When to Start Planning Your Office Renovation

September 14, 2021 By Better Office Furniture

The amount of time that it actually takes to plan out your office renovation is typically underestimated. So we’re going to give you a few pointers on when to start planning your office renovation; along with some tips and tricks. Everyone wants to get the most out of their investment when it comes to doling out cash to renovate, and nobody wants to have to spend more money on office furniture a year down the road. You also don’t want to anticipate having a renovated office space ready for use by a certain date, only to realize the time frame was grossly underestimated. To avoid any of those pitfalls we have the scoop for you.

It’s vital to consider the amount of time realistically needed to plan. If you’re starting to think about planning your office renovation, you should allow 4 months for the process. This seems to be a surprise to most people when we tell them this, but there are reasons you need to allow this much time.

Factors to Consider For Your Office Renovation

1-Manufacturing & Shipping Times- Sometimes if “in-stock” items are backordered, you’ll need to allow time for production to have the products available for you. This is also a reason why sometimes custom furniture can actually be received more quickly than standard manufactured office furniture.

2-Scope of the Build Out- Aside from office furniture you have other components to take into consideration during the renovation. Are you having carpet put down, or walls painted before getting your new furniture moved in? Is there electrical work that needs to be done? The time frame the contractors need to execute these tasks also play an integral part into the amount of time that will be needed to complete your renovation.

3-When Ordering Custom- While it may take less time to receive a custom order, you do need to have a little time to consider what your needs will be with your office furniture.

4-Budget-Setting a realistic budget for your renovation is also important. When you start to look at doing an office renovation, setting a budget helps you not go crazy, but also helps you get a good grasp on what certain things will cost, and what things are worth investing a bit more in that will save you money in the long run.

When to Consider Custom Office Furniture

-Functional Needs-Perhaps you have an oddly shaped office space and the dimensions needed don’t quite line up with standard manufactured desks. You could also have a need for a larger than traditional workspace on your desk that will call for custom dimensions.

-Specific Aesthetics- It can be hard for some brands to find the perfect fit for office furniture with standard manufactured furniture. It could be important to maintain a flow in your office space that is congruent with the aesthetic of your brand. In cases like this, as far as style and colors, custom furniture is the superior option.

-Technology Needs- Depending on what type of work you do in your office, your needs can vary. If you need multiple computer screens on your desk, or have a boardroom, you may need the means to integrate space for things like cables, power, and microphones. Having custom furniture that is designed for these technological needs not only makes things go more smoothly during the workday, but also can make sure you maintain a clean look without cords and cables hanging around everywhere.

Quality

The quality of the furniture you pick is another factor to consider while doing your office renovation. When looking at your budget, you should take into consideration not only how comfortable and functional the pieces you select will be, but how long will the pieces last?

For example, you can easily purchase inexpensive desk chairs. However, the comfort level will not be fantastic. This can slow down the productivity of your employees due to discomfort. In addition to that, you will forever be replacing these types of desk chairs due to being easily worn out. While if you purchase a higher end office chair, it will have a lifespan of 7-10 years, provide superior comfort, and in turn create an environment for better productivity to occur.

The Black High Back Executive Chair is an example of a good desk chair that will last, provide comfort to increase productivity, and not need to be replaced in a year. It has loop arms, a high back for comfort, a pneumatic gas lift, tilt capability, as well as a tilt lock for when you don’t want your seat to tilt. Plus wheels so it gives you the ability to slide over next to a coworker next to you while collaborating. This chair is designed to hold a weight of up to 275 lbs.

If you have someone who has a larger stature and needs a little more wiggle room for comfort, the Black Leather Plush Big Man’s Chair is an outstanding option! This chair is extremely popular and sometimes runs low on availability, but definitely worth a ring to us to see if it’s in stock! While most desk chairs are designed to hold up to 200-250 lbs, the Big Man’s Chair holds up to 350 lbs, all while offering extreme comfort.

We’ve covered some of the basic points of what you need to consider when you start planning your office renovation. Of course, renovations aren’t always one size fits all, so if you have questions about factors that may be specific to you, please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

6 Tips For Picking the Perfect Office Furniture For Your Space

January 11, 2021 By Better Office Furniture

Like anything you scan the internet for, if you’re on a quest to find new office furniture, you will be inundated with options for your office digs as soon as you hit enter for your search. With so many choices, styles, price ranges, and stores though, how are you supposed to narrow down your search? We’re going to help you with that today with tips for choosing the right office furniture for your space and style.

There are definitely things people who aren’t dealing with office furniture purchases and setup everyday don’t necessarily think about. My guess is there are at least one or two of the tips we have for you that haven’t crossed your mind while envisioning your new office furniture. So let’s take a gander at some things to consider to make sure you pick the perfect office furniture for you!

1-Functionality- There are plenty of stylish looking desks, office chairs, and everything else you may need for your space out there, but if it’s not functional then that doesn’t really matter. The good news is you don’t have to give up style to make sure your office furniture is functional.

What qualifies as functional can mean different things for different people depending on what your needs are. Do you need unimpeded leg space under your desk to be able to stretch out? Or do you not need a ton of room under your desk, but you do need lots of storage space? Knowing the answers to these types of questions will help tremendously in planning out your office furniture purposes, and what functional means for you, because it’s not a one size fits all situation.

