FMJ.CO.UK STORAGE FOCUS
MARCH 2019 37
noise, o ering many of the same benefits as floor
screens but with the added bonus of providing
storage facilities. Storage solutions can be tailored to
the needs of the workplace – back-to-back cabinets
will maximise storage space, but where floorspace is
an issue fitting acoustic panels to the exposed back
of a cabinet will do the same job.
Storage has an important role to play in workplace
aesthetics. Storage solutions by virtue of their size
tend to be a dominant feature in the o ice. One
approach is to choose colours and styles that will
blend into the background. However, you could
turn your storage furniture into a design statement,
selecting colours, finishes and designs that add
visual interest or complement the o ice aesthetic.
A homely o ice (see box) might use warm woods
and natural hues to create a sense of comfort and
welcome, while modern, brightly painted wallmounted
cubbies or shelf units are practical and fun,
contributing to the buzz of a creative workplace.
FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
The needs of the workforce should dictate the
choice of open or closed storage solutions. Open
shelving makes it easy to access files and provides
an ideal setting to showcase photographs, products
or awards. If clients visit the workplace it might be
better not to have paperwork and o ice supplies on
display. Storage cabinets make it easy to present a
tidy, uncluttered environment.
A balance of open and closed storage may be the
best solution: open storage for company literature
and reference books, but cabinets for stationery
and supplies. Don’t forget to check whether your
document storage needs to be lockable in order to
comply with data protection laws.
It’s a good idea to provide sta with storage
solutions that allow them to keep the files and
supplies they use most frequently to hand, either
on the desktop or in nearby drawers. Larger items
should be stored in cabinets or bookcases that can
easily be reached from people’s chairs; this saves
time, avoids unnecessary bending, stretching or
li„ ing, and reduces the risk of workplace injury.
The most important thing is to plan before you
buy. Consider your o ice’s storage needs and how
you can maximise storage space. Can the furniture
serve multiple purposes? With good planning and
a little creative thinking, furniture that was once
considered a mundane necessity can play a key
role in transforming the workplace into an e icient,
flexible, visually appealing space that will benefit
productivity and increase employee satisfaction.
THE HOMEY OFFICE
One of the key trends in workplace design
is the blurring of the work-home divide.
Smart mobile devices are enabling people
to work on the move, whether they are in
an airport, on a train, in a co ee shop, or
sitting at their kitchen table. According to
o ice furniture supplier Euroworkspace,
this is motivating designers to give the
workplace a more residential, ‘homey’
appearance, where mobile workers
can feel comfortable. That includes
personal space where they can store their
belongings.
Agile working can be alienating. A worker
arrives in the o ice, checks in using a
touch screen floorplan, then chooses
where to work. The presence of their
own secured smart locker to store their
laptop and other belongings provides a
sense of familiarity and ownership in an
environment where they have no desk of
their own.
A homey o ice design o ers flexible
space to suit the employee’s needs,
whether that is a cosy breakout area, a
social collaboration space or a sheltered,
plant-lined quiet zone. Storage furniture
can not only play a part in creating such
zones and shielding them against noise,
but individual smart lockers enable
employees to move freely around the
workplace without having to lug their
belongings with them.