Decorating an office can be extremely tricky.  On the one hand, you will potentially be spending a large amount of your time in there.  So you want it to be comfortable and enjoyable for you.  On the other hand, you may have customers, clients, bosses etc coming into your office and so it needs to look professional and organized.

 The trick is to find a decorating balance that creates an atmosphere that is pleasing to you, reflects your style, and motivates you to work while on the other hand looks as though important work is always happening and people can count on you.

 Paint color may be one of the most significant decisions you make.  While you want to pick a color that you enjoy being surrounded in every day, it also needs to reflect the nature of the company and business that is happening there.  However, keep in mind that whatever color makes you happy and comfortable may also make your visitors happy and comfortable.  No matter what color you choose, the shade needs to be toned down and avoid bright and striking colors.  Consider painting an accent wall only and leaving the rest of the walls a neutral white color.

 Another great way to reflect your style and your company is through artwork on the walls.  Bare walls are boring and should be avoided.  Choose artwork that will create the atmosphere you want your clients to feel.  Choosing artwork with color in it will add life and personality to the room.

 Another thing that adds life to a room is plants.  Adding greenery livens up a place and makes it more pleasant to be in.  Keep in mind that if you choose live plants you will have to take care of them.  If you are unable to do this, do not have a green thumb, or anticipate extended times away from your office then you may want to consider fake plants.

 Office furniture is obviously going to be the most functional thing you have in your office, however it can also say a lot about your style.  Choose furniture that will utilize your face efficiently.  One of the best things you can do is to get a corner computer desk.  This allows for no wasted space in your office.  Corner computer desks also have the most amounts of surface space and add-ons for organization (such as drawers and cabinets).

First of all, you need to figure out what you want the prmary function of your office space to be.  If you are the only one who is ever in your office, you may choose different furniture than if you always have customers and clients in your office.

Also, the location of your office is important.  Maybe you have a home office behind glass french doors in your house.  In this case, you would want a design that blends well with the rest of your home and does not look like a cluttered mess.

In addition to decor decisions, it is also important to consider functionality.  Some offices need to be able to organize a lot of paper while others may have a need for an office with a ton of “counter” space for drawing and drafting.

The reason why it is important to decide what you want the decor and function of your office to e before you shop, is because it will greatly affect the corner computer desk you may buy.  Corner computer desks are without a doubt the most efficient way to add a desk into a square office space. 

However, there are many different options to research before buying.  Corner office desks can come with many different variations.  You can have a glass top and open design for a modern feel.  Or you could choose an oak desk with ornate details carved into it.

Additionally, many corner computer desks come with certain options.  These options are similar to picking out kitchen cabinets.  Do you want a drawer or a shelf?  Do you need a keyboard tray?  How many file drawers do you want?  You can customize your desk any way you like to fit into the decor and functionality of your office.

One cool feature that some desks have is a coat rack.  I suppose that only people who wear suits to the office or have a lot of guests in their office would need this feature.

Another add on feature you may consider for your desk is piece that sets on top of the desk and gives you additional shelving or cabinet space.  This feature can be very convenient for those needing to store a lot of supplies and documents in their office.

The exact same desks are sold buy thousands of different dealers and retailers.  Many times, the exact same furniture catalog will be used by different dealers and just have different covers.  This means that if you put the time into researching furniture suppliers, dealers, and retailers you could save a lot of money.

Here are things to consider when choosing an office furniture supplier:

1.  Do you want the company to deliver and install the furniture?

If so, then you may want to pay a little extra for that service.  Corner office desks in particular can actually be a little complicated to put together.  Additionally, sometimes the furniture installer will be able to perform services such as drilling extra holes for the best computer and phone installation.  A furniture dealer may also be able to do things like order extra pieces such as a keyboard tray if you want it.

2.  Do you want a warranty?

This is another benefit to consider when shopping for furniture dealers, especially if you are looking into used furniture.  Many dealers or retailers will offer different kinds of warranties on their furniture.  Also be aware that manufacturers sometimes offer warranties as well.  So if all a dealer offers is a manufacturers warranty, that is not a selling point for that dealer because the warranty comes with the product no matter where you buy it.

3.      Do you need a designer’s help?

If you are purchasing furniture for an entire office building or for a corner executive office, then you may need a designers help.  Many furniture companies have trained designers that will help you at no extra charge.  They will help coordinate chairs and desks with your carpet, wall paint, and artwork.  If you are just looking for a single piece or a small amount of office furniture, then you probably do not need to choose a furniture dealer with interior design services.

Keep in mind that you can find the same piece of furniture at hundreds of places.  So the difference will be in the service that you can at these places.  A little bit of research and knowing exactly what you need will help you in your office furniture buying experience.

1.  Where will the l-shaped desk be located?

Which room you place the corner computer desk in as well as how the desk will be positioned in that room is an important thing to know.  I once bought an l-shaped desk without considering this, and once it was installed in my office I realized that the space designed to keep my computer was facing the back corner of the room.  I was able to flip the desk around to face the front, however it jutted out into the room in a way that I did not originally want it to.

So it is very important that you have it laid out in your floor plan exactly how the desk will be setup. 

2.  What functions do you want the desk to have?

Do you want a keyboard tray?  Do you want file drawer space?  Do you need a lot of regular drawer space?  Do you need to place a lot of computer and printing equipment on your desk?  Do you need to have a space for quests to be able to sit across from you and write?  Do you need a hutch?

Ask yourself these types of questions before you shop so you know exactly what you are looking for.

3.  What style material do you want?

Do you want wood or laminate?  What color material matches your office?  What color hardware do you want (brass, silver etc.)? 

Once you have the answer to all these questions, then you should know exactly what type of l-shaped office desk you are looking for.  Then you can begin your search for the perfect corner office.

1.  Even if you want to buy in a store, shop around online first.  Find what you want online and find the best prices.  It only makes sense to compare what all the competition is charging for the same product.  Then, if you still have a particular store you want to buy from, see if they will match that price.

2.  Once you find the perfect corner office desk, try going directly to the manufacturer.  This can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars on office furniture.  Buying direct from the manufacturer skips the middle man (ie retailer).  Obviously, retailers mark-up the manufacturer’s prices so that the retailer can make a profit too.  If you shop directly from the manufacturer, you can save all the mark-up costs.  You usually have to give up certain luxuries such as delivery and installation when you buy direct from manufacturer.  However, for many the inconvenience is worth it.

3.  Buy used office furniture.  Search on Ebay, or Craigslist for used furniture.  When a big company remodels or moves, they have an enormous amount of used office furniture to unload.  Even if they do not sell online themselves, many times a dealer will take the furniture off the business’ hands and sell online for very cheap.  Or you can contact a dealer directly and let them know what you are looking for.  Many times, they can get you the used furniture that you need.  Additionally, many dealers will paint the furniture to match what you already have, deliver, and install the used furniture.  So if you find the right used furniture dealer, you will not have to give up any of the conveniences that you get when buying from a new furniture store.

4.  Shop at furniture outlet stores.  Many manufacturers and retailers setup outlet stores for their furniture.  At these places they sell things such as damaged corner computer desks, over-stocked items, and discontinued product lines. 

5.  Negotiate.  Furniture is one of the most marked up retail products there is.  So there is a lot of room for price negotiation.  So when you find the perfect corner computer desk, let the negotiations begin.

Use these tips to save money when buying office furniture.  A little research and effort can save you thousands of dollars on your next trip to a furniture store.