The most influential and inspiring organizations in the world all started small. Ford Motor Company started in a garage, and so did Apple. But great ideas need room to grow.

When organizations expand their operations or break into a new market, they often outgrow their space before their budgets are ready to take the next step. That’s why investing in furnishings that are built to last and adapt to changing needs helps companies save more than just money. The right furniture saves time, a valuable resource for any organization.

Managing the furniture and equipment your team needs in an evolving environment can be tricky.

Here are four key ideas to consider as your organization grows, or becomes smaller and more focused, in the months and years ahead.

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1. Sound and Privacy Matter

Whether you’re reducing your space, expanding it, or fitting more people into what you have, employees appreciate a sense of privacy and availability of quiet zones. This may sound counter to notso- distant open-office trends, but those are starting to reverse. “Seated privacy” is the latest buzzword in office design.

That’s according to a recent piece in The Wall Street Journal. According to Kristi Buchler, principal at Interior Architects, it’s increasingly common to see screens in formerly open setups that give workers a sense of solitude when in their chairs. “But I can still pop my head up and easily go, ‘Oh, my colleague just got here. Great! I had a question for them,’” Buchler told The Journal.

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HON offers a range of screen solutions that add both privacy and sound dampening to new or existing setups, and are designed to work with existing desking or benching platforms, mounting to a variety of worksurface thicknesses.

“HON screen solutions were developed to simplify the space-planning process, from ideation to installation,” says Evan Aschbrenner, Senior Product Portfolio Manager at HON.

For privacy in a snap, PET Screens make it effortless to protect projects and personal space. HON’s Voi® Privacy Screen is another option, providing a frosted-glass panel for a premium look and feel.

Acoustic screens can be the perfect way to control sound in a workplace buzzing with energy. HON Acoustics by Unika Vaev help absorb and diffuse sound while also adding a design element to the space. A wide variety of screen and tile options for walls, ceilings, and floors attach effortlessly. And a range of colors lets you match your brand palette or liven up a space with a fresh look.

2. Reduce the Expense of Change

Whether your organization is moving across campus, the city, or the country, there are overlooked costs that add up. Downtime encompasses everything from unforeseen delays to loss of customer and client contact during the transition.

One of the easiest ways to reduce downtime is to plan ahead, which includes furnishings that are durable enough to move already assembled. HON’s Contain® and Flagship® storage solutions are available in neutral tones to complement any style or aesthetic. But they’re also welded steel with integrated handles, making them ideal for even the most ambitious move. For a more colorful option, Fuse™ is mobile storage that can add personality to any space.

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“Business owners really should have a very detailed list to take them from A to Z to evaluate what they’re going to need to budget for before they move,” noted Helen Dennis, president and co-founder of 300 Decisions, a company specializing in business relocation. “You’ve got to build a good contingency plan. You don’t want to lose your customers over a move.”

3. Growth Doesn’t Always Mean a Bigger Footprint

If technology has shifted or your business model evolved, then rearranging your space might be your next move. You wouldn’t be alone. The increasingly common hybrid working model is giving organizations large and small the opportunity to rethink how their space is organized and used.

Fortunately, HON products are designed to be nimble and ready for new or different uses. Versatility is key, as well as how easily a solution fits a variety of roles. HON’s Voi L-Shaped Workstation with integrated credenza offers ample desk space and storage. Available in multiple configurations, the optional hutch adds even more storage within the same footprint as your needs change.

Stacking and nesting seating is another way to flex into multi-use space. HON’s Nucleus®, Motivate®, and Ruck™ lines are among several seating options to accommodate occasional guests and larger events. Motivate tables with casters make dynamic team spaces easy to reconfigure for any project, as well as easy to store when not in use.

4. Embrace Uncertainty as an Opportunity

Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded their fledgling production company in 1929, just 12 days before the stock market crash that led to the Great Depression. Now it’s among the largest media companies on the planet.

Controlling costs and remaining focused is how tough times lead to unexpected opportunities. If new space is the right fit for your future, or your existing square footage doesn’t meet your needs, decide whether maintaining the status quo is a greater risk. Apply the same mindset when furnishing your office. HON's Quickship Program offers an entire catalog specifically designed for agile organizations that need scalable solutions fast.

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Among the most versatile is the Mod collection of laminate desk and storage solutions, featuring dozens of desk options and hundreds of configurations that can grow with you.

“We don’t just provide solutions to organizations of every size. We know that size is likely to change over time,” notes Aschbrenner. “Furnishings designed to grow with a company as their needs change is how our customers know our products are an investment in their future.”