Start early, check fit, and plan to arrive with no furniture on the floor. The biggest mistakes happen when furniture is an afterthought. If you need new pieces, you are looking at 6-8 weeks of lead time before anything arrives.
Will Your Existing Furniture Work in the New Space?
This is the first question to answer, and it is easy to skip.
Andrew Draveck, who has spent over 30 years helping Rochester-area businesses with office furniture, puts it simply: "Will the furniture be utilized and will it match and fit into the new space?"
Existing desks, cubicles, and chairs may not fit the new layout. Ceiling heights, column placements, electrical locations, and aisle widths all change the equation. A cubicle system that worked in an open floor plan may not clear the windows in a different building. Modular furniture is more forgiving. Older fixed-dimension pieces are not.
Before you move anything, measure the new space and compare it against what you have. Some furniture will transfer. Some will not. Knowing the difference early saves you from discovering it on move day.
How Far Ahead Should You Start Looking at Furniture?
Six to eight weeks before you need it.
You should start looking at furniture 6-8 weeks before you need it. Figure what it is that you need then design the space and select fabrics and finishes. Once the order is placed the manufacturer will need about 4 weeks to produce your order. Time passes more quickly than you expect! - Andrew Draveck
The breakdown looks like this:
- Weeks 1-2: Assess what you have, decide what transfers, and identify what you need to order. Work with a dealer to design the layout and select finishes.
- Weeks 3-4: Finalize specifications and place the order.
- Weeks 5-8: Manufacturing. Standard lead times run about four weeks. Custom configurations or high-demand periods can extend that.
If you are wondering whether ten weeks is enough to order and install office furniture before a move, the answer is usually yes, but only if you start immediately.
What Happens on Move Day?
Ideally, you move in with no furniture.
You move with no furniture. You may need to rent temporary items while you wait for your order to arrive. - Andrew Draveck
This sounds counterintuitive, but it is cleaner. Moving furniture and people at the same time creates chaos. Movers carrying boxes trip over installers assembling workstations. Employees try to work at desks that are not connected to power or data. The day drags.
A better sequence:
- Move furniture out of the old space (sell it, donate it, or have a dealer handle disposal)
- Move boxes and equipment to the new space, store them in a staging area
- Install furniture in the empty new space
- Unpack and set up workstations once everything is in place
If your order is not ready by move day, temporary tables or rental furniture can bridge the gap. Uncomfortable for a week, but better than a chaotic installation.
What About Furniture You Are Keeping?
If some pieces are transferring, they should move before the new furniture is installed. Get them into the new space, positioned roughly where they belong, then install the new pieces around them. Mixing old and new furniture in the same installation wave requires coordination with whoever is doing the install.
For more on layout considerations, see the office cubicle and workstation layout guide.
Who Handles Installation?
A furniture dealer typically coordinates delivery and installation. The installer assembles workstations, connects power and data panels where applicable, and levels everything. How long office furniture installation takes depends on the scope, but a small office might be done in a day. A full floor of cubicles takes longer.
If you are ordering from multiple vendors, installation schedules need to be sequenced. Desks before chairs. Workstations before accessories. The dealer should manage that timeline.
The Checklist, Simplified
- Measure the new space and compare against your current furniture
- Decide what transfers, what you order, and what you dispose of
- Start the furniture conversation 6-8 weeks out
- Finalize and order with enough time for manufacturing
- Plan to move people and furniture separately
- Have a contingency for delays (rental or temporary tables)
Office Furniture Planning in Rochester
Rochester Office Interiors helps businesses in Western New York with furniture specification, layout, and installation. If you are planning a move and want guidance on what will work in your new space, contact the team or explore services.
Questions About Planning an Office Move
Can we use our old cubicles in a new building?
Sometimes. It depends on dimensions, ceiling height, and electrical compatibility. A site visit usually answers this quickly.
What if we need furniture faster than 6 weeks?
Some items are in stock and can ship sooner. Custom configurations take longer. Ask about lead times before assuming.
Do you handle furniture disposal?
Many dealers do. Old furniture can be sold, donated, or recycled depending on condition.