Art or Science? The Balancing Act of Furniture Consultants

Material selection is one of many significant choices made in furniture consultancy, but why? Let’s take a look at it from the two perspectives we’re discussing in this article.

The Science of Material Selection

Through this lens, material choice is determined by functionality, health and safety, and environmental impact. So, what factors do furniture consultants consider when it comes to the science-based approach?

• Load-Bearing Capacity: An essential factor when considering the weight the material can support without compromising its integrity. It is particularly important for desks, shelving, and seating.

• Durability and Wear Resistance: Particularly important for high-use furniture in workplaces where it sees a great deal of wear. Items must stand up to scratches, dents, or general wear.

• Fire Safety Ratings: To comply with the proper specifications, workplace materials must be fire-resistant and meet local fire safety codes.

• Moisture and Stain Resistance: Choosing materials that withstand stain and moisture damage, particularly in cafeterias and shared spaces with high footfall, not only elongates the life of furnishing but can even reduce the chance of infection transmission.

• Acoustic Properties: Sound absorption can help control noise in open-plan spaces, creating diverse areas of focus where employees can find space to work collaboratively or individually.

• Anti-Microbial and Hypoallergenic Properties: Making material choices that support a healthier or more accessible environment can improve workplace health and morale.

• Thermal Stability: Material choice can impact ambient temperature, so choosing materials that withstand temperature fluctuations affects workplace well-being.

• Maintenance and Cleanability: Materials should be easy to clean and maintain, ensuring a sanitary, high-quality, and professional workspace.

Material Choice as an Art

The creatively driven approach to material selection lies in visual and sensory appeal, brand alignment, and trend responsiveness. Here are some of the creative considerations furniture consultants take:

• Aesthetic Style: Materials must complement the overall design and create a cohesive visual experience.

• Colour and Finish: Colours should be selected based on a desired mood and brand visual identity.

• Texture and Tactility: Upholstery, solid surfaces, and all touchpoints should evoke a positive sensory experience during daily use.

• Natural vs. Synthetic: Choices between natural and synthetic materials must be made based on how they affect those using the space.

• Lighting Interplay: Natural and artificial lightingsignificantly impactn mood, focus, and mental well-being, and these must be considered.

• Scale and Proportion: Ensure that materials and furniture pieces work harmoniously within the space, balancing large and small items to avoid visual clutter and create equilibrium.

• Pattern: Whether subtle or bold, patterns add character and visual intrigue and can help guide the eye with subtle wayfinding and signalling.

• Cultural and Historical Relevance: Select materials or styles that may have cultural or historical significance, lending the space familiarity or local flair.

• Brand Representation: Choose visual cues that align with the company’s identity and values to reinforce the brand identity and company values indirectly.

• Personalisation Potential: Select materials and items that allow for customisation so the design can evolve with changes in taste or corporate culture.

• Visual Flow and Cohesion: Create a sense of flow between different areas, ensuring a seamless transition from one part of the workspace to another.

• Symbolic Meaning: Consider the symbolic, cultural, or psychological impact of materials and how that aligns with the company’s values or mission.

We might not realise it in the moment, but furniture has the power to tell a story in a space, going beyond its functionality to narrate the origin and personality of the company brand and touch upon the identity of the workforce, creating a meaningful environment for all those in it. Furniture is the real substance of any space—the diverse textures, colours, and shapes that take up the most space in an area—so its effect has a powerful potential to reflect chosen values, feelings, and ideas. So, why might any company want to tell a story with furniture?

Furnishing in the workplace has myriad effects on brand perception. For instance, sustainable materials demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship. The visual style of furnishings shows key aspects of brand identity. For example, sleek, minimal shapes signify focus, innovation, and professionalism. These storytelling elements are registered by anyone who enters the space, meaning furniture choices can impact teams that use the area, clients invited in for meetings, and partners visiting the company.

Storytelling is one of the best ways to emotionally and mentally engage anyone. And when it comes to the workplace, telling the brand's story can improve the productivity and quality of work within the team. Identity and feelings of belonging positively impact those using the space and can have a knock-on effect, leading to more efficient, higher-value, and creative output.

The impact of brand storytelling has been widely researched. For example, one study examined how spaces that signal identity can improve workplace productivity. In the study, participants worked in one of three simulated office environments:

• Identity-affirming: Decorated by the RED team (ingroup).

• Identity-threatening: Decorated by a rival team (BLUE).

• Undecorated: Lacking any team-specific decor.

Interestingly, the study's results found that those in both the identity-affirming and identity-threatening spaces outperformed those in the undecorated space, suggesting that decorated spaces—whether supportive or challenging to identity—can positively influence performance, possibly by stimulating psychological engagement or awareness.

One key way to ensure employees can positively identify with a space is to provide them with autonomy over their own surroundings. Customisable aspects of the workplace not only allow its users to create their own preferred look and feel but also help to support individual needs for optimal health, comfort, focus, and stress levels. For example, height-adjustable desks and lighting allow individuals to create a space ideal for their own specific needs and preferences.

Beyond the brand, it’s possible to use furniture to honour cultural and historical significance through locally sourced materials, regionally inspired designs, and feature pieces that speak to specific legacies. This is how a company can build a bond with its employees by demonstrating a level of dedication that celebrates the workforce as instrumental in the success of the business.

The debate about whether furniture consultancy lies more in the arts or the sciences is ongoing. We can agree that the key to success in holistic workplace furnishing lies in a complex combination of both approaches, reflecting how humans perceive and interact with space. For more discussion on topics like this, take a look at our blog. Or set up a discovery call with us if you have a workplace furnishing project of your own in mind.