5 Colors for Your Office Cubicles That Increase Productivity

Colors of Cubicles

The most common question I am often asked is “what is the best color for office partitions?”

It seems that a fair number of the clients haven’t decided on the colors of their furniture. I believe that some may not have an inkling that colors affect the moods of their clients and affect the productivity of their employees.

The most common colors in the office are white, beige, and grey.

There was a study done by a prestigious university in the USA that found colors alter the moods of people, and impact employee productivity.

Colors like gray and beige, for example, bring in emotions of sorrow and unhappiness. On the other hand, blue and green improve concentration and competence.

No wonder, then, that those big businesses have specific colors for their offices. They have even extended these colors to their logos, advertisements, and other paraphernalia.

If you are thinking of installing dividers, partitions, and cubicles, then the colors mentioned below may help in your choice.

These are the main colors. The shades and variants could fall on these main colors.

1. Red

Now let’s start with Red. Dozens of studies support the theory that the color red raises your heart rate and increases your blood flow.

If the work in your office requires mental alertness and physical activity, you will not go wrong with the red color. This color is also associated with passion, strength, and energy.

Red is good in offices that work at night since this color increases brain wave activity, therefore doing away with drowsiness.

Red is great when your company is involved in construction and engineering activities.

2. Blue

How about blue? By far, this is the most productive color. Some say blue is for the intellectuals, the elites. Uhm… Really? Well, most of the industries we know are associated with the blue color: banks, accounting firms, consulting organizations, and the like.

A study done by the University of British Columbia even found that just changing the computer screens to blue produced employee output twice that of other colors.

I was thinking that the computer screen is just a small part of the environment. How much more if one is inside the blue cubicle?

Blue is associated with relaxing the mind, clearing thoughts, and easing mental tension. Light blue is the first choice in accounting offices. Wonder why? Accounting tasks are repetitive. There is the need to be focused and, yes, productive.

Blue is for tranquility, peace, and security. It is also associated with being orderly. Have you ever been to a business that seemed chaotic and messy? Did you notice the dominant color of their environment?

3. Green

Motivating people that work extended hours can sometimes be a challenge for management. Management wants results. It wishes its employees to stay focused on their specific assignments. That’s where the color green comes in.

Green is harmony. It does not burden the eyes. This color induces calmness and reassurance. If your people seem to be almost always swamped by the tasks you have assigned, then why not try changing the color of your office environment, the color of your partitions to green? This could probably help.

4. Yellow

Now comes yellow. Studies show this color promotes creativity. The yellow color is uplifting. If you are stuck and need some creative juices to flow, then try yellow.

You might not know it, but yellow is the strongest psychological color. You might argue that it’s red. But studies show it is such a powerful color when it comes to influencing the analytical side of the brain. Yes, the left side of the brain, where reason and analysis reside.

It is no wonder, then, that boosting your environment with this color helps employees retain information. Training rooms with this color, have been found to have their trainees absorb more information. One office I have visited have their tables and chairs accents of the color yellow.

There is, however, a caveat to misusing this color. Too much exposure can lead to eye strain. There was even one study that showed that long exposure to this color stimulates agitation.

5. Orange

The Welcome Color. It is a combination of red and yellow. When you think of red as the color that affects you physically and yellow influences you emotionally, then you have an orange that stimulates your mind and body.

Orange creates a sense of comfort and relaxation, of warmth. Most BPO offices choose this color to accentuate their lounges.

This bright color is sensed in business as being affordable, being of reasonable quality. You should be careful about using this color, though, as it may not jibe with the image that your company is pushing.

Also, the same study mentioned above indicated that while this color improved productivity with female employees, it did the opposite with males.

Color Preferences

The colors of office cubicles may be of less importance in the minds of some decision-makers. But get this, the world’s biggest and most innovative companies, like Apple and Google, take the color selection seriously.

