Category Archives: Office Furniture

Office Desk

MODERN DESKS FOR SMALL SPACES | FUNCTIONALITY | TIME | DEVICES

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One of the challenges for the interior designers is to furnish small spaces, taking full advantage of every valuable square centimeter. Today in our blog we talk about how to integrate a modern and functional desk in small spaces, a challenge for creativity.

Modern desks: functionality, time and devices

The first premise that we must take into account when incorporating modern desks in confined spaces is to optimize its functionality, that is to say: ask what we are using exactly that work furniture, how many hours of our time we spend at the desk and, very important, what material and devices we have to have on hand when we use that desktop. An example:

  • Functionality and time: most people use their desk to perform various tasks, from reading reports or memoranda to writing by hand or computer, making calculations, drawing or simply as a support surface when talking on the phone. If we are able to allocate time to each task that we perform at the desk we will have taken a great step forward in the selection of the modern desk that best suits our needs.
  • Material and devices: computer, telephone, calendar, modem, notepad, lamp, pens, pencils … Making a list of the items you need to have on hand while working at a desk is another important key to select the best modern desks for small spaces.

Solution 1 for small spaces: “Standing Up”

“Standing up” or “working standing “is another innovative trend that has come to Europe from the United States. According to the defenders of this trend, standing up avoids those musculoskeletal injuries suffered by people who spend hours and hours sitting at a desk. In the market we find different modern desks that respond to that need to work standing, small-sized desks that integrate spaces to leave the mobile or tablet, sliding drawers to store the desk material, etc.

Solution 2: adjustable desktops

Many people are not convinced by the idea of ​​spending their daily work standing at a desk. Out of habit or for convenience, they prefer to work part of the time sitting, some time standing … Is there a solution of modern desks that responds to this need? Of course yes: the adjustable desks. The adjustable desks allow you to easily adjust the height of the work surface so that the user chooses the most comfortable work posture for each moment of the day.

Solution 3: multipurpose desktops

One of the main problems we have when working in confined spaces is storage. Where to put all the paper documentation we generate? Reports, books, folders … end up on our desk or in that chest of drawers that, although essential, steals too much space from our small office. The solution is in multipurpose desks: furniture with drawers integrated in its surface to keep in order the pens, pencils, telephones, cables or lamps, hollow desks that allows storing folders, tablets and mobile devices; modern desks with integrated libraries that take advantage of every inch of the wall where the furniture rests…

These are three of the many solutions that we can implement to integrate modern desks in confined spaces, but there are many more. Do you want to propose yours? Leave your comment on our blog.

Office Chairs Adapted To Soft Seating Spaces

Office Chair Ideas

OFFICE CHAIRS ADAPTED TO SOFT SEATING SPACES

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Soft seating was born as a trend of creating spaces that was consolidated with modern and avant-garde office projects such as those in the technology sector. Google, Facebook and other great ones were the ones that generated the greatest visibility on this way of rethinking the workplace, granting much greater flexibility to the furniture component used and betting on contexts in which communication, dialogue and office life flows beyond the individual position itself.

Betting on the soft seating trend is betting on the change in traditional work spaces. With this concept the whole is transformed to get a comfortable place and away from the stereotypes that define the most classic office environment. It seeks to generate friendly and comfortable environments in which the worker feels at home. Precisely the latter is one of the keys in the use of furniture such as office chairs since, in many projects, models that could perfectly fit in the living rooms of homes are chosen. A clear example of this is the Chesterfield design sofa that fits the definition of soft seating, but is not uncommon to find in home designs.

What chairs should you choose to create soft seating environments?

One of the manufacturers that have made the most effort in recent years to present furniture collections that perfectly fit the requirements of the soft seating concept has been Actiu. Although others have tried to imitate him to a greater or lesser extent, we do not intend to show you the complete catalog in this article today but rather to inspire you so that you can choose those essential elements that best fit your project.

