What are the most common materials used – cubicles office?

It’s 2024. Things just move so fast. And you may be planning of making your work area bigger.

When you look at your existing office layout, you may have noticed that several office tables, desks, and filing cabinets are not in the proper locations or order. Currently, most of them are merely placed in unused spaces.

You may have come up with a lot of ways to make your office bigger. Now if you planned for office partitions and cubicles, you’re on the right direction.

Cubicles office are among the top priorities of many companies that are trying to upgrade or expand their workspaces.

And among the basis of your choice in the purchase of these cubicles should be the right materials. Yes, the materials can make a lot of difference in how your office looks. It’s like giving your workspace a whole new personality.

Now, there are a bunch of options to consider. There may be a dozen of reasons, but it’s all about finding that right balance. The right balance where style and your preferences meet your budget.

But hey, in business undertakings, the budget almost always take precedence.

Let’s leave the budget issues a while and talk about materials.

Always remember that your choice of materials, especially your office furniture, can greatly affect the ambience of your office.

The sleek, modern look of glass and metal can promote a sense of openness and collaboration, while the warmth of wooden cubicles can give you a more cozy and traditional vibe.

Now if you are into one of these save the trees movement or you just care about mother earth, then remember this is also doable with eco-friendly materials such as recycled wood or long lasting plastics.

But it’s not just about how it looks; it’s also a question of how long the material will last and how good it is in blocking noise.

There are some businesses who are into online tutorials so noise reduction is important for them.

Workzone has worked with clients helping students from some Asian countries who’d like to learn the English language. In these cases, the panels involved in the set-up of the cubicles are soundproof. Also added are more sound absorbing furniture, rugs, and carpets.

Now you may be wondering what are office cubicles made of? Well, they are a combination of wood, metal connectors, laminates, fabric, aluminum, PVC, and glass, But I’ll discuss below the 5 most common materials used in the assembly of the partition panels used in the cubicles.

1. Fabric – for sound absorbing

I talk about fabric first. Yes, fabric is versatile and hands down the most common material used in office cubicles. It is, most of the time, the material used for creating the walls and dividers of cubicles.

If you haven’t heard of fabric cubicles before, well, they are panels connected by metal connectors. The frame consists mostly of wood, with thin plywood forming the front and back panels. We then glue the fabric cloth to the thin plywood on both the front and back panels.

Fabric panels have good sound-absorbing properties. The textured surface of fabric helps reduce noise levels within the office. As you may know there are offices that need a quiet environment.

In fact according to a survey , 58% of productive employees say they need more quiet work spaces. It is easier to concentrate and get work done in a quiet environment.

Aside from its sound absorbing qualities, fabric panels come in many colors, patterns, and textures. You can customize it to match the overall office decor and theme, including office chairs, tables and cabinets. This makes fabric even a more popular choice, not counting budget concerns.

Fabric is also quite easy to clean. Smudges and dirt can quickly be cleaned up by simply using soap and water together with a toothbrush. Dark colored fabric may also be your choice if your office experiences heavy foot traffic of customers and visitors.

Stains and dirt would not be easily noticeable. If you want to keep things simple and with less maintenance, then dark-colored fabrics are a good choice.

2. Wood is time-tested

Wood is a classic. It is the most practical material that is often used to make cubicles office. In remote regions of the Philippines, wood is the most used material for panels and dividers.

Wood is all-around. It can be used for so many things, from structural parts like frames and support elements.

Wood is naturally beautiful. Most of our high-end clients even prefer office tables made of wood over high-pressure laminates (HPL) and medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which is very common.

Now here’s the thing, wood as a partition panel or divider could be quite expensive. The time to build or assemble the panels and dividers could even take much longer. Well, a well planned office may not worry about it taking longer as they may have factored it in in their installation time frame.

Good-quality wood cubicles can stand up to the wear and tear of day-to-day use. Also, wood is a green and environmentally friendly option, in line with some modern business practices that promote caring for the environment.

