Designing and furnishing an office may seem like a daunting task, but it should be given substantial thought and effort. People spend the majority of work days in office spaces, and your office may receive visits from colleagues and clients, so it’s important to have a nice office. By purchasing office furniture and carefully designing the space, you’re also investing in your work.

Before you go out looking for furniture, it’s a good idea to make a list of the most essential items your office needs. If you neglect this step, you may end up purchasing much more than you need, which means you spend more and clutter up your work space. You’re also better off making decisions about the type and quantity of required furniture after you’ve already thought about the following considerations.

How many people will be using the office space? Is it just you, do you expect to have visitors, or will you be regularly sharing the office space with someone? Knowing this beforehand can help you figure out how many desks and chairs you require, and how much space should be kept free of furniture.

It’s also important to know how much work will be done on computer versus on paper. This can help you decide if you need filing cabinets and storage space for papers, and how much space you think you’ll need. It can also help determine how large your desk ought to be. For those who do a lot of paperwork, you probably want a larger desk. If you work mainly on a computer, an average or smaller desk may be preferable and will allow you a little more open space in the room.

You should also consider what kinds of office appliances – such as phone, fax machine, printer, and copier – you will have in the office. For instance, if you plan to have a printer for your own personal use, you will want a desk large enough to accommodate it. On the other hand, if you plan to share a printer with others, you may want a separate desk or shelf for it that’s easily accessible to everyone in the room.

Even those working at home should consider setting one room apart – a guest room or library, for instance – to use as a work room. Without a designated office, people can become easily distracted at home. If you furnish an office space, on the other hand, you create a border between home and work that may help you to focus better when working.

Modular office sets are gaining in popularity. Available in tasteful wood colors, black, and white, modular furniture can be conveniently customized for specific spaces in an office.

Generally, the essential items for an office are chairs, desks, filing cabinets and bookshelves. You can further personalize the office by adding other decorations and plants, which will help you enjoy being there and make visitors feel more comfortable as well. Having a plan early on that spells out what items you need and what their sizes should be can really make the process of furnishing your office convenient and rewarding.

Do you know what to look for when buying office furniture? Get the low down on the best Workstation in our Workstation Brisbane overview.