Top 5 Office Trends of 2013

The trend of the last decade has been open planned offices that for the most part encourage communication and increase employee satisfaction. But what are the top trends of 2013?

1.   Technologies on the rise - With tablets and multiple monitors becoming the norm, monitor armsthat cater for all different types of devices and multiple screens are in high demand. Tablets have become a critical and capable device for many (or all) business processes. A good monitor arm ensures your devices will be positioned in an optimal position for comfort and productivity.

2.   Is it Ergonomic? – Seems to be the question on everyone’s lips as employers seek furniture that is beneficial to their employees health, wellbeing and productivity. There’s been an increase in sales ofheight adjustable desks, mesh chairs and fully adjustable chairs. The shift comes with the increase in awareness of ergonomics and how harmful poorly designed furniture can be to our bodies and efficiency in the workplace.

3.   Awesome breakout areas – Boring breakout areas are a thing of the past, 2013 has been the biggest year for bold and well thought out breakout areas. Between ottomans, lounges, stools and trendy chairs in a variety of colours, breakout areas are really becoming a place where staff can relax and unwind.

4.   Be Green and keep them keen – Many people want furniture that is environmentally friendly from production right through to disposal. Lots of people are raising the question of whether their products can be recycled or reused at the end of their life-time. Being ISO 14001 certified for environmental management systems has been a great advantage for us.

 5.   Bench desking – Limited space has led to bench versions of workstations becoming the norm. Our Trak, Benchwork and Mint workstations are becoming increasingly popular. Benches can accommodate for more people and are also great for open planned offices, hot desking and activity based work.

Combat the Seating Epidemic

It’s a bit disheartening that more and more recent studies are showing if you spend lots of time seated you are generally more subject to health problems, will live a shorter life and are less productive than those who spend their days on their feet or moving about.

For most of us there’s no real alternative to being at our desks all day long, so there’s no surprise that more and more us are becoming victims of the ‘butts in seats epidemic’. Luckily, It’s not that hard to combat this epidemic. Doing desk stretches, choosing ergonomic chairs, changing positions throughout the day by using height adjustable desks, making use of more informal type meeting areas and working at counter height tables are great ways to combat the negative affects of sitting.

Height adjustable desks are fantastic as they give users the freedom to easily alternate their position from sitting to standing throughout the day. Alternating to a standing position during the day ensures the electrical activity in your muscles remains active, protecting against metabolic affects that can result in a whole host of dire consequences.

Check out our Lift height adjustable desk it’s available with electronic, wider or technician height adjustment controls meaning you’ll be up and out of your seat in no time.

Product Spotlight: Trak

Trak was released earlier this year with our 2013 Catalogue and has quickly become a popular choice for many recent fitouts.

Apart from its contemporary aesthetic, it’s popularity has much to do with it’s remarkable versatility. Trak’s unique extrusion runs between two desktops and allows for accessories and screens to be positioned anywhere along it.

The Trak accessories have been specifically developed to allow for flexibility in styling and functionality. Options include screens of all different finishes, planters, monitor arms and different sized storage boxes.

Trak is on display in our showroom. Drop by and check it out!”

The Benefits of Armrests

Armrests are a great way to help prevent muscular tension and pain. They provide support to your upper body, keeping you feeling comfortable for longer.

Armrests guide your arms into a relaxed position, placing less stress on your shoulders and neck. This position also promotes correct postural alignment and is particularly suited to occupations that involve lots of reading and typing.

There’s been advice in recent years that armrests aren’t beneficial and may in fact be detrimental to your health. Each person’s body is different and everyone has different job requirements, so this may be the case in some occupations, however, this advice should not be taken to mean that you should’t choose a chair with armrests. As an overall rule, armrests will make your chair more comfortable.

When choosing chairs you should look for armrests that don’t interfere with free movement between you and your desk. Armrests should also be positioned at a height and width that allows you to comfortably rest your elbows without any effort. Adjustable arms are great too as they can be tailored to suit your individual preferences.

