Interior designs, either in offices or homes are created by keeping in mind the latest trends in the industry. An elegant room would look even tasteful if it is embellished in bold finishes and extraneous colors. Hence, colors are the first step in designing the perfect interiors. Dull colors are not to be used and instead bright, fresh colors can be incorporated to add a scintillating look. After choosing the pretty colors, other accessories like furniture, lamps and carpets can be selected to match the theme and the wall colors.

img credit : brimelow

Exquisite designs can be made by using glass. It can be molded into any form that is desired and can be cut and tinted to make a beautiful piece of art. Using glass adds to the sophistication of the interiors and also provided proper ventilation to the room. Elaborate or subtle ornamentation using other materials like some alloys of metals or wood can increase the finesse of the design. Only dusting is enough to clean the glass; there is no need for expensive cleaning fluids or acids. Glass also boasts of longer life than any other decorative material. Glass can be employed in windows, doorways and chandeliers. A chandelier is a glass accessory that is suspended from the ceiling. It is made of glass cut into various shapes and is colored prettily. It has provisions for fitting light bulbs so it can make the entire room glow with wondrous beauty. While glass is being bought, care should be taken while its selection as it is expensive as well as fragile.

img credit : 35744487@N04

Many believe that the furniture at a home or office resembles the characteristics of the people living or working there. Some accessories and colors maintain tranquility while others amplify the energy levels. An eclectic person has the furniture placed randomly, in a haphazard fashion which shows that the person has an adventurous spirit. However one thing in common will be kept, like the sizes, theme or the colors. A well-organized person, on the other hand keeps matching pieces of furniture and accessories everywhere. They see patterns and arrange the furniture and guests feel comfortable in the places where the organized persons design. A minimalist keeps the design simple, accessories minimum and colors subtle. A person may not belong entirely to a particular group but will have a few other qualities also. Experimenting is the best solution to chic decoration.

Can you believe that when the original Post-It Note was conceived, it was hard for the inventor to find anyone to believe in their idea?  Of course, we all know that the lowly Post-It Note has gained a special place in the modern office, and it’s usefulness is rarely disputed these days.

As with anything that is simple, efficient and practical, everybody wants to find a way to make it better. Over the years, these little sticky notes have found their way into the hands of some pretty creative people, and here are a few examples.

Have a little fun with these fruit-shaped sticky notes that have a “scratch-and-sniff” capability so can leave a trail of your favorite fruit scent while you dispense your messages. They also make your drawers and file cabinets develop a delicious fruit basket smell.

Trying to figure out a creative way to decorate that blank office wall? Well, consider crafting a personal art piece made entirely of sticky note pads! Not only will they spare having to put any nail holes in the wall, they can come in very handy when you need to make a quick note.

Are you one of those people who finds they can concentrate on conversations better when they have something to do with their hands? Seems that people who make Post-It Notes understand that dilemma, and have crafted a series of sticky notes with origami designs sketched in so you can fold them into various shapes to keep your hands busy without actually distracting you from what you need to hear — or say — and leave you with a beautiful creation instead of a pile of crumpled paper.

Custom designed sticky note cubes can give your desk a sense of elegance and can even be put to good use promoting your products — or your prized affiliates — in a subtle manner. Many print shops have the equipment to customize the outer edges of Post-It notes to reflect your personal style, logo or catch phrase. Of course, customized sticky notes are great giveaways that keep your name in front of the customer.

The days of being chained to the office desk are becoming a thing of the past, and now the challenge is to be as mobile as possible without leaving the important stuff behind. This trend has not gone unnoticed by many creative furniture designers who have developed ingenious ways for you to take along everything you might need and look cool doing it. No longer will you have to balance your laptop on your knee or fumble through your briefcase for files, but instead you can gracefully unfold your portable office and have everything at your fingertips.

The Portable Office

As much fun as a box of Legos, this lightweight, plastic device has everything you need to set up a complete office in a very small space. Cleverly worked into the design are two chairs, a fold-out desk, file cabinet, supply storage compartment and even hookups for power and wifi. All this can be snapped into the modular carrying case — about the size of deep freezer — with big heavy-duty wheels on the front a handle on the back so it can be scooted around like a wheelbarrow.

