Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-04-07

Why does the business man of
today give SO much thought to tho
appearance of his office? An Of
flee exists primarily for service.
Does the appearance of an office
affect its utility? Even a casual
study of the subject must lead us
to decide that the selection of fur
niture and furnishings and then
arrangement in an office will in
fluence both employees and the pub
lie.
Considering it from the angle Of
the employees, standardized furui-
ture, harmonious in design and ar
rangement means greater effici-
ency. Let a man put on a new,
well-fitting suit of clothes and he
not only is but feels dressed up"
His solf-respect increases and he
does better work because there arc
no frayed edges or shiny seams to
belle his prosperity.
Well selected furniture, properly
placed, reacts in the same way on
office employees, It is tangible
evidence of the importance of their
work and, in their business and
social world, marks them as mem
bers of a progressive organization.
They take "A pride in their work
which would be impossible other
wise and which is demonstrated in
increased loyalty and efficiency.
Effect On the Public.
With the public the appearance
of an office has a distinct adver-
Using value. Unconsciously it af-
fects the decisions of visitors
whether buying or selling Tho
office housing dingy, Unmatched
furniture, placed at random,
arouses the suspicion that perhaps
the firm is just as haphazard in
its methods of doing business.
on the other hand an office fur
nished in good taste registers as
fOrcefuIly ana in the same way as
streets. The majority of men car
trust to their own good taste and
Judgment in securing this latter
effect, but the proper selection and
arrangement of office furniture in
wolves careful study.
Take the brotherhood of get
rich-quick artists, for example.
They rent a handsome suite of Of
fees and seek for a studied effect
equipping them with ornate furni-
ture, heavy rugs and rich draper
les. The visitor is duly impressed
with these evidences of apparent
prosperity and his confidence is
more easily gained.
Impression Desired.
The same psychological fact
may be used to good advantage by
the men engaged in an honorable,
legitimate business. The effect de-
sired in most offices is that of
orderly efficiency, stability and
quiet confidence. 1t is gained most
easily in furniture of strict SIM
p1icity of line and finish, with one
standard design used throughout
the office
Desks, tables and chairs should
match in design, finish and weight
Furthermore the various pieces Of
furniture should be in proportion
not only to each other. but to the
size of the room. Nothing is more
incongruous than an sized
desk IN small room, OF Il ihdSSlGt
desk with a cair of slight pro-
portions.
Finally there is this to remem~
Der. The man who is building n
business for permanency must eX-
pect to spend sixty per cent of his
waking hours in the office. There
fore it is for him to decide
whether or not so large a part of
his life shall be spent in cheer
ful harmonious surroundings.
He looks for comfort, convent
ence and durability first; but in
the same degree he wants furnish
ings and furniture of which he will
not tire easily. which exert no de-
pressing influence and which Will
interpret his personality.
The business office today must
do more than merely serve the
man. 1t must reveal him, It's fur
nishings should properly express
all that his business represents--in
ideals, purposes and Accomplish
ments. Decidedly the appearance
of an office deserves careful
thought.