonomic task chairs. But some companies are taking this practice to a whole new level. At the “Contemporist” website, you can […]

We all know that the big office buzzword for the last few years has been collaboration. But most organizations are still trying to figure out how to support the serendipitous encounters that are supposed to deliver so much value for modern businesses. Knoll is attempting to fill this support role with the Toboggan sled desk/chair […]

Here at Cubicles Office Environments, we’ve covered a lot of controversies and scandals involving elected officials and their office furniture. Politicos have been raked over the coals for: Spending too much money on new furnishings Spending money to store old items instead of getting rid of them Failing to store or reuse old pieces Replacing […]

At Cubicles Office Environments, we always look forward to seeing the great office furniture designs that are debuted at NeoCon. But we don’t have to wait a full year to feast our eyes on office designs if we cast a wider net. If you want to tour fantastic, award winning spaces from Moscow to St. […]

Of all the companies you would assume to be in favor of telecommuting, Yahoo is probably near the top of the list. But the new CEO of this mega-corporation is putting the kibosh on this practice. In the coy “We means You” language used by HR directors the world over, the head of HR at […]

A research team at the Boston University School of Public Health has released troubling news about a chemical commonly used as a fire-retardant in polyurethane foam. This type of foam is often found in office furniture, which is typically required to meet higher fire resistance standards than home furniture. TDCPP is believed to be carcinogenic. […]

Leasing office furniture has many benefits for businesses of all sizes. It can be a great way to: Cut capital expenses and keep more cash in your business bank account Potentially enjoy tax benefits by paying for office furniture under your operating expenses category Hold your options open if you aren’t sure what type of […]

Over the past 15 years, more and more companies have been looking for ways to boost the 3 “Cs” at work: Creativity, Collaboration and Comfort. They’ve tried almost everything you can imagine to achieve these goals. Design open plan offices that do away with cubicle panels and let everyone see and hear everyone else all […]

Do you read the Building Operation Management magazine? If not, you missed this piece about “Factors that Impact Office Furniture Design”. The article starts with the assumption that your office furniture will be in service for 10-15 years. We’ve certainly seen plenty of furniture last a lot longer. That’s not surprising since we work in […]

Steelcase’s new “Workspring” initiative has us drooling. It kind of makes us want to go work in a meeting room at the Marriott instead of in our own office. The office furniture design firm and the hotel chain have collaborated to bring the first of many Workspring suites to life in a flagship location just […]

These days, most employers are aware of both the existence of sit-to-stand workstations. But just 5 or 6 years ago, this idea was still pretty cutting edge. An Atlas Ergonomics white paper published by KI in 2007 shows how initial research was highly accurate in predicting the benefits of greater mobility at work. What Are […]

With 2013 well underway, here’s yet another article hailing the demise of the office cubicle. But at least it presents some alternatives! Check out this slideshow to see what the folks at Flavorwire think the mini offices of the future might look like. We recognize many of these images as designs we’ve blogged about before. […]

Pinterest is the go-to social media platform if you want to look at pictures of beautiful things. In the case of office furniture, that could be an Eames chair or a Knoll table. But we also like this site for finding illustrated educational materials that can help your employees stay healthy and fit on the […]

Here at the end of January, all those New Year’s resolutions about exercising more are starting to bump up against the reality of the kind of commitment that actually entails. Treadmills and elliptical machines are starting to collect dust. And this isn’t just happening in homes and gyms. It’s occurring in the workplace too. Apparently, […]

How do you make it through the chilly months of winter at your office? If you live in San Diego, it actually doesn’t get that cold (compared to say, Wisconsin). But the temps can still dip occasionally, making employees don a jacket before heading to work. Plus, there’s the “rainy season” to deal with from […]

Steelcase is preparing for a future where virtual work and office work converge. Sure, we know that workers can technically e-commute and teleconference from anywhere. But, as it turns out, some locations are more conducive to video chatting than others. For example, you don’t want to be shouting at your computer screen in a crowded […]

While the benefits of power napping for boosting employee productivity have been widely publicized, there still aren’t many companies that support this practice. That’s a shame considering that businesses really need to find innovative ways to attract top talent and cut down on ‘presenteeism’. We imagine that employers who advertised that their total compensation package […]

