White office furniture – a good or bad idea?

Why Has White Become So Significant?

How has white become such a significant colour in our choice of office furniture? White, as a colour choice, has grown significantly in popularity over the years, influenced by both aesthetic and functional reasons. From a design perspective, white creates a clean, minimalist, and modern look, often associated with innovation and forward-thinking. It enhances the feeling of space in any room, making smaller offices appear larger and more open. Functionally, white reflects more light, contributing to a brighter workspace, which is known to boost productivity and employee well-being. In breakout areas, white furniture can promote relaxation, contrasting the often hectic nature of workspaces and evoking a serene atmosphere.

White Office Furniture

White office furniture has become a popular choice in office settings for a myriad of reasons. K2 Space furniture consultant, Paul Ruffett, emphasises that the benefits of white office desks, for instance, extend beyond their sleek design. From creating an illusion of a larger workspace due to light-reflective properties to offering flexibility in office layout, these desks offer practical solutions for diverse needs. Moreover, with the trend in the furniture industry gravitating towards lighter shades, as evidenced at the renowned Orgatec furniture exhibition, it’s clear that white and its variants are here to stay.

“White desks have many benefits” explains K2 Space furniture consultant Paul Ruffett, white surfaces reflect light and make a room and the workstation itself appear bigger. White is a timeless colour that can be complemented with corporate colours to create a bespoke office design. “The benefits aren’t just restricted to design”, says Ruffett

All manufacturers have a number of white furniture products so you’ll certainly be able to find a solution that meets your budget. Many can be configured as banks of two, four or more – offering you real flexibility for your office layout. What’s more, certain manufacturers keep white desks in stock so delivery times can be considerably less than normal.

Two examples of white office desks are Linear by Elite and Teknion’s Interpret. These products are popular with a range of clients from financial institutions to digital agencies. Check out our open-plan office gallery for some great examples of this in practice.

What are the Advantages of White Furniture?

White’s neutral character allows it to effortlessly blend with company branding or any other colour schemes, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious office environment. This adaptability and the psychological benefits it offers have cemented white’s prominence in contemporary office design. Interestingly, while white dominates modern design aesthetics, the preference for colour in industry and products has seen shifts; recalling how Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, once famously remarked about one of their early models: “You can have any colour as long as it’s black.”Some of the advantages of white office desks include:

• Light Reflection: White surfaces bounce off light, making a room and the workstation seem more spacious.
• Timeless Appeal: White’s neutral tone serves as a perfect canvas that can be paired with various corporate colours for a customized office design.
• Budget-Friendly Options: A wide range of manufacturers offer white furniture products, ensuring solutions for different budget brackets.
• Configurational Flexibility: White desks can be arranged in pairs or larger clusters, catering to diverse office layout requirements.
• Faster Delivery Times: Some manufacturers maintain a stock of white desks, leading to shorter delivery periods.
• Trending in Industry: Lighter colours, including white, are becoming increasingly prevalent in the furniture sector, as observed at industry events like Orgatec.
• Versatility: Products like Linear by Elite and Teknion’s Interpret cater to a broad spectrum of clients, from finance to digital domains.
• Innovation in Design: Exhibitions showcase avant-garde designs, like Vitra’s adjustable Hack system, highlighting the evolution of white and light-coloured desks.

Concluding Thoughts

White, often heralded for its pristine uniformity in design, doesn’t have to be restrained to its pure form when it comes to office furniture. By blending white with other hues, designers can curate pieces that maintain the light-reflecting and space-enhancing qualities of white, while simultaneously introducing a refreshing dynamism. As Kotak points out, “Progressive brands are choosing this type of furniture.” The interplay between a light grey surface for, instance, paired with vibrant green metal legs and pedestal, showcases the potential of moving beyond monochromatic white. Such combinations make a statement with color, offering a richness in design and functionality that a purely white palette might not capture.