The importance of comfortable furniture

Many workers now spend much of their days sitting at desks staring at computer screens. On the face of it, this might not seem like a particularly hazardous activity. However, dangers can lurk even in the most seemingly benign environments. One potential problem for office workers is poor-quality seating. Chairs that don�t meet the required standards can cause their users to adopt awkward postures. In turn, this can lead to back pain and a variety of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). According to figures provided by the Health and Safety Executive, 526,000 cases of work-related MSDs were reported in 2013-14.

Providing your employees with well designed and made office furniture products could help reduce the risk that they will develop potentially debilitating MSDs. With stockists such as Furniture at Work� offering a wide range of ergonomic and affordable desks and chairs, there really is no excuse for not making your staff comfortable.

This brief guide draws attention to the importance of comfortable workplace furniture. It also highlights the most important features of good quality products.

Your legal responsibilities

There is a sound business case for providing your personnel with effective furniture, and we�ll come to that shortly. However, first and foremost you must consider your legal responsibilities. As an employer, you have a duty to ensure that you provide appropriate furniture. A number of pieces of legislation relate to this aspect of workplace management, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Broadly speaking, these laws require you to provide furniture that is suitable and safe. It must also meet the needs of the individuals who use it and the requirements of the tasks they perform.

If you don�t meet these responsibilities, you may find yourself in big trouble. The costs of any legal claims made against you could quickly mount up and put a serious dent in your finances. Also, your firm�s reputation may be tarnished if you end up in the courts.

A sound business decision

It�s not all stick when it comes to providing suitable furniture; there is plenty of carrot too. By making sure your workers are comfortable, you stand to boost productivity, which is good news for your bottom line. You could also reduce sickness absence caused by bad backs and other MSDs.

In addition, by providing your personnel with good quality furniture, and a pleasant working environment more generally, you stand to further your recruitment and retention efforts.

What to look for in your seating and workstations

Chairs are arguably the most important element of workplace furniture. When you�re searching for new seating, make sure it is height adjustable. Chairs should also be wide enough to seat users comfortably. The front of these products should be rounded and well-padded to ensure it doesn�t dig into people�s thighs. In addition, the backrest must give firm support to the lower and middle part of the back.

Armrests aren�t essential for most jobs. However, if you opt for products with this feature, make sure the arms are either adjustable or set back from the front edge of the seat. This will ensure that users can draw their chairs up close to their work surfaces. Meanwhile, if workers can�t place their feet flat on the ground easily, you will need to provide them with footrests.

Workstations are another essential component of office furniture. When you�re choosing desks or tables, try to opt for versions with a maximum thickness of 30mm. If surfaces are thicker than this, there is a risk that they won�t provide enough clearance for people�s thighs.

These products should also be big enough to allow all the relevant work equipment to be used safely. For example, they should be able to accommodate computers at the appropriate distance from users.

As long as you appreciate the importance of comfortable office furniture and make sure you source suitable products, you should be able to steer clear of any problems.

Prizewinning Respect for History: Coventry Place by Michael Jan Studio

Sometimes the best-laid plans get an unexpected turn; that�s what happened when a builder intended to put two homes on a Coventry Place site in Melbourne, only to find that the house already there had historic value! That�s when he called in Michael Jan Studio, formerly JAM Architects, for help. The house was a prefabricated cottage, dating from 1852 or 1853, and had come to the site imported from Singapore; in the face of this, work began on restoring it under the direction of Roger Beeston, a heritage architect. Now, the ancient structure is �backgrounded� into a modern home with a kitchen, dining room, and bedrooms. On one hand, a soaring fa�ade of glass and concrete�a sun-filled expanse that brings all the best of modern indoor/outdoor life to the site�and on the other, precious history.

Here, old and the new meld in fun ways: note the leather wing chairs in nonchalant counterpoint to an ultra-modern kitchen, its cabinetry doing double duty as a camouflage for equipment and appliances. �Animal� fur rugs on the floor complement both the new wing and the interior of the original vintage cottage, now furnished with an off-white sofa and loveseat. Printed wallpaper gives an old-fashioned feel to this room, while a similarly printed wall as an accent in the kitchen/dining area looks fabulously chic. And, citing how �the new house � generously allows the cottage to assume its original and rightful place in the urban setting of South Melbourne,� the Victorian Architecture Awards gave this project the 2009 John George Knight Award for Heritage. Sometimes, knowing a bit of history pays off!