Have you seen this cute blog post by Turnstone about how to edit boring office furniture? The ideas range from adding panels and overlays to swapping out hardware and even putting on some “peg legs”. Imagine how much fun the office space would be if you let workers go to town personalizing everything! Of course, […]

That’s the question a lot of office furniture manufacturers are asking with the changes that are occurring in how and where people work. If the number of mobile workers continues to rise as expected, the industry as a whole will have to radically realign itself to keep up. This will include: Targeting home workers for […]

Do you know what it means to do strategic sourcing? The University of Michigan has a simple two page reference document that may help you understand this concept. We think it makes a lot of sense for any business purchases, including office furniture. For example: Getting input from relevant stakeholders during the sourcing process leads […]

Craigslist obviously has a successful business model and provides a useful service to lots and lots of users. But the company doesn’t have the ability to ensure that the goods advertised on their site aren’t stolen. If you find a hot deal on used office furniture, you might want to ask yourself if that’s because […]

What’s the wackiest material you’ve ever seen made into office furniture? How about concrete? That doesn’t sound like the most comfortable material in the world, but it apparently has its charms. An Australian company contracted with Blok Furniture to create a collection of tables and benches for the break room/staff meeting area at their office. […]

At Cubicles Office Environments, we keep up with the goings on at big industry events like NeoCon. But the US is only a tiny slice of the whole office furniture picture. There are tradeshows all over the world devoted to office space design, furnishings, ergonomics, and technology. We’ve already touched on the ORGATEC show in […]

An interview on SmartPlanet with designer Allison Arieff brings up a very interesting point: What are employers, office space designers and facility managers doing to improve workplace design for employees who don’t sit at a desk? Workers in service and hospitality industries who are on their feet most of the day seem to be ignored […]

The Office Furniture Dealers Association surveys business owners in our industry each year to find out two things: What we consider most important in our relationship with office furniture manufacturers Our level of satisfaction with our vendors regarding a number of critical metrics For 2011, the top 5 issues were the same as for 2010. […]

The end of October also saw the end of the ORGATEC exhibition in Cologne. This German tradeshow featured more than 600 companies from around the globe – and about 50,000 visitors. In the past, the exhibition was primarily a product showcase. However, ORGATEC has apparently shifted to a “theme” based trade fair with more emphasis […]

As office furniture aficionados, we always find it interesting to review industry perspectives on past and future trends. With the year drawing to a close, this is a good time to look back at what other writers and researchers had to say about 2012. Here’s a peek at a few opinions from the last 9 […]

What happens when Haworth and Philips come together? They light up the office furniture industry in an entirely new way. The two global leaders in interior furnishing have announced a partnership to design LED lit items for office lounge areas. For example, Haworth’s Meet You series of partitions incorporating Philips LED lamps are on display […]

In the world of bizarre office furniture news, some stories are just plain funny. From Malaysia comes a tale of what can happen if you don’t think your furniture storage policy through. The Home Ministry’s new KDN complex in Johor has designated areas for keeping documents and detainees securely inside. However, an inspection of the […]

Last week, we explored Teknion’s new energy management resource for workstations. This week, we’ll finish up by checking out 2 other award winning designs. These are more traditional office furniture selections, yet still worthy of IIDEX recognition for innovation: Interpret This workstation system isn’t bound to the old fashioned cubicle style of office design; but […]

That’s a concept that all employers are familiar with. At least, they know that ergonomic furniture is supposed to save them money over the long run. But all too often the discussion focuses only on employee satisfaction (as important as that is) and not on the hard numbers showing how ergonomic purchases affect a company’s […]

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about the joint office furniture design project between Allsteel and BMW. Today, another luxury automaker is in the spotlight with some seriously high performance office furniture. Actually, the credit goes to South African designer Katie Thompson who has “recreated” a used Mercedes Benz as an office chair and […]

It shouldn’t shock you to learn that predictions about the future of the economy aren’t always right. Heck, you can’t even get a weather report that’s accurate more than a few hours out. So, it comes as no surprise that BIFMA has updated its projections for 2012. A modest increase was anticipated in new office […]

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about ways to keep your office furniture looking new. Sometimes, new is too much to hope for and you have to settle for just keeping things together until you can afford to buy more office furniture. Then, it’s time to bring out the duct tape. Earth 911 shows […]