  • Sofas: The sofa as an element of the office spaces created under the concept of soft seating becomes almost essential. The capacity for several people and the position it allows to maintain ensure relaxed communication and create an optimal environment for creativity to flow. In addition, feeling at home greatly improves worker productivity.
  • Armchairs: They are another of the most used elements in projects based on soft seating. Like sofas, they are capable of generating those feelings of calm, relaxed atmosphere and comfort that characterize this concept. However, unlike those that is committed to conserving a good part of each person’s individual space. They are optimal for creating social corners in which to guarantee the concentration of a single individual. Also to create zones of group work in which there are differentiated functions for each member that requires having their personal space differentiated, but at the same time they need social interaction.
  • Stools: In an environment in which it is intended to emulate the heat of the home and create a space in which comfort and communication are the protagonists, the more ergonomic stools can be a good element to achieve the balance between comfort and furniture of informal appearance. Here are a few examples of models that can be of great help to inspire you in your proposal.
  • Puffs: An element that is associated with a modern design and not very formal environments is perfect to combine in spaces where it is intended to promote worker comfort while being reminded that it is in a completely relaxed environment.

Although these three options are valid as chairs in soft seating spaces, the usual office chairs, armchairs and even places adapted to common uses can also be part of them. It all depends on your ability to incorporate them respecting the principles of comfort, socialization, relaxed atmosphere and productivity.

The History of the Round Tables

 

Office Round Tables

COMMUNICATION TIPS: THE HISTORY OF THE ROUND TABLES

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A few days ago we attended an interesting day of presentation of the new solutions to improve the well-being and internal communication of the company through office furniture. The speaker, one of the manufacturers of our furniture solutions, made a fantastic presentation of his new round tables for meetings telling us the interesting story of this furniture considered a classic of the work environment. The talk seemed so fascinating that today we want to share it here with you; so today in the Spandan blog we are going to tell you a story, the story with a happy ending of the round tables.

The round table of the arthuric legend

Do you remember the knights of the round table of the legends of King Arthur? When Arthur was crowned as King of Camelot, he decided that he would discuss all the important issues of his kingdom with the brave warriors who had helped him get his crown. Thus, he commissioned the cabinetmaker of the Court to create a table as it had not been seen before: a large, completely circular board in which all the attendees would sit at the same level , without headboard or prominent position that marked ranks, hierarchies or powers. The intelligent Arturo, in addition, always arrived last to the meeting, so that the gentlemen who were arriving sat at the site they decided without knowing where their leader would be placed.

In the Kingdom of Camelot the legend had created not only a table, but a whole concept of command style and participation that has remained intact centuries and centuries later and, in addition, in the real world: the meeting table in which all opinions are valid regardless of the hierarchical power of each meeting attendee.

From the legend of the round tables to reality

The famous round table of King Arthur became a reality in 1223 in Beirut to celebrate the rise to the rank of knights of the eldest sons of a powerful aristocrat. That was the beginning of what would become a prevailing fashion in the European Courts of the High Middle Ages. There is written evidence that between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries round tables were established in France, in Spain and, finally and curiously, in England. The round tables thus became an essential part of the internal communication of cities and states.

From reality to the business environment

  • Minimize or eliminate hierarchies. At the circular meeting tables, all meeting attendees occupy a similar spatial plane. By eliminating the header positions, the participant feels freer to contribute their opinions or assessments, so that, at least theoretically, communication becomes richer and more effective, especially when it comes to resolving conflicts or problems.
  • Promotes communication between management and staff. In large corporations there are few opportunities for the leader of a team to listen quietly to the opinions of his valuable team. Round tables facilitate this communicative process as they eliminate the typical visual barriers of square tables.
  • Dynamize the meeting. From the point of view of communication psychology, circles bring dynamism and liveliness to conversations. Attendees, without barriers or hierarchies, are providing solutions, ideas and opinions at a faster pace than if they were placed following the straight lines typical of desks or rectangular tables.
  • It brings a plus of modernity and design to offices and offices. Despite its long history, the harmonious and fluid lines of the round tables continue to inspire feelings of design, modernity and break with the rigid norms of the more traditional corporations. A plus of modernity that favors the corporate image that the company wishes to project in its visitors and, also, the valuable internal communication without barriers of modern, innovative and productive offices.