3. Perforated Aluminum – office with a sense of modernity

Perforated aluminum panels are known for their smooth and modern aesthetic. These panels are made from aluminum sheets with holes or perforations. This material balances privacy with an open, airy feel.

The holes allow for better airflow within cubicles, creating a more comfy and well-ventilated area of work. Also the holes’ transparent appearance create a sense of space, making the perforated aluminum the ideal if not the best choice for tech-oriented or industrial-themed office settings.

The clean lines and metallic coating of the perforated aluminum would provide your office a sense of modernity.

Plus, cubicles made of aluminum will be able to stand day-to-day use without losing their stylish appeal.

4. Glass cubicles

Glass is a common material to add quality and visibility to place of work. Natural light can enter the work area through glass panels making it brighter and more open.

This increase in natural light could improve employee morale and overall health, creating a more cheerful work environment. The glass cubicles also provide a certain level of sound and visual privacy, which makes them great for all kinds of work environments, especially modern offices.

Glass is transparent. It encourages teamwork and openness in your office. It lets your staff engage with one another, even when working in different cubicles.

Glass cubicles work well for situations where team members need to share information constantly. Glass is also easy to clean and maintain. This ensures that your cubicles preserve their original appearance over time.

Some executive offices would prefer glass partitions just to match their tables and executive chairs.

5. Laminate partitions 

Laminate may be your easiest choice. High-class and easy to clean. It is resistant to stains. It gives your office a fresh and tidy appearance. It’s almost always maintenance-free.

You just need a little piece of cloth to wipe the panels clean. Since it is easy to clean, we always suggest it to clients whose cubicles have high foot traffic. Well, these laminates would cost like 20-30 percent higher than the fabric types.

While the color choices may not be as many as that of the fabric cubicles, laminates have also a wide variety of finishes and colors. You can customize your cubicle design with the overall office decor.

Another good thing about laminates is that they are resistant to moisture, which is way good especially in this country, The Philippines where humidity could get as high as 90%.

Its resistance to moisture prevents it from warping or bulging, which is a common weakness of cubicles made of wood.

One last thing, laminates are relatively easy to install. You can shorten the lead time to get your almost perfect office done.

Now go ahead!

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of enquiries about the Cost and Size Guide – Office Cubicles in the Philippines that have been made concerning the supply and installation of office cubicles. The majority of the enquiries are focused on the cost, the dimensions of the cubicles, the many types, designs, and colors available, as well as the heights and colors of the cubicles.

These will be addressed here. Let’s talk about the first two. The cost as well as the  size.

How much does a cubicle cost?

Price could range from 10,000 PHP to 18,000 PHP.  This is the ballpark figure for the cluster type of cubicles here in the Philippines.This is only a rough approximation as pricing may fluctuate greatly depending on a variety of factors.

The size of the cubicle is the primary consideration that goes into determining the cost of the unit. The 10,000 PHP cubicle is typically of the full fabric type with a 6 cm panel thickness.

There is a possible range of 105 cm to 135 cm for the height. The length of the table is 120 cm, and the width is 60 cm.

The next typical dimension for a cubicle is 60 cm by 150 cm, and the panel height is 120 cm. After that, the cost adjusts itself whenever the height goes above 120 cm.

A cubicle of this size (60 cm X 150 cm) may cost anywhere from 14,000 PHP to 20,000 PHP.

The cost would be significantly different after the addition of new features, changing the fabric from one tone to a two-tone color scheme.

Installing glass panels, changing to laminates are some of the improvement that would increase the cost.

There are also a few other aspects to consider.

If you prefer laminates for the panels, there will be an approximate 10% price increase for that option.

The combination of full fabric panels with glass or laminated panels with glass may result in an additional 20% price increase.

Even full fabric panels have a variety of colors woven into them. A panel made of fabric with two different colors would be more expensive. In addition to it, there is a combination of two-tone full fabric and glass.

Adding hanging cabinets and grommet holes (for the cables that jolt out from under the table onto your tabletop) are two examples of more expensive options.

Installation of networking cables and electrical wires is a further factor that could substantially increase the price of the cubicles.

Most of the time, however, clients already have their own team of networking specialists and electricians who will handle the power and data cabling.