Node Desk Chairs

Originally designed for schools, these little “desk-on-wheels” are excellent for business situations where an extra desk — especially one away from the action — can come in very handy.  Sturdy coasters all the way around the base make it stable and maneuverable, and the swivel-action desk top lets you slip in and out of it without upsetting your work.  It is also ideal for onsite registrations or convention settings where mobility is a blessing.

Ecobank

Modular designs also have adapted beautifully to the challenge of getting office furniture out of the cubicle and into the field. Maruis Goetze’s creation called Ecobank transforms from a flat package about the size of a portfolio cover into a desk with chair, a multi-level work table or podium with just some simple adjustments to the frame. Certainly a great item to have along when you journey into unknown territory where there may or may not be the accommodations you need to get your job done.

Modular Office Desk

Designed by Florian Jouy, this innovative little modular desk can easily be transformed into the comfy bed, making a perfect for those “all-nighters” at the office before the big show or even for the times you need to grab a quick nap to be at your best. It even has a built-in file cabinet that doubles as a headrest for the bed or table for a snack.

Busy offices  usually produce a lot of noise, which makes privacy a very rare commodity. Having to deal with high noise levels can disrupt concentration and have a cumulative effect on employees’ productivity and efficiency.

To ease the effects of  “noise pollution” in an office environment, technologies have been developed to help cancel out the background noise and provide a “cone of silence” for individual work stations, offices and call centers bullpens.

Sound masking systems have advanced far beyond simple acoustic ceiling tiles and insulation. The new technologues use miniature emitters installed in the ceilings to create a pleasant, non-distracting “white noise” that not only blocks outside sounds, but insures private conversations are not overheard.

These devices can be installed and adjusted to suit any size of office. Sound masking systems can be either be used as a stand-alone for a single office or a multi-office system can centrally controlled.

Be aware that sound masking is NOT the same as noise cancellation. Only military facilities have access to true noise cancellation technology, so on the open market only use of headphones or directional microphones actually cancel out ambient sounds. Sound masking creates a cushion of background noise that creates individual “quiet zones” so you do not have to control the source of the sound, but can eliminate it from the immediate environment.

Sound masking also reduces the need for extra insulation between workspaces and the physical sound blockers like plenum barriers and complicated acoustical return air ducts. Architects have more flexibility designing comfortable office spaces that do not depend on using doors and walls to block sound. Contractors can drastically reduce construction costs by installing continual suspending ceiling grids for office complexes since sound masking technology eliminates the need for separate t-bar ceilings in individual rooms.

With professional sound masking devices, organisations have the freedom to using open plan offices and reduce workstation footprints, athough there is a noise threshold that must be calculated to insure optimum efficiency. Sound masking consulatants can determine the correct  acoustic requirements for increased  density in an office space.

Bringing food to eat at work, especially in a big office, can create some interesting social situations. Understanding how finicky and particular some people can be about their food and dining circumstances will go a long way towards keeping a good environment in the lunchroom.

Sanitation

Coffee cups, spoons, plates and all other kitchen items need to, of course, be kept clean and germ free. Ideally, there will be a maid service to do regular thorough cleaning, but even if there is, a fulltime staff member should be appointed to kitchen duty to assure that proper sanitation practices are in place.

Of course, employees should be responsible for policing after themselves and keeping the area clean, but they cannot always be expected to have the time to clean countertops, refrigerators and microwaves that should be attended on a regular basis. Basic cleaning supplies should be provided in the kitchen area so that anyone who needs to clean up can do so. Posting a clever sign like ” your mother doesn’t work here, clean up after yourself” will only do so much, but they should, nonetheless, be included.

Common Food and Drinks

Quite often, office lunchrooms are recipients of food or drinks that are free to all, such as birthday cakes, holiday dishes and leftovers. Certain rules of etiquette certainly apply, especially those dealing with sanitation issues like ” double dipping” and sharing utensils. There is also an unwritten rule that even though it’s free, you want to save plenty for everyone else so there are no hard feelings later.

