The Complete Guide to Office Storage

Signage probably isn’t the first thing you think of when outfitting a new office. Between the furniture and décor, you’ve got a lot to think about already. But consider how important signage is for your space. From directing guests where to go to facilitating effective communication between professionals, signs send a message. Below you’ll find a list of the most common types of signage in offices today.

Freestanding signs can stand on their own via a (usually) changeable sign attached to a long pole with a wide base. This type of signage is ideal for temporary use in offices with constantly changing needs and is also great for directing guests at special events.

Wall-mounted signs attach to a wall and may be changeable or hold a permanent message. Examples of these include restroom signage and signs used to display room names.

Outdoor signs are designed to withstand the elements, including rain, snow, and the sun’s damaging rays. This signage is most often permanent, though changeable options are available. Examples include signs for parking spaces and directional signage.

Desktop signs are usually changeable and commonly used as employee nameplates or labeling for reception desks.

Dual-sided signage is usually freestanding and includes a label or message on both sides of the sign.

Crowd control signage is signage that can be attached to the top of a crowd control post. This type of sign is often used to direct guests where to go in a line.

Healthcare alert signage is specifically for use in healthcare facilities. These signs have movable icons that medical professionals can use to communicate with one another at a glance.

LED signs are most commonly used for open/closed signage, though they can communicate any range of messages.

Is your office paperwork getting a little overwhelming? Use our guide to filing cabinets before you decide what to buy to ensure you get the best possible solution for your space.

Types of Filing Cabinets

Lateral files feature wide but shallow drawers that are ideal for high-capacity filing. Due to their shallow drawer extension, lateral files are great for walkways and areas requiring a lot of filing in a tight space. Most lateral files are 32" to 36" wide, making them wide enough to hold both legal- and letter-size documents, which can be arranged in a side-by-side or front-to-back configuration. Lateral files can have as few as 2 and as many as 7 drawers, with most 2-drawer units being low profile enough to fit underneath a work surface.

Vertical files have narrow but deep drawers, usually measuring 15" to 20" wide. While lateral files are ideal for high-capacity, long-term use, vertical files typically hold fewer documents and are great for everyday use in a personal workspace. Vertical files take up minimal wall space, but the deep drawers require more clearance to open than shallow lateral files.

Mobile files are filing cabinets on wheels. This type of filing cabinet is almost always a vertical file, and most options have only 1 or 2 drawers, which allow it to fit underneath work surfaces, though larger mobile files exist. Many mobile filing cabinets include a 5th wheel on the bottom drawer for added stability, and casters are often lockable to keep the cabinet in place when stationary.

Side tab files display file folders in a vertical position rather than in a horizontal position. Commonly used in medical record-keeping, side tab files make information easily accessible by allowing users to locate the name on a folder tab at a glance. Side tab files come with swinging doors, tambour doors, or no doors.

Tambour door files are side tab files with doors that fold back into the storage unit. This efficient door style is ideal when filing in tight spaces that may not have clearance for large swinging doors.

Rotary files provide maximum storage space while taking up very little floor space. This type of cabinet is double-faced, meaning the unit rotates to reveal a column of files on either side. Rotary file cabinets are made with as few as 2 and as many as 8 shelves that are typically housed in a side tab file configuration.

Card files (or card catalogs) house cards of a specific size, including 3”x5” and 4”x6” index cards, usually in a front-to-back configuration.

Flat files have short, wide drawers specifically designed to house large blueprints and artwork. Storing art and blueprints in this manner keeps them flat, which is often preferred to rolling up large schematics and documents.

Storage islands are a combination of any type of filing cabinet and/or storage cabinet with a counter height work surface. Storage islands are ideal for use between employee workstations. They make not only great storage solutions but also excellent touch points for collaboration and casual meetings.

Filing Cabinet Construction

Metal file cabinets are typically made of galvanized steel and are the most durable option. This type of file is commonly used for high-capacity filing in departments where records are kept for extended periods. Although not considered the most traditionally attractive option, metal filing cabinets come in many colors to match your office.

Fireproof filing cabinets are made with specially formulated insulation that is tested to withstand fire damage for long periods. Not only will these cabinets protect documents from fire damage, but they are also designed to prevent water damage caused by office sprinkler systems.