2-Storage- Since we just touched based on this with functionality, let’s delve a bit deeper into storage. Regardless of whether you need leg room or not, you still need to consider storage options. Just because you might be over 6 foot and need some extra leg space doesn’t mean you don’t need storage too!

If you don’t need a bunch of storage, or extra leg space, a desk with built in filing underneath could be a good functional piece for you. If you need leg space and lots of storage, opting for a desk and a credenza, or filing cabinet, may be a better option for you.

3-Style-Having furniture that is functional doesn’t mean you have to give up on the style you like. Whether you’re talking about desks, office chairs, filing systems, or reception furniture you can suit your taste for traditional or contemporary, and still fulfill the needs you have for functionality.

Do searches for the type of furniture you like while keeping in mind how you also need it to work for you. You will get a better idea of the types of office furniture available that meets both things.

4-Picking an office chair- Much like with your desk search, picking the chair that is a good fit for you is important. How long do you sit in your office chair through the day? What height will the chair put you at in relation to your desk? Is that a comfortable height to be at to be able to do the typing, writing, or whatever else you may need to do? How much room do you need in between arm posts on your chair?

Chairs have ratings as to how long you can sit in them comfortably. If you tend to spend long hours at your desk, you absolutely want to take ratings into consideration when picking your office chair.

If the standard size chair isn’t comfortable for your body type, you may also want to consider something like the Express BIG High Back Executive. This chair is designed to hold weight over 300 lbs, has a high back, heavy duty base, and 22.5 inches between arm posts.

5-Measure Your Space- There’s nothing worse than ordering furniture and discovering upon delivery that it’s too big for the space, doesn’t line up with the wall space, or the worst…doesn’t even fit through the door!

Taking time to measure out your office and how you want your desk or reception furniture to line up will save you lots of headaches. You can contact us if the layout is something you think you need some help with to make sure you get it right.

Positioning of your desk is also something to take into account when measuring your desk. If you’re in a closed office, most people prefer for their desk to be facing the doorway. Being able to make that happen may mean your desk measurements need to be slightly different to accommodate that.

6-Plan Ahead-Now this is one most people rarely take into consideration: planning ahead for what your office will be like. For example, if you only have a small number of staff you’re buying desks for, but anticipate growing your number of employees, you should think about that.

How much space do you have (you should know from your measurements)? Does the amount of space you have available allow to add enough desks to accommodate all of them? Or would it be smarter planning to go straight to workstations or cubicles knowing you intend to grow your staff? Knowing things like this ahead of time can help you reduce costs from your overall budget in the end.

These 6 tips will help tremendously in picking the perfect office furniture for your space. Of course sometimes there other factors to consider based on your specific needs and wants, but using these tips will have you on the right track. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions, or to schedule a time to come see our inventory.

How to Create Socially Distanced Workspaces, and Keep Your Employees Healthy!

December 14, 2020 By Better Office Furniture

We’ve dished out some advice on getting your home office in shape for working from home, but what if you have an office space you still have employees using at your office right now? How do you keep in mind social distancing and keep a good workflow with your office layout and furniture setup?

Not every business is the same, but I think most of us have the gist of the basic precautions employees can take during this pandemic to stay healthy:

-Maintain 6 feet of distance from other employees and customers

-Frequently washing hands

-Taking your temperature before leaving to go into the office

-Staying home if you don’t feel well, etc.

What about the physical layout of your office though?

If you you have been utilizing workstations you may be concerned that something like a 4-person workstation, with low dividers, isn’t providing enough distancing for your employees now. Or if you have an open office layout with desks next to, or facing each other, that that isn’t ideal either. The good news is that there are some simple solutions as far as how your employees are setup currently to get them a tad more social distancing friendly.

We’ll give you some tips for these types of setups, and how you can transition the spacing to be more conscious of today’s work guidelines. Also what might be good options if you’re looking at upgrading anyway, but want to ensure you’re keeping these types of social distancing measures in place while doing so.

Workstations

You might feel as though your spacing is doomed if you have workstations setup for your staff right now, but that isn’t necessarily the case. If some of your staff is able to work from home, spacing people out without purchasing more office furniture is totally doable. For example, if you have the 4-person workstations like below, and two of these people could work from home, you could then position the other two so that they are in workstations diagonal to each other.

Of course you would also want to make sure the next workstation was spaced at least 6 feet away from this one as well.

Basically, assigning some staff to be virtual allows you to use the existing space and furniture you have on hand. This is probably the easiest and most cost effective way to keep you and your employees healthy right now.

What if I need all of my employees in the office?

If having some staff working virtually isn’t an option for some reason, you can still make things work, but you may need to use more space, and/or purchase more office furniture. If you have other areas in your office that you could designate for employee work spaces, you can move some staff to that room or space. This would mean you would need to purchase more workstations to use in that space. If you have independent desks that face each other, then you could simply relocate some of those desks to your newly designated work area so as to keep people spread out.