Coffee makers, filtered water machines and soda dispensers are all items they should be everyone’s responsibility to a degree. No one should be allowed to compromise other’s health by not properly using such common dispensers. The specific contact person should be appointed to routinely oversee all beverage centers to make sure they are well stocked, clean and bug free, and their name should be prominently posted in case anyone has questions or concerns.

Respecting Private Food

When people bring their lunch to work or stock some snacks in the office lunchroom, they should be able to come back and find it a right where they left it.

Many office hostilities can arise when a hungry workers’ lunch is missing because another office worker helped themselves to it. If such issues are a problem, employees should be instructed to label their food containers. No one should have to resort to the ” fake mold plastic bag” novelty item that is being sold to discourage thievery from office lunchrooms.

Another private food problem that occurs involves proper storage.  Some people forget about items and they become rancid or moldy and need to be properly disposed of by their owners. This is one more reason to have workers label their food so it can be identified. Another aspect of this problem involves improper use of the refrigerator space, resulting in cramped conditions where stored food is being crushed or mangled by new items jockeying for position.

Sharing

A rather delicate situation that  occurs in office lunchrooms is people’s enthusiasm about their recipes and food choices. What is delicious to one may be disgusting to another, and people should be aware that not everyone shares their tastes and be very understanding if another employee does not want to try your newest ” hotter-than-hell” salsa recipe because they have in more sensitive system than you do.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong for sharing as long as you are considerate, and the lunchroom is an excellent place to swap recipes, favorite restaurants and daring menus with your coworkers. Learning about others’ tastes can be an interesting way to discover more about the people you work with, and nothing is more delightful than having someone show up with one of your favorites because they know how much you like it.

Summer’s almost here, with the weather that makes you sigh out your window and long to be out there rather than cooped up at your desk. Instead of simply staring at the lovely day, bring summer inside with a few easy tricks.

Clear the Clutter

No, it isn’t your job to clean your office. You have plenty to do without resorting to the all-purpose cleaner. However, many times people leave items strewn about their desk and it is unable to be properly tended to by the janitors. Give them a break and clear off all the surfaces inside your cubicle. Remember you’re responsible for how your office looks, and once the clutter has been tamed your office will feel brighter and more open.

Organisational Items

Your in- and out- boxes, utensil holders, business card holders, and any other items that reside on your desk may be in need of an upgrade. Do they look dingy? A trip to an office supply store can yield items in a bright colour. Don’t spend a fortune or break your budget, but a little can go a long way to making the office a nicer place to inhabit.

Add Bright Colours

Continuing with bright colours, find some art to put on the wall. This might just be placing construction paper over the cubicle walls, but the color will lift your spirits. Add an area rug if you prefer. If you have your own office and your company doesn’t mind, try painting the walls. Just be sure you do it on a weekend or outside company hours. No one will thank you for sharing the fumes or using valuable work time.

Green Plant

A green plant adds a touch of the outdoors. Bring a plant in a pot to work helps reduce stress and increases productivity. They can be placed to reduce noise between cubicles, and improve attitudes for employees. It’s best to bring a green plant and not a flowering one for the health of your coworkers in case they have allergies.

Reflect the Light

Add something light to reflect light to your space. It can be a mirror, a water fountain or aquarium, or even a crystal dish with a bonus of candy for your coworkers. This type of addition to your workplace will chase away some of those wintry shadows and the blah moods with it.

While you don’t want to get too carried away redoing your office space, a few minutes spent doing even one of these will give you a new outlook.

While it is true that a desk is a symbol of who you are, it also projects an image to your boss, colleagues and visitors that you may not be entirely aware of. A clean desk environment is the best way to bolster your image as a professional, but there are things you should and should not be keeping out in plain sight.

The Computer

Necessary for most of today’s business, where would your desk be without this most important tool? If you have a desktop rather than a portable version, this will be a permanent space dedicated to your monitor.

Writing Implements

Somehow no one can get away with having a pen or pencil handy for scribbling notes during calls, meetings, or when someone drops by. The paperless office may be one of the big ideas for the future, but most people find it less than convenient to use a computer notepad program for messages. Make sure these are of the variety you don’t mind wandering away.

Paper

Generally this takes the form of post-its, but any small notebook or pad will do. Even a spare piece from the printer works, but for space considerations and aesthetic appeal smaller is better.

