You only get one chance to make the right first impression. True? We think so … 

 

The reception area of a business, office, schools, vets, hotels, universities, medical or garage showroom is the focal point of many a business wouldn’t you agree. It is the first place seen and visited by employees, job candidates, suppliers and clients. So it is only natural a lot of focus and attention to detail should be spent on this space. A look of professionalism is key. 

 

Post Covid, reception areas are still valid, still used and still needed. A human to greet you and a friendly face eg a manned reception, instead of an automated machine, can create a great first impression for a business welcoming people in and it can go a long way customer service wise too. 

 

Receptions are not external and internal visitors; it is worth remembering! And did you know there is a national receptionist’s day annually? 

For every 1 to 2 hours you sit in your office, 1 hour should be spent standing! (source) 

 

According to Flexispot.com we should alternate standing and sitting by about 50% each way in a full day. Within that, you should alternate sitting and standing about every quarter to half hour. Your body acclimatizes to sitting within 30 minutes and your lower body muscles switch off. 

It probably won’t of escaped your notice but May will see the coronation of King Charles, which will be a historic event. Whereas we don’t supply and install thrones, would you say your office or workplace furniture is fit for a King? 

 

There are many qualify furniture manufacturers out there and many choices of furniture in terms of price, size, quality, fabrics and materials and so on, so which range or what furniture is right for you, your staff and your workplace? 

 

Also, many of us cannot naturally visualise what a specific chair would like look behind a certain desk type or whether the size of space/area we have is big enough to accommodate a sofa or large meeting table? 

 

And this is where Sygnus comes in, on both counts, in terms of helping you choose the right furniture and the right furniture to suit your space, needs and budget. How do we do this? 

But does this apply to office interiors? 

According to architecture and design.com the definition of office interiors is - Office interior design is the practice of designing workplaces that are conducive to maximising not only productivity but also the health, safety, well-being, and performance of employees. It is about creating spaces that are functional and that provide a setting for success; places in which people are happy to work. We would agree with this. 

We have seen reports that many businesses and companies are struggling to get their staff back in on either a permanent or part time basis. Are you having this struggle, or have you got it covered? 

 

Here are 4 tips from Sygnus to entice in and keep in your staff and teams, as well as looking at current trends and incorporating wellness. 

From desks (albeit there is of course more than one type of desk) to chairs, sofas and reception desks to storage, conference tables and more. 

 

“How do you change the world? Bring people together. Where is the easiest big place to bring people together? In the work environment.” Adam Neumann 

 

Luckily for you as consumers and buyers, there is plenty of choice out there when it comes to the furniture type itself but also when it comes to design, size, material, colour, shape, fabric, price and much more. As the humble desk has evolved since its developed in the 17th and 18th Centuries (or even earlier than this some say), this piece of furniture alone comes in a range of forms from bench desks to wave and radial to sit to stand/height adjustable desks.  

 

Then there is the wood and finish to consider. 

Happy New Year to you! 

It has been another year of change and ups and downs for us all. But as we are nearing the end of 2022, let’s look ahead to 2023 and share our review of the year with you. 

 

Whatever your role in your business and in your workplace, you will no doubt spend some or a lot of your time in meetings! These may be in person meetings in a dedicated meeting space, online call meetings at your desk or 1 to 1’s in private spaces. According to research, the average employee participates in at least eight meetings per week. That’s more than one meeting every single day and only increases with seniority. Wow! 

We have all seen and heard many examples, articles and case studies regarding the trend for business owners, landlords and facilities managers to convert and revamp workspaces to make them more homely, when it comes to office design and office fit out. We ourselves have written a few pieces on this from bringing in plants (real or replica, known as biophilic design) for a pop of colour and a homely vibe to soft seating and breakout areas for flexible yet productive working  

And again we all know of some of the options to enhance that home from home look and feel from pods for individual working and privacy to open spaces for collaboration and sofas in such spaces for socialising to flooring being more softer carpets/carpets tiles as opposed to hard flooring. (for brochures and further inspiration, go to our site) 

 

DId you know, Robert de Niro said “If it's the right chair, it doesn't take too long to get comfortable in it.” 

 

Why is a more homely workspace what we are wanting? 

Desks first appeared in the late 17th century (the 1600's) as bureaus (a sloping front desk in which the writing surface can be opened and closed) and further research says the world’s first standing computer desk was invented in 1998. 

The word "desk" originated from the Modern Latin word desca "table to write on", from the mid 14th century. This blog looks at the types and purposes of the varying desks found now in today’s changing workplace.