Because this is a completely separate area of expertise, most suppliers and installers of cubicles prefer to outsource it to other vendors and contractors.

It is also important to point out that the pricing may change based on the location of the customer, which can also be rather variable.

In our case, we have clients outside Metro Manila. We have supplied and installed government offices in Northern and Central Luzon, as well as in Zamboanga, Davao, and Leyte.

We have also supplied and installed office furniture and cubicles at a mining company in Palawan. These are some of the remote areas in the Philippines which we have delivered office cubicles, chairs, and other furniture.

The price of the furniture could rise up depending on the location as you would add fees for shipping and hauling. Project staff are also dispatched to complete the installations.

How big should a cubicle be?

We can only speak on the projects we have completed. In most cases, the clients have their own designers and architects who are responsible for making the layouts of the office spaces and who may be well aware of the Building Code of the Philippines.

In most cases, the designers will verify that this is the standard size or that the building managers have given their approval to the office layout.

Office density is the quick indicator. This refers to the number of people working in a given area per square meter.

Based on the configurations of our earlier installations, 3.5 to 4.0 square meters per person would already be comfortably spacious.

This density makes it possible to contain clusters of cubicles, as well as a visitors’ area, conference room, and reception area. This would already include vertical and horizontal cabinets, xerox machines, a little pantry and sofa for the visitors.

However, things are played out very differently when it comes to offices of large multinational corporations.

Much of the floor space is taken up by open areas and huge meeting rooms with glass partitions.

Lounges that house expensive comfy sofas that seats many guests are very common.

And their office density could run from 6 to 8 square meters per person.

Now, how big should a cubicle be?

The inside dimensions of a closed cubicle are 180 cm x 180 cm. The typical height is approximately 180 cm. Just enough to avoid being observed by passers-by.

For those in the clusters, meaning those cubicles that are grouped together in 10’s or 20’s, the size of the cubicles could be from 60 cm x 100 cm or 60 cm X 120 cm.

The height would be 120 cm, an eye level elevation if one is seated. Others who would like an increase in their level of privacy would suggest moving it up to 135 or 150 cm.

There are several businesses whom we did business with that required their tabletops to hold two computer monitors. We suggested that the dimensions of their cubicles be 70 cm by 150 cm. This is more than enough to accommodate two 24-inch computer monitors.

Others who have online tutorial lessons would have soundproof cubicles, and their cubicle space would be nearly completely enclosed.

We hung panels that were equipped with soundproofing. The height of the panel was 180 cm.

Overall, the size of the cubicle would largely be dictated by the nature of business of the companies first, then the productivity, the health and well-being of the staff.

But then, most of the time the company has already taken hold or already has negotiated with an office space first. That is the floor area has already been fixed.

And that’s where they start. From there, they would ask if 70 or 100 persons can be accommodated in this area or that area.

And that’s it. The size of a cubicle depends on the nature of the business and the well-being of the staff and a density not lower than 3.5 square meters per person.

Alright! We’ve been talking a lot about office cubicles. About the perfect size, the components, arrangements, the make, and a lot more.

This time we’ll discuss decorating your office cubicle.

Okay, your office cubicle is your home for 8 or 10 hours a day; why not give it a facelift?

If you’re interested, I have some advice to give your temporary abode a makeover:

Add Color

No, not painting or slashing the fabric out of the partition panels and changing the fabric.

It’s just simply adding some color to boost your mood and creativity.

There are many ways to do this and blend color into your office cubicle.

How about post-it notes? They’re so colorful. These little paper notes come in various colors. Pick colors that speak to you.

You could also choose colors that correspond to your categories or priorities.

You could assign different projects to each color. This would keep you from scrambling pieces of paper looking for that specific project.

In addition to the colorful notes, other accessories on the desk or the tabletop can also add color and personality.

Pens, colorful markers, paperclips, and staplers are some of the mixes that could do this.

If you want to be more creative, canvas art and posters would be great. Posters of your interest like quotes from Oprah Winfrey (if you’re a fan, yeh).

