So you’ve signed your lease, picked out the perfect coworking software, and set up your website.
Now it’s time to think about how to design your coworking space.
How you design your space will set the tone for your community and how they interact with one another. And a very important element of designing your space is the furniture you put in it.
Believe it or not, furniture is a place where many of our clients get hung up. How do you know what to buy and how much of it? Where do you find the best price?
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the world of coworking furniture including the types of furniture you find in most spaces, how much it costs, where to buy it, and finally, we’ll give you a few examples of coworking spaces with exceptional furniture.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
First, let’s start with the types of furniture you most often find in a coworking space. The furniture you offer will depend on the niche you serve and your primary business model. However, here are some general needs.
If you are a workspace, you will most likely need some desks. Some operators opt for traditional office desks, while others convert large tables into workspaces. Some offer convertible standing desks for flexibility.
Plan to have a few standalone desks to use as dedicated desks or private spaces, while also considering some large tables to promote cafeteria-like seating in your open space. Also, if you’re offering private offices, ensure you have single desks in there, too.
And finally, if you plan to have a receptionist or community manager on-site, then you may want to have a front desk of some sort. These are often larger than a working desk (though it doesn’t have to be).
If desks are the most important thing in a coworking space, then chairs are a close second. Chairs come in many different shapes and sizes. There’s:
…the list goes on and on. As a general rule of thumb, you want every desk or table to have a chair, plus 20% more for flexible guest seating.
Ergonomic office chairs will be much appreciated by your members, but will also be on the pricier side. An accent chair is a fun addition to a space for aesthetics, but most operators find them to be underutilized overall. Do your research before choosing a chair for your space, and be sure to remain flexible with your offerings.
Conference or meeting room tables serve the function of bringing a large number of people together in a single space. The size of the room will determine the size of the table, but typically the table should seat anywhere between eight and 12 people.
Some coworking spaces offer storage lockers for their members to rent at an additional cost. It is a nice amenity to offer in your coworking space and can be used to drive additional revenue.
If you don’t offer storage lockers for your members, you will still likely need some storage space for yourself. You can choose between cabinets, bookcases, hidden storage, accent storage units, and much more.
Phone booths have exploded in popularity recently with so many remote workers using coworking spaces. We recommend having at least one private area for members to take phone calls throughout the day.
To create this private area, you may want to consider an external phone booth in your space. Alternatively, some dividers can also offer privacy, though it will be much less sound proof. Ideally, you’ll have a mix of private phone booths or micro-meeting rooms along with dividers to create private nooks in your coworking space where people can take calls and get work done.
Of course there are many different kinds of furniture you can choose for your space. We’ve seen:
Having an unexpected seating option can be a fun way to delight your members. For furniture ideas for your coworking space, including some unique seating options, check out these 15 coworking design ideas featuring Optix clients.
Now that you understand the types of furniture that can be offered in a coworking space, next you need to figure out what kind of furniture you need.
Here are the most important questions to ask yourself when you’re looking to determine your coworking furniture needs.
What are your requirements as per your floor plan? Define the functions of the different areas within your coworking space according to your floor plan. List out each area in your space and what kind of furniture it will require. For example, if your floor plan includes a hot desking area, a meeting room, and five private offices, map out the furniture that will be required at a high-level in each space.
What are the dimensions of the space? Space dimensions will impact your furniture decisions in a big way. Consider how big the different areas of your space are and how much space you need to fill. Also consider the maximum capacity and the number of people who will be in a space at a given time.
How do you want the space to feel? Are you going for a more open and collaborative feel, or are you hoping for something a bit more private? Think about how you want the space to influence the feel of your community. For example, the Salon22 team intentionally designed their space to avoid any private areas to help cultivate community between members.
How long do you need the furniture to last? Maybe you’ve read this article and you’re thinking you obviously want your furniture to last as long as possible. That’s true, but there is a difference between needing furniture right now that does the job and wanting to make an investment in something long lasting that can endure for a long time. Consider the lasting requirements of your space when making furniture decisions.
