If you want to create a chic, contemporary office, look no further. You can blend modernly–styled furniture, lighting, desk accessories, and office supplies in ways that won’t break the bank.

Executive desks

For a coordinated office, choose an executive desk ensemble. If you like modern details, you’ll appreciate the Somerset Collection’s rich maple finish and clean lines, as well as its frosted glass doors and tapered metallic legs. In addition to being stylish, it’s also roomy. The L–shaped desk with its concealed vertical computer compartment, coupled with the mounted hutch, provides generous storage and work areas, and storage options can be augmented with the two–drawer lateral file and five–shelf bookcase.

Chair

You won’t have to sacrifice style for comfort with a mesh manager’s chair that’s both ergonomic and attractive. It has a double–wrapped mesh back with padded outer frame in breathable AirSeat® fabric and a contoured over–size seat in coordinated fabric for optimum comfort, as well as padded armrests on Euro–styled metal frames. A number of other ergonomic, yet modern–looking chairs are also available in a variety of colors and upholstery.

Computer carts

If you’re tight on space, a sleek computer cart with rounded edges and plenty of storage could be just the piece your office needs. Keep computer equipment close at hand and all together with a cart featuring a contemporary maple finish and a silver mesh metal frame, or pick one of the many other fresh styles. Most carts feature casters for mobility, a pull–out keyboard tray, a compact work surface, and platform shelves for your computer monitor, CPU, printer, supplies, and accessories.

Lighting

Illuminate your work space with a modish desktop lamp. Choose the brushed steel pharmacy lamp, a classic that’s been updated with a contemporary flair. It features a brushed steel base, a height adjustable arm, and a white frosted glass shade that provides muted, yet adequate lighting. Or perhaps an art deco lamp, with sturdy weighted base, wide shade, and a reflector to cut down on glare and increase illumination, would be just the thing to make your office ensemble glow.

Desk sets and accessories

Add a fashion statement to your desktop with wood or wire desk accessories. Solid wood mail sorters, business card holders, picture frames, and supply bins with rounded corners create an elegant flair to your office. Some wooden desk sets have a touch of glass for a refreshingly new twist. Or, choose wire mesh pieces such as desk shelves, pencil cups, and tier shelves in silver, black, or pewter for a minimalist look.

Writing instruments

There’s no rule that says your office supplies can’t reflect your personal style. If you’re into ultramodern designs, you’ll enjoy making your mark with the Ion gel pen. You’ll admire its futuristic lines and appreciate the soft–touch grip that helps keep your hand from tiring.

Folding banquet tables

Use these tables for conferences, office parties, or any occasion where fast, easy set up is required. They’re generally constructed with sturdy steel legs and tops of durable plastic–covered particle board or rugged polyethylene (a resin that’s about 35% lighter than wood) that resists chipping and peeling. These types of tables are fairly lightweight — about 60 to 70 pounds — so one or two people can move them around with ease. When open, they’re about 30 inches high; when closed (the legs fold in towards the underside of the tabletop) they’re just a few inches high and flat, so a minimum of storage space is required. The most common folding table size is about six feet long and about 24 inches wide. Look for self–locking legs for safety and a steel–reinforced channel along the table length for added stability. Most folding tables can be used indoors or out due to their all–weather construction. Some can be height adjusted as well, which increases their flexibility.

Meeting room tables

Lightweight and portable, small meeting room tables are perfect for informal conferencing or as added workspace. Most are made from steel, and have tops coated with laminate or melamine, durable materials that resist scratches, abrasions, and stains. Some have casters for mobility or height–adjustable work surfaces. Meeting room tables come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from round to oblong. Use one small table to increase your work area or arrange multiple tables end to end or at various angles to fit your needs. They can also be used as accent tables in a reception area or as a food or beverage table for an office celebration.

