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The Meaning Behind Modular Office Furniture
Recently I purchased some modular office furniture when I was moving my home office. I wanted a work environment that was more conducive to work, so that meant getting out of the family room. I decided to use an upstairs room that was not being used wisely, and with the help of my husband (who actually did all of the work) we painted the walls and installed new trim (out of the 70′s and into modern times!). The room looks really nice, and all for under $100. Now it was time for new furnishings, because my 1950′s gray laminate table was staying downstairs.
I went to an office supply store to see what they had, and pretty much everything was modular. Modular office furniture has really changed in the last 20 years. You can buy inexpensive, cubicle type modular furniture all the way up to high quality, executive type modular office furniture.
This got me thinking, exactly what is modular furniture, and how did it get its name? I hear the term modular thrown around a lot and applied in various ways. It is easy to accept a term without giving much thought to its real meaning, how it developed that meaning, and its etymology.
So I did a little research. The term modular originated from the Latin term (yes, most everything goes back to the Latin!) modulus which literally means to measure.
In the American Oxford Dictionary, the term modulus is basically a math term, and though applicable in some way, was beyond what I wanted to delve into. So without getting into more complex definitions that involve logarithms, modulus is the absolute value of a complex number. Which make me ask, did modular office furniture originated form math?
From this meaning, not only did the word modular develop, but before that, the term module. Since the definition of modular includes the word module, lets take a look at module first.
According to Merriam-Webster online, module is a noun that has been around since about 1628. A module is:
a standard or unit of measurement (math again!) any in a series of standardized units for use together: as (1): a unit of furniture or architecture
The term modular was coined about 170 years later in 1798. It is an adjective and defined as follows:
of, relating to, or based on a module or a modulus constructed with standardized units or dimensions for flexibility and variety in use
One other piece of useful information I found about modular office furniture was at Britannica Encyclopedia online, and is specifically about modular building construction. Modular construction is a system in which buildings are so designed that their dimensions are multiples of a given figure. Modular construction simplifies the problem of producing standard building components and materials that will fit together in a wide variety of applications.
This application of buildings can also be applied, along with the other definitions, to modular furniture. Modular office furniture is composed of various modules (you pick what you need to fit your work style and environment). The modules have standard dimensions (modular construction) that are designed to easily fit together.
For example, you may start with a basic desk. From this you can customize your work area by adding a credenza alone or credenza hutch, or perhaps you would like a lateral file or a pedestal return that fits on the left side of your desk. These or other options would all fit with your basic beginning desk, as long as you stay with the same brand and model, the heights of all units will be standard, and very important, the connectors will all line up correctly!
Understanding modular helps us to appreciate this modern innovation, the ability to take independent units to construct a more complex unit that fits together perfectly to build modular office furniture designed for independent needs. Now I just have to decide what I need in my new office space!
Space Saving Furniture Stack Chairs
In such unpredictable economic times, plenty of businesses are looking for ways to reduce over head expenses. Some have discovered floor space reduction is an effective solution to saving money. Why? Aside from the cost of employee wages, renting office space is often the next largest expense for most businesses. For the office cutting floor space, space saving furniture is vital.
This is where stack chairs come in handy, they are versatile and uncomplicatedly stored. For the office with constrained space, when chairs are not in use, they can be arranged one on top of the other in a specified storage area, closet, or corner. This is incredibly convenient as it keeps the office from being cluttered with under used furniture. This way chairs can be added to the office on an as needed basis. This space and money saving method is commonly used in the restaurant, hotel, and medical industries. However, it’s becoming the norm among small and business owners. Plenty of offices use stack chairs for meetings, presentations, conferences, seminars, and training classes.
When people contemplate stack chairs, they often think of generic plastic chairs or ugly metal chairs. However, stack chairs come in a wide selection of contemporary styles and are made from various materials. It is very easy to find stack chairs that show your brand while conveying a professional image. You can select the style, color, fabric, and/or material (wood, plastic, metal) of your chairs to meet your lots of specific business needs.
Another awesome benefit of stack chairs is they are also durable and ergonomically designed. It’s crucial that employees, clients and guests are seated comfortably. Ergonomic stack chairs help lower shoulder, back, and neck strain as they provide the necessary lumbar support, backrest, adequate seat depth and width, and arm rests. This is especially indispensable when people will be expected to sit for long periods of time. The more comfortable the chairs in your office, the less likely people will want long breaks or need to get up.
Office Furniture Reception Desk- A Base For Providing Difference In Office Places
Office is a place characterized by the furniture and the people working in it. Usually office furniture is of a particular pattern and type with slight variation as per the interiors. However you can witness the differences between the offices drawing a comparison in the reception areas.
You would notice creativity and imagination spilling from the designing done for an office reception area. Today designing of reception counters are an important part of any interior designer’s blueprint for any office as an Office Furniture Reception desk is the first look of any workplace
These days’ reception desks are different and stylish than rest of the furniture in an office. Since a reception desk is the first impression any person gets of an office, elaborate planning and designing is dedicated to its look. Depending on whether it is made of wood, wood veneer, glass etc it varies in its form and finish. The trend nowadays is to incorporate Bespoke Reception Counters befitting the nature of any workplace. Most offices also opt for ergonomic furniture thereby raising the bar of concern and responsibility any office has towards its employees.
Most of the offices have a very luxurious and state of art reception counters adding to the magnanimity of the premise. Innovative ideas are in vogue to enhance the face value of Reception Desks in offices.
If even you are planning to setup an office and wish to be different from the office next door you should try and get the new office furniture reception desk and see the difference yourself. You can easily get these exclusive pieces from any of the furniture providers online as well as in stores. Just check your budget and get the right piece of furniture for yourself.