1. Make sure the furniture you choose fits the room and that there is enough space to open cabinets and drawers, and that people have enough room to reach their desks.

2. Office furniture must be fit for purpose. A fashionable desk is not necessarily functional. Cafe-style chairs and tables may seem like a good fit in a catalog, but are they suitable for a law firm?

3. Don't forget extra furniture like filing cabinets, bookcases and computer desks as they provide additional functionality and storage space for your office.

4. Make sure the office furniture is ergonomic. It is important that it be comfortable, elegant and practical. Health and safety requirements must be fully covered by the ergonomic design of the furniture.

5. Divide the office so that it is possible to have separate areas for different types of staff. Those who spend all day on the phone will have different needs than those who need space to see design ideas or those who need peace and quiet.

6. Different moods can be created by using different colored chairs, desks or tables.

7. High-tech designs or traditional woods? What you choose will depend on the nature of your business. Your furniture may be on trend today, but will it look stylish in 5 years?

8. Think about the impression your furniture has to make on customers and staff. The furniture of an accounting firm has to be different from a graphic design company or a call center. The office could be part of a factory or a restaurant or a store, so it has to be suitable and in keeping with the spirit of the company. A design agency wants you to appear creative and dynamic, while a lawyer's office wants you to appear calm and welcoming.

9. Think ahead, how easy will it be to change the design of your office with the chosen furniture? New employees, new technology, new processes and procedures can mean that the office layout has to change frequently.

10. Good office furniture encourages employees to be more productive by ensuring that everything they need is close at hand, and they can carry out their duties without disturbing others.