Battling the Office Winter Blues

We’ve all been there. December is filled with the excitement of the holiday season and getting ready to usher in the new year. Then we get into the heart of winter, when day after day is filled with dreary gray skies and frigid temperatures – or in Iowa’s case, an ice storm – and the lack of sun makes it that much harder for your sunny disposition to shine through. But fear not! Here are some tried and true ways to perk you up this winter and battle those winter blues, tailored specifically to the office world.

Switch it up with some swatches

Have you ever heard the saying “You eat with your eyes first?” That may pertain to how chefs plate their food, but the same applies to your surroundings, whether that’s your living room at home or your desk at work. Which sounds more appealing to you: light grey walls, dark grey floors, no decorations, or some dark chocolate woodgrains, wall art with rich pops of color, and a steaming cup of hot cocoa? I personally would be much more motivated to work in an environment that is comforting and incorporates colors and design elements that encourage positive emotions and productivity. Whether it’s a matter of adding pops of color through fabric or changing it up with darker woodgrains, you can very easily make a space feel considerably more comfortable and inviting by taking inspiration from some of HON’s color palettes:

For more office design inspiration, visit our Pinterest page or more fabric palettes on hon.com.

Take a break

Are you a hot chocolate kind of gal? Maybe you like your coffee black in the largest receptacle you can find. Or is hot tea more your jam? Regardless, you need a place to enjoy your hot beverage of choice and to catch up with your coworkers before you start the day or over your lunch break. Why not sip on some cozy lounge seating, like HON’s new Grove® line. (Don’t forget to include a tablet arm so you’ve got a resting place for that hot cocoa in between sips, or pair it with a Flock® Mini with a Laminate Top!)

Get a change of scenery

Repetition is a surefire recipe for boredom, so make sure to switch up your routine to help stave off winter weariness. HON’s collaborative furniture solutions allow you to get a change of pace and a change of scenery while still maintaining work productivity. Here’s where the new Preside® collaborative tables and the complementary Arrange® tables and Accommodate® seating come in. Designed to be used in all different parts of the office, these lines offer a variety of heights, technology options, and sizes to give you a place to work wherever you are. It’s the perfect way to rejuvenate and regain some motivation on a long winter day.

What are your tried and true methods of staying motivated during the winter months?

 

 

Back to the Basics with 101 Series™ Laminate Desks

Need a new desk for your home office? How about some furniture to get your startup company rolling? With HON’s new 101 Series, it’s easy to quickly choose the configuration that fits you best and allow yourself to focus on the work that needs to be done. This series includes a number of functional storage options, as well as large worksurfaces to keep your productivity at its highest.

Four laminate options, three tackboard colors, and polished handles let you focus on the essentials to create a professional environment. We’ve also provided pre-assembled layouts to make installation even easier! 101 Series is about understanding the needs of business owners and respecting their time. Best part about it all – this modern, condensed, easy-to-specify desk series comes with HON’s Full Lifetime Warranty.

To get back to the basics of productivity with HON’s 101 Series, visit the product spotlight page today for more information.

 

New Veneer Desk Makes Quality the Office “Centerpiece”

Quality is more than a word at The HON Company. It’s a promise, a commitment to upholding our decades-long dedication to manufacturing a superior product. With our new Centerpiece™ line, that commitment is once again driven home with our top-of-the-line veneer hardwoods, superior craftsmanship, and unwavering attention to detail.

Centerpiece is a classy, elegant veneer desk and table line. With layouts designed to support a variety of work styles, our newest desk line will work with you to accomplish your daily tasks. Moreover, Centerpiece is rooted in practicality. Our sit-to-stand option, working with our Coordinate™ Height Adjustable Base, makes your workstation not only functional, but centered around the way you work.

With a breadth of line that focuses on the office suite essentials, Centerpiece boasts a collaborative yet classic design. A broad range of storage options makes cluttered workspaces a thing of the past with clean lines and effective organization front and center. Furthermore, Centerpiece offers multiple table designs and leg options for optimal productivity away from the desk or private office.

Centerpiece comes with a variety of power options to make this stunning desk line a player for all your technological needs. To polish off its well-rounded details, eight finish selections are available from our classic Mahogany to our sought after Pinnacle.

Centerpiece opened for orders on December 12th and is poised to become a fixture in the Veneer market. To customize your work environment to compliment your work style, visit the Centerpiece spotlight page today!

Promoting a Healthier Workstyle | Directional™ Desktop Sit-to-Stand

Wouldn’t you love the option to sit or stand throughout your work day? Introducing Directional, the new desktop device from HON that turns any 20”-30” deep worksurface into a sit-to-stand workstation! All you have to do is choose whether to sit or stand – whenever and wherever you want.

ELEVATE YOUR WORKSTYLE.

That’s right, now you can retrofit your workspace to encourage activity and promote movement throughout the day, which is vital for a healthy work style.  This gives you more control over both your environment and posture throughout the day.  With Directional, there’s no complicated assembly or installation instructions, and a convenient lever helps you move the platform up and down effortlessly.

ACCESSIBLE.  ADAPTABLE. AFFORDABLE.

Transform your desk into an engaging and active sit-to-stand solution accessible to everyone.  Directional provides plenty of adjustability so you can effortlessly choose the height that best fits you! Whether you need to accommodate a laptop, single, or dual monitor arms, each model includes a large platform for laptops and monitors and a smaller surface for the keyboard and mouse.  The large platform leaves valuable space for work and personal items.  The gas-assist lever makes it easy to raise and lower Directional all while keeping your items secure and safe!