Laminate furniture can look like real wood but is actually made from a form of particle board with or without a wood grain print. Laminate filing cabinets are an affordable alternative to real wood and veneer options, giving the look of real wood without the high cost.

Wood veneer is made of a thin layer of real wood bonded over a thicker layer of pressboard. This provides a more high-end look than laminate but at a lower cost than solid wood furniture.

Solid wood is very high quality but comes with a high price tag and can be tricky to clean and maintain. Filing cabinets come in solid wood varieties but are uncommon in an office setting.

Storage Capabilities

Letter-size documents can be accommodated by nearly all types of filing cabinets. A letter-size document is the size of a standard 8-1/2”x11” piece of computer paper.

Legal size documents can be accommodated by many filing cabinets, but there are exceptions, so be sure to read the product description if you need a unit that can accommodate this type of paperwork. Legal-size documents measure 8-1/2”x14”.

Side-by-side filing is also called left-to-right filing and refers to filing folders that are organized in a row from left to right. This is the most common way to file letter-size hanging folders in a lateral file and legal-size folders in a vertical file.

Front-to-back filing is the opposite of side-by-side and refers to filing folders that are organized in a column from front to back. This is the most common way to file letter-size hanging folders in a vertical file and legal-size hanging folders in a lateral file.

Side tab folders are folders used with side tab and rotary filing cabinets. These basic folders include side tabs that can be outfitted with labels for easy access to documents at a glance.

Hanging folders are specifically designed for use with most lateral and vertical files. This type of folder has metal or plastic hooks on each end and hangs from a rail in your filing cabinet.

Tip: Most lateral and vertical filing cabinets do not have sturdy enough bottom panels to accommodate paperwork stacked in the drawer as they would be in a storage cabinet. If you have a lateral or vertical filing cabinet, be sure only to use hanging file folders hanging from the drawer rails.

Safety Features

Fireproof cabinets are designed for the safety of your documents and valuables. Sensitive and highly important paperwork should always be kept in a fireproof filing cabinet, and valuable materials should be kept in a fireproof safe.

Anti-tip mechanisms are built into many lateral files and tall vertical files for the user’s safety. If multiple drawers full of paperwork on a tall filing cabinet are open at the same time, the unit is likely to fall over, which can lead to serious injuries. An anti-tip mechanism allows only one drawer to be opened at a time, drastically reducing the chance of an accident.

Counterbalance weights are often added to taller filing cabinets as an additional safety precaution. These weights are typically made of concrete, lead, or another heavy material. They are built into the bottom of a cabinet to reduce tipping and to add stability.

Locking mechanisms are available on some filing cabinets but not all, so be sure to read the product description if a locking mechanism is something you need. Be sure to also note what type of locking system the filing cabinet is equipped with. A central locking system will lock every drawer in the cabinet with a single lock. Some filing cabinets, however, only come with the capability to lock one drawer. 

Hutches

Hutches with doors are ideal for concealing items such as personal belongings and large files that won’t fit in your filing cabinet drawers.

Open hutches resemble a bookshelf and work as a display area for books and décor.

Note: Only purchase a hutch for your filing cabinet if there is a hutch designed to be used with that specific filing cabinet. Not all hutches can be used with all filing cabinets.

Shopping for a new area rug for your office can be daunting. With so many options to choose from, how do you decide? When it comes to the workplace, there’s more to consider than aesthetics. Depending on which room it’s for, you may also need a rug that’s durable, easy to clean, and of a specific size. To help you make the right choice, we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to area rugs.

Size

Size is the first factor to consider for most spaces. In some rooms, the size of an area rug depends on style preference; in others, it is essential for the functionality of the space. Standard rug shapes and sizes include:

Rectangle:

• 2’x3’

• 4’x6’

• 5’x8’

• 6’x9’

• 8’x10’

• 9’x12’

• 12’x14’

Square:

• 4’x4’

• 6’x6’

• 8’x8’

Circle:

• 4’ diameter

• 6’ diameter

• 8’ diameter

So which size should you choose for your space? That depends on the room and what you hope to achieve. Let’s break it down by room.