Phone

A company issued mobile phone (not usually your own personal phone!) or a desk phone should always be handy for customers to call.

Photos

You don’t need to cover your workspace with photos. One or two is plenty. They should show a stable person who is dependable, like a picture of a spouse or of children you are close to. However, this is dependent upon your work environment. You may choose to keep your personal life separate. It’s completely up to you to judge the appropriateness of this one.

Business Cards

This is a must. Clients who need to contact you can grab one at will. They can even double as extra paper if you run out, but don’t put them back in the stack after you use them for notes. You might lose something important or share something you shouldn’t.

Tape, Scissors, Hole-Punch, Binder Clips, and Other “Desk Accessories”

Evaluate exactly how often you use them. If you use them multiple times per day, it may be useful to have the item out. If not, stick them neatly inside a desk drawer so you know where they are and have them handy.

Clock

This essential will tell you the time, even though you could look at your computer or phone, and make certain you are respectful of appointments.
What not to have:
Stacks of Papers

Disorganised papers make you seem less capable, even if you know exactly what’s in the piles. Put them away!

Other Personal Items

You may have sports memorabilia or other hobby items on your desk, give them serious thought before bringing them into your workspace. Sports stuff is best when cheering on the home team with home referring to the town where you reside and work.

Reading material may be okay if you have time during a lunch break, but consider leaving that in a desk drawer, too, especially if it’s considered a lower-level novel or tabloid instead of the newspaper.

The buzz word for the dress code of a professional office has become “office casual” whatever that means. Office casual means something different for every business office. Most offices don’t define what is meant by office casual, so everyone shows up in what they think is appropriate. Office workers are often confused on what not to wear to work.

Though we never want to go back to shirts and ties or skirts, hosiery, and pumps on a daily basis, we also need to keep a professional look in our attire at the office. If you keep away from the office attire “no-no’s” we will discuss in this post you will probably wear the correct casual and professional dress.

Take the Emphasis Off “Casual”

The biggest faux pas in office casual wear is our emphasis on the word “casual” and the de-emphasizing of the word “office”. Most casual clothing is not suitable to be worn in the office. Tee shirts, sweats, shorts, jeans, leggings, and tennis shoes are good things to wear around the house or at the mall, but they reflect an unprofessional attitude when worn in the office.

Tips for Women

Women should not wear revealing clothing. It is not appropriate to expose your cleavage, stomach, back, underwear, or feet in the office. Anything short or too tight is also wrong for the office. If you want to be taken seriously, don’t “undress” at the office.

Any open toe shoe such as sandals, flip flops, or thongs should not be worn in the office. It is fine to eliminate hosiery during the summer months.

Make up should be worn in moderation as well as any colognes and perfumes.

Large, chunky costume jewelry does not look good with office casual attire and can be very distracting to the wearer and fellow office workers. Body piercings other than pierced ears are too extreme in the office.

Tips for Men

Wrinkled, torn, or dirty clothing is always unacceptable. Clothing with pictures, words, or symbols are not appropriate office attire even on dress down days while brand names, university and sports team garments are fine on declared dress down days. Pressed jeans minus holes and tears are a welcome change on dress down days.

Hats are not to be worn in the office. However, head coverings that are worn because of religious beliefs or ethnic tradition are suitable.

Why not decide to wear a shirt, tie, and jacket to the office wear one day a week? It will make a difference in your attitude and productivity.

It’s a party, but that doesn’t mean it’s a “party”, not in ways you might typically think. When you and your colleagues gather to celebrate the holidays, act accordingly. Before all else, it’s still an office function, possibly the first time you’ve stood with workplace superiors outside of the workplace.

Don’t overdo it at the cocktail table

This might be the first time your boss gets to see your “other side”. The last thing you want to do is cast yourself in an unprofessional light by downing too many drinks before leading the sales department through a slurred rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Don’t get caught up in the festivities and start acting like you’re back at the frat house.

Dress appropriately

Sure, it’s OK to stray from the business-casual wardrobe that outfits you day in and day out throughout the year. But you’re not going “clubbing”. Let your typical office attire be your gauge. It’s fine to lean a little less conservative, but not too far. While office parties are festive events, standard workplace behavior is expected.