The good news is that if this is only a temporary solution for you, and you need to purchase additional desks, or workstations, you can always schedule a time to come check out our preowned inventory. This option will still give you high quality office furniture options, but won’t be as much of an investment as purchasing brand new office furniture would be.

I want to upgrade my office furniture anway. What’s the best option and layout that is social distancing friendly, but works well long term?

If your itching to create a new and improved office space, now is the PERFECT time to do so. Either you don’t have people working in the office, which makes it super duper easy, you have less people than normal coming in to work at your office, or everyone still may be coming in, but upgrading now will help you get a fresh new layout and office furniture that will work both now, and post COVID. Whatever your case may be you’re winning here!

Office Layout

Creating a flawless office layout has always been our jam. These times are no different. We can do an analysis of your space, and help you determine how we can get you setup for ideal workflow, productivity, and still make sure distancing practices can stay in place.

Things to consider with your new layout:

-Keep desks off walls and windows in order to eliminate dead ends for foot traffic

-Have the layout setup in a way that makes one-way traffic feasible

-Take a look at the flooring before moving around furniture to determine where the high traffic areas are. You will be able to tell based off of what parts of the flooring have the most wear.

-You can physically mark 6-foot circles around each work area

-If you have general seating, or waiting areas, space out seats and tables

-Get blueprints of your office space to help visualize and map out how your new office space will flow

-Put up signs to remind employees of how the new office space flows, and of maximum capacity in areas like conference or break rooms

Office Furniture Upgrades

Oh!! We have so many options for you. Whether you still are looking for some budget-friendly preowned options, or are interested in some “shiny” new furniture, we got you covered. Here are some idea-starters for you to consider:

-Use workstations, but using 2-person stations

-Use actual desks so no one is attached to anyone else’s space

-Consider desks with non-porous surfaces so they are more easily kept germ-free

-Consider having dividers (they could be transparent) in between work areas to reduce face-to-face interactions

These tips should have at least got your wheels spinning in the right direction. Contact us today to check out new and preowned inventory, or to merely ask us some professional advice on your layout mapping!

Virtual Learning: 4 Tips to Make Life Easier

September 14, 2020 By Better Office Furniture

Virtual Learning & Hybrid Learning

Ahhh, back to school time…virtual learning style. At this point everyone’s kids have started back to school in some fashion. It looks tremendously different this year for many families, but nonetheless it has arrived. Maybe your kiddos are doing virtual learning, or maybe they are doing the hybrid gig (in-person part-time and virtual part-time). Either way the gigantic wrecking ball we’ve all come to know as these crazy times (stress), has come crashing down demolition style for many parents and kiddos alike.

Kids are adapting to Chromebooks and asking their teachers questions over Zoom and email, and parents are navigating through endless emails while juggling work, virtual learning, their new hat as a teacher, and mask washing for in person classes.

I don’t think anyone can deny this is a stressful time, but we’ve gathered some tips to try to make this as smooth as possible for you and your kids.

1-Be Positive

Alright, I know this can be easier said than done. Some days Zoom links aren’t working, you realize your student missed some posted assignments in their Google Classroom the day before, or your teen needs help with algebra and that’s just not your jam. BUT, if you can muster up a few minutes in the morning to do something that puts you in a positive mindset, whether that means setting positive intentions for the day, reading for a little bit, meditating, praying, whatever resonates and works for you.

Also get your kids on board with this. Maybe they take the dog for a quick 10 minute walk to get some fresh air, or stretch, or set intentions. Whatever it is that will help them think positive and focus is a win!

2- Get Organized-Virtual Learning Space

One of the keys to success (not claiming this will handle all of your challenges, or melt away all the stress) is making sure your kids have the tools they need to be successful, and getting organized. I’m not talking about having Pinterest worthy workspaces for your kids’ virtual learning, but having a designated space for them to do their virtual work, if you’re able, can make things a tad easier on everyone.

Having your children take over your dining room table with Chromebooks, notebooks, pencils, pens and more is less than ideal. If you have an extra room, or even a larger room you could create some space in, getting them set up with a chair and a desk to leave all their class time belongings on can save at least one headache.

Desks for Kids

At Better Office Furniture in Bridgeton, we have some options that will help make things easier with virtual learning and give you back your dining room.

If space is limited in your home because you didn’t anticipate being a virtual learning center when you bought your house, the 5 Sided Corner Desk could be a fantastic solution for you. With this desk you can slide it into a corner of a room and have enough space for your student to place a laptop and keep a few supplies on hand. It comes in several colors as well, so if you choose something that matches your room decor you already have going.

If you do have a room designated to virtual learning, you could opt for something like the Modern Walnut Desk with Center Draw. It’s not too large if the room is smaller, and really you could still use this desk in a room that you’re just adding space for your student to their work and classes. It has a center draw as well that could hold writing utensils and paper, or whatever they may need to have handy while working.

If you’re able to have something slightly larger, you could also go with the Modern Walnut L Desk. This desk will provide plenty of desktop space and one full set of drawers that can be used to store supplies and papers; leaving a clean and organized desktop…hopefully, depending on your kiddo.

Workstations

Are you sharing an office space with your child? Maybe you need to be close by to help with assignments, but still be able to do your own work too? In this scenario, utilizing a workstation may be a good solution for you!