Michael Jordan if you’re a Bulls fan, and yes, a John 3:16 poster.

These motivational prints and some framed art can add colors.

You can experiment with different colors and see what works best for you. Bright colors give you more energy.

Or you would prefer a palette of pastels. Just try.

Display Pictures

Hang pictures of your family, your significant other, and the places you have visited.

These will not only add color but rekindles some memories. Some seasons of happiness.

Seeing these images daily can remind you of the good times and brighten your spirit. Gives a boost of your productivity.

There are many studies that showed the impact of color of office furniture with the productivity of employees.

One such study was authored by Nancy Kwallek of University of Texas at Austin.

It said that white and blue office furniture colors increased job satisfaction and performance, but black and grey decreased them.

Surround your cubicle with reminders of happy memories. Consider posting your vision board.

If you’re not familiar with it, it is just a board where you pin or post your cutouts or pictures of the material things you wanted to have.

A cutout or picture of your dream Ferrari or house perhaps?

The vision board visually represents your dreams, goals, and aspirations.

One thing, though, when you do these things is that you must think carefully about the size and where to hang these gizmos.

You would not want your cubicle to look like a little memorabilia boutique. Post things that are easily manageable.

A gallery wall with many small frames arranged in an organized manner would do this.

Or you can showcase one or two large frames as focal points in your partition wall.

Pictures, artwork, and motivational quotes, of course, remove the bore. It will help make your tiny space feel personalized and inspiring.

Make sure your displays reflect your hobbies, values, and ambitions by carefully curating them.

With a bit of work, you can make your workstation feel like you.

Get Organized

Getting organized not only brightens your cubicle, but it will also make your little cubicle clutter-free and your workload stress-free.

There a dozen types or so of desktop organizers. You have file folders, desk trays, drawer dividers and even hanging organizers.

These organizers are handy when desk space is limited. If your office table is only 60 cm x 120 cm, there’s little room left for your other paraphernalia.

Choose then what type of organizer fits your style.

Another way to get organized is by using a whiteboard or a corkboard.

Pin your important notes on the corkboard to remind you of your to-do list.

Whiteboards are also great for jotting down ideas or reminders that may pop up during a phone conversation.

These notes and reminders can help you stay focused and up-to-date with your work.

Add Some Greens

Plants improve air quality, reduce your stress level and, yes, improve productivity.

Aside from these, plants give an enclosed office a feeling of openness and connection to the outside, a feel-in-the-park mood. It gives you a relaxing atmosphere.

Some plants that are good to see and can thrive in low lighting conditions are Pothos, the Spider Plant, Fern, and Lucky Bamboo.

The Snake plant is also good, and it does not need much watering. But you need to be careful as this plant is poisonous.

If your cubicle space is very limited, just use small flower bases. Beautiful flowers can add color and even fragrance to your tiny abode.

Some studies show that plants and flowers can positively affect your productivity.

Remember that adding plants and flowers would add to your workload as you have to watch them and take care of them.

You have to water them, move them to sun-lighted areas, and clean the pots or vases.

But then these greens and colors of the plants and flowers give create a more inspiring environment.

Customize Your Accessories

 You can personalize your cubicle walls and workstation if you’re comfortable doing so.

Stickers and decorative tape will do. Stickers are available in an array of styles. They are also very cheap.

They are also reasonably priced.

The first item you might want to start with is your laptop. Instead of the iconic apple in the laptop’s cover, a sticker with your favorite quotation would be ideal.

The quotation that you pasted at the laptop’s cover can be an excellent conversation starter if someone walks into your cubicle to have some chitchat.

Decorative tapes are available in a variety of colors and patterns.

The second item you will customize could be your desk and office chairs.

But whether your supervisor allows such changes is another thing. Just make certain. You may end up having to pay for your chair or table.

Don’t put anything offensive or inappropriate in there and follow any rules about decorating or changing office furniture.

So that’s it! And bingo you have an adorable office cubicle.

Personalizing your cubicle and desk accessories is a fun and creative way to make your workspace feel more unique and expressive of your personality.