Whether you are considering a home office or a large corporate office, there are different ways to furnish the area. Purchasing all new furniture is one way, but used and refurbished office furniture are also viable options. The best option, however, could be a combination of sorts.
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Brand New
There are clear advantages to new furniture. First, new furniture is brand new, untouched, and is likely to come with a guarantee of quality in the form of a warranty. New furniture is likely to have a modern look and the latest comforts. Furnishing during a time of business expansion or upgrade can make an investment in new furniture advantageous.
Gently Used
Companies working with a tight time frame to furnish a facility or those with a firm budget may find pieces, such as used office file cabinets, a viable alternative. Most used furnishings come pre-assembled and ready for pick-up. This means time and money savings because there are no backorders or issues with shipping. The drawback is the lack of a warranty to guarantee the quality of used pieces.
Freshly Refurbished
Refurbished items are somewhere in the middle of a brand new and gently used. These items allow for customizing of older pieces while still being less expensive. This route may be a temporary solution for businesses looking to stretch a dollar. The downside can be the lack of uniformity if the office expands in the future because refurbished office furniture may only be available in limited quantities.
Unique Combination
Selecting some new furnishing, particularly for those items, employees spend most of their time using, can be helpful in supporting their health and productivity. Over the long term, these items are worth a bigger financial investment. Purchasing used or refurbished furniture may be more helpful for items with shorter lifespans. Of course, make sure to inspect all components of used and refurbished items before buying. It is important that all the pieces are present and fit together properly. Otherwise, the money savings may end up costing much more, in the long run, if new items need to be purchased or the used ones repaired.
Furnishing an office need not be a headache of titanic proportions. Options are available to fit small and large budgets and offices. Consider the priorities of the business before deciding on which office furniture to purchase. Unless the budget is large and forgiving, a combination of new and used furniture is likely the best option.