For a private office in a home or corporate space, the general rule of thumb is that your area rug should be 1–2 feet shorter than the shortest wall in the room. Most importantly, you want to ensure that the area rug is large enough to contain your entire desk and task chair. 

Not only will this give your workspace a unified appearance, but it also has practical applications—you don’t want your chair to snag on the edge of the rug when rolling about the space. Regardless, you may want to order carpet casters for your office chair if you are currently using hard floor casters. 

If you’re adding a rug to the main seating area of your waiting room, be careful about the size you choose. The rug should extend beyond the coffee table and under all of the legs or at least the first set of legs of your sofas and chairs, just like in a home living room. If you select a rug that is too small or too large, it will not appear proportionate to the rest of the room. Allow around 5” to 20” of bare floor between your rug and the wall.

Entryway rugs and mats are excellent tools for directing traffic and greeting guests with a touch of style. For a small entryway, try a square or round rug in the middle of the walk-in area. For a long entryway, try a runner mat or rug in the middle of the space. In both instances, the rug should fill up most of the space but not all of it, leaving equal amounts of space on either side of the rug.

Shape

As mentioned above, rugs come in a variety of shapes, including the following:

• Rectangular rugs are the most common shape and can work in almost any setting. These rugs also come in the widest range of sizes.

• Round rugs are most commonly found in entryways but can work well in other rooms when grouping furniture.

• Square rugs are less common than rectangular ones but can effectively accent end tables and other pieces of furniture.

• Runner rugs are ideal for long entryways and can help visitors find their way to your office.

Materials

The material your area rug is made of greatly impacts how long it lasts, which can make a big difference depending on the rug’s location. Common materials include:

• Polypropylene

• Wool

• Natural Fiber

• Bamboo

Polypropylene rugs are affordable, comfortable, and durable. This material is highly resistant to staining and fading. Woolite or a compatible carpet cleaner are recommended for cleaning. Apply the cleaning solution with a soft bristle brush, rinse with water, and extract with a wet vac. The rug should then be air-dried or dried with a hair dryer at a low temperature.

Wool rugs are great at repelling water and stains, and they are soft to the touch. These are great options for high-traffic areas due to their resistance to stains, but be aware that they tend to shed. Wool rugs can be cleaned in the same manner as polypropylene rugs.

Natural fiber rugs such as jute, sisal, and seagrass are eco-friendly and very strong. They don’t have the plush feel of polypropylene rugs, but you can rest assured they’ll last a long time. You can easily clean these rugs with a vacuum cleaner—no beating required!

Bamboo mats have a sleek surface that’s easy to roll an office chair over. These durable options give the look of natural wood flooring without the high cost but can be tricky to clean. Contact the manufacturer for the best cleaning techniques for your specific bamboo mat.

Textures

The way a rug is woven is what makes it soft or hard to the touch. There are a few standard rug textures, including:

• Hand-knotted

• Hand-tufted

• Flat-weave

• Machine-made

Hand-knotted rugs are made of yarn knotted around columns of thread. The end of these knots creates the pile, and the fringes on the edges of a knotted rug are crucial to its construction. These durable rugs can last more than 20 years and generally do not shed, but you'll pay a higher cost for that level of handcrafted durability.

Hand-tufted rugs are hooked and tufted by hand. During the weaving process, an artisan wraps yarn through a canvas backing that is then protected by a layer of latex and a second backing that anchors the stitches. This type of rug can shed quite a bit and typically lasts about 3 to 10 years.

Flat-weave rugs are made of yarn woven directly on a loom. This produces an extremely tight, long-lasting weave that sheds very little and can last more than 20 years when properly cared for. Flat-weave rugs do not have a backing, so we recommend using a rug pad underneath to prevent slipping and sliding.

Machine-made rugs are woven by computer-controlled machines. Yarn is inserted into a thin mesh backing, and latex is then applied to secure and protect the fibers. This type of rug comes at the lowest cost, produces a low to medium amount of shedding, and typically lasts about 3 to 10 years.

Rug Pads

Rug pads are essential to extending the life of your rug and flooring, no matter where the rug is used. Rubber rug pads will also prevent the rug from slipping, which is essential to the safety of employees and guests alike.