Minimalist trend changes preference for office furniture<\/p>\n
Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
\"What can I buy with a limited budget?\" this question has been
\nnagging an interior consultant lately. His new client could only
\nprovide Rp 500 million (about US$58,500) for furniture
\nfor a 600-square meter office while actually that amount of money
\nusually can only cover the furniture for an office about half
\nthat size.<\/p>\n
Due to financial constraints and rising expenses, limited
\nworkspace has required businesspeople to over-economize on office
\nfurniture. Finding the right furniture set, however, becomes a
\nconsiderable concern since it can boost the image of the
\nbusiness.<\/p>\n
There is also a call for office furniture that could support
\nthe mobility and adaptability of employees and employers.<\/p>\n
According to Adeline Monike, marketing manager of an office
\nfurniture producer DataScript, there are a wide range of
\nfurniture sets that could suit such needs.<\/p>\n
She said that office furniture sets that included desks,
\ncredenzas, bookcases, file cabinets, task seating (desk chairs),
\nside chairs, binder bins, and partitioned office spaces now tend
\nto offer simplicity and transparency but still display a high-
\nspirited atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\"If in the past the boss is always secluded in a closed room,
\nnow, it is not hierarchical anymore. The boss can see the
\nemployees through the partition and vice versa,\" Adeline said.
\nShe added that the price also varied, ranging from Rp 700,000 to
\ntens of millions of rupiah.<\/p>\n
Adeline said that color also had a significant role. People
\nlike to use colors like orange, red, yellow, and green.<\/p>\n
\"Nowadays there are many young executives who were born in
\n1980s so they choose equipment which is simpler, hip, dynamic, a
\nreflection of their generation. They always like to be cheerful
\nwhile working but not playing down their job,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The trend is minimalist, said Adeline, who also changes the
\npreference of desks and chairs. Since people are getting more
\naccustomed to laptop computers, they avoid the big, wide desks.
\nBesides having more freedom in choosing the color, people may
\nalso more options in the furniture forms. Take for example, a
\ncurved table (a peanut-like) or trapezium, which is in high
\ndemand.<\/p>\n
It shows the flexibility as well as the youth
\nof the person who works behind it.<\/p>\n
The chair's pad which is usually covered by fabric or leather,
\nnow is made of transparent material while new filing cabinet
\nproducts are also more colorful, including like red and black. In
\naddition, a compact rolling shelf for mobile filing can save some
\nspace.<\/p>\n
\"Small offices can look cute, fashionable and cozy with those
\nfurniture sets,\" Adeline said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Anita Aziz, an interior designer, said that
\nthere were some aspects that the company should consider before
\nselecting the furniture set. She said that product design must
\nconsider all aspects of life style assessment, from the
\nfunctionality of the product, through the material selection and
\nuse, to product durability and manufacture. It also must remain
\nconscious of the product's esthetic appeal.<\/p>\n
The office furniture should match the company's philosophy
\nand budget. \"If the company is related with the media or
\nadvertising fields, it can choose bright and splashy colors in a
\nbid to show their dynamic soul,\" she said, adding that color like
\nsilver, red, blue, and a little bit yellow were good eye-
\ncatchers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, for the company that wants to show their
\nexclusivity, they might use minimalist furniture but with classic
\ncolors like brown so that it would not induce boredom among the
\nemployees. \"Instead of purchasing stainless steel partitions,
\ncompanies may also purchase wavy partition which is made of zinc
\nbut bears the same color. It can save the budget although the
\ndurability is less,\" Anita said.<\/p>\n
She said that the most expatriates like to have a desk with
\nsmall, sharp, hand-carved legs while desks with rounded edges
\nwere also popular.<\/p>\n
She said that the company should also consider whether the
\nfurniture sets were comfortable, ergonomic and environmentally
\nfriendly. She said the color of furniture sets should match each
\nother so that it could soothe the people's eyes. And it is easier
\nto have carpet with color that is not too dark or too light
\nbecause it can be tainted if there is dust or dirt.<\/p>\n
Anita suggested a combination of wallpaper and wall would
\nprovide a unique impression. \"If it is possible, the company can
\nexperiment by printing the motif like in wall paper on the real
\nwall. It is much cheaper,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, James Newbould, technical advisor of Vinotindo
\nGraha Sarana, said that modular carpet or carpet tile can be more
\ncost effective than roll carpet. It also has a wide range of more
\nsophisticated colors. In modular design, all components may be
\nrepositioned or reused in different positions, to serve various
\npurposes.<\/p>\n
For chairs, he said, the most important thing was, it
\nhad to be ergonomic for the health, safety, and comfort of the
\nemployees. For the stylish office, work chairs with chrome and
\nblack color are still a favorite.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, for workstations, there will be more flexible areas
\nin design systems, which are free standing. The furniture relies
\non floor standing components for support that include various
\ntypes of legs and\/or pedestal storage.<\/p>\n
Newbould said that people should consider office furniture
\nwhich is sustainable, can last longer, can be recycled,
\nenvironmentally friendly, and cost effective. It is also
\nimportant to have a power cord and telephone line management
\nsystem as an integral part of the furniture system. \"You don't
\nwant to have a bunch of wires make cluttering up your office, do
\nyou?\" he said<\/p>",
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