A workplace furniture expert’s favourite products of 2021
Insight
A workplace furniture expert’s favourite products of 2021
Huddlebox by Workagile
Following on from last week’s insight on how to achieve the ideal furniture solution for your workplace, we asked TDA’s in-house Furniture Consultant Georgina Roberts to talk us through some of her favourite workplace furniture products of 2021.
Here are her top picks for pieces that are ideal for helping you to create flexible spaces that support staff wellbeing, encourage collaboration and enhance productivity.
Best for…
1. Supporting employees’ physical health
“I’m a big fan of pieces that counteract the negative effects that too much sitting can have on staff’s physical health by encouraging them to do most of the work. The Tipsy Stool by leading furniture manufacturer Frövi is a great example of this. The beautifully simple and unique design allows the user to remain active when sat down, with good posture and core engagement. It’s comfortable, but at the same time not the sort of chair that encourages sitting for long periods, making it perfect for more creative group activities like brainstorming sessions which are often accompanied by lots of movement. It’s also very light weight and can be picked up and moved around with ease, so it offers a great deal of flexibility within the workplace.”
2. Supporting mental wellbeing – aiding concentration, focus and productivity
“When it comes to supporting staff’s mental wellbeing, providing private, quiet spaces where they can focus away from distractions is key. Of course, that can be easier said than done in an open plan workplace. But there are plenty of furniture solutions out there that can help. One example is the Pullman Chair by naughtone. Its high back creates an acoustic cocoon around the user, shielding them from the hustle and bustle of the office and providing the comfort and privacy they need to get stuck into work that requires serious concentration. This single-seater pod also has a pull-out laptop table and integrated power, which makes it a great place to set up camp when tackling lengthier tasks.
If even more privacy is required, the On the QT phone booth from Orangebox is a fantastic option. Not only does it make an impactful design statement, it’s also more spacious than the average phone booth so users are able to sit in it comfortably for longer periods of time. What’s more, the outer walls come with optional whiteboards that allow the exterior to be used as a collaboration space.”
3. Encouraging collaboration, social interaction and creativity
“Social interaction and collaboration among colleagues are going to become the main focus of the physical workplace post-pandemic. Especially if businesses adopt a flexible or hybrid working culture on a more permanent basis. Furniture has a big role to play here.
One of my go to suppliers for products that encourage this sociable way of working is Workagile. As their name suggests, they are passionate about developing innovative, adaptable pieces that encourage communication and creativity. For example, their modular Huddlebox design can be used to create auditorium-style seating areas that are perfect for informal meetings, one-on-one catch ups or even company-wide gatherings. Its fun, dynamic design not only promotes creativity and encourages collaborative working, but it can also be reconfigured in seemingly endless ways making it a fantastic choice for the evolving post-COVID workplace.”
4. Rest and recuperation
“A well thought out breakout / tea point that’s separate from the main office space where staff can regroup and take a much-needed break from their screens is a must in the modern office. These are some of my favourite spaces to design furniture solutions for because they offer a great opportunity to get creative and incorporate a mix of furniture styles such as poseur and dinging height tables and soft seating to suit different moods and functions. Many suppliers offer this type of solution. Workstories is a current favourite of mine thanks to their competitive pricing and on-trend, minimalist design.”
5. Creating flexible spaces
“Updating your office furniture solution is an excellent way of ensuring that your workplace caters to the requirements of your business during the pandemic without making permanent changes that could potentially cause you issues further down the line. For businesses that need to adapt their current workplace in order to safely welcome staff back, I would highly recommend something like the Nomad range by Connection. Built with flexibility in mind, all items in this range are on wheels to allow users to easily reconfigure the layouts as their needs change. The units can also be used together or separately to support both individual and collaborative working.
The Convo range by Orangebox is another highly flexible option. These training, meeting and conference tables come in a variety of shapes, sizes and finishes and boast a flip-top function that allows users to quickly rearrange the layout to suit just about any work situation. It also comes in larger sizes than many other flip-top products which is an added bonus.”
6. Incorporating biophilic design
“Furniture manufacturers have really been thinking outside the box to come up with exciting ways that they can incorporate nature into their designs. Brunner for example recently launched their new Para Vert concept which consists of individual but interconnected pots that are planted with lush foliage to create an attractive screen or room divider that can be easily adapted and expanded thanks to its modular structure.
Meanwhile, Frövi have come up with the beautifully designed Relic Cloud collaboration table which has a mesh hanging tray overhead that’s perfect for incorporating greenery and lighting to create a stunning canopy feature.”
If you’re feeling inspired by any of the products Georgina has mentioned here or would like to explore some more ways you could use furniture to freshen up your workplace, why not get in touch and let’s talk it through.
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