Bookends vs Bookracks - So What?

At the SwagOfYarns Blog the article talks about how a book rack can be better than book ends for the desk top. I hadn't really considered that there was any substantial difference, but after reading that, I realized that I needed a better solution since my book ends were constantly falling over and I had to keep adjusting them. A desk top book rack, especially if it has a mechanism to help hold books upright seems like a better solution - and it's easier to clean around too.
Now if someone would come up with a real method to contain the cords, AC adapters and wires that doesn't have to be disassembled every time something gets unplugged or moved!

Wall Coverings and Artwork Selection

A key part of any office decor includes wall coverings. This entails hanging of artwork and pictures in strategic places that augments and accents the rest of the surroundings. One interior design site has some very good suggestions for selecting and hanging such coverings. She starts out with:
"When you have a big space to fill, consider hanging a single, large-scale piece of art. Alternatively, a collection of pieces, arranged to act as one whole visual block, can create the same impact. Generally though, smaller spaces and nooks are better places to display smaller pieces."
She then goes on to describe more about how to achieve a balanced look. Not only that, but she also has numerous other articles on her blog that address other portions of interior design - for home and office alinke.

The Interior Design Magic Touch!

At first glance, most of the offices we see that are well decorated just seem to be naturally obvious. It always seems to be that those spaces simply couldn't be any other way. But try to create that natural feeling for our own office spaces and it never seems to quite come together just right.
But according to Decor Inside (The Interior Design Magic Touch!) there really is a magic touch to decorating. The article maintains that interior designers are taught a series of systems for approaching interior designs which address all aspects of a design to achieve a complete, functional and harmonious design. They maintain that anyone can be their own interior decorator by learning how to integrate all the key design elements - "from color and texture to space, mood and more". Maybe that's all there is to magic!

Chairmat Variety is the Spice of Life!

It turns out that the traditional "T" shape of most chair mats is not the only, or in some cases is not the best, shape for all applications. Assuming that you have already decided that a chair mat is desirable and have picked a desired shape, the type and size are the next important aspects of a chair mat. In the case of the premium hardwood chair mats offered by www.successimage.com, the following types and sizes are offered.

Rectangular one-piece chair mats are available in four sizes. The smallest size measures 36 inches by 42 inches. The medium sized one measures 42 x 47 inches. The large one measures 46x47 inches and the extra large one is 48 x 55 inches. The rectangular chair mats are available in oak, mahogany, walnut or cherry wood and laminated to allow the chair roll quickly over the smooth surface. They are scratch, burn, and impact, wear and stain resistant. Each mat is handmade and tested for quality. The chair mats can be used on any surface including pile carpet and hardwood floors. The felt padding at the back completely protects the hardwood floors or carpet on which you will be using your caster chair.

There is also a one-piece circular shaped chair mat, but it comes in one size only. It measures 47 inches in diameter and is designed to match any kind of décor and can be used on a pile carpet or a hard surface with equal ease. The tough laminate surface takes the strain of the caster chair movements and produces no scratches on its own surface.

The traditional "T" shaped chair mat comes in four sizes-small, medium, large and extra large. It is measured in the terms of its width and height. The smallest chair mat is 36 x 36 inches with a 21 x 8" lip. The medium chair mat measures 37 x 42 inches with a lip of 22 x 10 inches. The large chair mat measures 37 x 47 inches with a 27 x 10 inch lip. The largest of them measures 48 x 47 inch with a 27 x 8 inch lip. These chair mats can be used on a pile carpet or on a solid surface and the laminated surface ensures smooth movement of the caster chair over the surface. The ultra tough laminate is proof against scratches, wears, burns and stains. The backing pads protect the hardwood floor or carpet completely and keep the mat fixed while the chair moves.

The makers of these hardwood chairmats have years of experience in chairmat technology and craftsmanship. They provide you with a complete ten-year guarantee on their products and a complete money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. Define the size you want, the shape you want and they will give you the assurance that the product is scratch proof, stain proof, fire proof, burn proof, static electricity proof and will protect your floor while remaining stable under any stress or pressures the mat will be subjected to. It really is the best solution for comfortable use of your desk and chair!

Color Basics for the rest of us!

Some of us are definately challenged when it comes to selecting colors and color schemes. We tend to have the idea that we'll know if we like it when we see it. But that leaves others in the drivers seat. So with that in mind, here are the basic concepts behind colors that some of us never learned.

The "color wheel" is used to identify different color families and how they relate to each other.
All colors, except white, are derived from the "primary colors" blue, yellow and red. Combinations of these three colors produce all the other colors. For example, mix all three together in equal amounts and you produce brown.

If you mix equal amounts of two of the primary colors together, you create "secondary colors". There are three of these made from red and blue (for violet), red and yellow (for orange), and blue and yellow (for green). Remember, this is with EQUAL amounts mixed together.

But if you mix one primary color with larger amounts of another primary color, you create "tertiary colors". For example, mix one part blue with two parts red to make red-violet.

To add to the challenge of color, the lingo that is used can also lead many of us to get glazed eyes. So to remedy this, here is a crash course in terms that are essential to color use.

Tone is a term used to describe a particular color's density and reflective quality. Tone is important when choosing a color scheme. The term hue is used to describe the basic color within a particular rendition of color. For example, red is the hue in the color pink as well as the color fire engine red. The value of a color describes the amount of white or black in the color. The value ranges from light (for a large amount of white) to dark (for a large amount of black). And lastly, the saturation of a color refers to the pureness and boldness of it, or the degree to which it is not changed from it's basic color.