Quick Guide to Choose Office Furniture

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QUICK GUIDE TO CHOOSE OFFICE FURNITURE | SPACE AND DESIGN IDEAS

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Nowadays one of the problems that our clients have when choosing office furniture is not the shortage of supply, but quite the opposite: there are so many different offers, so varied and of such quality that define the criteria for choosing furniture Office becomes a “Chinese” task . To facilitate a little the work of the responsible of purchases of the company or of the independent designer that offers interior design and decoration services to its clients, in Spandan we have created the following quick guide to choose office furniture, a brief and concise list, but that It contains the main information you have to look at before making this profitable investment.

The space

The first criterion on which you will base your purchase decision is basic: what space will you furnish? Many furniture manufacturers create their catalogs based on the room or space where both furniture and auxiliary elements will be incorporated. The spatial criteria will serve us from two complementary points of view:

  • The square meters that we have will allow us to determine the size of the furniture and also its shape: round or square tables for meeting rooms, stackable desks, storage lockers instead of individual drawers, etc.
  • The main task developed in this workspace will allow us to choose furniture that adapts to the functionality that we are going to give them. For example, it is very different to buy chairs for the waiting room, seats that will be used very occasionally, than to choose ergonomic and functional operating chairs where our team spend long hours of work.

Design

A second criterion that will help us to choose office furniture is to choose a specific design style: classic, vintage, modern, functional, customary, innovative … A couple of interesting tips from our experts in integral design of workspaces:

  • It is not mandatory that all rooms or workspaces maintain the same design line. Some of the most innovative companies intersperse different styles to convey freshness, spontaneity or modernity of their human team.
  • The design of work furniture, a desk or a chair should never take precedence over its ergonomics and functionality. Do you remember the concept of “Design Thinking “? Designing always thinking about the use that the human being will give to each object is one of the keys to the success of the most productive companies.

The real need

The third criterion that will facilitate the choice of office furniture is to prepare a list of the basic and essential elements that you will need in your work space. Logically, each company, each professional will need a series of basic furniture to do their job, but there are three that are common to any office task:

  • Seats. Operating chairs, steering chairs, high stools for rest areas, comfortable chairs for the waiting room … In any office we find different types of seats that must be chosen depending on the use we will give them and, also, the frequency of that use (daily, punctual, etc.).
  • Desks and operating tables. Although our workers prefer to work standing up, they will always need an ergonomic surface where to use the computer, take notes, draw plans, attend to customers, etc. On the other hand, what would a productive office be without a meeting table?
  • Filing and storage furniture. It can be the classic chest of drawers or the modern solution of the general locker, the cabinets that also serve to separate spaces or the shelves of a lifetime, in any office it is necessary to choose furniture that allows workers to archive their documentation, organize administrative paperwork, guard the personal data of your customers and suppliers, etc.

 

Color of Furniture

MEANINGS AND THEORIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF WENGE COLOR IN WORK SPACES

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Wenge color has been perfectly combined in both scenarios and perhaps that is why, despite the years it has been in the market, it is consolidated as one of the preferred shades to achieve that sense of comfort and warmth of the home that both yearn for in the soft seating environments. The tone itself could be defined as a dark chocolate or a brown with a certain tendency to garnet in its veins.

Although the use of this color continues to be maintained in many catalogs of the most important manufacturers of office furniture, others have decided to change it for similar shades more in line with the new decorative styles, such as Actiu that has modified it for a freshen tone that combines Brown, beige and black colors and adapts perfectly to the Provencal and Nordic styles that are currently worn in the common areas and rest in the office.

Use of wenge color in furniture

The dark hue of the wenge furniture range makes it perfect for a sophisticated and classic atmosphere at the same time. Depending on the color of the auxiliary furniture and decorative accessories, a more or less marked environment can be achieved with respect to any of the decorative trends. But precisely because of the wenge’s tone, you could also achieve a neutral and timeless style that never goes out of style.

Chocolate tones such as wenge are almost always associated with sophistication, elegance and timelessness. However, this does not mean that they should convey seriousness. In fact, really current and attractive combinations can be achieved to the taste of the youngest workers in collaborative environments, combining it with steel colors and with metal materials with bright finishes such as stainless steel. For example, in the dining area you could achieve an optimal result if you choose it as a general tone and complement the space with appliances of this other material.

WENGE WOOD

In this case it is important to make an important clarification about the difference between what is known as wenge color and what is wenge wood. Actually they are completely different things. While the tone is what we have discussed in the previous lines of this article, the material itself is a high quality wood typical of tropical forests whose color can vary between very dark brown and black tones that give the environments great elegance and sophistication.