What is Laminate?

The laminate we use in our office furniture dates back to 1913, where the Formica Corporation set out to find a replacement for Mica, a commonly used electrical insulate.

Almost accidentally, Formica’s electrical engineers, Herbert A Faber and Daniel J O’Conor discovered that several sheets of brown paper soaked in phenolic resin formed a highly durable surface. After more experimentation they saw that when bathed in a melamine resin, colours could be added to the surface. By then pressing the sheets of paper together under up to 700Kgs of pressure per square inch and heat, a highly decorative and durable panel is created – laminate.

By the 1930’s Formica had mastered the process and had begun a kitchen and bathroom revolution. Many people realised the advantages of Formica laminate over conventional timber and plastics and all wanted the look and feel of laminate in their own homes.

With increasing demand a whole new range of colours were introduced in 1950, making it an even more popular choice. At the time there were few alternatives that could match quality and aesthetics of Formica laminate and the Formica laminate epidemic was spreading globally. It was around this time that laminate began to be used in the manufacturing of office furniture.

Today, virtually every household and office has laminate furniture, whether it be desktops, kitchen bench tops or storage units. It’s not hard to see why the product is still so popular.

6 Tips to Help You Choose The Right Fabric

Choosing the right fabric is a tough decision. It determines how your furniture will look, perform and wear over time. With so many different fabrics on the market, it’s good to know what to look for. Here are a few pointers to help you in the right direction:

1. Look for long lasting fabrics. One indication of durability is a high Martindale rub rating. The Martindale rub test gives the fabric a rating based on abrasion resistance testing. You can use these ratings to assess the suitability of the fabric for your requirements. The higher the Martindale rating, the more durable a fabric is. Commercial fabrics should have a rub rating of at least 30,000.
2. Polyester and wool fabrics usually wear well and are more fade resistant than many other fabrics. Wool’s a natural fibre and breathes well and is therefore perfectly suited to chair upholstery.
3. Woven fabrics and fabrics with a high thread count are great in high traffic areas.
4. Getting the fabric colour right is usually where most of the time is spent choosing fabrics and the colour you choose is an important decision. Colour trends are constantly changing, more subtle colours tend to age better and darker colours are easier to keep in excellent looking condition.
5. Look for fabrics that are environmentally friendly from production to disposal. Many fabrics have NCOS Carbon Neutral and Low VOC certifications, making them a greener choice.
6. Choose fabrics that suit the nature of the environment. Different fabric types suit different areas, some patterns and textures are more formal and suit boardroom and reception areas, whereas others are more fun and suit breakout spaces and more relaxed areas where bursts of colours are needed.

Have you checked out DESK yet?

‘DESK‘ is a stunning iPad application and website which showcases a collection of desks owned by designers, developers and illustrators from around the world. It is a project that aims to show where people find inspiration, no matter their occupation.

“You can learn everything about a person by his desk”

It’s remarkable how much a person’s desk reveals about them. Their personal items, level of organisation and choice of styling reflect their character and creativity. The desk is a place where ‘creativity is born’

– where you bring ideas to life.

We love this app. It gives a great insight into individuality and what inspires different people. We highly recommend browsing through it for a dose of inspiration and also uploading your own desk to share where your inspiration comes from.

Follow us for a Chance to Win!

Are you following our company page on Linkedin? If not, if you follow us now you’ll go into the draw to win a fabulous meal for two at the Spice Temple restaurant.

Followers of our Linkedin page are kept up to date with our latest products, most recent blog posts and any other information related to our company.

All you need to do to enter is follow us before the 3rd of June 2013. The lucky winner will be announced on the 4th of June. Good luck!

Get The Music Flowing in Your Office

Choosing the right tunes for your workplace can create a more relaxed atmosphere and boost employee productivity. Music can relax the mind, block out distractions and get you powering through your to do list.   