The Google offices are exceptionally colorful. They are intentional in their preferences. Their color choices depend on what they want to accomplish. Like blue rooms, if they want their employees to create and yellow rooms when they want decisions made.

You may have your colors of choice, even variations, but these five are the predominant preferences in most of the offices.

What type and size of office table is best for you

Type and Size of Office Table

The furniture that we use in our office is very important for the productivity of the team. A comfortable office environment can help team members feel energized and productive.

Among the office furniture, the table could be the most important. And you may be asking what type of office table or what is the right size for my type of work?

If your job mostly involves using the computer

Then you should be looking for a desk or office table that has enough space for your computer monitor. Some work even requires two desktop monitors sitting on top of the tables.

Those involved in design works, for example, have 2 large monitors, usually the 24″ type. For this situation, you should buy the 140 cm or the 150 cm wide tables. The 120 cm width, which is the norm here in the Philippines would be too cramped for you.

Think about peripherals that go along with the computer. The keyboard, the mouse, the cables. How about your personal stuff? Your two phones, your Starbucks coffee mug, your aqua flask, 3Ms and pen, and some other tiny dodits for the ladies.

The depth could be 60-70cm. This should be enough for your keyboard, mouse. And some sheets of paper.

Look for tables that have built-in holes for the wires. These are called grommet holes. These grommets measure about 5 cm in diameter and have small covers. What you’ll see are just the wires jutting out from under your table.

The grommets are there for the electrical and data cables of your computer. Some people require two of these holes in their desks. One on the right-most corner and the other on the opposite side.

If your job mostly involves paperwork

Choose a desk that will have the roomiest surface possible so you can accommodate those spreadsheets, bulky books, or piles of important papers. You may also want to consider a desk with shelving or overhead cabinet space.

Accountants and Lawyers have a large volume of papers and files to deal with. Your desktop or laptop is not the main event. There are file boxes and file folders that are on top ready for use. There’s also the document tray for the incoming and outgoing documents.

Get the 150 cm wide tables. The depth should be 70 cm. For most, this should be enough. If not, then a side table is needed. Side tables are the smaller version of your office table. Say 100 cm wide and 45cm depth. Table thickness varies from 2.5 cm to 3 cm. Look for the 3 cm thick. Most of the readily available desks are of Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF).

Then there’s this option of installing an overhead cabinet. This hanging cabinet attaches to one or two panels of the cubicle. This cabinet houses your extra files and documents.

You may also have a mobile pedestal for your personal files. This mobile cabinet could be placed underneath your table. The wheels of this pedestal allow it to be moved where it suits you. Under your desk, on your side, or to a wall next to your table.

If your job mostly involves a combination of computer work, paperwork, and meetings

Consider an “L”-shaped desk setup to allow for both work and meeting space. If finances or space allow, a “U”-shaped model will provide even more space and makes an impressive presentation for clients or guests.

The “L”-shaped desk for you could be 60 cm x 150 cm for the main table and 40 cm x 100 cm side table. There’s enough space for your papers and computer. A center drawer is an option for your desk. Then there are office table models that have built-in side drawers.

Your mobile pedestal may be placed underneath the side table to accommodate more legroom for you. You may need a visitor’s chair if now and then you have meetings.

Planning Your Office Cubicles? Some Tips Here

Are you planning to set up a new office? ‘Guess you may have already googled for office cubicles and various computer tables and chairs.

Yes, cubicles are a good choice for your office. They provide a sense of autonomy and independence for the employee. They are good especially in offices that require high levels of privacy, mobility, and organizing control.

Cubicles can be used in an open floor plan or to break up different departments. They’re an economical choice and they come in many configurations to suit your space needs. They’ll help you organize your office space and keep everyone on task with their work assignments!

But before embarking on it, plan your space well. True, planning a cubicle layout for your office can be a time-consuming task. The planning and installation is a mix of technical know-how and some knowledge of business information movements.