Hopefully this should take some of the mystery out of color and the language of color.

Office and Room Floor Area Rugs

Some offices, meeting rooms and waiting rooms require an additional boost in level of luxury that furniture and wall art alone cannot achieve. For these cases, a luxurious floor treatment is hard to beat for the warmth it can instantly impart. Of course, some floor coverings are better at this than others and high quality Wool or Sisal area rugs can easily create this feeling.

A number of other benefits can be achieved with these rugs including a sound dampening effect and intricate patterns to augment other room attributes. It is even said that wool rugs actually purify indoor air and eliminate contaminates by locking them in the fibers of the rug until removed by vacuuming.

A great number of types and varieties of area rugs other than Wool and Sisal are available as well including Jute, Bamboo, Grass and Synthetics.

Office Color

"They" say that the wall color of a workspace has an impact on mood and productivity. Some even say it has a dramatic effect.

The theory apparently goes that for maximum efficiency and minimum stress, a shade of green is the best color for a workspace. We hear that school walls are painted green because it inspires and promotes harmony. It is also stated by the business fashion industry that dark blues, blacks and greys are "power" colors. And psychologists tell us that yellows and reds inspire action and are thus used to excess by the fast food industry.

Then we get told that "cool" colors such as blue or purple give us a calming effect and are conducive to contemplation. And it goes on with statements like "painting walls with vibrant tones can stimulate creativity and inspire work".

All very confusing. Then we are told that you should pick the color that best matches your dominant mood and personality. Really? Seems to me that we therefor need several offices, each painted differently to match the changing moods and inspirations needed as the work days unfold. Or, maybe paint each of the office walls one of the appropriate colors and change chair positions as different moods are required? Or, let's put all the colors together - let's see - all the colors of the rainbow together makes white.

Ah Ha! Paint the walls white and you have the best of everything - inspiring, calming, stimulating, harmoniuous, powerful and more! I guess I've been in style and creating "dramatic" effects all along! Or else I've been looking at white walls too long!

What color are YOUR office walls?

Little Organizers Can Carry A Theme

No matter what business we are in or what organization we work for, most of us spend many hours in our offices. And whether we are constantly meeting clients, or just an occasional co-worker, office space is precious. And making use of precious space can be made easier with a few accessories that help promote professionalism.

For example, some sort of containers for the various desk top items really is essential to keep some semblance of order. Paper clip containers, scissors and letter opener holders, envelope and supplies trays are all helpful. Don't forget to use a business card holder to display your business cards since you want to encourage your clients will to help themselves.

Books and binders are another inevitable "collectable" in every office and a number of book cases and book end products can help tame these in various manners for occasional use or in easy reach for everyday use.

All these organizing accessories can be obtained from a number of sources and with various themes depending on your interests and other office decor themes. Matching to your own office theme is a great way to provide client interest and conversation starters.

Good Hardwood Samples

The amish-furniture-home.com web site has a great set of samples of a few hardwood types - Red Oak, White Oak, Cherry and Maple. They've also got some fairly large color / grain samples that allow you to readily identify these wood types. Their descriptions are below and you can see the samples at http://www.amish-furniture-home.com/hardwood-information.php.

Red Oak - Red Oak is an extremely strong, tough wood that has a pronounced open grain. Red Oak has a slight orange or reddish hue. This is the wood you want if you love a warm look

Quarter Sawn White Oak - Quarter-sawn means cutting into the log at a 90-degree angle to the growth rings which gives it a special grain pattern. If you love a lot of grain in your table quarter sawn is for you. The White Oak has a cooler white to sage undertone

Cherry - Cherry is a hard durable wood that has a reddish-brown tone with a tight, straight grain that becomes darker and richer as it ages. This is preferred by folks that want a slight but elegant grain.

Maple - Maple is the hardest domestic wood that we have here in the US. It is used extensively in furniture making because of its fine texture and durability. Maple is basically cream or ivory in color with minimal grain. This wood captures light and brightens space.

Man, That's an Ugly Chair!

Claimed to be the "worlds most expensive office chair", this one I think can claim dual roles - also the "worlds most ugly office chair". Maybe it comes in gold or silver plating, and maybe it has a price tag of 50,000 euros, and maybe it is even available in a variety of color options to compliment your office décor! But man, it is just plain ugly! Have a look here to see for yourself!

Office Furniture Lease or Rent

When furnishing an office, one of the considerations is the age old question of "buy or lease?". Now this is not usually something that most people would even consider for office furniture, but like other things, there are pluses and minuses.
Candice Pardue discusses both sides of the decision in an article posted at http://www.onlinesuccesstips.com/hc-articles/office/rentingleasing.html. On the beneficial side of leasing, she came up with 3 reasons:
- the ability to try before you buy,
- short term or temporary office (for overflow or seasonal use),
- preventing debt.
She also lists 2 reasons for buying your office furniture outright:
- you own it, freeing cash flow,
- no worries about damage.
She concludes that owning is always better than leasing whenever possible, but a few circumstances can make leasing an option based on your business situation and financial situation.
My take on this would be that leasing certainly provides flexibility, especially if the lease terms are compatible with the change cycles of your business. If you expect to shrink, grow or otherwise change on a 6 month cycle, it is not wise to lock in a 3 year lease agreement. As always, there are lots of options, deals and vendors out there, so shop around.