Selecting Cubicle Walls for Your Office

These days, there are so many options when it comes to selecting cubicle walls that business owners and office managers can become overwhelmed with choices. High panels or low panels? Light colors or dark tones? Portable or fixed? Choosing the wrong products can impact productivity and reduce employee morale. It’s important to take the time to review your options so you can get a quality product at the right price.

Select cubicle walls based on height

Privacy is considered an important concern when determining how employees will work. That’s why many employers seek cubicle set ups with high walls. However, this can create a claustrophobic feel for employees and reduce communication between staff members. Generally, the smaller the cubicle space you have, the shorter the partition you can use.

Cubicle walls should be high enough to give employees a sense of privacy without closing them off entirely from co-workers. A wide doorway, for example, can compensate for floor-to-ceiling walls that would otherwise make the employee feel as if he’s working in a confined space. Also, consider how often employees must collaborate on projects. If they work together in a team environment, a bullpen cubicle style might be more efficient.

Materials and colors

Decide what material you want in your cubicle walls as well as what color it should be. When cubicles first starting becoming commonplace, they were only available in a drab color like off-white, provided few customization options. These days, you can find walls made from a variety of materials like mahogany, oak, cherry, pine and other real-wood veneers as well as dozens of different colors.

Again, you don't want your employees to feel constricted. The smaller the cubicle, the lighter color of the walls should be to create a sense of additional space. You should also consider the weight of the material used for your cubicles. Lighter materials will be easier to move if you plan to frequently reorganize and redecorate.

Cubicle walls: panel vs. freestanding

The last thing to consider is whether you want to use panel cubicle walls or a freestanding system. Panel systems are more flexible and versatile with plenty of options such as internal power sources and desk configuration. Freestanding systems are far more portable and take less time to install.

When choosing cubicle walls, also think about the shape of your office area, the number of cubicles you’ll need, and the type of work your employees do. If you’re unsure what to purchase, it’s best to choose the most flexible options since you can always reconfigure later.

To purchase cubicle walls or complete systems furniture for your business, submit a free BuyerZone request for cubicle quotes, and multiple suppliers will help you find the best options.