HOW BUSINESS INFORMATION FLOWS

Like where do the finance guys sit? Are they together with sales? Or is it the marketing group with them? What about your HR, or the personnel department? And the meeting cubicle?

How about the space for the Operations Group? These guys meet almost every day to discuss and share the results of their day-to-day activities. Do they even need a closed cubicle? Or that the open-space type is good for them. Or just plain office furniture like meeting tables and swivel chairs.

You should think through these. So many other departments coordinate with each other. The flow of information should be examined closely in your space planning.

SIZE OF CUBICLES

Now make sure that the cubicle arrangement is not going to create any problem for your employees and other staff members.

A cubicle can be a great way to get work done, but it’s also important for you and your coworkers to have a comfortable environment.

Now you may ask what cubicle size does my organization need? Is there any standard configuration? Well, cubicle sizes vary widely. There are several factors. Depends on who sits inside.

And the good thing is that these cubicles, the panels that make up the cubicles, even the desk inside, can be customized. Can be fitted to suit your requirements.

If you have just a modest office space, a limited floor area, smaller cubes would do. With the skyrocketing rentals, the floor area per employee would be squeezed. But just to give you an idea of the sizes of these workstations, here are some of the most common.

It could range from 60cm x 120cm to 360cm x 360cm. Call center workstations that are in-line measures 60cm x 120cm. Supervisor’s office could measure about 180cm x 180cm. Manager’s cube is at 360cm x 360cm.

The height also depends on the work activities. Say, most of the personnel workstations are120cm high. Manager’s office has 180cm tall panels and some opting for the floor to ceiling partition panels. This would also include conference and meeting rooms.

The space depends on the type of work the employee does. Some might need just a computer on their desk. While others require filing cabinets and drawers along their sides. Knowing these needs makes it simpler to decide on cubicle sizes. Do away with extra space that just goes to waste. Reserve some space for an additional 2 or 3 staff.

Now some offices just cramped their cubicles to optimize the floor area. Don’t. The spacing should be enough for the staff to be comfortable whether she is sitting or standing. Also, there should be enough legroom and space to draw their chair and to push it back.

MATERIALS OF CUBICLES

The next thing that you need to think about when choosing office cubicles is the type of material. The most common materials are vinyl laminate, wood veneer panels, metal finish panels, perforated steel panels with wire mesh insert, tempered glass panels with wire mesh insert, and screw-on metal finish panels/panels with grommets for cables.

Different materials have different advantages. So it is important to choose the appropriate materials. Here are some and the commonly used materials:

Fabric

Fabric is lightweight, inexpensive, and easy to clean with soap and water. Dirt and smudges can be removed simply by using an old toothbrush and laundry soap. Fabric is also soft, which makes it a good material for children’s cubicles.

Fabric cubicles are not only comfortable to touch but also easy on the eye. Since it is made of natural materials, it doesn’t have a lot of negative side effects for health or the environment. It is perfect for offices with a more modern feel. It also has a modern look that will appeal to millennials.

Fabric however may not be suitable for offices where there are harsh chemicals in use because it can wear down easily over time. The main drawback of fabric cubicles is that they are not very soundproof.

Laminate

Laminate has a high gloss finish that makes colors pop out in photographs. The material is often used in schools because it is very resilient and easy to clean, making it perfect for high-traffic environments.

It is also the easiest to clean and maintain. Just using a damp cloth will do the job. Laminate is a material that is both durable and budget-friendly. A balance of not so expensive but durable.

Laminate cubicles are good for people who are allergic to dust or pet hair since it does not gather these easily. They are also resistant to scratches. This type of material is even great if you have overflowing coffee for your staff. It is resistant to water damage and spills.

Aluminum

Aluminum is more expensive than laminate, but it lasts longer and has higher corrosion resistance. It also doesn’t show scratches easily, which makes it great for an office environment with heavy usage of backpacks or laptops.

