While office furniture can be expensive, it’s often worth it in the long run to pay extra for something you won’t have to replace every few years. Here are a few ways you can tell whether you are getting good quality office furniture:
1. Your Furniture Should Have Ergonomic Adjustability.
Ergonomic adjustability is one of the key features of quality office furniture. Everyone has a different height and proportions, so it doesn’t make sense to buy furniture that is only designed with one person’s shape in mind.
As a minimum, look for office chairs that allow you to adjust the chair height. Some high-end office chairs allow you to adjust the arm width and height, tilt, and other aspects of the furniture. You may also wish to invest in an adjustable sit-stand or standing desk so you can get the health benefits of spending less time in a chair.
2. Good Materials Indicate That Your Furniture Will Last.
Materials like solid wood, leather, and metal tend to last the test of time. In many cases, furniture made from these materials will last so long that you’ll be ready for a design upgrade before the furniture has worn out.
That being said, there are both advantages and disadvantages of any office furniture material, Materials like plastic and luxury vinyl are often more waterproof and less likely to require refinishing. If you know you will be replacing your furniture in a few years anyway, there’s no need to invest in something that will last for several decades.
3. Online Reviews Sometimes Offer Clues.
Online reviews are not a 100% accurate indicator of quality (or lack thereof), but they can sometimes give you an idea of whether a specific product has the quality you are looking for.
If you see lots of reviewers claiming their new chair is made of poor-quality fabric or is already falling apart after a short time, that may be a warning sign. On the other hand, a high average rating suggests that most customers are happy with the quality of their purchase.
Be wary of “customer” feedback that is full of irrelevant scene-setting details or exhibits other trademarks of fake reviews. Unscrupulous competitors in some industries occasionally create anonymous reviewer accounts with the sole purpose of bringing down their neighbors’ ratings.
4. Your Furniture Must Meet Your Basic Needs.
Everyone buying office furniture has some specific needs they need their furniture to meet. For example, you may need your furniture to fit in a certain space, or you may need your desk to have a large enough surface for several monitors and other equipment. It’s a good idea to make a list of what you need your furniture to do before you purchase it.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- How large is my office space? How much space can my desk, chair, and other office furniture take up if I need it all to fit without feeling cramped?
- What equipment will need to fit on my desk, and how much space does it take up?
- Do I need extra storage space? If so, how secure should it be?
- Does the desk I am considering include wire management to keep unsightly cords out of view?
5. Ideally, Your Furniture Should Reflect Your Style.
Technically, matching your personal style is not a requirement for quality office furniture. However, having furniture and decor you like will help you feel more comfortable in your office space and support the brand aesthetic you want to show.
For a professional office, it’s generally best to choose furniture with a similar aesthetic throughout the desks, chairs, and other prominent elements. Traditional office furniture made from heavy wood or leather will create an established feeling, while modern furniture with a more minimalist character will communicate that your company is forward-thinking.
6. Testing Out The Furniture Is The Best Way To Tell Quality.
At the end of the day, the easiest way to find out whether a piece of office furniture is the quality you are looking for is to try it out. If you shop at a brick and mortar store during non-pandemic times, you may be able to test our pieces of furniture before you buy. Even in situations where customers are not allowed to touch the furniture, it may be easier to tell what you are getting when you can see it in person.
Some furniture stores may offer a limited-time return policy, which can be particularly helpful if you are unable to see the furniture in person before you buy it. This way, you can get your money back and try something else if you don’t like what you ordered.
Quality Office Furniture In Everett
Everett Office Furniture is your local provider of quality new and repurposed office furniture. We pride ourselves on our furniture quality and our tradition of serving our greater Puget Sound community. Check out our product selection to see which options fit your office.