Office Storage Buying Guide

An organised office optimises productivity while creating a space that is enjoyable to work in, and the most reliable way to get there is the right office storage furniture.

This guide comes in two halves. First, office storage ideas – six ways to solve a real space problem, whether that is a small floorplan, an open plan office with no zoning, or desks disappearing under paperwork. Then the buying guide itself: every type of office storage we supply, what each one is good for, and the sizes and finishes to ask about.

Why office storage is worth getting right

Cluttered, untidy environments are distracting. Being organised makes people more efficient, and it saves the time otherwise lost to hunting for things. A neat workplace also gives a good impression to clients: it says the business is professional and well run.

There is a practical safety angle too. Clean, clear spaces help avoid hazards and reduce sickness, and an office where everything has a place keeps running smoothly when people are away.

Office storage ideas for making the most of your space

These are the six ideas that make the biggest difference to a tight or badly zoned office.

1. Use storage to divide the room

Modular room dividers were originally designed to break up a space while keeping an open plan feel, and they double as shelving. That makes them an efficient way to create flexible work zones without committing to fixed partitions, and they take up almost nothing on the floorplan.

The modular grid elements are built from steel frames with wooden elements, so they suit most office designs. Configurations include shelving, boxes, planters, lockers and cupboards, with accessories for customisation, so you can arrange them in a number of ways without losing any functionality.

2. Go vertical with a storage wall

In a smaller workplace, using vertical space is the single biggest win available. Storage walls work as a solid, space-dividing solution and give you a lot of capacity for very little floor area.

They are modular, so the system can be reconfigured to fit the confines of almost any space, and they are adaptable, relocatable and interchangeable as the office changes. One wall can serve several purposes at once: personal storage, standard shelving modules, and lockers. Use them for books, accolades, stationery and much more. Available in a variety of finishes to suit any interior.

3. Turn a storage unit into a meeting point

Meeting points, or high island tables, combine a storage unit with a large meeting top. In an open plan workspace that needs the occasional meeting space but cannot spare a room, they do two jobs in one footprint, and they work well as storage within breakout spaces.

The storage below can be configured to suit different surface tops and made to order in any size or shape. Add a common top and the island doubles as a standing or stool-height meeting area. For the best result, use sliding tambour doors on the units beneath, and aim for 1m high with a 25mm top – that is the right height for use with high stools.

4. Reclaim the space under the desk

In a small office, under-desk space is the cheapest storage you already own. Used thoughtfully, under-desk drawers make a space more organised, more functional and better looking, which feeds straight back into how well people work in it.

Mobile desk pedestals are the usual answer: they tuck under the desk for files and everyday essentials, and roll out to become additional storage units wherever they are needed.

5. Give people a locker instead of a bigger desk

Nobody does their best work while wondering whether their phone or wallet is safe. Lockers give employees a secure place for valuables, medicines and personal documents, which removes the problem entirely.

The space gain is the other half of it. Move personal belongings off the desk and into a locker and you free up desk space – and you make flexible or shared desking workable, because people still have a confidential space of their own to come back to.

6. Store more in less floor space with tambour units

Tambour units hold a large volume of files, boxes and stationery in a narrow footprint, because the doors slide around the carcass instead of swinging out into the room. Where a cupboard door would need a metre of clearance in front of it, a tambour needs none.

That makes them the obvious choice in a corridor, a tight alcove or any run of wall where a hinged door would be in the way. See the tambour section below for how the doors work and which opening style to pick.

Types of office storage furniture

Designed to keep a workplace organised, inviting and free from clutter, office storage systems add style and order to any space. Our workplace storage solutions come in a range of styles and finishes, including wood, wall, system and metal storage, in configurations to suit any space or budget. Finishes include MFC and veneers, so storage can follow the style already in the room.

At BT Office, our workplace storage solutions come in a selection of styles and finishes, including wood storage, wall storage, system storage, and metal storage. Whatever your space or budget requirements, there is office storage available to maximise your workplace. We’ve detailed a few of the main considerations you should consider for your own office below.

Wooden Storage

Wooden storage adds style and functionality to any office environment. From cupboards and bookcases through to wooden filing cabinets and sideboards, the range is designed to complement both contemporary and traditional spaces.

Available in oak, maple, cherry, beech and walnut, it suits home offices, boardrooms, meeting rooms and general office space alike.

Metal Storage

Our metal storage range is sleek, stylish and highly durable, and comes in several colours, shapes and sizes. From metal combination units, lockers and drawers through to card filing systems and inner space, it keeps office essentials safe and sound.

