Commercial Furniture vs Residential Furniture. What's the Difference?

Are you looking to update the furniture in your office or school? Are you getting overwhelmed or feeling confused about the difference between commercial grade furniture and residential furniture?

If you need help deciding between these furniture options for you and your employees, keep reading. The most important differences are explained down below.

Cost

When shopping for office furniture, costs are often at the top of the list of things folks are worried about.

In general, commercial furniture is going to cost more than residential furniture. This can be a turn-off at first. Remember, though, that cheaper isn’t always better.

If your budget is limited, you might be tempted to save money by buying the less-expensive residential furniture. However, if you invest more upfront on commercial furniture, you’ll likely find that you’ll spend less money over time.

Durability

One reason you’ll spend less in the long-term on commercial office furniture is because of its increased durability.

Commercial office furniture is made to last. As a general rule, you shouldn’t have to replace more than once every 10 years or so. The same isn’t true for a lot of residential pieces.

As an added bonus, commercial furniture is also more resistant to UV rays. It may even be fire-resistant (at least to a certain degree).

Style

Some people might want to spring for fun, trendy furniture to reflect their school or company culture. They might also be put off by the fact that commercial furniture typically isn’t as trendy as residential furniture.

Because it’s meant to last for a decade or more, it doesn’t always make sense for designers to create it based on the latest trends. Instead, they tend to stick to classic designs and neutral colours so that the furniture can work in a variety of spaces.

There are still plenty of colour and style options to choose from when it comes to commercial furniture, though. Do a little shopping around and you’ll find room for creativity and self-expression.

Cleanability

Residential furniture is upholstered in a wide range of fabrics, some of which look nice but are not so easy to clean.

Commercial furniture is often scratch-resistant and stain-resistant. If something gets spilled on a couch, or if you just want to keep your office chairs looking as good as new, investing in commercial pieces is a good call.

Comfort

You want to do great work, and you want your employees to do great work, too. For this to happen, they need to feel great in the office. This means making their comfort a top priority. 

High-quality commercial furniture is designed with ergonomics in mind. It’s meant to help you and your workers maintain good posture and feel supported while on the job.

Some residential furniture can be comfortable and ergonomic. However, residential pieces aren’t held to the same standard as commercial pieces.

Upgrade Your Office Furniture Today

Now that you know more about the differences between commercial and residential furniture, what do you think? Are you ready to invest in high-quality, commercial-grade furniture for your office?

If so, we’ve got lots of options for you to choose from. Visit our shop today to check out our selection.