Cubicle furniture features and design

A common reason companies opt for cubicle furniture is to reduce noise, and the right type of system can do exactly that. It's important to remember, though, that no system will eliminate noise completely - and that some design choices will make your system even less efficient at blocking sound. Lower panels and glass surfaces can make for a more stylish look - but they both reduce noise absorption.

Aesthetics are also important. Leading cubicle furniture manufacturers provide a range of colors and patterns for fabrics and worksurfaces, allowing you to choose a look that's right for you. Plain can be ok - and can save you some money - but nicer fabrics can benefit your business image. On the other hand, if looks really aren't that important to you, you may be able to save money by choosing less popular colors or overstocked fabrics.

In most cases, you'll need electric power and data network connections run through a row of cubes. You'll be able to choose "base feed" - power that comes from a wall outlet - or "top feed", where wires are dropped down from the ceiling. However, electrifying a set of cubes makes a big difference on the cost. If your cubes are next to walls or existing overhead power sources, you may be able to save some money by simply adding wall outlets or "utility poles" - non-structural columns that conceal wiring.

Various storage options are available with cubicle furniture, including filing drawers, wheeled pedestals, wall shelving or cabinets, and free-standing bookshelves, many of which have the option to include locks. Sometimes these are configurable by your employees, allowing each person to set up their cube the way they see fit.

For computer-intensive tasks, keyboard trays are a welcome addition. Some systems go a step further by allowing the entire worksurface to be raised or lowered.

Other common add-ons include whiteboards, windows, built-in task lighting, coat hangers, and tack boards. Your vendor can give you more details on what extras are available, and in most cases you'll be able to add them later with little or no extra expense.

Get design help
The systems furniture vendor you choose will provide help with all of these decisions. Most will create a computer layout of your office, allowing you to see what various cubicle furniture setups would look like and make necessary changes. Larger companies may also want to hire their own interior designer to work with the vendor, especially if your office gets a lot of visitors. Either way, you should expect your designers to ask lots of questions about your office environment, your employees and their jobs, and your plans for the future.