The Essential Office Storage Guide: Choosing the Right Drawer Cabinet System

Drawers and cabinets are an essential part of office life, as they keep files, equipment, stationery, and other items organized and safe. They are among the first office furniture pieces you should buy when creating your first workspace. But which do you choose when shopping for office furniture? Here’s what we know from our years of experience. 

Your Ideal Storage Space

Before making a purchase, you must first measure your floor and wall space to prevent creating cramped conditions. Cabinets should fit snugly against the wall while providing ample storage space to avoid blocking walkways and becoming a safety hazard. If you have staff who need wheelchairs or have shoulder issues that prevent them from comfortably reaching high spaces, more shorter cabinets are a better option than purchasing a few high variations. 

Next, consider your storage needs when deciding on the number and type of each cabinet, including the amount and type of items you need to store. Drawers are ideal for smaller items you can group together at random such as electronics, cables, and stationery, while shelves are best for larger items such as books or binders that must be organized. At Urban 411, we stock cabinets in low, medium, and high designs with one to three shelves depending on how much storage space you need.

If you are unsure of your business’ growth trajectory, modular storage can help new businesses adapt as they grow from startups with limited budgets to established companies. You may want a couple of medium-height cabinets now, but place another order for some tall versions of the same model after a year. Our E+ Modular Storage range is popular for this reason. 

Customer Privacy

Confidential information must be kept in lockable cabinets. If there are no locks on your current cabinets and drawers, they should be in a room you can securely lock to prevent legal troubles. Urban 411 cabinets are all lockable for this reason. 

Some industries are affected by laws describing how long you must keep this information. For example, insurance companies in the UAE must keep records for at least 10 years after the end of the specific activity or working relationship with the insured client. Ongoing court cases require you to keep information for two years after the final verdict.  

Durability

All cabinets should be made from durable materials to prevent damage from holding heavier items and unnecessary expenses from replacing damaged furniture. Our cabinets use metal and melamine, a durable and versatile resin-based material resistant to heat, moisture, and stains. These are available in our standard range of wooden finishes: espresso oak, grigio oak, Anastasiya Oak, walnut, blonde ash, and natural ash. If you’re fitting out an office for the first time, we recommend purchasing your cabinets with other key furniture to ensure a consistent appearance. 

Individual Drawers and Cabinets

All of your workers can benefit from convenient storage right at their own office workstations, with hanging drawers and mobile filing cabinets available. These reduce clutter while keeping items or files your staff may regularly need on-hand if they always work at the same desk, such as cables and stationery. Our E+ Metal Hanging drawers are perfect for these small objects and can be locked. The E+ Mobile Pedestal series comes with wheels and a lock for mobility and security. Each are small enough to fit under a regular office desk. Our executive desks include their own storage in an all-in-one, L-shaped design. With drawers and several shelves, business leaders can save space and ensure a streamlined, consistent look. 

Planter Box Styles

Our low and medium-height cabinets also come with planter box variations. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology demonstrated that a multisensory biophilic design, which included office plants, reduced stress as measured by a sensor detecting heart rate variability. Planter boxes are an accessible way to add biophilic design, as they can be watered and maintained without the need for a ladder. Each of our planter boxes are detachable to water, fertilize, and trim plants away from carpets or other materials you don’t want to mess up. 

Drawers and cabinets save your sanity from clutter and mess while protecting you against legal issues from potential privacy violations. When choosing your cabinets, they should be durable, lockable, blend into your office aesthetic, and give you a little more storage space than you think you need. To explore our range, click here.