A workstation can allow plenty of storage space and enough desk space for working. It also makes it so your child can be sitting across from you if they need help with work, but also have a small divider to give you both some privacy while working on your own.

3-Brain Breaks

If you work in an office setting, you know how sitting in front of a computer for hours on end can drain you. You’ll find reasons to get up and move: getting a cup of coffee, refilling your water bottle, checking in with a coworker, etc.

Kids are no different. A young child may need a break after staying focused for even just 5-25 minutes, according to Linda Carling, an associate research scientist at John Hopkins University. Exercise is a great way to give them a brain break because exercise is shown to increase a child’s attention after they complete their physical activity.

4-Positive Reinforcement

Kids receive a ton of positive reinforcement when they are going to school in person. Without knowing they may crave this reinforcement when being all virtual, or even as a hybrid learning student. If you’re checking over their physical work, put stars or stickers on their assignments like their teacher would.

If everything is done through Google Classroom consider another reward type system. Perhaps you hang up a board by their desk where they get a sticker to add when they do well, or maybe they collect points for a job well done and get to pick an activity to go do with you when they collect a certain number of points!

Though this school year is non-traditional for many folks, there are upsides too! More time with family (maybe too much sometimes, lol), more involvement in our kids’ education that sparks other conversations we may not have had, and the tapping into our creative sides to balance everything out and make life work right now.

I hope these tips help you refocus and dump some of the overwhelm.

If you need help with desks, chairs, filing systems, or anything else office related, check out the rest of our site, or contact us today to ask for advice!

Executive Office Furniture: Why We Always Upgrade Ourselves Last

July 31, 2020 By Better Office Furniture

Executive office furniture

Executive offices that are productive, feel good, and operate with maximum efficiency. Giving yourself the space and tools you need to produce at optimal levels should be a no-brainer. As business owners and entrepreneurs we’re much more like moms and dads in our offices than we’d like to admit.

What do I mean by that? Pretty straight forward, really. I have written multiple blogs over the years about workspace for your employees: how it should be laid out, design for maximum happiness, things that make staff happy, etc. All these things are undoubtedly important for maintaining happy, productive staff. But where do you and your executive office fit in?

When we’re running a business we tend to be always putting focus on what others need, all while we’re sitting in a chair that you have to lower a specific way so the lever doesn’t drop you down an extra three inches in your chair, or your file cabinets don’t slide out correctly, or your desk looks like someone dropped papers from the sky and they all landed in a shuffled like pattern across your desk. Why? Because you haven’t justified spending the money on a decent storage system for yourself because someone else needs something too.

Sound familiar? I thought it might.

Investing in your office furniture

Think of your executive office space like you may think about your clothes and general appearance. If you’re going to be seeing a client or customer, would you show up with your hair disheveled, with a pair of stained sweatpants, and hole filled sneakers on? Probably not. Then why do we downplay the fact that our workspace is essential; both for appearance and productivity?

Investing in yourself, and your personal workspace, is good for your productivity, your brand image, and your self confidence. When you feel good about the space you’re working in everything is better.

So what area have you been neglecting for yourself? We have a good idea what some of them might be, so here are some things to consider.

Your office desk

Perhaps you fall into this box. All of your staff have newer functional desks in their workspace, but you’re still over here making do with the desk you started your business with, that is dinged, scratched, out-dated, and has passed its glory days. Here are a couple possibilities you might consider:

1-Emerald Wood Table Desk with Kneespace and Credenza Hutch-This is a traditional and beautiful set that is perfect if you often meet with clients in your office. All of your storage space is available with the credenza drawers and hutch shelving, leaving maximum knee space for sitting at your desk. You can choose from a Port Figured Mahogany or Cognac Cherry.

2-Cherry L Desk with Keyboard Tray, Box-File-This desk is available in Cherry, Espresso? Dark Walnut, Modern Walnut, Mahogany, and Gray Woodgrain. This desk is not only gorgeous and functional, but also boasts a keytray as an ergonomic feature to keep your wrists from getting fatigued from prolonged typing. It has loads of desktop space to be able to spread out and work if you’re messy while working in your genius zone, and also provides storage with drawers.

3-Global Executive Desk and Credenza-This desk set is absolutely stunning and alone will upgrade the entire feel of your office! This one has room for customizability. The modesty panel and hutch doors can be provided in an assortment of colors. Pick the one to suit your style and brand. The Global Executive Desk and Credenza speaks sheer sophistication to me. With hutch space, shelving and draws, you’re provided with plenty of space to stay organized, and shuffle paperwork quickly if you have the need to bring clients into your office space; which hopefully you will because this desk is way too gorgeous to keep all to yourself!

These selections are merely a few of the selections we have. If these aren’t your style or you’re looking for something in a different budget range you can view our other desks options here. Our preowned selection is also a good route when looking for something in a lower budget range. Feel free to contact us for a showing of our preowned office and executive desks, as the inventory on these rotates frequently!

Filing system storage

Is storage more your issue? Perhaps you’ve already upgraded your executive desk for your office, but you have a need for more file space. How are those file drawers doing you have now? Sticking? Dented? Unable to lock for added security you need if you have practice or firm? We can help with that too!