This is a difficult question to answer as the cost will heavily depend on the quantity and quality of the furniture you’re choosing for your space. In our cost of starting a coworking space article, we found some sources to estimate the cost of office furniture to be up to $1,500 a person.
However, according to Chipman Relocation and Logistics, you can expect to pay around $15,000 for a 2,500 square foot space, for new mid-range office furniture.
Here are the two steps for setting the budget of your coworking furniture, after assessing your needs, as outlined by commercial interiors experts.
Determine how much money is available and when. Do you have a large amount of money available right now, or will you have to pay in fragments over time?
Look at pricing online. Get a general sense of how much things cost for the quality that you’re looking for. Check out lots of different sites to understand the differences between them.
After this, you should be able to establish a low, medium, and high range for your office furniture budget. Use these numbers to guide you in selecting furniture.
There are many great retailers to buy furniture from, from independent local stores to large scale commercial retailers. Here is a list of where you can find furniture for your coworking space from least to most expensive.
If you’re trying to piece together something quickly for your coworking space, then sourcing donations from the community can be a resourceful solution. There’s almost always people looking to get rid of furniture for free on platforms like Craigslist or Kijiji if you don’t have a preference for what the furniture looks like.
Behind sourcing donations, Facebook marketplace is probably your next best bet when it comes to inexpensive furniture options. Prices can range on Facebook marketplace depending on the quality and type of furniture you’re looking for, but you’re certain to find something in your budget here.
Again, keep in mind you will not have much control over what that furniture looks like, though you can certainly scoop up some good pieces, especially when it comes to accenting the space.
Affordable furniture can often be found at liquidation furniture outlets, like directliquidation.ca or other local furniture warehouse outlets. These are furniture outlets that are looking to get rid of pieces at a lower cost than retail.
There are many affordable furniture stores that are beloved by coworking owners and operators alike. This includes stores like:
IKEA is a fan favorite of many coworking owners due to how inexpensively you can furnish a space using IKEA furniture alone. In fact, Alex Hillman furnished the first Indy Hall space with just $2,000 for desks and chairs.
When in doubt, a good affordable furniture store can likely get the job done for you.
Commercial furniture options will be your most expensive option. However, the quality and style of what you get will likely surpass the options listed above (though not always). Consider working with a broker to access the best options for commercial furniture for your coworking space.
Now that you understand what kind of furniture to add to your space, take some inspiration from these five coworking spaces (and Optix clients!) with exceptional furniture.
The Cloud Room in Seattle, WA created a beautiful, communal area in their coworking space complete with modern furniture and bright colors to lighten up the room. Their furniture choices are intentionally selected to add fun and flair to the room, and to liven up the community.
1880 Bardo in Singapore takes a monochromatic, warm approach to their social club. The furniture is full of character and adds a high-end element to the coworking space. The space was designed by Timothy Oulton Studio, who made his name in the industry for exceptional furniture design. This is felt in every corner of the space/
Elevate Coworking is a coworking space for women in North Carolina for creative freelancers, entrepreneurs, and creative agencies. The attention that Founder and CEO, Maggie, has put into each element of her coworking space makes it truly inspirational. Her furniture is simple, but intentionally placed to bring about connections amongst members.
Suite Genius in Vancouver, Canada has created a beautiful wooden ceiling to match their warm and earthy furniture. The color palette is simple, but stunning and makes the environment really come together.
Bad Company Workspace in New Zealand has a beautiful space surrounded by nature. They bring their coworking rooms to life with the addition of a few key artistic pieces that reflect the world around them. The furniture is homey, but chic and enhances the other elements of the coworking space.
When setting up your coworking space, the furniture you choose is crucial for creating the right environment.
From desks to chairs, each piece affects how your workspace functions. Though the decision-making process may seem overwhelming, answering key questions about your space’s needs, dimensions, desired feel, and budget will guide your choices.
Simplify your approach, make informed choices, and create a workspace that reflects your vision. Looking for more coworking design guidance? Check out this article on How to Design a Coworking Space.
