If employees are the heart of your company, then the office workstations that facilitate their everyday duties are the skeleton that keeps your business moving forward. Making the right choices when you first purchase workstation furniture can make or break your business in terms of future expansion, employee performance and presenting the desired visual impression to customers and clients.

While a personal preference for aesthetics is a major concern for many business owners, this shouldn't necessarily be your only criterion when purchasing office work station furniture. Don't forget to take the following workstation furniture basics into account before sealing the deal:

1. Recognize that computer work stations are, above all else, objects of utility.

2. Consider sound-damping and privacy enhancement options to help employees focus, especially if they have to contend with loud noises, crowded working space or high traffic around their work stations.

3. Get work stations that offer easy expansion and relocation options--a great option if you plan to hire more employees.

Action Steps
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Identify the essential utility of office workstation furniture

Workstation furniture's most basic function is to hold your (or your employees') supplies and electronics in such a way that they are readily accessible when you need them, and conveniently out of the way when you don't.

I recommend: OneWayFurniture.com sells utilitarian office workstations for the home office or small business; notice that most of their desks feature a ample in-desk storage space, relative to their size. OfficeFurniture2go.com sells 'L' shaped desks that demonstrate the net step up in utility, giving you ready access to twice as much desktop space and a proportionate area of in-desk space. Their vertical units and work station additions can increase the available storage space and utility of your work stations.

Use office cubicles to cut down on distractions

Working in a crowded, high-traffic environment can be distracting. One basic function of office furniture is to reduce the impact of audible and visual distractions or incidental drop-in visits on your employees' work performance.

I recommend: Cube Solutions offers office cubicle systems, both new and used, to help give your workers the feeling--if not the fact--of privacy. One Way Furniture sells privacy panels designed to give each of your employees a private work or consultation space. These panels give workers in high-traffic spaces a better chance to complete their work efficiently.

Leave yourself room for expansion with modular work centers

Workstation furniture comes in three basic configurations: Modular desks and other furniture that allow for easy modification of one central component; stand-alone units (built for every purpose, from printed stand to full-size executive desks) and grouped units that can be assembled into stand-alone clusters, but don't offer the same easy add-on and take-off options as modular furniture.

I recommend: Spacify carries a full line of modular office furniture and workstations. OfficeFurniture.com offers a selection of stand-alone furniture from many companies, while Instawares sells Balt corner workstations that can be grouped into clusters for a compromise between modular facility and stand-alone style.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As noted on the Spacify website, office space design has a direct effect on worker productivity. While appropriate office workstation furniture may cost more than lower quality alternatives, you can consider the extra cost an investment in productivity, comfort and loyalty; employees are more likely to stay with a company that gives their needs and comfort a high place on the priority list.

You can’t expect to create comfortable, productive and efficient workstations simply by heading to the nearest office superstore and buying whichever desks, chairs and computers happen to be on sale. Setting up office workstations that keep employees motivated, productive and happy begins with planning — something that should begin when you’re looking for office space.

Before you buy, calculate how many employees will be working in the space and what tasks they‘ll be performing in order to know the square footage your office will require. Set up workstations with these items in mind:

1. What tasks will this person perform on a daily basis?
2. What kind of storage will each person need?
3. What tasks can be assigned to common areas?
4. What office machinery needs to be nearby?
5. Is cabling and wiring adequate?
6. Are there any city or county code requirements or permits required?

Action Steps
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Create and stick with your budget

A budget will help you determine whether you should buy or lease furnishings and how much you can spend per station.

I recommend: Register to access free workstation planning tools, including a budget worksheet, and get a free estimate from maxonfurniture.com.

Consider lighting and electricity

Consider all of your layout logistics including electrical and lighting. One of your main concerns should be avoiding excessive lighting and glare on computer monitors, which can lead to eyestrain and headaches. Having adequate electrical outlets is essential to keep your business humming.

I recommend: Review lighting suggestions to reduce glare from the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Office Space Planners offers a free space planning checklist that includes tips on cabling and wiring.

Create your layout

With the rising costs of office space, workstations are getting squeezed into smaller areas. Map out your floor plan in advance to know how large your desks, storage cabinets, file cabinets and office machinery can be.

I recommend: Create a professional floor plan using drag-and-drop technology in SmartDraw software. Or design your own modern workstations with the Ikea Space Planner. Plan for every detail including common task workstations and storage by considering tips from officebydesign.com.

Go ergonomic

Make employees comfortable and avoid costly repetitive stress injuries by setting up workstations with ergonomics in mind.

I recommend: Check out OSHA recommendations and charts for basic computer workstation design elements you should consider as well as a purchasing guide checklist. Shop for adjustable height desks at Ergopro.com and complete ergonomic workstation supplies at ergostoreonline.com.

Choose cubicles or open spaces

'Dilbert' cartoons and the movie 'Office Space' poked fun at cubicle workstations, but they do serve a purpose in offices that require a measure of noise control and privacy.

I recommend: Determine if cubicle workstations or an open floor plan work best for your company by taking a quiz at Builder.com. Shop for new and used affordable cubicle furniture at CubeSolutions.com.

Rely on professionals

Many office furniture manufacturers and dealers offer workstation space planning and project management so you can concentrate on running your business.