Folding chairs

This kind of chair is perfect for occasions when you need extra seating, such as a company–wide meeting or an office party. Generally sold in groups of four, most folding chairs have tubular steel frames, which makes them durable, yet lightweight. Some have foam padded seats and backrests for comfort. They’re an attractive choice because they are inexpensive, can be cleaned easily, and are a snap to transport, set up and store.

Stacking chairs

Often used in reception areas or meeting rooms, these chair types are also handy when you need additional seating, but stacking chairs are generally more stylish than folding chairs. They are usually sold in cartons of three or four, and come in various styles, some with arm rests. Most stackable chairs have metal legs, with padded fabric seats and backrests. The fabric, which is treated with a stain resistant coating, comes in a variety of colors and textures. When not in use, the chairs can be placed one on top of another for compact storage or transport. Depending on the style of the chair, you can stack five to twelve chairs together.

Vertical file cabinets

Vertical

This is a traditional style of cabinet that’s common in many offices. Vertical cabinets are taller than they are wide and therefore use a minimum amount of wall space. They can have two to five drawers and hold letter and legal–size documents. The files in a vertical cabinet are placed from front to back in the drawer, with files facing the user.

While vertical cabinets are a good choice for long–term storage due to their compactness when the drawers are closed, if you’ll be using a vertical file everyday, make sure you have enough room in your office. According to Anthony Hayes, a Staples Furniture Specialist, “A vertical file…doesn’t use a lot of wall space. However, it does require an office that has a lot of walking space.” Hayes notes that a vertical file cabinet requires an area that’s equal to the depth of the file cabinet (about 29 inches), plus the length of the drawer when open (another 29 inches or so), for a total of approximately 58 inches.

Lateral file cabinets

Lateral

Lateral cabinets, which are wider than vertical cabinets, but not as deep, are built for high–volume capacity. They also have two to five drawers and can hold letter or legal–size documents. Files are either placed in the cabinet from left to right, facing the side of the drawer, or are arranged from front to back in multiple rows. Many two–drawer lateral models are designed to fit underneath work surfaces and tables for additional storage and are often paired with a desk to increase horizontal space.

Construction

Most file cabinets are made of steel for strength. “Steel is very durable and can withstand a lot of abuse and still look good,” says Hayes. If you prefer the look of wood, consider how often the cabinet will be used. Hayes advises against purchasing a wood cabinet if it will be used constantly, since it’s not as resilient as a steel cabinet. “Wood would be ideal for home office or small work office where there are not a lot of people using it,” he says.

To protect your files, look for a well–made cabinet. Hayes recommends a reinforced base and double–walled steel sides for added sturdiness. All cabinets sold by Staples are tested for durability. “Every cabinet that we sell has been through a series of tests that have been established by the ANSI (American National Standard Institute) to ensure the safety and quality of the cabinet,” says Hayes.

Safety features

Struggling with a file cabinet drawer that doesn’t open easily is not only frustrating, it’s dangerous. Invest in a cabinet with drawers that extend fully and glide smoothly on ball–bearing suspension. Also, choose a cabinet with interlocked drawers. This crucial anti–tip feature prevents more than one drawer in a cabinet from being opened at a time.

Protection of contents

If you’re planning on storing confidential files, choose a cabinet with a central locking feature — all drawers are secured with the same mechanism. A lock kit will allow you to install removable and interchangeable lock cores in your cabinets so that you can use one key for them all.

If you’re concerned about losing your documents in a fire, consider a fireproof cabinet. These cabinets carry the Underwriters’ Laboratories Class 350 rating for fire and impact resistance, meaning that they can withstand temperatures of 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour.

Lateral file cabinets

Before closing a cabinet drawer, take the time to ensure that you’re doing it correctly. The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation recommends always using the handle to close the file drawer and making sure that your fingers are not curled around the edge of the drawer when pushing it shut. Take special care in crowded areas when opening file drawers — never open a drawer if someone is in the path of or crouched beneath the drawer.

