Wood or Metal Furniture for Office Fitouts?

The choice between wood and metal for office fitouts (and furniture in general!) is largely a matter of taste and balance. Most of us hold a preference for one material or the other, yet we know that without a bit of variety in our office design everything will look less than ideal. However, the way we use office furniture is quite different to the way we use our furniture at home, and simple personal preferences might not be the most conducive to a functional, professional and durable office fitout. Today we check out the considerations for both wood and metal furniture in offices.

Your Furniture and … Your Brand
Every aspect of your business which customers have contact with either adds to, or detracts from, your image and your brand. Wood and metal both have very different looks, feels, and associations, so your choice of material for an office fitout should be congruent with your current branding.

Wood is seen as a rich and more traditional material. It conveys the impression of professionalism and stability. Metal is more technically advanced, with an impression of precision and modernity.

Spring Cleaning!
Ease of cleaning is a major factor in your choice of office furniture, and both wood and metal have their advantages and drawbacks.

Wood is usually treated or coated with a (mostly) impervious layer which adds shine and protects the material underneath. Most spills, if wiped up quickly, are not difficult to clean – but the key is to clean quickly!

Metal is utterly impervious to staining, but does tend to attract fingerprints and will streak if not dried after cleaning with a soft cloth. Know your cleaning technique, and either material is just as suitable for office fitouts.

Portability
No matter how much you plan for your office layout to be ‘set and forget’, there is always something unexpected happening in business! Employees change, business practices change, ideas change … and therefore, office fitouts in Melbourne also change regularly.

Either wood or metal office furniture can be light and portable. Chipboard is obviously quite portable – but it doesn’t have that rich and traditional look of real wood. Metal office furniture tends to be made of aluminium, which is easy to move and rearrange, while still looking very professional.

Safety
In a fire, metal furniture will contribute less to the spread of flames than will wooden furniture, obviously. However, the more everyday issue of portability is also related to safety … it is far more likely that your employees will injure their back shifting a desk than be trapped in the office when there is a fire! Either metal, or lighter style wood office furniture, should dominate for this reason.

The Design
While solid wood furniture for office fitouts is quite common, metal-based furniture is almost universally offset with fabric sections. This means that colour is far more easily introduced into the office, helping designate different sections of your space, brighten moods and improve productivity!

No matter what you personally prefer in furniture materials, make sure that you choose what’s right for your office fitout.

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