Here are a few selections we like.

1-5 Drawer Locking File Cabinet- This vertical file cabinet set is probably what you think of as a traditional file system. With this filing cabinet you are able to lock up your files for added privacy. This filing system is commercial grade and able to hold up over time. It’s available in black, business gray, charcoal, desert putty, grey, light grey, nevada, storm grey, and Tahiti Sand.

2-Espresso EL 36” Espresso 3 Drawer Lateral File-This lateral file has 3 drawers and is perfect if you are looking to match wood decor you already have in your office. The drawers are spacious and offer ample space for storage of all your important documents you may need to file.

3-Express Lateral File with Hutch in Espresso-This lateral file is elegant and offers stylish and convenient storage. It has frosted glass cabinet doors and silver drawer pulls that helps create the elegant look provided with this filing system.

As with our executive desks, we have a variety of options available; including plenty of preowned options that rotate in and out of inventory. Schedule an appointment to view our showroom today to see what we currently have in stock!

There are so many options when it comes to upgrading your executive space for your office. You most likely know firsthand how functional and organized spaces increase your staff’s productivity. You probably also noticed they were happier after you invested in improving their workspace. Don’t forget to make sure you allow yourself the same advantages to keeping your office space functional and productive. Not to mention looking super stylish and classy while you’re at it!

Have questions about what might work best in your space and the budget you have available? Call us today at 314-266-9083!

Real deals from real people!

Working From Home: 5 Advantages of Having a Designated Workspace

April 20, 2020 By Better Office Furniture

Working from home

Normal looks a lot different for most all of us these days. Many are juggling working from home while also homeschooling their kiddos. Aside from figuring out schedules, and how that balances out in the day, figuring out work/school spaces is another thing. Creating a designated space for yourself if you’re working from home can save you some serious mental anguish. Working in high traffic areas of your home, such as the dining room table, leads to being easily distracted and taken from your work; whether by others in your home, or tasks that catch your eye. Like those dishes taunting you in the sink.

All the things that will “only take you 5 or 10 minutes” that you stop for through the day when working in a high traffic area of the home really add up by the end of the day. If you create a designated workspace, it’s not only easier to not get distracted by household tasks (that you wouldn’t be doing if you were in the office), but you can also make it known to others in the home that when you’re in your designated area you need to be left alone. I know, that one is kind of funny! I know your kiddos are not going to leave you for hours on end to tend to work, but it can at least take you out of their line of sight to where they don’t automatically recruit you for that cup of water they can get on their own, or to show you their latest Tik Tok.

As far as your kids getting their work done, having a separate space is mostly so they can mentally separate “schooltime” from free time. If they have a set time and space they have to be working on assignments it helps create a new normal for them and can help them mentally. Even though they fight it, it’s been proven that kids need structure to do their best.

Advantages to keeping your workspace separate:

1- It’s easier to mentally separate work and home tasks since you will be less distracted than being in your primary living areas.

2-You have to physically leave your workspace in order to tend to non-work related matters (and others have to seek you out opposed to just saying your name as they walk by).

3-I don’t know about you, but I tend to get paper piles and notes everywhere when I’m working. Having a separate space in your home keeps the clutter away from the main areas of the home. If you have a smaller work area due to this, it also forces you to stay a bit tidier because you’re not working with so much space.

4-Keeping a time-blocked schedule is easier as well. You can use Google calendar, or whatever calendar you typically use, to block out time. The reality is you may not be able to stick 100% to this, but it helps to have notifications letting you know how on task you are so far.

5-When we’re bouncing back and forth between home tasks and work tasks all day, it can be easy to feel like we need to keep working when we should be clocking out to spend time with our family or just to take some time for yourself so you don’t burn out. It’s much easier to shut off the work part of your day if you’re shutting the laptop and walking out of the room!

How to designate workspaces

If you’re lucky enough to have an extra room unused in your home this one is super simple for you. Just make that an office. If not, perhaps you have a guest room that is rarely used. You could easily convert that into an office space for yourself. If you have a finished basement you could also claim part of that area as your office. I personally like to have natural light while I’m working; so for someone like me, that wouldn’t be ideal. A better option in that case (if your master bedroom is large enough) would be to convert a corner of the master bedroom into an office area.

For kids having a school area, unless you have another extra room in your home, adding a desk to their bedroom may be the best solution. I would avoid playrooms because while we might be distracted by chores, they’re more likely to be distracted by toys!

Make your space feel good

If you’re going to spend a good chunk of time sitting in this space getting work done you’ll want it to feel and look nice. Small things can do the trick. You can hang your favorite quote on the wall by your desk, get a fun pencil holder, or add a desk lamp that has more pizazz than you would have at the office.

If you need a desk for the space that isn’t going to cost you thousands, we have a contemporary desk in espresso with a file drawer and two small storage drawers to keep you organized. If you like a more traditional look, we have a Bowfront Cherry Desk with two full pedestals. If you’d rather look at used furniture, we have high quality pre owned furniture as well. This inventory rotates and we don’t always have them in stock. So if you see something I would recommend giving us a call to confirm availability.

