Friday 20 December 2013

Funky Carpet Tile Ideas for Your Office



Have you finally owned up to the realisation that you need new carpeting in your office?  Well done, that’s the first step.  Now, it’s time to look for some inspiration.  After all, if it has taken you this long to commit, you’ll want to make a lasting choice.

Of course, office tile carpeting has come a long way since you were last on the market.  Not only has its construction and installation become more advanced, designs too have developed.  But if you want something really funky, you may need to take control of the design.  Your carpeting sales consultant can certainly help you along the way, but you’ll want to infuse your own office culture into the layout.

Stuck for ideas?  Why not consider one of these?

Two Colour Check – Sure it’s a classic, but these large squares serve to open up the space.  From playful to dramatic, you can make these tiles say what you want, depending on your colour scheme.  Steering away from black and white updates the pattern, while still remaining flexible enough to go with just about any seating – and wall colour.



Broken Checks – This hardly makes the same impact in the picture as it will do covering your entire office floor.  This broken check pattern creates a diamond and wave pattern that is hardly dull.  Whether you go with a brown and contrasting pattern, as shown here, or you stick to two solid colours, the effect is the same – dramatic and compelling.

Disintegration – The aerial view of this pattern says it all.  Carpeting squares can start in a triangle pattern as shown, or perhaps from a multicoloured check board.  Either way, as you move into a corner, progressively smaller triangles are cut to add deeper layers to the pattern.  Consider starting with your larger pieces in the centre of your office and allowing the pieces to fragment as you move to the outer edges.  No matter how you go, it’s sure to delight your employees – and visiting clients.

Two Colour Muted Contrast – Just because you have two colours to work with, it doesn’t mean your carpeting needs to be boring.  Spice it up by breaking from the traditional checkerboard style.  Use longer contrasting lines, as shown here.  The wide space makes it easy to use such large pieces of colour, but you can always shortened it according to the size of your office.  The muted colours work well together here, which helps if you’re not ready for daring.



Multi Coloured Squares – Whether you are covering an open office, or you just want to accent your reception area, carpet squares make it easy to play with dashes of colour.  Use as many, or as few, colours as you prefer, but keep in mind that anything too vibrant matched with anything too pale may make for dizzy eyes.  Even better is that you won’t notice the unadorned black reception couch if you use this play on carpeting colours.

As You Like It – This type of pattern breaks up the traditional flavour of the Multi Coloured Square theme above, but relies on the same basic concept.  It incorporates more than one colour, including a few accent shades.  But, unlike other patterns, you can play with this one in whatever way you please.  As you can see, patterns like this do not require heavy, cluttered furniture, which means you can keep the rest of your office as minimal as you like.

A Few Special Pieces – You may not be able to afford contract carpet tiles throughout your office, but you can play with pattern by adding in a few notable pieces here and there.  Have fun playing with stripes and even just the varying grain directions.  When trying to create a textural effect, try to keep a neutral palate; otherwise, the nuances of the grain will be lost on viewers.

Break Area Accent – By playing with colour in certain areas, such as underneath the lunch table can draw attention to the space.  If you are carpeting your entire office, you can achieve similar patches of colour by breaking an overall neutral colour with pattern plays where you need it most.  You can carry this idea throughout your office, by breaking out into a bit of a colour song whenever you feel like it.

Just a Splotch – Nothing says you can’t just have a neutral coloured office carpet broken by just a few splotches of colour in random places.  In fact, as this picture shows, there is nothing boring about it at all.  Play with your company colours for accents, or consider working with a brighter colour that you break with neutral accent squares.

Shades and Sizes – This pattern also works with soft accent colours, albeit not in a full square pattern.  This pattern can go any way you want it to, but sticking to one repeat that you occasionally break or change will add a great deal of depth to otherwise neutral colours.  One of the nice things about this design is the classic parquet feel that comes through in the grain of the carpet squares.

Diagonal Accent – This carpeting pattern follows a similar theme to Shades and Sizes above, but it works diagonally across the room.  This serves to lengthen the space visually, which can be tremendously valuable in small offices.  The accents stand out, and guide the eye towards the far wall, or whatever you put in front of it.