As you can see there are many reasons to be excited about HON’s new sit-to-stand, the standing height solution that can help raise your work and productivity.

For more information, visit hon.com/directional.

Want to WIN Directional? Visit the HON facebook page and share our Directional cover photo by Friday, December 16, 2016 to be entered into the contest! You can view the full Terms and Conditions here.

8 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Workspace | Part 1

If you’re anything like me, I love finding new ways to design my spaces – at home and in the office! With these 8 simple tips, you can re-decorate your workspace just in time for the holidays.

1. Add a Pop of Color

With HON’s latest fabric refresh, there are hundreds of options from which to choose that can bring life into your office this winter (my personal favorite is the Polka – Very Berry)! HON has created inspirational color palettes to make it easy to envision the right color scheme for your space. Have fun with it! Be BOLD and add patterns, or select colors that fit the season. There is no better way to make a statement to your customers, catch the attention of your guests or increase employee morale around the office than by adding a pop of color!

2. Add Whiteboards to Foster Creativity & Collaboration

Generally, we associate whiteboards with education settings, but they are also used in office spaces to foster creativity and collaboration. For example, we use whiteboards a lot in my department to give our sales team a place to brainstorm ideas, write daily goals, or even inspire each other with inspirational quotes of the week! In my experience, whiteboards can help keep people focused, allow them to collaborate with one another, and also boost productivity and creativity. To make it really easy to add to your space, HON offers both wall-mounted whiteboards and mobile whiteboards. You can even get creative and use glass stacker panels as a writing surface!

3. Create Alternative Places to Sit

Creating additional seating could be as simple as placing a cushion on your credenza or pedestal. This allows you to have short impromptu meetings right at your work space.  It’s an inexpensive way to not only create another option for seating, but also allows you to decorate your space with more fun fabrics!

4. Go Modular!

With HON’s full offering, there are so many options to choose from. Why not mix things up? HON’s soft seating line, Flock, allows you to connect multiple lounge seats together and reconfigure them in multiple designs. Plus, you can add Flock minis that can double as additional seating or workspaces when paired with the new laminate toppers! Another great product line for going modular is Voi desking with Accelerate workstations. Not only can you add a modern look with the open o-legs, but you can also create 120° workstation pods. How cool is the layout below!?

Looking for more tips to spruce up your workspace this winter? Stay tuned for more ideas coming in Thursday’s blog post or visit hon.com for more information!

How to Make the Most of Fall in Your Office

Well, the time has come yet again here in the Midwest when we put away the sandals and bring out the sweaters. While many mourn the loss of the hot summer season, I am welcoming the fall breeze with open arms and I know others are as well! There are various transitions to make when moving from any season, but I find the transition into fall to be the most fun (and pretty)!

The first thing I would recommend is cleaning out your desk or workspace. It is helpful to try and do this with the changing of each season to decrease stress and create a more efficient and productive space for yourself. Once your work area is organized, add a little fall décor. Switch up your office furniture by adding warm autumn-colored fabrics or find a fall-themed screensaver for your computer. With Halloween around the corner, consider bringing in some treats to share with your coworkers or try making this mason jar mummy and use it as a pencil holder instead of a candle holder!

A new season brings new beginnings and serves as a good reminder to re-visit your goals for the year. Take time to reflect on recent projects and accomplishments. Is there anything you didn’t get to finish? In what areas of your professional life can you continue to grow? Use this time to take on new responsibilities, learn a new skill or dedicate time to that project you’ve been wanting to start. The fall season also reminds us to be thankful, so try sending a note of appreciation to a coworker or special mentor.

In addition to your workspace, don’t forget to de-clutter and re-organize at home. The changing of the season is always a great time to donate anything you may no longer want or use. Remember, one person’s trash is another person’s favorite fall fashion item (at least, I think that’s how the saying goes)!  The benefits of feeling organized outside of work will transfer to the office, too.

Let’s fall into autumn with these few, hopefully helpful, tips to de-clutter both your workspace and personal life. Bring on the pumpkin spiced lattes, bonfires, and football!

3 New Reasons to Love Solve® Seating

When it comes to sitting, HON is taking a stand for greater comfort and productivity. It has been a year since we launched the high performance task seating line, Solve, and we are excited to introduce even more features to this versatile solution. Here are three more ways to put the power of customization in your hands with Solve:

1. Whether you want to match your brand aesthetic or just pick your favorite color, make a design statement with the new Titanium frame.

2. One of Solve’s three back options, ilira®-stretch, is a knit fabric that uses your own weight to create a softer, more personal fit. If comfortability wasn’t enough, we’ve added new color options, including recently launched Navy, Charcoal and Chai. This responsive mesh back is also available in Fog and the traditional Black.

3. More options mean more control over your chair and how you work. Now you can choose from fixed arms, height- and width-adjustable arms, or 4D arms that adjust in all directions to enjoy truly customized support.

State of the art ReActiv™ Back technology. Three back options. Adjustable arms. Optional lumbar support. Advanced ergonomic tilt control. Backed by HON’s Full Lifetime Warranty. There are so many reasons why Solve is the answer for comfort and versatility.

Want to learn more about how the latest Solve expansion can help you keep up with evolving work styles and environments? Visit the Solve spotlight page on hon.com