Office furniture to support agile working
The way businesses work has changed. The future of work is here, and it’s agile. Agile working refers to the dynamic use of the physical office, unlike hybrid working which refers to working in different locations such as at home or the office. Agile workspaces focus on collaboration, flexibility and productivity and are now becoming the norm for modern, forward-thinking businesses. One of the main components that make up these agile work environments is furniture, something we know a thing or two about!
Making the transition from a traditional workspace to an agile environment can be daunting, but with the right guidance and expertise, it can be an exciting process. Here at Ben Johnson Interiors, we have years of experience helping clients choose the right furniture for them; no two companies are the same and have different requirements. Sustainability is becoming a huge consideration for most and when it comes to furniture, we have plenty of solutions for those who are eco conscious.
In todays blog we will be discussing how office furniture can enhance productivity and create an agile working environment, our top picks for some inspiration, and our take on why choosing the right furniture for your breakout area is a must for any forward thinking, agile business.
How can office furniture enhance productivity?
Choosing the right furniture for your business may seem a simple task, but there is a lot to think about when selecting key pieces. One thing to take into consideration is the life span of the furniture items. The last thing you want to do is rush to purchase what you think you need, without assessing your workspace and finding out what it is that your employees require both now and in the future. Furniture plays a crucial role in creating a productive office space, but how can choosing the right furniture boost productivity in the workplace?
Ergonomics
Many businesses are now concerned with employee health and wellbeing. The comfort and health of your staff should be one of your business’ primary concerns. One way to support this is by investing in ergonomically designed furniture such as office chairs and desks. Ergonomic furniture can reduce strain and discomfort, allowing employees to work more comfortably and efficiently at the time they spend at their desks. Comfort can retain focus which in turn boosts productivity in the workplace. Staff who are more comfortable will be happier and therefore more motivated overall.
A simple option to ensure comfort is opting for ergonomic task chairs. These chairs differ from traditional operator chairs in terms of the body support and flexibility they offer. After all, everyone has a different height and body shape, so a traditional operator chair does not cater for all, and instead has a rather ‘one size fits all’ approach. Ergonomic chairs are designed with the user in mind, allowing them to not only set the height of the chair, but also offering fully adjustable arms, adaptable lumbar support and seat slide functionalities that ensure the chair can cater for multiple people. This will prevent your team from hunching over their desk and ensure they are sat in the right position. We always ensure that everyone is fully informed about how to use their task chair properly, avoiding back problems and combatting the lack of knowledge about good work posture.
The same can be said for sit stand desks. These flexible desks are designed to reduce sitting time and can provide huge health benefits for users. A blog by Posture Group states that many adults in the UK now spend more than 7 hours a day sitting, increasing to 10 hours or more as we get older. Sit stand desks can improve overall wellbeing, reduce lower back issues significantly, improve blood flow to the brain and improve musculoskeletal issues, all of which contribute to better performance and productivity. Posture Group also found that those who sit more are more than twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and in addition have a 13% and 17% increased risk of developing cancer and mortality respectively.
We installed sit stand desks for our client Firmenich to create a more agile, collaborative space for the team.
Flexibility and multi functionality
If your aim is to create an agile workspace, it is essential to prioritise flexibility. With the rise of the hybrid working model and increasing popularity of hot desking within modern office spaces, having the ability to adjust furniture such as task chairs and desks is important.
Flexibility can also be considered further through the use of modular furniture that can easily be rearranged to create different layouts, which can also encourage collaboration. Adaptability is key in any agile office environment. There are now various options available to consider for your office space, have a look at some of our favourites below!;
Den spaces
Den spaces are a flexible and subtle way to create “rooms” within an open office space without being too intrusive. These products are totally configurable and adaptable to space available. (Image above is taken from the Identity website)
Open single person pods
Designed to encourage short stretches of quiet working to allow for focus when needed, without creating isolation from the rest of the team, these single person pods are great for phone calls or short Teams meetings. (Image above is taken from the Connection website)
Like any furniture item, there are a range of not only pods, but booths available on the market. We have seen a rise in acoustic pods and acoustic booths being installed on recent projects, and for good reason! These pieces can empower organisations to create a dynamic, efficient space as they can be easily adapted to ever changing workplace needs, making them a must for any agile office environment. Take a look at Hedgehog Labs new acoustic pods below-
There are also a range of colours available!
Modular seating
A new take on modular sofa seating, the design incorporates lots of curves and a more residential aesthetics while also being completely reconfigurable and adaptable to the space. There are lots of options for tables and shelving alongside these modular sofa systems to maximise the functionality of the space. (Image taken from Frovi website) Modular seating is great for those wanting to create the occasional town hall space, take a look at Unilever’s new town hall space below-
If you want to read more about town hall spaces, click the link here.
Creating an agile office- why are breakout areas so important?
We’ve spoken a lot about breakout areas before, but today we’re focussing on the furniture items that you can include within your breakout area. Breakout areas are a necessity if you are wanting to create an agile office. Having an area where employees can move away from their desks and have a break, whether it’s making a brew or having lunch, is crucial to promote wellbeing which in turn improves productivity.
All our recently completed projects have had a focus around breakout areas and the furniture choices are a huge part in maximising the impact of the breakout space. Offering a breakout space that looks fantastic is one thing, however, ensuring the chosen furniture is comfortable is another. Filling a breakout space with furniture that is neither comfortable nor practical will ultimately create a redundant space, leaving employees feeling demotivated and making them less likely to use the space on offer, regardless of how great the area looks. Most breakout spaces feature dining tables, chairs, and an element of soft seating. You may opt to include additional areas such as kitchen islands or multifunctional games areas for your colleagues to enjoy.
In the image above you can see a cleverly designed breakout area for Appleyard Lees. The kitchen island is dual purpose, functioning as an ad-hoc meet and greet spot and reception sign in desk as well as a great space to eat lunch.
Reward Finance came to us with a view to embrace agile working, and the office design was to mirror this vision. The breakout space includes informal comfortable booths, a gaming area including a pool table and a drinks fridge. The inclusion of a bold “Ey Up!” neon sign finishes the space and really helps to set the fun, relaxed tone the client wanted.
The above images show two great examples of breakout spaces for our client Keepmoat Homes. For Yorkshire West, we maximised the space by incorporating flexible furniture so the team had the option to create a training area, town hall space or seminar area when needed. When not in use for large gatherings this area is used as extra breakout space for the team. The breakout space in Yorkshire East features a centralised island with comfy bar stools, as well as other areas with soft seating away from the main kitchen area that doubles as a welcome space for guests.
Circus PPC’s breakout area is something to shout about. Featuring curved soft seating and an eye-catching terrazzo countertop made from recycled ocean plastic, we made use of quality bright fabrics in the furniture choices. The breakout area is located right next to the entrance to the office, creating a warm and welcoming environment for those who enter. The team also rally around this space regularly for informal huddles and specifically requested the kitchen be near to the open plan desks for this reason.
As you can see, there is lots to consider when designing an agile office space. We hope our insight has given you some furniture inspiration for your next project! If you’re considering an office refurbishment, get in touch, we’d love to discuss your vision with you.