Parallels – This pattern requires a little more work to install in small spaces, but if your office is large enough, you can use the same idea by grouping a few same coloured squares together.  The example is shown with many different colours, but in a larger space, you may want to limit it slightly.  And, if not, make sure you are working with an otherwise sterile white space, or your office may become too busy.

Confusion – Alright, say you do decide to stick to a neutral colour and run the grain in the same direction throughout your office.  That doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun with your floors.  Why not consider just a few quirks like this one to show your playful side?

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Top Inspirational Offices from Around the World

Top Inspirational Offices from Around the World

Creating a Safe Office Environment with Quality Furnishings and Fittings



It has been said, that many accidents happen in the home, but we spend more than 8 hours a day in the work place, and it seems only logical, that the office environment be a safe place.

There are many accidents in the work place every year.  The most frequent types of work place injury are due to falls, tripping and strains from over-extending and over-exertion.  In addition, there are many accidents that occur in the workplace that are due to electrical or plumbing faults.
Compared to factories and outside work, offices are a contained environment that can usually be controlled and accidents can be minimized. With just a bit of care, many office falls and slips can be avoided.  We have listed a few tips to make an office a safer environment for workers and visitors.

1.    Close drawers completely when not in use.
2.    While seated, avoid twisting and leaning backwards.
3.    Secure electrical wires that are in walkways.
4.    Clean up spills right away.
5.    Wear shoes that have non-slip soles
6.    Use proper step stools to reach high places.
7.    Add carpeting where possible.

If you find yourself falling, try to scrunch your body within yourself, and roll rather than reaching arms outward (which may be instinctive).  This position will help your body absorb the impact better, and help you avoid a potentially bad injury.

Electrical hazards within the workplace can happen often, if wiring is faulty, installed incorrectly, or not maintained properly.  Below, we have listed some precautions to take, to minimize electrical accidents in the workplace.

1.    Avoid using extension cords.
2.    Use only office equipment that has been tested, and approved by reputable laboratories.
3.    Never handle wires or electrical equipment when your hands are wet.
4.    Unplug, by holding the plug, not yanking the cord.
5.    Make sure that all office equipment is “grounded” properly and well insulated.
6.    Do not cover power cords with rugs, mats or carpeting.
7.    Shutdown and disconnect equipment from the power source before repairs or maintenance services are conducted. It’s also wise to shut down any equipment that doesn’t need to be left on, when the office is vacated at night as this will reduce the risk of fire.

Photocopy machines are a standard piece of equipment in most offices, but when an office is not well-ventilated, it can be a hazardous source of air pollution, causing employees to become ill.  Besides placing this type of machine in a well-ventilated area, away from employees, some other precautions will include:

1.    Prevent chemical emissions, by having the copy machine routinely serviced.
2.    Dispose of toner waste properly and immediately.
3.    Keep the document cover of the machine closed.
4.    Use gloves while changing toner, and avoid touching other photocopying chemicals with bare hands.

When individuals go to work, they rarely think about safety issues, but by developing good habits, it is easy to have a safe office environment.  Such as, do not overstock shelves, have a step stool handy, keep restrooms clean and stocked, with plenty of towels and antibacterial soap, and encourage at least one employee, to be trained in CPR and first aid.


           

Monday 25 November 2013

Ways To Make Your Office Feel More Comfortable



The appearance of your office is very important because it speaks volumes about the business. It is a place where employees will spend most of their lives. The monotony of going to the office on a daily basis becomes tiresome and can be very boring. The good part is that you can personalize the office and make it feel more welcoming. Walking daily into an office that is comfortable and friendly makes the time spent there a more pleasant experience, hopefully increasing staff productivity.

 As a place that you visit daily and probably spend most of your time, it is good to create a welcoming office environment.  For the business to thrive, it needs customers. Customers love a business with an environment that feels inviting and makes them feel welcomed. It is achievable through the following ways.

·                     The entrance
The entrance is crucial and should be clear and identifiable. The customer should not encounter challenges when parking or trying to locate your office. A good way to avoid this is by having a person to greet the potential customers warmly at the door and assist them where possible. A welcoming and friendly environment starts from the entrance.