Luxurious Living Room Visualized by Eduard Caliman

This living room, with its rich neutral palette and elegant contemporary styling, might be your dream room; so where does it exist? Well, that�s the surprise: it�s a visualization in 3-D, created by digital designer Eduard Caliman. As the Leeds-based Caliman explains, �I specialize in the creation of highly photorealistic computer generated visuals of interiors and exterior projects. My clients range from architects to interior designers and construction companies, but also other visualization studios.� So in reality�this room isn�t reality. But if you�re planning a remodel or a redo of your present space, this kind of �model room� can be worth its weight in gold to you � and so much easier than hauling furniture up and down stairs! Taking a look at these images, you discover that this is actually more than just a living room, too.

In typical contemporary open style, this room combines seating/lounge space, dining table and chairs (with a great view out a tall window!), and a galley kitchen that blends right in to the pure white surroundings. Notice how texture plays a role in this design: you can practically feel the soft afghan throw on the couch, and the patterned rug makes the wood grain floor and marble coffee table feel cozier. Lastly, take a look at that mirror, with its �feather� frame; it�s a guaranteed conversation-starter! So when the conversation begins about decorating your space, keep in mind that there�s an easier alternative to trial-and-error: digital realizations of rooms that can happen before your eyes, and let you know before you�ve bought a stick of furniture whether those �sticks� will make your dream room happen.

Funky, Colorful Haven for a Tween Girl from Olamar Interiors

Eclectic, bright, and funky: that�s this �tween� room with a �bohemian� touch, designed for a young lady with artistic flair, from Olamar Interiors. The young client had some definite wants; lots of color, with no stylistic extremes � neither all modern nor traditional � and a place she could hang out with her friends where they�d all feel at home. It was important to have spots to curl up and chat or play games on her iPad; she needed a comfortable desk and wanted a �funky� vanity that would accommodate her jewelry and give her a spot for makeup. This space, with its pale periwinkle blue-and-lavender aura, satisfies all those requests with a style that�s both spirited and sophisticated, able to grow along with its occupant. Furnishings in a clear, pure white help unify the scheme, while a playful pink chandelier brings a smile.

The daybed, with its splashy pinks, yellows, and subtle purples, gets a further �shot� from chevron patterns on the pillows and bright framed fun art over the headboard. Tucked in a bay window is a settee for relaxing; her existing desk was repurposed and augmented with shelving and storage. A custom bulletin board above the desk gives her space for pictures, her own art, or important notes; the vanity with its red-scrolled mirror gives her that makeup and jewelry space while also serving as a secondary nightstand. Sheer panels and overlays on the windows give the room lots of daylight and privacy after dark. With plenty of storage available, this young artist never needs to worry about clutter or crowded space; she has a perfect niche for both creativity and fun, for years to come.

Elegance in Texas at the Southlake Residence by Jauregui Architects

This stunning home and outdoor entertaining area by Austin, Texas�s Jauregui Architects, is located on three acres that host their own meandering creek as well as an inviting pool and spa. As the architects describe it, �The elegant open floor plan features movable glass walls at the great room, dining, kitchen, breakfast and game room that accentuate the outdoor connection with the terrace and pool.� From the very first moment you enter through wrought-iron gates with subtle lantern lighting, the ambience is stately and luxurious. Wrought-iron gates open smoothly on an emerald-green lawn, accented by a stone bowl fountain that offers instant, cool freshness against the Texas heat. Indoor/outdoor living is enhanced through those expansive glass doors, giving occupants easy entertaining options and lots of space to spread out.

Inside, a mix of Spanish influence and top-of-the-line modern finishes and accents harmonize happily: tall multipaned windows have shining wood trim, while a master bath beckons for a leisurely soak in a deep porcelain tub. The d�cor is soothing neutrals that balance the deep wood grain on the floors; marble countertops on cabinetry are a fitting setting for collections of art and sculpture. Unique coffered ceilings with indirect lighting set off a round casual table and chairs in the game room � here, guests and family enjoy billiards, cards, and games of all kinds. And for the perfect evening outdoors, the poolside lounge, spa, and fire pit are an ideal relaxing oasis after a long day. With luxury, abundant floral color, and soothing neutral surroundings, this residence is justifiably an award winner in the Jauregui portfolio.