With all the ups and downs in the office furniture industry over the past few years, it’s no wonder some manufacturers are suffering from a case of “empty office chair syndrome”. Haworth, Inc. is the latest company to announce a plant closure. A components manufacturing facility in Douglas, MI is being phased out and production […]

…But don’t overdo it. That’s one takeaway message from a recent article by Global Office. This advice applies to companies where potential clients are likely to get an office tour. It’s great to have an innovative, eye-catching lobby, a stunning conference room, and a great view. But there comes a point where spending more money […]

What does the future hold for office design? Steelcase believes it has some of the answers. Considering that this is the largest manufacturer of office furniture in the world, they probably have some pretty good insight. After all, they’re betting the future of the company on it! Steelcase recently talked with the Commercial Investment Real […]

The shift to the supposedly paperless office of the future apparently isn’t going to “stem” the demand for storage. At least that’s what Herman Miller is betting on. The office furniture manufacturer is preparing to debut a new line of storage products for the office. The Stem system is designed to change how workstations and […]

Over the past 10 years, e-commuting has become more and more common. Businesses that offer this type of flexible work arrangement have a good shot at attracting top talent. The increased productivity associated with cutting down on commuting and allowing workers more control over their schedule can be substantial. Some employers are even able to […]

Can you believe that Twitter has only been around for half a dozen years?  Today, there are more than 500 million users on this social media platform. If we saw that kind of growth rate in our 401(k)s, we’d all be ready to retire now! No matter what your interest, there are folks online tweeting […]

Last week, we talked about how to tell if it’s time to get rid of your funky old office furniture. This week, let’s talk about ways to help your office furniture looking new. Of course, to make this work you need to start out with high quality furnishings. Don’t expect a cheap chair from Staples […]

At Cubicles Office Environments, we encourage customers to get the most out of their office furniture. We have a great deal of respect for the amount of use left in furniture that many companies are simply ready to chuck out with the trash. We regularly refurbish used items to restore great looks and excellent function. […]

Have you ever gone clothes shopping and ended up totally frustrated because it seems like your body is all wrong for the apparel that’s in style? In fact, you shouldn’t feel bad about the size or shape of your figure. It’s the clothes that should be made to fit you, not the other way around. […]

The always perceptive Jen at Arnolds Office Furniture gives us 3 good reasons why the idea of a paperless office will never be a reality. Sure, you may reduce paper usage. But there are times when you really do need it – and times when you just can’t be bothered to use electronic documents. Some […]

With the increasing prevalence of mobile work, employees are learning to set up their own, impromptu workstations wherever they can. That may be at home, in the employee lounge, or at the proverbial coffee shop. Once workers get a taste of this freedom of movement, they may want to try out new spots around your […]

Allsteel was another office furniture company that took things to a new level at this year’s NeoCon. The firm marked its 100 year anniversary by winning the Best of NeoCon Gold for the new Beyond architectural walls product. The wall system has a unique self-contained leveling mechanism that ensures the glass panes are seated evenly […]

Did you celebrate “Take Your Dog to Work Day” last month? June 22nd is the date when employees across the US bring their canine companion to the office. This event gives pet owners a chance to show off their best friend and promote pet adoption. It may be true that allowing pets in the workplace […]

It’s no surprise that the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world managed to win a heaping handful of awards at NeoCon 2012. Steelcase’s Free Stand from the Coalesse collection received the nod as the Best for Innovation, garnered the Editor’s Choice recognition, and grabbed a silver award to boot. This tiny table shows that […]

If you went to NeoCon 2012, you know that office furniture manufacturers are putting a lot of thought into ways to bring people together at work. The watchwords of this decade seem to be “collaboration” and “innovation”. Well, they could learn a lesson from Eric Stoller when it comes to creating equipment that delivers the […]

This time, the scandal over office furniture pits one branch of the government against another. The Governor of New Mexico is in a pitched battle with the judiciary to see who gets access to state government funds for office furnishings. The governor’s office just spent about $48,000 on chairs for employee work stations, waiting areas, […]

Did you know that the office furniture industry can serve as an indicator of the overall health of the economy? When you think about it, the concept makes sense. After all, when businesses are starting, expanding or upgrading, they are most likely to be in the market for office furniture. When the future appears less […]

Trend Office Interiors has a great resource available right now listing 8 mistakes office furniture buyers make – and how you can avoid these pitfalls yourself. The article covers a lot of ground from initial space planning to furniture selection and more. For example, it’s important to select furniture with future growth and restructuring in […]

