Make a Statement

Picture this: You walk into a surgeon's office for an appointment about an upcoming hospitalization. You've never met the doctor, but he comes fairly well recommended. The first thing you notice upon walking in the door is the fact the office is dirty, disorganized and filled with furniture that's old, patched and quite frankly more suitable for a junk yard than professional center.

You'd walk right out, wouldn't you?

So, if you think office furniture doesn't make a statement, think again.

First impressions are everything. For those whose offices get seen before they do, the impression is vital. In fact, it can make or break a business or practice.

For those just starting out, however, the additional expense of office furniture can break a budget. It's almost a Catch 22. To make money to afford "luxury" office furniture, a professional needs clients. But without the good first impression, it's hard to get clients in the first place.

What's a professional to do?

The first thing to consider is the fact a good impression can be made on a shoestring budget. Good taste doesn't have to be expensive.

When it comes to setting up an office on any budget, the keys are coordination, color and comfort. Think of them as the three Cs.

Start out by choosing a color scheme. Warm, cool, neutral - whatever pleases your eye and looks professional works. Then, pick office furniture that not only compliments the color scheme, but that is also comfortable and you'll be on the right track.

Make sure differing pieces of office furniture play well off each other if they don't match. For example, if you need 10 chairs, but can only afford 5 of the more expensive ones, fill in with 5 chairs of a different make, but be certain the two play well off each other. Maybe a mix of bold or jewel colors for five and a neutral tone seat for the remaining chairs? Alternate the two throughout the office.

Creating a professional atmosphere doesn't necessarily take an interior decorator or the budget of a Kennedy either. With some smart decision-making, a good color scheme and comfortable, neat furniture, that first impression can be a real winner.