Desk pedestals

Desk pedestals are sets of drawers and small cabinets that give each person a compact home for files and personal belongings. They come static or on wheels; the mobile versions can be moved around the office to work as additional storage units wherever they are needed.

They are available in a range of shapes, sizes, colours and designs, and can be customised to suit a specific fit out. Most pedestals have lockable drawers.

Office tambours

A tambour cabinet is a vertical unit designed to store more in less space. What makes it a tambour is the door: strips of metal or plastic fixed together so the door can flex, letting it slide around the back of the cupboard as it opens.

There are two main types. Side-opening doors are the most common, retracting sideways around the carcass, and the side-opening versions can also travel around bends. Up-style units open and close vertically instead.

Tambours are traditionally metal, but we also stock tambour doors in wood, veneer, glass and polymers, in a wide range of sizes and colours. They can be locked, which makes them the right answer where sensitive documents or personal items need storing regularly.

Office Cupboards

Storage cupboards are a necessity in most fit outs, holding papers, files, folders, stationery, props and merchandise, and keeping all of it organised and secure.

Whether you need lockable cupboards or sleek, modern cabinets that lift the look of the space, there are options from slimline designs through to full-height units.

Office bookcases

Bookcases are versatile, attractive and genuinely useful in almost any working environment. And they are not just for books: they hold plants, art and figurines, business awards and trophies – the things that make an office feel like it belongs to someone.

Our collection of modern office bookcases comes in a range of finishes and sizes, all made from sturdy, robust materials.

Office sideboards and credenzas

Horizontal office cabinets are often called credenzas. They started life as dining room furniture and have since become office storage units – a credenza is essentially an office sideboard, and it is the piece that makes a statement when there is space to spare. Used as a conference room sideboard, it should complement the meeting table in both style and material.

One thing to plan for: you will usually be accessing a credenza from a seated position, so position it near a desk or wherever a chair naturally sits. Doing that also leaves you the vertical space above it to hang shelves or artwork.

Our range includes the Flare Storage Unit and Reunion Storage, in a choice of sizes and finishes.

Filing

Filing documents is still a daily task in most offices. Our filing solutions come in a wide range of styles, colours, sizes and finishes, and lockable filing cabinets are available where security matters.

How to choose office storage

Five questions worth answering before you order anything:

• How much floor space can the doors have? A hinged cupboard needs clearance in front of it; a tambour or storage wall does not. In a tight space this decides the answer on its own.
• Does it need to lock? Pedestals, tambours, filing cabinets and lockers are all available lockable. Decide which items actually need securing before you pay for locks across the board.
• Will it be used standing or seated? Credenzas and low units are accessed from a chair, so they belong near desks. Tall cupboards and storage walls are for standing access.
• Does it need to move? Mobile pedestals, modular room dividers and storage walls are relocatable and reconfigurable. If the office layout is likely to change, buy for that now.
• Will it match the room? Finishes include MFC, veneers and solid wood in oak, maple, cherry, beech and walnut, plus metal in several colours. Match the storage to what is already in the space.

Office storage FAQs

What is a tambour cupboard?

A tall storage unit whose door is made of metal or plastic strips fixed together so it can flex and slide around the back of the cabinet rather than swinging outwards. Side-opening is the most common style; up-style units open vertically. Because the door needs no clearance, tambours store more in less floor space.

What is an office credenza?

A horizontal, low storage cabinet – essentially an office sideboard. Credenzas began as dining room furniture and are now commonly used as conference room sideboards, where they should match the meeting table in style and material. They are accessed from a seated position, so they work best positioned near desks or chairs.

What are the best office storage ideas for a small office?

Go vertical with a storage wall, use tambour units where a hinged door would not fit, put mobile pedestals under the desks, and let modular dividers do the zoning instead of partitions. A meeting point island will give you a meeting surface and storage in a single footprint.

Should office storage be lockable?

Where sensitive documents or personal belongings are stored, yes. Lockable options are available across pedestals, tambours, filing cabinets and cupboards. Lockers are the better answer for personal items, because they also free up desk space and make flexible desking workable.

Why Choose BT Office Storage Solutions?

Since BT Office Furniture was formed in 1994 we have become a leading UK supplier of office storage furniture. We use our own fleet of vehicles and our own team of specialist fitters, so your storage arrives undamaged and is installed by people who are familiar with the products. We also offer office furniture fit outs and office space planning, so storage can be planned into the layout rather than added afterwards.

To talk through your office storage requirements, email [email protected] or call 0800 298 7033.