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