Office Furniture Beating You Up?

Switch it up!

Offices aren’t traditionally the most comfortable places. The old wood desks are hard  & blocky and the  office chairs weren’t the best to sit in; only meant for sitting for a certain amount of time. Maybe this is because work was originally never about getting too comfortable, because the theory was you would relax and, well, not keep working. However, these days, the philosophy is that work should be enjoyable and comfortable. Research has also shown that the traditional office is physically terrible for your body. That’s why the ergonomic workstations, sit stand desks, and a number of other items have been created and is selling so well to the new generation of workers.  It’s more comfortable to work in the modern office with new or tweaked pieces of office furniture. Below are some easy ways to make your current office more ergonomic, ranging from keyboard trays to adjustable height tables which will fit into large offices or even small cubicles and not require you to buy all new office furniture.

The Adjustable Task Chair

Perhaps the most important piece of ergonomic equipment is the adjustable task chair, as you spend most of your time at the office sitting in it. A bad chair can really mess up the human body over time; so having one that has an adjustable lumbar support, the ability to swivel and roll around and an adjustable seat and arm rest height is key for your comfort and physical health over time. These chairs can be a little expensive but are a good value and well worth it at the end of the day.

The Desk

The height of the desk should be able to be adjustable as well, so that you aren’t having to crane your neck or other parts of your body while working for extended periods of time. Not having all of your work at the right level can make you stretch and strain to do almost every task in your office.  This can lead to injury, so being able to adjust a desk so that so that at least your computer monitor is eye level is better than a standard desk where you are just forced to stare up or down at the screen. If your office furniture isn’t adjust then some accessories like adjustable monitor arms, keyboard trays, footrests and task chairs will also help alleviate this problem.

Adjustable Keyboard Tray

For a computer users, the keyboard and mouse is another important part of the office that must be ergonomically sound. The keyboard should slide out to you or be placed close to you so you don’t have to reach to far to type. However, there should also be enough space for your wrists to reach out and not be at an angle, as this can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome over time. The ‘B’ key on the keyboard should be your central point when setting it up, not the width of the keyboard itself. The mouse should be as close to the keyboard as possible.  This article won’t try to replace all the other pages here and elsewhere on proper keyboard ergonomics.  Be aware of the recommended practices and do some “Googling” to find more tips.

Adjustable Monitors and Adjustable Monitor Arms

Having adjustable monitors is another great ergonomic office addition, as it allows you to move your monitor to the eye level you are sitting at, so that little to no strain is put on your neck while you work. Dell and others sell monitors with adjustable height bases that typically swivel a little too.  The best solution is to buy fully adjustable monitor arms.  These allow you to raise the monitors up and down, tilt the screen to eliminate glare, and to pull the monitor closer when needed or push it out of the way when not.  An adjustable monitor arm is a small change that can make a big difference.  While these adjustable monitor arms can be an added cost, it will be well worth it for the health of your neck in the long run.

Foot Rest

A place to rest your feet while you work at your desk is also incredibly helpful to your posture and physical health. It shouldn’t be much more than a small platform, or one that is at a slight angle, but it will help you stay planted and centered and allow your back to stay aligned while you sit at your desk, working away.

Any or all of the items mentioned above can make your workday better and you more productive.  If you need additional assistance in making sure that your office furniture is as ergonomic as possible then please let us know how we can be of help.  No one should have to go home tired and sore at the end of a day in their office furniture.

Colorful Office Chairs

Office Chairs – Buying the wrong ones?

You spend a lot of time in your office furniture, probably too much time.  If you have bought a cheap office chair, you aren’t giving yourself the edge you need in order to stay productive throughout the day.  When you have an ergonomic office furniture, including an ergonomic chair, you will be more comfortable and experience less pain during your work day. A $100 chair from a big box office supply store may look good on the surface, but quickly this chair becomes uncomfortable.  Often the ability to raise and lower the chair becomes difficult, and the chair breaks down.  You will probably need a new chair quicker than you expected.  Cheap office chairs are difficult to customize, and lack the fine tuning capabilities needed for a comfortable day at the office.

When searching for a good ergonomic chair, there are a number of adjustments the chair should be able to handle.  As you look for excellent chair options, consider choosing a chair that is capable of the following:

  • adjustable lumbar support.
  • adjustable height.
  • seat tilting in a variety of angles.
  • arms that can be adjusted for comfort and support.

With a more expensive ergonomic chair, you are investing in your workspace.  You spend at least half of your waking hours each week working, and if you have an office you are probably sitting at your desk or in a cubicle.  To keep your spine aligned and your body performing optimally, a high-quality chair can make a significant difference.

When you are comfortable at work, you are more productive.  A good office furniture set up at work can alleviate a number of repetitive motion problems and chronic pain conditions.  A more expensive office chair is the first piece of office furniture to purchase when you are setting up a comfortable, effective work space for your needs.  After that is done then other aspects of the office furniture like work surface height and monitor position can be examined.

You will spend similar amounts of money on one good office chair, or a couple of cheap ones.  The cheap office chairs will need to be replaced often and do you and your body no favors.  While an ergonomic chair that is more expensive at first, it won’t need to be replaced as often and in the long term is a better investment in so many ways.

We have been helping outfit companies all over Portland with the right office furniture.  If you’re ready to work better while being more comfortable, please give us a call.  Whether it’s a single new ergonomic office chair or outfitting an entire office with new cubicle work stations, we are the office furniture choice for Portland.

Rose City Office Furnishings is ready to serve your office furniture needs.

ergonomic-task-chair

Cubicle Storage Ideas

There are about a million different options when it comes to storage space in your cubicle. When working in a cubicle, it is critical that workers take the time to make the most of their space and keep their work space tidy. There have been plenty of studies that show that a tidy work space is far more beneficial and conducive to productivity and having a clean cubicle is the first step.

Overhead Bins:

The first option for cleaning up your cubicle are of course overhead bins. Bins can be used for binders, miscellaneous items, books and other items that have accumulated around the cubicle making it feel cluttered and untidy. Bins are a great way to quickly get your office back in shape. Thanks to the doors on the bins, both sliding and pull down, the clutter can easily hid. There are plenty of companies that make binder bins and cube bins of all sizes that can be used in any size cubicle to minimize clutter and maximize overall space. Let us find the ones that work for you.

Shelving

Another option for those that are a bit more concerned with overall ease of getting to their items may want to consider shelves that are designed for cubicles. This could mean shelves that are freestanding, desk top, and even better those that are designed to hang on the cube walls. Depending on the furniture, it may be an option to only have desk top or free standing shelves. While hanging cubicle shelves do help to reduce clutter and get your shelving and storage up off the floor, not all offices are going to allow them. Shelving is a great way to get your binders and other books in order and create an easily accessible storage option.

Organizers

The last option you may want to consider is of course organizers, the most effective are the panel hung options. Just throwing your items into your drawers or piling on the desk is often the best way to lose items and make a huge mess. Panel hung paper flows, accessory trays and other organizational gadgets work very well while maximizing your space. These smaller organizational tools are certainly the least expensive when it comes to organizational items and they can be moved around and installed easily. With this type of organizer, you can be sure that your smaller items are going to be kept exactly where they belong and where you can get to them easily.

For more information or office storage ideas, contact an office furniture sales representative at Rose City Office Furnishings. We have been helping companies around Portland find their best office furniture solution and we’re ready to help you too.

Cube Storage