Buying Classroom Furniture

How a classroom is furnished speaks a lot about the standard of a school. According to a research article published for UNICEF, the physical arrangement of the classroom and its visual aspects influence learning in profound ways. The best furniture does not mark the success of a school, but a suitably equipped classroom will increase its chances and act as a great motivator for pupils by providing enhanced learning facilities.

With a broad range of classroom furniture available in the market, it is often difficult to make a decision, especially when time is limited. Here are some tips for you to consider that will shortlist your specific requirements into making the final selection when you are buying school furniture and especially classroom furniture.

Tips for Buying Classroom Furniture
Buying classroom furniture is not so easy. You need to consider the comfort level of your students as top priority when purchasing classroom furniture. Here are some tips that will help you select the perfect classroom furniture that is comfortable, durable, affordable, and can be utilized the best possible way.

Comfort Factor
Learner-friendly comfort must top your list. This doesn't mean getting soft cushioned chairs, but comfortable enough seats to avoid classroom furniture as the main cause of distraction or discomfort in students. The best way is to try a sample yourself to see how long you can remain seated!

Budget
One of the greatest advantages of shopping online for classroom furniture is that you can stay within your limited budget by checking the numerous Web sites and browsing their pricelist to suit your affordability. There is discounted or used furniture, too, that is available at low cost.

Purpose and Practicality
The selection will depend on what kind of classroom it is, whether it's a laboratory or a computer class, the age and height of the learners, and other such factors that are important for buying classroom furniture. You should ensure that the furniture serves it purpose well.

Custom Designed/Ready to Pick
Depending on the availability of time and budget, you can decide whether you want readymade or used, brand new, or designed classroom furniture that is made according to your specifications and requirements.

Durability
To ensure that your furniture is worth the investment, you must keep in mind the time factor. Classroom furniture will be used frequently on daily basis, thus it must be durable. For a regular school, you would want furniture that is durable and lasts a long time rather furniture that needs replacement after a few years.

Style and Material
If you haven't already decided on the style of furniture, you need to know what kind of classroom furniture you want and in which material (i.e., wood, steel or plastic). Heavy teak and oak are impractical as they require polishing and regular maintenance. Also, they are especially not suited for very young children as wood can be easily damaged. Furniture built in light metal, such as aluminum and deco, is most commonly used in making school furniture.

Types of Furniture
Go from broad to specific and targeted. Ranging from basic essentials such as desks, chairs, tables, and boards to state-of-the-art and latest designed equipment such as LCD monitor arms, base cabinets for CPU and rack mounts are also available.

Space
If you have small premises to equip, choose your classroom furniture after deciding on the budget. For a limited space, there is also folding classroom furniture available that can be stacked and stored when not in use.

When ordering online or browsing through a furniture catalogue, make sure you go through the price list, check out the images, and request for sample availability within your location, mode of shipment (in case of overseas delivery), payment methods, risk-free credit purchase, and company guarantee before you order classroom furniture to get the best bargain and the best product.

A Good Setup of Classroom Furniture
It can take a couple of years for you to feel satisfied as an educator with the arrangement of your classroom furniture. A good setup of classroom furniture is always focused towards maximizing learning and development among the students. While a poorly arranged classroom can cause a lot of disturbance and trouble for students, a properly arranged classroom can lead to enhanced learning behavior. Among all the types of school furniture, classroom furniture is the most important.

Thus, it is important that the classrooms are properly furnished with tables and chairs that provide a comfortable and suitable atmosphere for studies.

Here are some tips on organizing and arranging furniture in a classroom that sets up a fitting environment for learning:

Make an Early Decision
Come to an early decision regarding the seating arrangement of your classroom. If possible, you should make up your mind at the beginning of the academic year. Arrange desks in rows as it helps to minimize the disturbance and provides a simple order of seating to the classroom. Windows and corridors are usually an obstacle in the learners' attention. Make sure that the seating arrangement does not face windows and corridors.

Be Innovative in Arranging Furniture
Change the seating arrangement after a month or two in accordance with your teaching techniques. Based on maximum group work, arrange desks in groups of three or four. At the same time, you can organize debates and other class activities by arranging desks in such a way to face the center of the classroom.

Don't hesitate in changing the classroom arrangement during the whole year. It helps maintain adaptability to different learning behaviors and innovation of your classroom and helps students to adjust with peers and make new friends.

Keep Wide Pathways Between Desks
Always keep the pathways between the desks wide to prevent mess around the class. It leads to disturbances, for example students chattering to close by class fellows. Arrange desks and chairs thoughtfully leaving sufficient distance between them. This way you will be able to observe all the students equally.

Organize Proper Storage in Classroom
Arrange frequently used learning aids like schoolbooks, stationery items, and text supplies in an easily accessible place. You can use an extra room for this purpose and use labeled boxes or containers to keep these supplies if the classroom is not big enough. It facilitates cleaning at the end of class and leads to a cluster-free classroom where all the furniture is carefully placed and serves its purpose.

Arrangement of Teacher's Furniture
The teacher's chair and desk should be placed in a location that is easily accessible to all students and from where the teacher can have a clear view of every student. Also, the supplies needed by students should be near the teacher's desk so that the teacher can use them as needed.

