If you are the headmaster or stakeholder of a school, you need to make sure that the furniture students are using is comfortable. Students won’t be able to concentrate on their studies if they are forced to use rigid, unforgiving furniture. While in the past it was normal for schools to have uncomfortable furniture, people are a lot more accustomed to soft furnishings now than they were then. That said, you also don’t want to buy furniture that’s too comfortable, because students will feel too relaxed. Balance is important. Choosing the right furniture is important and this post will tell you how you can do that.
Consider Storage
The very first thing that you need to think about if you are planning on buying new furniture for a school is storage. Remember that 50% of the furniture in a classroom is storage furniture, used to hold books, paperwork, and stationary when they aren’t in use. You can buy quality classroom storage cupboards for next to nothing, so you have no excuse for not investing in them. Make sure that the storage cupboards you buy match the rest of the furniture that you place in classrooms. Uniformity is very important. Furniture that clashes can be very distracting.
Think About Size
Size is also something that you need to think about. Make sure the furniture you buy is sized according to the age of the students being taught in your school. Furniture should be tall enough and wide enough to accommodate them. If you are unsure about specific measurements, get in touch with a provider that specializes in selling school furniture and tell them about the age range of your students. They will then be able to recommend furniture to you. Make sure you get a few samples before you purchase bulk furniture, just so you can be sure it does indeed work.
Keep Ergonomics in Mind
Ergonomics also needs to be taken into consideration. In the past, students would be forced to sit on rigid, uncomfortable chairs that did major damage to their backs and spines. Nowadays, schools are expected to provide furniture that is designed with ergonomics in mind. Ensure the furniture you buy promotes good posture and doesn’t encourage slouching. At the same time, make sure it is comfortable enough for students to sit for long periods of time. Ask to test furniture before you buy it, so you can be sure that it is comfortable. Most furniture providers will allow you to order samples prior to making a large buy.
Table Plates
Did you know that you can use table plates to save you money? A table plate is an attachment that’s added onto chairs, saving you the hassle of having to buy tables. The downside to table plates is that they typically deteriorate a lot faster than standalone ones do. If you are going to buy them, make sure that you buy high-quality ones and then ensure students respect and take care of them. If students are caught abusing table plates, take immediate action. You can prolong the lifespan of classroom furniture by forcing students to take care of it.
Durable Materials
Make sure that the furniture you buy for your classroom needs to be made out of high-quality, durable materials. Plastic is the most common material used to create classroom furniture. The downside to plastic is that it shows wear quite easily. However, it does last a long time if it is taken care of. Make sure that if you do buy plastic furniture, you buy it from a reliable vendor. A vendor’s reviews will help you to decide if their furniture is worth buying or not. You will quickly find out whether a supplier’s plastic furniture (or any furniture) is low quality when you read their reviews.
Online Reviews
Reviews, as mentioned above, can be a great way to find out if a specific vendor’s products are worth buying. When you are looking for school furniture, make sure you read reviews prior to making any purchases or even reaching out to your chosen vendor and making inquiries. In addition to the reviews posted on their website, see if they have Trustpilot and Google Review pages. If you cannot find any reviews at all, this is a good sign. A total absence of reviews suggests that a furniture supplier has never done anything to annoy their customers or make them want to write bad things about them.
Industry Recommendations
If you know the headmasters or stakeholders of other schools, you may want to consider getting in touch with them and asking them for their recommendations on furniture manufacturers. The chances are that if you are in touch with other headmasters or stakeholders, you will be able to find out the names of high-quality furniture manufacturers. If you do not know any headmasters to stakeholders personally, you could consider reaching out to someone on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is the world’s largest networking platform, and it is a great place for you to turn to get advice.
Furniture Colour
The color of the furniture you buy is also something that you need to think about. Colors need to be muted and not too bright. If the furniture you buy is too colorful, it could distract students. That being said, if you are decorating in three or preschools, bright colors are a great idea. Bright colors can help with the development of young people and expose them to new things. You should be able to buy furniture in a multitude of different colors so this should not be a problem. If there is a specific color you want the furniture to be, tell this to the provider you are working with, and they may be able to create bespoke options for you.
Obtaining Samples
Finally, if you’re buying furniture for your school, make sure that you purchase samples first. Samples are usually heavily discounted. You can use them to get a greater idea of what furniture is going to be like in a classroom environment. Many people make the mistake of buying furniture without testing it out first. If you do this, you could end up buying furniture you’re unable to return the students do not like. Always put samples in a classroom and give students the opportunity to give you feedback on them before you commit to making a purchase.
Classroom furniture can be difficult to buy if you have never had to purchase it before. You can use the guidance given here to figure out which furniture is right for you. Give consideration to each point made so that you can make more effective purchase decisions.
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