Don’t try to “hook up” at your work party

If you’ve been waiting for the chance to see the “hottie” down the hall in a more social setting, remember who’s watching. Use the party as a chance to engage in mature conversation to get to know somebody a little better. But tales of the couple who were caught making out in the coat closet will do nothing to improve your standing with upper-management.

Don’t complain if your Christmas bonus was low or non-existent this year

Times are tough. Many companies are even skipping the festivities due to expenses. If you’re overheard grumbling about not getting a big, fat Christmas bonus (or, for that matter, about anything else negative toward the company) words can travel fast. Keep them to yourself and enjoy the party. Not everybody is getting one these days.

Don’t just blow it off

Your office party probably hasn’t been advertised as being mandatory, but treat it as such. Go, at least for a while. If you’ve already got a prior engagement, be sure your office manager is aware of it ahead of time. To ignore it without acknowledging it would be disrespectful.

Remember: The best rule of thumb is do not detach yourself completely from office norms that dictate your everyday behavior at work. Stay in good standing with your superiors by obeying these rules of etiquette.

Breakout furniture provides comfortable and attractive furnishings for staff and visitors to relax in and enjoy. It sends a message to those who use it, and armchairs, sofas, and tables that are inviting and stylish while fitting the company’s image, intended use, and space requirements is an integral part of creating an appealing environment.

The first thing to consider when choosing breakout furniture is the office’s requirements. For instance, are you looking for pieces to fit in a doctor’s office, or a restaurant? Are you looking for stools to sit at a bar, or tables and chairs to sit independently from it for employees to relax at during their breaks? The use of the furniture is the most important issue to contemplate when selecting breakout furniture items. The next point to think over is the volume of people who will use the pieces. Is the space a high-traffic, high-volume area such as a corporate canteen that will seat many people each day? If so, making sure that the pieces are durable and well constructed is very important. If the pieces will not see heavy traffic on a regular basis, perhaps something more ornate and luxuriant would best suit the environment. In addition, who will be using the furniture is an important point. If the pieces are for an employee break room only, must they match the rest of the building’s pieces, or should they have their own style? If they are to be used by employees, visitors, and potential clients regularly, is continuity in style important throughout each room in the building?

Space is the second factor to mull over when contemplating breakout furniture. It is important to utilize a room’s space to the fullest, as square footage can be at a premium in many buildings; ensuring unimpeded access to essential exit doors and routes in case of emergency is of the utmost importance, as building owners do not want these outlets blocked by furniture. When choosing breakout pieces, consider the layout of the room; is it a perfect square, or rectangular? What is the square footage that you have to work with? Do you want to utilize a bare wall, or place individual islands throughout the area? What about when no one is around? When the day is done, will the chairs need to be stackable to open up alternate space usage or ease of access for the janitorial staff? If so, stackable chairs and tables that are light enough to easily move are a must.

Once you understand the company’s utilization and space requirements, style is the next essential point to ponder. Do you want pieces that compliment your office’s décor, or ones that stand out from it? If a dentist’s office has a rustic, log cabin theme, they might not be interested in breakout furniture that features bold colors and modern designs. On the other hand, if the space has tile floors, high ceilings, and incredible amounts of sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, modern and colorful or even contemporary might be just the thing. For breakout areas that have a bar or café theme, high or low stools can be the perfect complement to circular or square traditional bar tables, as well as a bar itself, and complete a relaxing and carefree atmosphere. Another point to keep in mind with a bar or café theme is whether this setup is inside or outside; if outside, making sure that the breakout furniture pieces are weatherproofed or otherwise able to handle the elements is very important.

For those in the market for breakout furniture, remember three things: the business’ requirements, its space, and its style. Think about furniture utilization and who will use the pieces and for what, how much real estate is open, and what style will present the image the company wants. Look for pieces that will fill the company’s breakout needs, whether they are large or small, what will fit in the breakout area and what will not, and if the pieces represent the company well. Bear in mind that the furniture should be comfortable for those who will use it, not overcrowd the room it will fill, and present a hospitable picture for all that use it.