The Wenge hue will always remain a classic in the world of office furniture palette, and I believe that after discovering a good part of its meaning you will have learned to take advantage of it beyond the classic environments in which you are accustomed to seeing it. The wenge may be the ideal tone for any style of decor and configure almost any work environment.

EASY TRICKS TO IMPROVE OFFICE INTERIOR DESIGN

office canteen design

OFFICE DESIGN: BUSINESS CANTEENS

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OFFICE DESIGN: BUSINESS CANTEENS

We return another month with the post of renders and office design projects. On this occasion, our designer will explain how a decoration project was created to create a company dining room.

office canteen

The company canteens are relaxation and relaxation areas, which nevertheless need to be very well designed so that their design does not make its users invest in them more time than desired. These are the areas that we are dealing with on this occasion and of which we are going to show you examples that we have prepared for our clients.

office canteen designs

These places, which are not strictly dedicated to work, do directly influence the operation and comfort of an office. Therefore, we treat them with the same importance that we give to other areas of communities. This often makes them morphological similar to these, although the function is completely different. Hence, their peculiarities make us consider them an independent typology, which makes us contemplate the following aspects:

  • Ergonomics is not at odds with agility. That is, even if they are places where you usually spend as little time as possible, they should not be uncomfortable or less pleasant, but rather the opposite, since their function of disconnection and relaxation is as necessary as those of other concentration zones. and efficiency
  • In order to achieve this, we can talk about more informal lines, more intense colors and more daring proposals than is generally available for places more destined for the work itself.

office canteen furniture

  • When we face this part of the company we establish hygiene as a fundamental requirement, and that is why we opt for materials that stain as little as possible and resist constant cleaning, as well as the continued use of many people
  • Every company needs to dedicate time and resources so that the design of its dining room is efficient, allowing, according to the case, the rotation of several shifts of people, or grouping the entire workforce in a single shift, for which the underlying project will have Consider the needs and possibilities of the client.

In addition to a wide range of tables and chairs, we offer the client kitchen-office furniture, as well as the necessary appliances. Once again, we have the right solution for your needs and all the will to help you find them. Do not hesitate to contact us.

MINDFULNESS AND WORK: HOW IT IMPROVES OUR PRODUCTIVITY

MINDFULNESS AND WORK: HOW IT IMPROVES OUR PRODUCTIVITY

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Modern mindfulness, as we know it today, is based on Vipassana meditation. This type of meditation comes from India and consists of becoming aware of the present, focusing on the current reality and living the moment. Today we talk about mindfulness and work, how it is applied to improve our productivity, and what are the benefits of this technique.

Several studies have been carried out that show an improvement in employee welfare and, therefore, an increase in productivity. Mindfulness at work helps us to concentrate better, improve our empathy and our communication, as well as our creative capacity. This technique helps us to become aware of our emotions and thoughts, learning to manage it and thus eliminating anxiety or stress. This will have a direct impact on the development of any task and therefore increase our productivity.

MINDFULNESS AND WORK-HOW IT IMPROVES OUR PRODUCTIVITY1

What are the benefits of mindfulness at work?

REDUCE STRESS

Mindfulness helps with the reduction of cortisol. This is the hormone that is released when we feel stressed. It is necessary to be able to manage the stressful situations in which the body is located but if it is released in large quantities it can be harmful to our health.

With mindfulness at work we will help the body to calm down and moderate the production of cortisol, making us stay calm and thus having an impact on our health.

IMPROVES MOTIVATION

Motivation is one of the most important factors to be able to develop a job. Our well-being is essential if we want to perform in the most complex tasks and obligations, that is why this technique helps us feel good and this will affect in a very positive way the motivation to perform any task.

INCREASE CREATIVITY

In order to create we must be receptive to positive stimuli. Our mind must be calm to be able to carry out creative and innovation tasks. With this practice we will concentrate more easily and our capacity to create will be one hundred percent. It also helps us solve problems, and with mental clarity, we will be more open to more alternatives and ideas will flow more easily.