I recommend: Office Space Planners and My Office Planning Group offer full-service project planning for designing workstations.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Save money and space by setting up common task stations such as light tables or drafting tables in the office.
• •  Plan for growth and set up extra workstations. You'll save money by purchasing or leasing all workstation furniture at one time and you won't disrupt productivity by adding workstations as you go.
• •  Before you purchase computer systems, consider the amount of space they'll require. Opt for flat screen monitors when possible to save space.
• •  Computers, printers, phones and desktop accessories take up space, so you need to make sure to leave desktop room for people to work in each workstation.

Once you've addressed basic concerns like office workstation privacy and security, you're free to focus on making the most of workstation furniture by putting it to work for you in unexpected ways. Have you ever considered that instead of being just tables to hold your computer, office workstations can also do your marketing and selling for you at the same time as they increase employee efficiency?

The first steps toward making the most of your office furniture choices are identifying your customers and what attracts them, as well as taking your employees' needs into consideration. You'll often find that the two are more closely linked than you may have expected. When determining how to make the most of your business' workstation furniture, consider these options:

1. Impress potential clients by taking a strong eco-friendly initiative in your office with sustainable workstation furniture.

2. Wow customers and keep employees organized with clutter-free work stations.

3. Keep employees safe and clients comfortable by equipping work stations with ergonomically correct furniture lines.

Action Steps
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Be kind to the earth when you purchase computer work stations

Having eco-friendly office work stations is an easy way to make a clear statement about your company priorities.

I recommend: National Business Furniture offers many eco-friendly options, including furniture made from recycled materials and certified as having low chemical emission levels. Brochures for individual products detail just how and why purchasing them is kind to the earth. Spacify sells eco-friendly furniture too, from sustainable bamboo crops to sustainably harvested hardwoods, with 100% carbon offsets of production pollution.

Make a good impression by keeping clutter out of your work centers

Sometimes there just isn't enough room to store everything you need in a basic desk. Instead of running out to buy a whole new work station--and suffering the inevitable reorganizing chaos that would result--add storage and organization components onto your current computer work stations.

I recommend: Ergo In Demand sells a variety of wheeled carts and filing systems. These are good for keeping occasionally used files or references close at hand, and offer you the option of either taking them with you when you travel or tucking them out of the way when they're not needed. Ultimate Office sells wheeled filing cabinets and trolleys that can help keep your organized, too--don't forget to measure desk or return height if you plan on stowing your cabinets underneath a desk.

Prevent injuries and maximize comfort with ergonomic office workstation furniture

If your employees perform repetitive motions in the course of their work--most office workers do--they are at risk for certain types of injury. Providing ergonomically correct office furniture to cut down on these injuries shows that you're concerned with employees' comfort, health and well being, and may save you a fortune in worker's compensation claims down the road. Ergonomic workstation furniture can also keep your clients comfortable, which is always a good business move.

I recommend: ErgoStoreOnline.com sells a full line of ergonomically correct office workstation furniture, including computer desks. Biomorph's workstation furniture collection includes award-winning ergonomically correct office chairs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you can't depend on your customers to recognize earth-friendly furniture, highly organized or extra-comfortable work station furniture when they see it (or sit in it), a discreetly placed placard or announcement in your company brochures is a good way to make sure they notice the furniture choices you're making.

When it comes to setting up and supplying an office, workstation furniture is a critical part of the equation. From computers to desks and chairs, everything in a workstation sets the stage for the work that is going to be done in the space. Buyers tasked with getting the right gear for an office can check out these basic concepts for dealing with procuring workstation furniture that will give the office the best chances for success.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is simply the study of what kind of work furniture has the best possible impact on the human form. This wasn't such a big deal in years past, but as more and more of us work and use office furniture every day, makers and buyers are looking for the styles that accommodate the human body well. So think about ergonomics when choosing workstation furniture.

I recommend: Get a definition and details on ergonomics, as well as links to some ergonomic office furniture models, at Safe Computing Tips.

Cubicles

Cubicles are now a common part of office life. Cubicles are modular walls, often padded, that managers can easily set up to give an office space a particular function. The visual and physical cues given by cubicles are very popular with managers. Not so much with some workers, who joke about 'cubicle farms.' Still, cubicles are an efficient way to carve up a room or space and for accommodating workstations and workstation furniture.

I recommend: Find out all about types of cubicles at WiseGeek.

Eco-friendly office furniture

There's also a lot of thought these days around getting eco-friendly workstation furniture. Eco-friendly workstation furniture are models that attempt to limit energy use, toxic material release, or anything else harmful to environmental and public health.

I recommend: Get a lot of details on what it means to choose green or eco-friendly office furniture at GreenBiz.com. See more at OfficeDesigns.com.

Flat screens

Flat screens are new LCD televisions and computer monitors that do not have the same bulky style as the old tube setups. Flat screens help with office space and furniture planning. Flat screens can even be mounted to the wall for optimal use of space in designing workstation furniture setups.

I recommend: Get the details on flat screen TV or monitor models at HP.

Floor plan

Your workstation furniture needs to fit into a floor plan. A floor plan is just a visual depiction that helps managers craft good workstation furniture setups.

I recommend: See the definition of a floor plan at Math-Kitecture. At BINA Office Furniture and Computer Furniture, see how workstations fit into an overall floor plan in several vibrant visual models.

Peripherals

Aside from screens, computer boxes and other larger workstation gear, you'll also need to think about the smaller pieces: peripherals. Peripherals are the small items connected to a computer, including keyboards, mouse models, speakers, mics, and anything else that gets hooked up to your workstations. Though they are not always thought of as 'furniture,' peripherals are an essential part of your workstation furniture setup.

I recommend: Get a definition and details on peripherals at HowStuffWorks.