Do you think Americans would be more enthusiastic about green energy if it could be generated by sitting around on our behinds? The inventor of the Unplugged office furniture setup thinks so. Eddi Tornberg has created a desk, chair, and chair mat combo that generates power while you simply go about your regular work day. […]

This office furniture scandal is a little unusual. It isn’t about what government employees bought – it’s about what one of them sold. Apparently, an individual with access to excess office furniture used in Senate offices thought he’d make a quick buck by selling items to a local used furniture dealer. The stolen items were […]

Storage is one of the less glamorous categories of office furniture, but you can trust NeoCon to bring out some interesting possibilities. The MyTeu from Egan is much more than a mobile storage unit. It’s actually a workstation accessory that offers impromptu seating and storage along with a whiteboard and charging outlets. Employees can count […]

Today’s guest post comes from Matt Schexnayder at SpareFoot.com. He’s got quite a few savvy tips for how to store your extra office furniture until you’re ready to use it again. A lot of people, including businesses, view self-storage the wrong way. Maybe they haven’t had any experience with it. Or, maybe they’ve just been […]

Looks like someone important must be learning a lesson from reading all the office furniture scandal stories I write about on this blog! Alvin Brown, Jacksonville Florida’s mayor, has decided to institute austerity measures when it comes to refurbishing the Duval County Courthouse. In this case, that meant sending back all the expensive new office […]

Some of the most innovative, modern office furniture concepts actually start out as home furniture designs. Turkish designer Fevzi Karaman is best known for his modular kitchen concept. The Silverline kitchenette features a pull out table which reveals a sink and stovetop. When you’re done eating, there’s no way to reclaim the space except by […]

This week, let’s browse the benching section for the up and coming entries in the “Best of NeoCon” contest. Not surprisingly, it’s all about height adjustment this year. We already saw Freedom from Surfaceworks in the systems furniture category, so here’s what the rest of the field looks like: Animate+ Direct from JRB Studio comes […]

It’s that NeoCon time of year again! As always one of the most exciting things you can do in advance of the big day is take an online stroll through the entries into the ‘Best of NeoCon’ categories for office furniture. Let’s start with a look at the systems furniture category to see what this […]

Last year, BIWaterCooler posted an article about how the new trend of “unplugged” charging for electronic devices might affect office furniture design and implementation. It’s a slightly different take on the topic than the one presented by Allsteel in their recent tech paper on how wireless communication devices interact with systems furniture. Currently, power and […]

What’s going on at the top level of the office furniture industry these days? Several of the largest and best-known manufacturers have made strategic acquisitions over the past year. Let’s take a look at who’s buying who and why. Knoll Ventures Outside Knoll acquired an outdoor furniture manufacturer, Richard Schultz Design, in March of this […]

NeoCon 2012 is headed our way at lightning speed. This premiere tradeshow for the commercial design and architecture industry is the most exciting event of the year for office furniture companies all over the US. There will be more than 700 showrooms and booths this year. It’s a chance for businesses to debut their best […]

The former governor of Illinois has yet one more black mark on his record after the latest news about state funds allegedly being used in inappropriate ways during his tenure. But this time, the office furniture scandal is not about a civil servant blowing a hundred grand on an executive desk. Instead, the problem appears […]

There’s a good post up right now at the CORT Office Furniture Rental blog about how to make an office move go smoothly. A business only moves when relocation is preferable to the alternative. Some reasons you might move include the following: Long term cost savings with a better commercial lease agreement Access to a […]

Darren Fleming has written a fascinating piece for the Ottawa Business Journal about the connection between outdated office furniture and high office lease expenses. Darren points out that a company with 10 year old furniture may be paying far too much for office space. That’s because older workstations are designed for use with older technology. […]

At Cubicles Office Environments, we’re always on the lookout for other office furniture blogs that offer good advice. This week, we bring you Bear Office Furniture all the way from the East Coast. If you’ve ever been injured by a piece of office furniture, this is a post you’ll want to read. It points out […]

This week’s news story about office furniture raises an interesting question: How much information should workers have about a workplace renovation or a move to a new office? Here’s the scenario. In New York, many state employees are being shuffled around right now. The state is taking steps to reduce costs by making use of […]