Aluminum comes with a powder coat finish that protects against corrosion, scratches, chips, stains, and rust. Aluminum is more expensive than laminate, but it comes in different colors. One downside to aluminum is that it can be prone to scratches and dents. Aluminum is the most expensive option, but it also provides the best soundproofing.

Metal

Metal like aluminum has its pros and cons too. It’s durable, but it’s also heavy and expensive. Some metal desks are even customizable with different finishes like black or chrome.

Metal is a close second to aluminum as it can withstand heavy weights and has great soundproofing qualities as well. Metal has its own advantages as well, most notably that it won’t be destroyed if someone throws something at it, but they can be quite uncomfortable to work due to their lack of noise-canceling qualities.

Wood

Wood is another great alternative because of its natural beauty and aesthetic appeal but it does require regular maintenance and upkeep. You’ll need to seal the wood with varnish every year or so, which costs much.

Wood comes in many varieties of materials like pine or oak, for example. Wood cubicles are not as durable as other options like laminate, but they’re great because they give your office space a homier feel while still being professional-looking.

WORKZONE FURNISHOP offers a wide range of cubicle systems and panel building options. We have a high standard of quality management systems testing to ensure that our products perform well. Visit workzonefurnishop.com

Aeron Office Chair – Ergonomic and Environment Friendly

Designed for comfort, health, and productivity, the Aeron is the child of Don Chadwick and Bill Stumpf. Both of Herman Miller. It came to market in the year 1994. Twenty-two years later, in 2016, designer Chadwick, integrating his years of study in the science of sitting and seat technology, remastered the classic chair.

Not content with his previous design, Chadwick made another makeover. This time, just this year, 2021, he remodeled the Aeron to become environmentally friendly.

By some estimates 50%- 80% of the materials used are recyclable. The chair uses recycled polymers, aluminum, glass-filled nylon, and even steel. By using recyclable materials, a ton of waste is limited. How is that to the green Earthers?

Just like the common office chair, even the executive chair, the Aeron chair has several adjustments to your seating. You can change the height of the seat, the height and angle of the arms (only a few brands have this), the recline, the support of the lumbar.

Now, what are some of the characteristics of this chair?

Let’s start with the frame. Have you heard of Polyethylene Terephthalate? It’s kind of thermoplastic. In the industry, they are called the PET. The seat and back are made of glass-filled Polyethylene Terephthalate. The PET is an almost completely recyclable material.

Other parts of the chair are made of aluminum and steel. Like the base, the arms and other links are aluminum. The tilt assembly is steel, also the nuts and bolts.

But do you know that this Aeron Chair has no padding? Yes, no padding, it’s all mesh. The chair is covered by a distinct material called Pellicle. Pellicle means breathable or penetrable. This Pellicle thingy is made up of a combination of elastomeric and polyester materials.

This material spreads the weight of the person uniformly over the seat and back. The material adjusts to the weight and shape of the person’s frame. This type of material provides ventilation which reduces heat buildup during long periods of sitting. It allows increased airflow, which in turn increases comfort. And much more, this type of mesh is very flexible and gentle to touch. You wouldn’t worry about your pants or skirts being ripped.

Now the Aeron chair has this thing called PostureFit Support. This gives care to the base of your spine called the sacrum. The sacrum is where the bones of your pelvis attach to.

Now over time if your sacrum is not well supported, the pelvis will be affected and will result in the very common joint pain called the sacroiliac joint pain. This joint pain is quite debilitating and would bring you to an expensive chiropractor.

The PostureFit Support adjusts to your back to keep the curvature and thus keep you secure and relaxed. However, this PostureFit technology, to get the best performance, is limited to the Aeron chair with the tilt limiter. The limiter lets you control the range between fully reclined or fully erect.

But wait, these chairs can come with arms that are fixed, stationary, adjustable, height adjustable, or fully-adjustable armrest. And if you’d want it there’s the look ma no armrest. The standard armpads are made of polyurethane. The leather armpad is an option and at a higher price.

