Passing the Test of Time
Last week we talked about how it is important to have your personality and your personal touch put into your office or workspace. This week we are going to look at how to ensure your décor choices withstand the test of time. When we design an area, we make many choices regarding style, color, and shape. These choices impact the overall look and feel of our space we want to ensure these areas remain functional and aesthetically pleasing for years to come.
Color
The key choice made during any design process is what colors to use. Currently white or grey tones are the in style and modern look. In the past, black and a wide verity of wood tones was the way to go. You can make any area look great using any color scheme, but it is difficult to know if the style trend will remain relevant for a while. A perfect example of this is looking at the evolution of home bathrooms. How many houses have bathrooms that are built with pastel color tile? If you tour just a few homes built in the mid part of the 20th century odds are you will find a few. Additionally, many bathrooms still have wallpaper used instead of paint, a popular design touch used in the later part of the 20th century. By modern day standards most of these rooms are quickly identified as needing upgrades. The décor that people look for in a bathroom is drastically different then it used to be.
This rule can also be applied to the color of the office furniture we use. For years, traditional dark tones have been popular. At the start of the century, light color wood grains were the new thing, but this style trend was a temporary shift. Now a day’s light color woods are considered a dated style and more traditional light color grays and whites are what the most popular choices are. Do not be concerned if you feel like the color of your furniture is dated. This problem can often be hidden by using great colors as accessories and wall paint. The color or material of any piece of furniture can remain modern and stylish if you cater to its need. For example, if you have an older traditional mahogany desk you can make it work in any setting if you have the appropriate seating, accessory, and technology around it. Light toned wood might not be the first choice when designing something new, but if you work with it and do not try to hide it you can design a modern and stylish area. If you are not sure how to, hire a designer. A quality designer can make any area look great by changing its surrounding colors and its decor.
Space Utilization
Another key design element to look at in any situation is how well we are utilizing an area’s space. The wrong size furniture or the wrong positioning of furniture can make any space look inefficient, messy, and undesirable. This problem is often seen in kitchens, living rooms, and open concept floor plans. A couch or a chair in the wrong spot can create a barrier in a room and can harm its practical flow. As a result, the area starts to look messy as we try to compensate. Open concept houses are the current trend but older style homes with more walls can still be great places to live. Just think about what each room is ideally positioned for. A more traditional home features a sitting room off the entrance that is rarely used. This room can often be converted into an office to help free up space elsewhere and help make it an integral part of the house.
The same concepts can be applied to office spaces. Most major companies are moving away from small cubical and panel system spaces in favor of more open communal workspaces. However, this does not mean cubicles are no longer needed or functional. Hundreds of offices still feature them to create efficient and functional workspaces and some are many decades old and remain stylish. In contrast, even though open concept communal workplaces have been the current trend that does not mean people will still be wanting to work in these environments long term. The last year has seen a spike in the desire of personal space. This change was brought on by a virus pandemic, but it could have lasting effects on the office furniture world.
How to Make it Last
No matter what design trend or style you choose, the goal is to make its look withstand the test of time. Being old does not mean something is not stylish but it does take effort and thought to ensure an older design remains visually appealing after its trend expires. The easiest way to do this is design it the right way and do not take short cuts. If you want a cutting-edge modern design, go for it, but do not buy cheap furniture or accessories that will fall apart or are simply corny. Spend some time to think about how the space will flow long term and think about how the colors work together. Remember that painting a wall is easier then refinishing and reupholstering furniture. So, if you want to try something bold think paint first. It is a simple change down the road. If you want to rethink a space, consider what rotating the furniture around will do. Do not design an area that lacks flexibility. Sometimes simple changes every few years is all that is needed to keep a space looking modern and fresh.
Lastly, the most important advice to anyone who is designing a space is do it right. Do not take short cuts to save a small amount of money. This mistake can lead to having to spend more money down the road to correct initial mistakes. Quality is always in style, so if you buy something that is no longer considered trendy, it is okay if it is high quality. Old does not mean bad but cheap does. If you need any advice on high quality office furniture feel free to email us at sales@furniuturewholesalers.com. We are always happy to help.