It’s been a while since we had a bit of juicy office furniture scandal. But this week there’s something new to report. Late last year, New York State Senator Carl Kruger resigned after pleading guilty to taking almost a million dollars in bribe money. His legacy is still in the process of being ruined. It […]

Here’s another follow up on my guest post at Ergotron about designing the sit-to-stand office. It has to do with the sitting part as much as the standing part. Workers still do need well made, ergonomic office chairs for those times during the day when they need to rest their weary legs and feet. All […]

Herman Miller just announced a new addition to the Thrive collection of ergonomic office furniture and supplies. The Luxo 360 is an LED task lamp that is designed to be easy on the eyes (and not just because it’s pretty). The 360 has a flat, circular head shape that allows movement up and down to […]

Steelcase, Inc. is celebrating a full century in the office furniture industry this month. The firm was started in March of 1912 under the name Metal Office Furniture, Co. The change to the shorter (and more memorable) Steelcase name came about in the 1950s. Surprisingly, this hugely successful company did not become a publicly traded […]

With the high cost of office real estate, does it make sense to sign a long lease right now? Why not make sure you can pick up stakes and move to a less costly space at a moment’s notice? One Dutch designer has created the perfect office furniture set for entrepreneurs who are commitment phobic […]

We’re lucky to have yet another guest post! This time, the topic is office furniture for healthcare settings. LPN Heather Green is a freelance writer for several regional magazines in North Carolina and a resident blogger for onlinenursingdegrees.org. Here are her tips for facility managers who are tasked with outfitting the administrative side of a […]

The hits just keep on coming with government officials being criticized for office expenditures. This time, the price tag and relative value of a sound masking system is being called into question. Sacramento County administrator Brad Hudson chose to purchase and install a $15,000 privacy system on two floors of the county’s office building. The […]

2011 ended well for Teknion Corporation. They received recognition in the Good Design Competition (sponsored by major US and European museums) for a couple of product lines: Dossier and MAST. The jury for this competition handed out about 500 awards. But there were thousands of entries which still makes the distinction of being a winner […]

The sign says recycling is easy, but that’s not always true. Consider this 2007 article from Metropolismag.com that takes a peek at the programs office furniture manufacturers offer for recycling old office furniture. It’s all very well to say “Our company will take back and recycle any component from our furniture”. The problem seems to […]

Today’s guest post comes from across the pond. Alex Morris works for Office Kitten in Manchester where he writes, researches, and blogs about the business world. In this post, Alex peers into his crystal ball and gives us a glimpse at upcoming trends he expects to see gaining ground in the US. Read along and […]

There are organizations that get rewarded for meeting high standards, and there are others that are awarded for creating those standards in the first place. The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) was selected as the recipient of the 2011 ASID Innovation Award for the level™ sustainability certification program. This is a very timely […]

Sometimes, market predictions just make you scratch your head. That’s the case with survey results by a research firm called CoreBrand that were interpreted as meaning that Steelcase lacks a strong corporate branding image. This opinion was based on the idea that brand recognition and reputation usually contribute to a company’s market capitalization (the stock’s […]

The Las Vegas ErgoExpo was host to much more than the latest office furniture this year. The event also showcased many different workplace solutions for increasing employee wellness and reducing repetitive stress injury (RSI). Here’s a look at some of the companies that showed up to talk about their approach to workplace ergonomics: EGE WorkSmart […]

Herman Miller is expanding the concept of ergonomics again with the Thrive Portfolio of products. HM took advantage of the National Ergonomics Conference and Exposition in November to introduce more employers to the changing needs of a workforce that has increasingly diverse work styles. Rather than focusing only on the needs of 9-5 office workers, […]

If there’s one thing American readers enjoy, it’s being shocked by the profligate ways of politicians. And there’s no shortage of news on this topic as one government official after another gets called on the carpet about their office furniture expenses. The latest person in the hot seat is Brad Hudson from Sacramento County. He […]

The entrepreneurial spirit and the tendency to gravitate toward the least expensive materials available have come together in a perfect storm of…genius…cheapness? You decide. A college student has created what is arguably the most cost effective, easy to assemble office desk ever. It’s made out of recycled cardboard and weighs just a few pounds. You […]

These days, many businesses are offering employees the flexibility of working from home. This brings up a tricky question. How should you provision office furniture for workers who maintain a home office? Buy You can simply requisition and purchase office furniture for employees who are working at home in the same way you do for […]