Aeron Chairs have three sizes to accommodate different body build of people. There’s the Size A for the smaller built, whose weight would be between 90 to 150 lbs. Size B, if one weighs 130 to 325 lbs. And if you’re almost 350 lbs. then get the Size C.

Now, what about the casters? casters are the wheels that are attached to the starbase of the chair that allows it to move in different directions. Once on the seat, you can glide forward, backward, or sideward to the next cubicle.

There’s the 2.5-inch and the 3.0-inch casters. The soft polyurethane thread of these casters is great for various types of floors. Whether they be carpeted floors or hardwood or even tiled floors.

Those are some of the highlights of this impressive chair. The designers Stumpf and Chadwick purposefully tried to make this chair to be different from the other chairs in the market.

Great products are almost always copied. Now how can you tell the real from the fake? The real Aeron chairs come with a certificate of authenticity. The certificate is located on the underside of the seat. Just flip the chair on top of the table and locate the certificate. Some of the models even have a medallion fastened to certify their authenticity.

At Workzone there are certain models of office chairs that have some of the features of this classic chair. Go call now!

Cubicles for your Home-Office set-up

Your regular office environment is in a retreat. Many establishments have either closed or have moved to the home-office set-up. At any rate, with a fast internet connection, work can still be done outside the office.

This is one of our home-office installations. What’s presented in the picture is one of the clusters, a 3-inline office cubicle. The others, 2 clusters of four are not shown.

Office Cubicle Size

One cubicle here measures 105 x 60 x 120. That is, the height is 105 centimeters (cm), the depth is 60 cm and the width is 120 cm. Take note however that this was before the pandemic. There are now changes to cubicle sizes and design due to some health protocols. One of which is the height of these partition panels.

This one in the picture is 105 cm high. The side panels are 60 cm, just equal to the table depth. Right now, the partition height is at least 120 cm and the side panels could be at least 90 cm. Enough to keep you minimally isolated from your next mate.

So, here are some particulars of this 3-inline office cubicle:

The Partition Panels

The two-tone aluminum panels are a combination of aluminum and fabric. The gray lower portion is the perforated aluminum walls. The upper part is the navy-blue fabric mounted over a thin sheet of wood. Overall, the thickness of these panels is only three centimeters. Slim and sleek.

The aluminum panels are easier to clean than the pure fabric ones. A small brush and soap would quickly wipe common dirt out. Also, the dismantling of the panels is easily done in case you’d want to move the cubicles to other areas.

The Tabletop

Made of MDF or the medium density fiberboard. The 2.5-centimeter MDF tabletop is covered with melamine laminate. This laminate provides strength to the fiberboard and makes it more sturdy and attractively shiny. The table is attached and kept stable in the panels by fixing smaller table brackets. The brackets are screwed into the wooden tables and slid into the aluminum frame channels. The tabletop is provided with either two or one grommet hole located on the far corner of this computer table. The hole gives access to the power and data cables from the floor to your laptop or PC. The cables below are kept clean and secure by the aluminum raceway underneath.

Mobile Pedestals

Each of these cubicles is supplied with cabinets that have three drawers. Good for office papers, some of your personal files, and your bag even. These cabinets are sometimes called under-desk file cabinets. The mobile pedestal is provided with a safety lock and key. There is an option to attach a drawer to the table. But it affects the wiggle room of your legs. Larger and longer tables would be fine for table drawers.

Office Chair

This is a high-back mesh office chair without a headrest. The seat is padded for additional comfort. The backrest is made of fully elastic mesh support that returns to its shape after you recline. And yes, this staff chair has a unique flexing lumbar support which gives more comfort to your back.

The plastic armrest is adequately fastened to the underside of the seat. While padded armrest is more comfortable, it is less durable and costs more. The caster wheels of the chair smoothen your back and forth movement. There is no need to stand if you want to reach out to something close.

Workzone provides a free estimate of your home-office set-up for free. Call us now! 0917-884-9311