·                     The space surrounding the office
People feel at ease and comfortable when they are in environments that look and feel like home. You can achieve this in your office. You can create a  lively atmosphere by having live plants and flowers in your office. Have very comfortable seats and add a personal touch.  You can buy a coffee pot, water machine or other refreshments to offer to your customers.  Another way to create a comfortable feeling in the office is by installing perfect lighting and have some magazines to keep the waiting customers occupied.

·                     Use of carpets
It is true that the first appearance tells it all. For the office to have that welcoming look, it should have some aspects that make the room feel warm. One of the strongest ways to achieve this is by using carpets. You might be surprised to discover the great effect and impact that a good looking office with a quality carpet has on a customer. Wall-to-wall carpets are the best for offices.

·                     Having the appropriate furniture and wall decorations
In addition, the furniture you keep in your office determines the mood. Always go for a carpet and furniture that has the design and style fitting your needs. Ensure the furniture you select is both functional and comfortable as well as hard-wearing.

The wall décor plays a vital role. A gloomy wall is not welcoming at all. Pick out some prints or buy artwork from local artists to brighten up the environment within the office.

·                     Setting the temperature right
Another thing that is crucial in an office is achieving a comfortable temperature. If you don't have air conditioning, then you can use a fan to reduce the heat levels inside the rooms on a hot day. Comfortable temperatures help people to work better.  Speak to your employees and customers and find a good level of heat that keeps the majority of people happy.

 


If you’d like more information about how to make your office feel more comfortable then please visit the Birch Carpets website - http://www.birchcarpets.co.uk/productrange/type/carpets




Monday 23 September 2013

Fitting your Own Carpet



Fitting a carpet yourself may seem like a daunting task, but it can save you quite a bit of money so if you're on a budget, or just fancy the challenge, it's well worth giving it a go. If you take your time and focus on the preparation, it's not as difficult as it may at first seem - just follow this guide from the Birch Carpets team.

The first task is to measure up and order the right amount of carpet. Order too much and you're wasting money, order too little and you've got a bigger problem! However, don't forget to order some extra to account for walls that aren't straight etc.

Once your carpet is on the way, then you can start to prepare the room. Give the old carpet a good hoover and you'll disturb less dust when you take it up. You may also want to remove skirting boards and doors to make the job easier. A good tip when removing skirting boards is to number them as you remove them, so you'll know the order they need to go back in. You may find it easier to cut the carpet into strips before you lift it. That way you'll have sections that will be easy to roll up and handle if you're transporting them to the tip yourself. However, if you're planning on keeping your underlay then be careful not to cut through it. Remove the carpet, but leave the tack strips if you can to reuse them.

The next task is to inspect the floor. If you have any loose floorboards then this is the time to secure them. Remove or hammer down any nails in the boards. 

If you've removed the tack strips then now is the time to replace them. Nail them half an inch from the wall, all the way around the room except for in the doorways. The angled tacks should be facing the wall and not into the room.

Now you can lay your underlay. Lay this in strips up to the inside edge of your tack strips, and use duct tape to seal the joins between the underlay strips.

That's all the easy work done, now we're onto laying the carpet. Take it slow, try not to rush and you'll get the best results. Cut the carpet so it is about six inches larger than the room. Cut from the back and be careful not to cut through to any carpet that may be doubled up underneath!

Next you need to attach the carpet to the tack strips. For this you'll need a knee kicker tool or you won't have a taut carpet. The knee kicker grips the carpet. You need to grab the carpet with the kicker tool about three inches away from the wall. You then give it a good push with your knee at the other end to stretch it to the tack strip where it should take hold.

When the carpet is firmly attached all the way round you can trim the excess carpet off close to the wall with a Stanley knife. Next refit your skirting boards, or if you didn't remove them, tuck the edge of the carpet under them with a stair tool, or if you don't have one a small chisel or large screwdriver should do the trick.

Don't forget to check your door. Whether you removed it or not, if your new carpet is thicker than your old one you may need to take a little wood off the bottom of your door to make it fit properly again.

Give your room a good vacuum to remove any bits of cut pile, then sit back and admire your handwork!