Recent studies have shown that offices that play light background music are 10% more productive than offices that don’t. Playing music in your reception areas is great too, it often makes wait times seem shorter and the office feel more welcoming. 

The best type of music to get your productivity pumping is dependent upon your workplace. Keep in mind the music should not be distracting or have any overbearing lyrics or beats, which may have an adverse affect on productivity. Some employees peak with music without lyrics such as classical or jazz music whilst others work best with easy listening commercial type, indie or rock.

Once you’ve decided on the type of music that suits your workplace, you can make a personalised playlist on online radio sites such as Spotify or Pandora. These sites allow you to enter an artist and they will automatically build a playlist of similar music around that style and will play them at random throughout the week. Best thing is you can update your list all the time, so no more listening to the same CD on repeat!

Some of the artists we’ve been basing our playlists on lately are:

• Ed Sheeran
• Bombay Bicycle Club
• Gotye
• Fleetwood Mac
• The Wombats

Renault’s New Melbourne Office

Renault’s new Melbourne office unites a range of contemporary furnishings with an impressive display of cars.

Concept Office Interiors achieved the desired aesthetic by incorporating Benchwork Trak workstations, Web seating, Globe mobile pedestals, Flip tables and Future seating in an open plan office.

Clip seating and Halo tables were used for the breakout area, which is surrounded by an artistic wall mural.

A striking visual was created with a Conti boardroom table, surrounded by Sax chairs, overlooking a Formula One car and Canary Yellow Renault.

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Don’t Forget To Stretch!

Are you spending up to 8 hours in your office chair each day? If the answer is yes, you should know that prolonged sitting places excessive strain on your back, neck and limbs. Leaving you feeling stiff, sore and with a higher risk of injury.

By integrating some simple desk stretches into your daily routine, you can make yourself more comfortable and protect your body from permanent injury that could affect your muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons .

Stretching also increases mental alertness, improves circulation, reduces fatigue and lowers stress and anxiety.

Here’s 6 of our favourite stretches to get you started. To reap maximum benefits make sure you breathe easily, don’t bounce, take your time, feel the stretch and know your limits – stretches should never be painful!

In addition to stretching, it’s also important to invest in ergonomic office furniture that promotes the correct posture and provides adequate support. To read more about ergonomic furniture click here.

5 Reasons to Have Plants in Your Office

Apart from looking great, there are other advantages to having plants in the office. Five of the key reasons are listed below:

1.   Improved Air Quality

Offices are full of toxins generated from elements such as carpet, air-conditioning, paint, cleaning products etc. People also excrete volatile substances such as acetone and methanol, along with scents from their perfumes and soaps. Plants clean the air by absorbing these toxins and reducing carbon dioxide. In effect, they are a much cheaper alternative to expensive air filtration systems.

2.   Regulate Temperature and Humidity levels

During transpiration (the cooling process of plants), plants cool down the office by releasing moisture into the air. The amount of moisture released ensures a suitable level of humidity depending on the internal office climate. On cooler days for instance, less moisture is released to keep the office warmer and vise versa on warmer days.

3.   Improved Employee Health

Improvements in air quality also result in healthier employees. Offices that have introduced plants have noted a reduction in staff headaches, eye irritations, lung impairment and respiratory problems. Plants have also been known to reduce symptoms and occurrences of asthma and bronchitis.

4.   Reductions in Stress Levels and Productivity Increases

With the elimination of toxins and optimal humidity, people feel less drowsy and have heightened concentration. Recent studies have indicated that offices with plants are 12% more productive than offices without plants. The presence of plants in the office also connects people with the outside world, making them feel more comfortable in their surroundings.

5.   They Serve as Room Dividers

Greenery also offers an attractive room divider. Plants can be placed strategically throughout the office to divide areas and to create more privacy. Plants also have varying levels of acoustic properties that can help dampen office noise.

With so many benefits, you should definitely consider some plants for your office. Have a look at our planters. We have varieties that can fit onto the top of storage units, stand freely or fit onto our Trak system.

Happy Planting!