Office Workstation Furniture

MINDFULNESS AND WORK-HOW IT IMPROVES OUR PRODUCTIVITY2

IMPROVE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

A great relationship between mindfulness and work is demonstrated in terms of greater emotional control, as well as superior mental clarity. Decision-making is positively affected by this state of calm.

Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage and understand our own emotions.

Thanks to this we can have better relationships with others and improve our decision making. All this is very important to develop our work optimally.

All these factors considerably increase productivity at work, regardless of the type of work that is carried out. Improving well-being and focusing on the present moment with a real perspective creates a motivation that affects the mood. Feeling good is very important to develop any activity, especially if it is work.

There are many companies that have incorporated the practice of mindfulness in their organization and have seen the good results. The performance of workers has improved, according to studies, up to 20% in addition to reducing stress and anxiety almost 80%.

Do you know any other advantages about mindfulness and work? Do not hesitate to tell us in the comments.

HOW TO FURNISH A SMALL OFFICE

HOW TO FURNISH A SMALL OFFICE

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One of the fundamental premises for furnishing an office is to make the most of the space, giving priority to look for the perfect furniture, more for its usefulness than for its decorative function. If it is a question of furnishing a small office, we must give even more importance to this aspect.

When it comes to furnishing a small office, we can pay attention to the colors we use for the selection of furniture, as well as the design and comfort of the workers.

How to furnish a small office making the most of space

SPECIFIC FURNITURE FOR OFFICES

It is important to choose specific furniture for the workplace. Office furniture can vary in design, but all have in common that they seek worker comfort to develop their activity and fulfill a specific function in the workplace.

HOW TO FURNISH A SMALL OFFICE

It is important to use furniture designed expressly for office, since often we speak of ergonomic furniture, adaptable to the individual needs of each worker.

SPACE DISTRIBUTION

We must evaluate how much space we have available to place the necessary furniture. Before buying them you have to decide what the needs that exist in the office are and what furniture can satisfy them in the best way possible.

Furnishing a small office can be a challenge if we want to do without any furniture, but there is furniture with designs specially created for the office and that can meet our expectations occupying only the minimum space.

DECIDE THE TYPE OF FURNITURE

Once we know what the needs of the workers in the office are, we must choose the furniture. At this point we will have to take into account furniture intended for the continuous use of employees, such as office chairs and office tables, but also other necessary furniture, such as those intended for storage.

HOW TO FURNISH A SMALL OFFICE2

DECORATIVE ELEMENTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COLORS

Whether we talk about the color of the paint on the walls of the office or the furniture, we must take into account several aspects. If we need to furnish a small office, we will have to use light colors to give more spaciousness. The white color for the walls is a resource used in interior decoration to create the illusion of a more spacious place.

We can use other decorative elements, which will not be strictly furniture, to give a final touch to the office. The plants create a fresh and modern environment, in addition to providing color and life.

THE LIGHTING OF A SMALL OFFICE.

The selection of colors for the selection of furniture or the painting of the walls is as important as the lighting for furnishing a small office.

The ideal is natural lighting, if we can count on it. To make the most of the outside light we must use translucent white curtains, we can also use Japanese blinds or panels, which bring elegance and modernity to the decoration.

Although we have natural light, in the office there will be an electrical installation and we must think what is the most appropriate type of artificial light for a work environment.

Fluorescents are the kind of light that we usually find in many offices, but if we can choose, LED lights with a rather cold color temperature can be the most indicated.

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL COLORS FOR THE OFFICE

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL COLORS FOR THE OFFICE?

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The colors of our workplace are important to generate a good environment and create a sense of comfort, in addition to promoting productivity. Today we talk about the colors for the office, which ones to choose and why they are the most recommended.

Our senses are stimulated by the aesthetics of the space where we are. Choosing furniture for an office is a very important task, but choosing the colors of the walls of our workplace is also something that we cannot leave to chance.

The colors for the office and how they generate a beneficial environment

The mood directly affects productivity at work. The more animated and happy we are, the more productive we are in carrying out activities. That is why choosing the right colors for the office will produce stimuli that can change our moods.

WHAT ARE THE IDEAL COLORS FOR THE OFFICE1

What to keep in mind to choose colors for the office?

We must take into account how big is the space we are going to paint. If it is a small or large office. In the case of being a small place we will have to choose colors that give the feeling of spaciousness.