Location counts

Make sure that file cabinet drawers do not open into high–traffic corridors in your office, warns the University of California, Davis’ Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). If possible, relocate cabinets to less–traveled areas of your office so protruding drawers are not as much of a peril, and remind cabinet users to close drawers immediately after use.

Load management

Vertical file cabinets

Don’t stuff all of your files in the top drawer of your file cabinet. Because top–heavy cabinets are at risk of falling over when you open the drawers, the EH&S of UC Davis recommends dispersing the cabinet’s contents evenly among all drawers. Remember to open only one drawer at a time as well — many cabinets have a safety lock feature that prevents multiple drawers from being opened simultaneously and guards against tipping. It’s a good idea to invest in this safety feature.

Low for safety

Think low when storing heavy items, recommends the University of North Dakota. The lowest drawer in the file cabinet is the perfect spot to store weighty materials because they will stabilize the cabinet. Never place anything heavy on top of your file cabinet — if someone were to slam a drawer closed or suddenly open one, the hefty item could fall off the cabinet.

Lighten up

Ensure that there’s ample space in the drawers so that users don’t have to strain to insert or remove files – this will prevent hand and wrist injuries according to UC Davis’ EH&S. And are there items that you could remove completely from your file cabinets? Occasionally purge your files to free up space and improve your ability to find documents with a minimum of manual effort.

The importance of adjustability

Give careful thought to “adjustability” when selecting workstation seating for the medical environment. Differences in body measurements, vision requirements, hand preferences, computer set–ups, type of work being performed and length of the work shift are all factors that contribute to choosing the right chair for multiple users.

Key features

Chairs

Look for the following features when choosing workstation chairs:

1. Seat padding with resiliency to reduce contact stress on hips and thighs and to provide comfortable back support for varying body sizes.

2. “Waterfall” seat contours are often preferred to alleviate pressure on the back of the thighs.

3. Gas–lift, adjustable height controls that allow the chair to adjust for varying shin heights and that encourage users to sit comfortably with both feet flat on the floor.

4. Adjustable seat depth controls that ideally allow the front edge of the chair to be two to three inches from the back of the user’s knees.

5. Adjustable back supports that raise or lower to a height that adequately supports the curves of the back, especially the lumbar curve of the low back.

6. Adjustable tilt of the seat forward and backwards that operates independently of the back support. Reclining rests the back muscles. A forward tilt of the seat pan encourages a well–aligned, upright back posture taking stress off the spinal muscles and discs of the lower back.

7. Height– and width–adjustable, well–cushioned, arm supports that adjust to maintain straight wrist postures for computer activities and reduce muscular effort of the neck, shoulders, and back.

Backrest

Task chairs

The chair you choose must have adequate upper and lower (or lumbar) back support. An inadequate backrest can put stress on your spine while you’re seated, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division of Safety. The lower portion of a backrest should provide firm support, yet be curved slightly to follow the natural contour of your spine, according to the University of California, Berkeley’s Health Service Department.

You should also purchase a chair with a backrest that is adjustable in various ways so you can find a combination of settings that is most comfortable for you. Look for adjustments that allow you to change the amount of lumbar support provided in the backrest, change the angle of the backrest independently from the seat, and tilt the back and the seat together.

Seat

A chair seat should feel comfortable when you initially sit down, and should remain that way after you’ve been seated for a significant period of time, according to the Cornell University Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group. If the seat becomes uncomfortable after prolonged sitting (1–2 hours), the foam padding may not be a high enough density and the contouring may not be the right fit for your body. When you’re seated in the chair, make sure there’s plenty of room around your hips and thighs — at least an inch of space on either side of your body is recommended by UC Berkeley’s Health Services Department. Also, ensure that your chair’s seat supports your thighs, yet the edge of the seat doesn’t come in contact with the back of your legs while you’re seated. If it does, you’ll be unable to lean against the chair’s back support