A properly arranged classroom is very important as it plays a crucial role in students' learning and development. A good setup of classroom furniture can help student's focus on their studies, while an uncomfortable and clustered classroom can distract them and lead to problems in the class.

This article is courtesy of School-Furniture.ws, a complete guide to selecting and buying school furniture with useful tips, suggestions and articles on selecting school furniture, looking out for the best deals and what to look for when buying classroom furniture, keeping in mind the age and level of children plus the important role it plays in learning.  School-Furniture.ws helps parents, educationists and furniture manufacturers to focus on school furniture for a better classroom setup and comfortable seating.

Product Roundup

TEXT by Virco
Designed by the award-winning team of Peter Glass and Bob Mills, TEXT classroom tables combine heavy-gauge tubular steel and proven Virco construction for extended product life with elliptical legs, swooping yokes, and arched feet for exceptional elegance. As a complement to their design attributes, all TEXT models are GREENGUARD certified for indoor air quality. TEXT tables feature high-pressure laminate work surfaces. TEXT models also accommodate many of Virco’s popular wire management and computing accessories.
www.virco.com

Instructors Desk from Infinite Furniture Solutions
These contemporary instructor stations are both eye-catching and functional. Available in either the single or double (featured) pedestal style, both styles feature decorative modesty panels, locking drawers, and the option of the eco-friendly Mirage finish. Desk surfaces can be customized with a variety of laminate choices. As always, these products are backed by the company’s industry-leading 25-year warranty.  The desk measures 29 inches high, 30 inches deep, and 60 inches wide, and it weighs 180 pounds.
www.infinitefurnituresolutions.com

DEMCO
Royal Seating from DEMCO features desks that combine sturdy, sleek construction and true ergonomic comfort. High-pressure laminate tops are resistant to scratches and wear. True flex polypropylene shell moves fluidly with the user for true comfort. Desks are available in two frame colors (silver or anthracite); three different desktop laminates (Fusion Maple, Natural Pear or Gray), two desktop shapes (dome or trapezoid), and four seat colors (Pail, Apple, Sweet Tomato or Black). DEMCO strives to support the valuable work of education professionals by providing great service and a 100-percent guarantee on every product.
www.demco.com

Teaching Carrel by Smith Carrel
These unique, patented-design workstations add an attractive and functional element to any classroom.  The carrels may be used alone or connected in as many ways as users need for training rooms or work groups. The model 1800 has a 42-inch work surface, while the model 1900 has a 36-inch work surface, perfect in smaller spaces. The 42-inch-high side panels reduce distractions and provide a sense of personal space, while allowing the user to remain open to others. Desks feature one-inch laminate panels with rounded edges and corners with powder-coated steel cable management systems.
www.smithcarrel.com

Bretford UCS880
Bretford is giving high school teachers a leg up on teaching with technology through the introduction of its new Multimedia Rack Mount Instructional Workstation. Part of the popular Bretford Basics Series, the UCS880 allows educators to easily set up, house and move technology equipment within K-12 environments. The UCS880 includes a universal 19-inch rack system so that any rack-mounted equipment, old or new, can be placed in the interior cabinet. It includes four large work surface grommet holes and a large cord management bin that runs the width of the top for easy integration of all electronics.
www.bretford.com

Berries from Jonti-Craft
Jonti-Craft has announced the addition of the Berries plastic chairs to its lineup of children’s furniture. Their child-friendly design promotes seating comfort, durability and attractive styling. Each chair features a polypropylene shell that is easy to clean, prevents blushing and dissipates annoying static electricity. Additionally, Berries plastic chairs are made using heavy gauge steel frames and have non-exposed rivets to prevent snags. Berries plastic chairs are available in either chrome legs or matching powder-coated legs and come in five heights and six colors.
www.jonti-craft.com

Clarin Folding Tablet Arm Chair
When ordering furniture for your classroom, consider a dual-purpose unit, such as the Clarin folding tablet arm chair. A music room can now be turned into a classroom by simply flipping up the tablet arm. Add a bookrack for the perfect classroom chair. Right-hand and left-hand models are available in a variety of finishes to fit most decors, along with your choice of wood, 1-inch or 3-inch seat cushions. These units are portable and fold compactly, so if additional seating is needed in another room, they can easily be moved.
www.clarinseating.com

Intuit Chair from Smith Systems
Architects and designers are tasked with finding classroom solutions that provide a welcoming and stimulating educational environment; an environment where safety and practicality meet comfort and design. This merging of form and functionality can present a number of challenges; however, Smith System has discovered a way to unite the two with its new Intuit chair. The Intuit chair is contemporary and sustainable, as well as ergonomically friendly and affordable. The chair is available in a variety of sizes and configurations for students K-12.
www.smithsystem.com

BioFit ArmorSeat Chairs
BioFit Engineered Products has introduced the ArmorSeat line of chairs. The ArmorSeat was developed to meet increasing demand for versatile seating that can be used in a range of settings and better accommodate the general physical characteristics of today’s students – all while sporting an edgy look. ArmorSeat chairs carry the ergonomic tradition and 13-year warranty synonymous with BioFit. They feature a series of attractive, yet functional design elements, including seats and backs containing UV inhibitors and anti-microbial properties.
www.biofit.com