The type of activity that takes place in our workspace is important to choose colors for the office. We will not paint the walls of the same color if it is an insurance company or a videogame developer.

We can also pay attention to the type of work that will be done in the office, if team work is common or employees develop activities individually.

What colors for the office are the most recommended?

THE TARGET

This is the color par excellence for any work space or home. It never goes out of style and brings luminosity. White is the sure bet when in doubt, and it is one of the colors for the perfect office if it is a small space.

THE GREY

This color is trend, brings elegance and modernity. It is perfect for an office with new technologies or for meeting places.

blue office

THE BLUE

Throughout its range, blue helps create relaxed environments and provides agility and stability. It is perfect for painting entire walls and combining it with white. It is the ideal color for waiting rooms or for places where work can generate stress. It is one of the most used office colors.

 

THE GREEN

This is a color highly recommended for offices because it provides stability and harmony. Remember nature, so you can generate relaxed environments in offices located in the heart of the city.

Green is also a very elegant color, ideal for offices where creative works are developed, such as advertising agencies.

THE YELLOW

THE YELLOW

It is a warm color that is also a trend, especially mustard. It is perfect for places with large windows, where light is reflected on the walls. It generates a warm and welcoming atmosphere and is perfect for places where you work as a team.

 

THE RED

It may not be the perfect color to paint all the walls, but dark red is ideal for corners of the office. It provides objectivity and facilitates decisions.

At last choose the color wisely that also go with your office interior and the furniture.

HOW TO PAINT A PIECE OF FURNITURE OF ANOTHER COLOR

HOW TO PAINT A PIECE OF FURNITURE OF ANOTHER COLOR

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One of the best ways to renovate the decoration is to change the color of the furniture we already have. With a simple change of color we can give a complete turn to the environment of an office. Today we tell you the steps to carry out if we want to paint a piece of furniture of another color.

To change the color of a piece of furniture we must first take into account that it is possible to first remove the paint that is already on it . Wood furniture, whether made of solid wood or agglomerate, requires the following procedures.

Steps to paint a piece of furniture of another color

REMOVE THE FURNITURE

This will be the first thing we have to do if it is a piece of furniture in several pieces, such as a dresser or a file cabinet with drawers. We must separate each of these pieces to work with them individually.

HOW TO PAINT A PIECE OF FURNITURE OF ANOTHER COLOR

LINKED FROM PAINT

Sanding is an essential step to paint furniture of another color. We must carefully sand all the pieces and pay attention to the corners and corners. This step is especially necessary if the furniture has a varnish, which is the most usual regarding the finish of the paint.

We can use an electric sander for large and smooth areas and finish with hand sandpaper for corners where it does not enter.

After sanding the piece completely we must make sure to clean all the impurities of the varnish and the wood.

HOW TO PAINT A PIECE OF FURNITURE OF ANOTHER COLOR

BASE PAINT OR PRIMER

Before applying the final paint to the furniture, we must apply a base paint over the entire surface. This priming paint will help the final paint better cover the surface of the furniture. We apply it with a brush or roller, depending on the areas.

Some furniture paints, currently, come with the built-in primer, if so; we just have to make sure it is a quality painting that will give us an optimal result. We must completely cover the surface of the furniture, for all corners where we will then paint with the final color.

FINAL PAINTING

This is the penultimate step to paint a piece of furniture another color. In this case we must apply with a brush or roller two layers of paint, in this way, the furniture will be perfectly covered by the color we have chosen.

We advise you to take it easy, so that there are no bubbles in the paint, for this it is better to use the roller in all areas of the furniture that allow it.

POLYURETHANE OR VARNISH

The last layer that we will give the furniture will be varnish or polyurethane, to protect the paint. In case of using polyurethane, we recommend that it be water-based, just like painting. The polyurethane has different finishes, from matte, gloss or semi-gloss. Choose the one you like the most based on the feeling you want to get and the rest of the furniture found in the office.

In this case, apply two layers, and wait several hours between others. Once you have applied the last layer, we recommend that you wait a couple of days or three to use the furniture.

We hope you have been clear how to paint a piece of furniture of another color and, you know; if you have any questions or something to contribute, do not hesitate to leave us a comment.