Creating a separate space that you will enjoy working in, and are able to lessen the number of distractions you have throughout the day, will increase your productivity. It will also eliminate the guilt of clocking out at a reasonable hour when you feel like you have been productive throughout the day.

This balancing work, school, and home life isn’t easy. Set yourself up in a way that makes it easier to succeed, but also give yourself some grace. This gig is hard right now and we’re all doing our best.

If you need recommendations on furniture ideas for your home workspace, give us a call at 314-266-9083.

Silver Lining: Creating Peace Among Chaos

February 26, 2020 By Better Office Furniture

Silver lining and becoming more human

In this time of uncertainty among us, leaving us with lots of unknowns, it helps to take a step back. While I’m certainly not saying there is no cause for concern or worry, I am saying using the time we’re being given to slow down, reset, and reevaluate is a silver lining.

Life with or without a pandemic at hand can be chaotic to say the least. Even amidst all that’s currently going on in our world I am so happy to see all the good that’s happening around us.

People are checking on neighbors to make sure they are okay.

People are offering to shop for at risk people such as the elderly.

Stores are catering to at risk people with special shopping hours.

Schools may be closed, but families are embracing teaching their kids themselves at home. Okay, some days may be better than others on this one. Most of us are new at this. We just need a minute to adjust.

Others are offering to babysit so people who are still able to go to work have childcare, and don’t lose a paycheck.

People are buying gift cards for services they would normally be using to keep businesses and entrepreneurs afloat. They’ll just use them later, but they’re helping keep cash flow in these small businesses.

I love it. I love all of it. In my eyes, mankind is becoming more human again. More empathetic. Loving thy neighbor.

We will be spending more time than normal with our families. Spending quality time (I mean there aren’t even sports on t.v. to distract us). Maybe getting to know one another better. I bet families grow stronger from this extra time together.

Utilizing time

It’s also a time we can use to hack away at those things we just never seemed to have time for before. Perhaps you’ve had some homemade recipes sitting on your counter for the last year that you haven’t gotten to yet. Or maybe you never got around to writing out your goals for 2020 and now you can. That stack of books on your nightstand you’ve been meaning to pick up and read can have their time to shine now.

As business owners we always have plenty of things in the work arena of our lives to get to as well. New programs we’ve been wanting to work on and roll out, new marketing ideas we’ve been meaning to get to, or that office redesign we’ve been promising our staff for…a little while now.

Whatever your thing is, take this time to do that. Get back to your basics. The things that make you happy. Catch up the things that have been weighing heavy in the back of your mind because you haven’t had the time. We have the time now. Let’s do something with it. Plus, productivity helps us maintain a positive mindset; which I think everyone can agree we need right now!

Creating peace in your workspace

If redesigning or merely sprucing up your office a bit is on that list you make, we can help. Since most offices are shut down right now it’s the perfect time to get in there and make those changes you’ve been meaning to do. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a welcoming new reception area when you’re able to open back up? It’s a perfect symbol for fresh starts and new beginnings when everyone comes back to work in the office.

One of my favorite reception desks right now is the Global Zira Two-Toned Reception Desk. The Global ZIra, as the link suggests, is two-toned and dons glass accents and custom storage. The desk is contemporary, stylish, and highly functional, with custom layouts and storage options available.This gorgeous reception desk will make your front office look clean and fresh, and help scale up the entire look and feel of your office. Not to mention the increased efficiency from top-notch organization being accessible.

Visualize your future

During this time our mindset and how we feel is crucial to not only our wellbeing, but our success.

“What you think you become. What you feel you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create.”

-Buddha

I adore this quote. How true is that? How many times have you experienced this? Think about it. You own a business, right? How did that business start? I think I can safely assume it started as an idea you thought about. You expanded on that idea and started writing down how this business could come to fruition. You could feel what it would be like. You imagined how it would all unfold, and if you’re anything like me, once the idea flowed through your brain, it became all- consuming in your thoughts and actions.

Sound familiar? Or at least pretty darn close? I thought so.

Start creating the thoughts, the feelings, and the environment you want for your business now. While uncertainty swarms around you, fix your focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. What does business look like for you at the end of all of this. Are thriving? Are clients, customers, patients pouring in your doors? What does your space look like?

Visualizing your office space

Your office space is a fantastic place to start with this visualization process. See what your space looks like as everything returns to normalcy. What does your reception area and front desk furniture look like? Maybe it’s something like the Global Zira, or maybe you have a more traditional wood look. What do your reception chairs look like? What does your conference area look? What does your office look like?

I hope during this time of uncertainty you’re able to take a step back. Look at the bigger picture. Spend time with your family. Think, feel, and imagine the future of your business.

Better Office Furniture in St. Charles is here to support small businesses during this time. If you need help finding the right fits for your office furniture or advice on redesign, give us a ring at 314-266-9083. You can also contact us via email, or Facebook.

The Surprisingly Easy Way to Escape the Working “In” Your Business Vortex

January 27, 2020 By Better Office Furniture

Being a business owner isn’t for the faint of heart. Especially small business owners. There’s this constant “tug-n-pull” between rolling up your sleeves and working in your business, and working on business. Unless you’re just getting started in business I bet you’ve experienced this a few times, if not over and over again.

