BE Furniture

The reception area is the entrance to your business, and generally, the first impression clients get of your business up close. The longer your clients and visitors are likely to sit here, the more important that the area create a comfortable and enjoyable experience. In 2020, we must add to that, a “safe” experience as well, especially as pertains to your employees. Businesses that rely significantly on a reception area for guests, potential hires, VIPS, and clients, should go the extra mile to ensure waiting and being received is pleasant, safe for all concerned, and says or presents something about your brand. That being understood, there are a number of common elements that make for outstanding reception area’s, even on a limited budget. Here’s a few thoughts from the experts at BE. Invest in a Proper Reception Desk Reception desks are very specific pieces and come in all shapes and sizes from a wide variety of different manufacturers. Reception desks are generall...

The rise of coworking spaces is set to continue, with around  5.1 million workers  forecast to utilize these spaces by 2022. This new global trend reflects the way modern businesses are evolving, ensuring that they tap into the biggest possible pool of talent by offering flexibility in terms of work hours, work environments, and even geography. As the industry grows, so coworking ventures seek new niches to give their clients more tailored services – and one niche is the rising trend that is the women-only coworking space. Here’s some insight into this trend from  our NJ office design team . Why Women-Only?  It’s natural for men to feel a little left out of this trend, but it’s not about creating an exclusive space. It’s all about creating a space that is designed to effectively meet the needs of women in the workplace. This is an area where modern workplaces have notoriously struggled to achieve these inclusive goals, and coworking spaces are a unique...

It’s a well-known fact that office design and layout have a measurable effect on productivity, and that it has to be customized to meet the requirements of organizations on an individual basis in order to be successful. What works for Google isn’t likely to work for a corporate law firm or a call center. However, there’s plenty of inspiration that can be taken from innovative office design concepts – like the 50 feet design concept. Influencing Productivity Through a Single Concept This design concept is driven by a single notion – access to resources. The idea is that factors like wellness, efficiency, agility and collaboration can all be enhanced and prioritized by ensuring that all critical office resources (everything from the copier to team members) are located within 50 feet of the individuals who require them. A good way to visualize this is a honeycomb-shaped floorplan – self-sufficient clusters that, when brought together, form an entire community. 50 Feet –...

Your office reception area is the first impression that new employees, clients and vendors get of your brand, so it’s important to get the layout right. Here are some tips and modern office design ideas from our team. Keep it simple: There’s nothing worse than walking into a reception area and not knowing exactly where you’re meant to go or who you’re supposed to approach. Reduce confusion by having a modern reception desk in clear line of sight from your front door – something bold and eye-catching. Situate chairs and couches near the reception desk so that visitors can easily interact with staff. If it is a large or shared reception area, wayfinding signs are a must-have. Keep it open: A cluttered space causes confusion, especially in a reception area – one of the busiest spaces in your office filled with people who may not be familiar with your building, who are making deliveries, or arriving for meetings. This means that you need clear, wide paths for traffic throu...

Color is one of the easiest, most affordable and most cost-effective ways to revitalize your  workspace , influence productivity and even energize your employees. Here are some of this year’s trending colors to help inspire your remodel. Natural greens:  Think of how springtime makes you feel – a new start, freshness, life and vitality – and you can see how natural greens can do the same to your workplace. Lighter shades inspire fresh thinking and vibrant energy, while calmer shades inspire tranquility, wellness and reduced anxiety. Azure and royal blue:  These bright, rich blues inspire communication and productivity, pairing well with other colors and themes. Use it in darker shades as a calming accent color or in lighter shades for a more relaxing look. Its popularity means that it will suit everyone’s taste. Earthy browns:  Avoid drab browns and anonymous creams and choose browns that are rich, warm and earthy. Although it’s a neutral tone, it adds a we...

You walk through your office reception area every day and probably take very little notice of it – but what impression do first-time visitors, clients and prospective employees see when they walk in? Here are some insights from the specialists in  modern reception desks  and modern office design ideas. The Professional Office Reception Area  If you’re in the financial services, legal or medical industry, you want to give your visitors the impression that you’re successful, organized, authoritative and efficient. Your reception area can achieve this with the following look: Uncluttered, clean and open space Subtle but clear brand presence Comfortable but robust/heavy furniture of a classic style Statement artwork Coffee and tea service Stylish but muted color scheme The Creative Office Reception Area  If you’re selling creative services like marketing, advertising or interior design, you want your reception area to make an impact with your c...

On March 14 th  of this year, the plans for the new headquarters for the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom were unveiled – a building that aims to be one of the healthiest office buildings in the world. The 160,000 square foot building, which was designed by AHR Architects and will be officially known as The Spine, will be BREEAM Excellent rated and one of the first in the world to achieve the international WELL Building Standard of modern building design. Wellness is a Focus-Feature of The Spine  The Spine, which takes its name from the striking staircase on its northern elevation that takes design inspiration from human vertebrae, will have some impressive features setting it apart from other workplaces. Wellness has become a focus for many big businesses and, according to Professor Jane Dacre, President of the RCP, the building will embody the RCPs commitment to wellbeing by meeting WELL targets. Some interesting features of the building include t...

If your offices and office reception area is feeling a little tired and uninspiring, there’s a lot you can do to improve it – even if you don’t have the budget for a big remodel. Here are some easy, affordable  modern office ideas  to freshen up your space. Add some green:  Plants add life to an office, quite literally. They’re inexpensive and, if you choose the right plants, easy to maintain. They are also great for improving employee wellbeing by filtering air, reducing stress and boosting moods. Good plants for office spaces include snake plants, ficus, aloes (for sunny offices), orchids, and peace lilies. Be sure to check the plants light and water needs so you place them in the right areas of your office and, if you don’t want the hassle of caring for them yourself, there are companies who will supply and maintain office plants for you. Upgrade your lighting:  If the mood and productivity at your office is low, your lights may be to blame. Poor lighting...

Companies make the choice to go Green and reduce their environmental impact for a number of reasons, from their corporate vision and philosophy to cost-savings. But there’s one more important reason that is often overlooked –greener  workplaces can boost employee productivity . In fact, studies have shown that employees working in green-certified offices boast a 26% boost in cognition, and 30% fewer sickness related absences, and improved sleep quality. The right way to reduce your company’s environmental impact  As with anything, there is a right and a wrong way of going green. For example, if your company wants to improve its energy usage, the answer is not to turn down heating and cooling – this will likely result in unproductive and unhappy employees. The trick is to hit the sweet spot, ecologically-speaking, and this results in a positive change in your company’s direction and in employee happiness. Here’s how. Air quality:  Poor air quality is bad for th...