The Complete Guide to Breakroom Furniture

You use the chairs in your office every day, and they’re bound to get dirty even if you’re careful. To ensure your chairs look their best year after year, take these tips for the regular cleaning and maintenance of all upholstery types.

General Chair Care

Always test cleaning techniques on an inconspicuous spot first. Try the bottom of the chair, the back, or anywhere else that doesn’t show. Make sure you test an unseen spot before you try a new cleaning method on the whole chair. Even if you only use a mild soap, you never know how certain substances might react with your specific chair. Testing a hidden spot first will ensure you don’t damage an important part of the furniture.

Remove stains immediately. The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove. Do yourself a favor and clean it up now.

Beware of breathing in harsh chemicals. If using a cleaning agent that has a strong scent or chemical smell, only clean in a well-ventilated area.

Always check your chair for a tag with cleaning instructions. Most office chairs have a tag under the seat that outlines care tips. Look there first before beginning any cleaning.

How to Clean Office Chairs

Fabric upholstery can usually be cleaned using water-based cleaning agents or water-free solvents. First, vacuum any crumbs that may be hiding in cracks and crevasses. If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner handy, use a can of compressed air. Next, mix a few drops of mild soap in a bucket of water. Using a soft, lint-free cloth, wipe this on your test spot first. If it looks good, wipe down the entire chair, then use a second lint-free cloth to wipe it dry.

Genuine leather upholstery can be cleaned in 1 of 3 ways: store-bought leather cleaner, vinegar and linseed oil, or rubbing alcohol and water. For a more detailed description of how to clean and maintain a leather office chair, read our guide to cleaning and maintaining leather furniture here. 

Faux leather and vinyl are easier to care for than real leather. In many cases, you can clean faux leather and vinyl using water-based cleaners in the same manner as fabric upholstery, and many vinyl options can even be cleaned with bleach solutions. Double-check the tag on your chair for any special instructions to avoid damage. Read our guide to leather upholstery to learn more.

Mesh chairs should be vacuumed regularly, as crumbs tend to get caught in the little spaces. Any remaining dirt or stains can be removed using a damp cloth, but do not drag the cloth across the mesh, as this can cause the material to fray. Instead, dab any problem areas until clean.

Plastic chairs can be cleaned with soap and water, but avoid using bleach, which can damage the material. For stains, dampen a soft cloth with white distilled vinegar and wipe. Baking soda on a wet sponge can also create a mild abrasive that eats away stains without damaging your plastic.

Wood chairs need cleaning too! Regularly wipe down your wood chairs with a dry lint-free cloth. For deeper cleaning, choose a wood polish and apply it to the chair in small amounts using a cloth. Like with your upholstery, you’ll want to test your polish on an inconspicuous area before going over the entire piece of furniture.

Your reception desk is the centerpiece of your office’s waiting room. As such, it’s important to find one that will make your guests feel welcome and your receptionists feel comfortable all day. Unsure of what to look for in your new waiting room desk? Read on to discover what you should consider and how to make the best choices for your business.

What Size Reception Desk Should I Buy?

The size of your reception desk will largely depend on the size of your waiting room. If you have a small reception area, we recommend choosing a compact waiting room desk with a small footprint designed to be used by 1 receptionist at a time. If you’re working with a larger waiting room, you should utilize the space by equipping it with a larger reception desk. Just as a large reception desk will make a small waiting room look cramped, a small reception desk in a very large waiting room will make the room look disproportioned.

Modular reception desks are ideal for most offices as they can be larger or smaller to fit your space as needed. We’ve designed our Compass collection with this idea in mind, allowing you to configure a workstation that perfectly fits your waiting room, no matter how large or small. 

What Shape Reception Desk Should I Buy?

Reception desks come in various shapes, and you’ll want to choose one that best suits the needs of your staff and guests.

Single surface reception desks have a single writing surface for the office staff and a transaction counter for guests to write on. These may be straight or curved and come in a range of sizes to suit your waiting area. Smaller versions of this type of reception desk are also commonly used in restaurants and other hospitality settings.

L-shaped reception desks include a main desk and a return, which provides the receptionist with additional space to work. Most l-shaped desks are small enough that they are best used by a single receptionist at a time, though they come in various sizes to suit different business needs.

U-shaped reception desks include a 3rd work surface for receptionists to utilize. U-shaped reception desks can have curved or straight edges, and they can often be used by more than 1 receptionist at a time in a large waiting room.

Round reception desks have a curved or circular appearance. These reception desks are best suited for larger waiting rooms where they can be the center of attention. 

ADA reception desks are ADA compliant to accommodate individuals in wheelchairs. Most ADA desks feature a standard height transaction counter and an attached ADA height surface that measures about 33" high.

What Materials Should My Reception Desk Be Made Of?

There are plenty of materials to choose from! These are the most popular options.

Although laminate can look like it has real wood grains, it is actually made from a form of particle board with or without a wood grain print. Desks with a laminate surface construction are ideal for high-traffic offices because laminate does not scratch or dent easily and is generally easier to maintain and keep clean. Laminate is also affordable, making it a great choice for businesses on a tight budget. 

Wood veneer is a good in-between if you want the look of real wood without paying the high cost of solid wood furniture. Veneer desks have a similar base as laminate furniture (such as particle board) but feature a thin layer of real wood on top of that. Veneer desks can be trickier to clean and care for than laminate, but the veneer layer provides a much richer look that many offices prefer.

Although metal desks are available in all-metal varieties, most come with a wood or glass top with a metal framework for stability and industrial aesthetics. Metal desks are usually made of steel, though the gauge may vary. The desk may come in either a chrome or powder-coated finish.

In the case of glass desks, the work surface is usually made of thick tempered glass to prevent shattering complemented by a metal framework. Glass is easy to clean, but it does show fingerprints. If you don’t want a full glass top, there are wood top options with a glass inlay available.

Signage probably isn’t the first thing you think of when outfitting a new office. Between the furniture and décor, you’ve got a lot to think about already. But consider how important signage is for your space. From directing guests where to go to facilitating effective communication between professionals, signs send a message. Below you’ll find a list of the most common types of signage in offices today.

Freestanding signs can stand on their own via a (usually) changeable sign attached to a long pole with a wide base. This type of signage is ideal for temporary use in offices with constantly changing needs and is also great for directing guests at special events.

Wall-mounted signs attach to a wall and may be changeable or hold a permanent message. Examples of these include restroom signage and signs used to display room names.

Outdoor signs are designed to withstand the elements, including rain, snow, and the sun’s damaging rays. This signage is most often permanent, though changeable options are available. Examples include signs for parking spaces and directional signage.

Desktop signs are usually changeable and commonly used as employee nameplates or labeling for reception desks.

Dual-sided signage is usually freestanding and includes a label or message on both sides of the sign.

Crowd control signage is signage that can be attached to the top of a crowd control post. This type of sign is often used to direct guests where to go in a line.

Healthcare alert signage is specifically for use in healthcare facilities. These signs have movable icons that medical professionals can use to communicate with one another at a glance.

LED signs are most commonly used for open/closed signage, though they can communicate any range of messages.