You know the drill. You’re doing great working on your business. You’re delegating tasks, focusing on how to grow your business, and have others working the daily grind. Then all of a sudden there’s an influx, which is fantastic, but to keep things moving you find yourself working in your business. Seems like a good business practice to step in and help when things get hairy, and it probably is, but what is this vortex that gets created when you decide to step into your business for “just this week”? You know, until things smooth out a tad. All of a sudden a month or two has gone by and you’ve done next to nothing to work on your business.

So how do you avoid the all-consuming vortex and make it out the other side in a timely manner to resume your empire building activities? I suppose there’s probably enough solutions to fill an arctic tundra, but I’ll share with you one of personal favs.

Ready for this mind blowing revelation?

It’s…reading.

What?? I know! But hold on a minute before you click the X button to get out of this page.

Do you know why? Or maybe it’s more how? Unfortunately, reading Harry Potter is probably not going to get you to vacuum yourself out of that vortex. However, books on your industry, or self development books? Abso-stinking-lutely.

Having a sharp focus on working on your business is a state of mind. When we’re working in our business we’re in worker bee mode. That’s not the mindset that’s going to grow your business. Not saying it’s not helping your business. You most likely got started because you are tremendously good at your service, or knowledgeable about your products. That’s why you do what you do. But along the way you have found (or will need to find) other worker bees that are good at handling different pieces of your business.

And what happened each time after you filled someone else in where you used to be handling tasks? You gained time to work on your business. And then what happened? You saw growth in your business.

When we’re getting sucked in and out of working in our business it sometimes cascades a fog that blocks out the view of the growth we’ve seen at each point that we’ve handed over the reigns in a certain area. We just get so busy rushing from one point to the next, we sometimes become out of touch with the progress we have made.

In order to sustain this progress though, we need to make sure we’re not being sucked into our business for a month or two at a time. Can you imagine if you had an entire month more of time spent solely focusing on working on your business. How significant would that be for you? I’m guessing immensely for most people.

So back to this why reading thing…

Let’s break it down into two categories:

1-Industry related

2-Self development

Industry related

Reading industry related materials, whether it be an actual book, an audio book, or a few articles you’ve bookmarked to go back to, keeps you on your game. It keeps you up-to-date with the latest trends and tips. It shows you how the big dogs in your arena are managing things, and I’m guessing you wouldn’t mind being more like them?

Reading this type of material is powerful because your brain gets a surge of excitement for what you do (assuming you are actually passionate about your industry that is).

I’m not listing any specific books for industry related, because obviously, that would be different for every person reading this.

Self development

Even the self development category can be broad. In the business owner arena, I tend to think of it as anything that expands or solidifies my confidence, leadership skills, sales abilities, or spiritual endeavors. Working on, or reading material regularly that taps into one of these areas keeps us eager and excited to be working not only on ourselves, but also our businesses.

Here are a few reads that may peak your interest. If none of these seem like something you would be interested in, you can do a quick Google search for “self development books” and have a waterfall of choices a mere click away.

1-The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey

In this book the author lays out a step-by-step path to live with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity. The book focuses on adapting to change and positioning yourself to be available to opportunities.

2- Crushing It! ,by Gary Vaynerchuk

If you don’t know who Gary V. is, you need to! His energy is contagious through audio, and honestly, you can even feel his zest and drive leaping off the pages of all his books. He is passionate about helping people build brands. In Crushing It he talks about the importance of building your personal brand, avenues to do so, and gives it to you straight about what it takes to get there. There’s no overnight get rich quick scheme in here, but he gives you solid advice on using social to build your brand, and includes inspiring testimonials along the way.

3-You Are A Badass, by Jen Sincero

If you recently have experienced a crush in self confidence and are looking for something to breathe life back into your belief in yourself, look no further! Sincero somehow seems to be in your mind reading all the thoughts that little pessimistic voice in the back of your head echoes to you when you’re not feeling fully capable. Whether you don’t know what, or how, to be a success, or step into your own greatness, or what the heck that even means…this book is for you.

4- Dare to Lead, by Brené Brown

I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard any of her talks, or read any of her books, but I don’t think you can go wrong absorbing any of her work into your brain. In Dare to Lead Brown discusses overcoming your fears and choosing courage. It’s an amazing book that inspires you to step out of comfort to be the leader you are, and develop a culture of bravery and vulnerability in your workplace. I highly recommend it for any business owner.

As I had mentioned earlier, there are numerous possibilities on how to make sure you stay focused on working on your business. Choosing one that gives you a little bit of time to yourself each day, and helps refuel your spark and passion, is a win-win. When we are confident and inspired we bring that out in others; it creates a powerful environment for your business to flourish.

Speaking of powerful environments, don’t forget to check out our current inventory, and follow us on Facebook (I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it at all)!

Truly though, I hope if you were starting to trip into the vortex that this blog helped to give you a way to refocus and regroup. Cheers to a successful and prosperous 2020!

Vision Boards: Preparing for Success in the New Year

December 23, 2019 By Better Office Furniture

Vision boards

Vision boards have become tremendously popular the last several years. Some love them, some think they’re hogwash. Some love the idea because it seems fun, but feel like because they enjoy it that maybe it’s a waste of time. Whether you’re all in on the concept of vision boards, or think they’re a tad ridiculous, today we’re going to chat about the benefits of preparing a vision or dream board…benefits that even the skeptics can get behind.

The new year is fast-approaching, and as the days are becoming balancing acts filled with shopping, family dinners, kids activities, running our business, and reaching Q4 targets, it’s also time to look ahead. I think it’s in our entrepreneur souls to put our heads down and keep digging. So much so that sometimes we forget the importance of taking the time to stop and regroup. Are the daily actions we’re taking still in alignment with our goals? Do we have new goals that we don’t currently have any steps in place that will get us to that new goal?

The end of the year is the perfect time to take a step back and re-examine. Perhaps with the end of year scurry it seems counterintuitive to take some time to do this, but if we don’t, we end up like a hamster…just spinning a wheel in circles and getting nowhere.

Taking the time to create a vision board has many advantages. While it may not contribute to your end of year push, it will get your mindset for the new year in a substantially better place.

What is a vision board?

Okay, for those who aren’t 100% clear on what a vision board is, it’s defined as: a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations of dreams and desires designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation, and to use the law of attraction to attain goals.

Even if you don’t buy into the law of attraction bit (although I feel like a strong majority do), there’s something to be said for seeing your goals and dreams in front of you on a vision board daily. It’s a constant reminder of what you’re striving for.

How do vision boards work?

The next logical questions are: How does a vision board work? How is a vision board effective?

1-Daily reminder-As listed above, the biggest way it helps is as being a daily reminder of your dreams and goals. It may not seem like a huge deal if you’ve never used one before, but this small, daily reminder makes a huge impact over the course of the year. It has somewhat of a compounding effect; the more you see it, the more passionate you become about it. And do you know what passion fuels? Action.

2-Time to reflect-Sitting down to find images and pictures, quotes and affirmations, means that you have to actually sit and think about what you want. It gets things out of your head and onto paper; giving the illusion of already being tangible.

I feel like our responses become a bit automated over time as people ask what our goals are, what we’re striving for. If you’ve been repeating the same things over and over without making much progress, maybe it’s because you just need to take a little bit of time to think it all through.

3-Getting unstuck-What else comes from repetitive zombie like states of day-to-day actions? Well, many times people start to feel stuck. You do the same thing day in and day out, and you start to forget the why. Friends, the WHY is what makes life, business, everything awesome. So why aren’t we taking the time to give ourselves reminders of that, or to give ourselves a chance to reevaluate and realize what we wanted before isn’t what we want now, and that’s why we don’t feel as motivated.

4-Makes them more tangible-Ge

Supplies needed

It really doesn’t require a whole lot to put together an effective vision or dream board. However, you can make it as simple or extravagant as you would like it to be.

Basic supplies

1-Poster or foam board

You can use either, and any size you want. It all depends on where you’re going to hang it up. If you’re going to have a smaller one you want to hang up in your cubicle at work, a smaller, regular poster board material would probably be ideal for you. If you have a table or somewhere you want to sit it on without hanging it up, then the foam board is fantastic because it won’t slouch and fall over all of the time.

2-Pictures

Traditionally people use magazines and cut out images and phrases that symbolize their goals or dreams to them to put on their vision board. This is a great option, but sometimes the pictures we find in magazines don’t seem to quite match up. That’s when the handy dandy internet can help out. It is so much easier to get the exact right picture because you can search just about anything. Pinterest anyone?

If you want to get super specific, you can use Canva or a similar platform. It allows you to upload images and add text and different elements to the photo, and then download them for free.

3-Adhesive

This is simple. You need something to make your images and pictures stick to your board. You could use tape, but I think glue and glue sticks work better for vision boards.

Frills

For those who like to add frills you, go ahead. Of course it isn’t a necessary part to having an effective vision board. If you want to add stickers, or ribbons, go ahead. You can also make your vision board “more frilly” by adding texture to the board. Want to redo carpet in your bedroom? Add a small piece of the type of carpet you want to put down. Want to take home a certain amount of income? Write yourself a check in that amount and out it on there (if you do this you should black out routing and checking information on the check).

The frills don’t have to be things actually related to your goals or the vision board itself either. Using scents that will attract your attention to your board is an amazing idea. If you love the smell of lavender put some of that on there. It will attract your attention and it also is a super calming scent.

Where should I hang my vision board?

Your vision board should go anywhere that you will see it everyday. Having it visible from your bed is a superb idea because it will be the first thing you see when you wake up, and the last thing you see when you go to bed. You can also hang near your desk, or pin to your cubicle it fit’s smaller as I mentioned earlier. Anywhere you want is fine as long as you see it often

Basically, there are no set rules for creating your vision board. The important thing is getting your dreams, goals, desires out of your head and onto your board. Take the time to reflect and really actually put things on there that you want to do or achieve. Blocking out this time to get your mindset right before the new year is an investment worth considering.

Happy New Year!