Asking people back to the office is easier when the office is somewhere they want to be. That is the core idea behind resimercial office design. Instead of rows of identical gray panels, you create spaces with the comfort and variety of a well-furnished home, while keeping the durability a busy workplace needs.
The challenge is cost. New designer furniture for a full redesign adds up fast. Graded pre-owned designer furniture lets you get most of the look at a fraction of the price, if you know where to spend and where to save.
What resimercial office design looks like
Resimercial is less a single style than a set of choices that make a workplace feel lived in.
- Varied seating. Lounge chairs, sofas and benches alongside task chairs, so people can change posture and setting.
- Softer materials. Upholstery, wood tones and textured finishes in place of hard laminate everywhere.
- Layered lighting. Floor and table lamps that soften overhead fluorescent light.
- Smaller-scale settings. Nooks and table groupings that feel like a living room or kitchen rather than a boardroom.
- Lower visual walls. Workstations with lower panels or open benching so the floor feels open and connected.
Keep commercial bones under the residential feel
The mistake to avoid is buying actual home furniture for an office. Pieces designed for a family room are not built for a dozen people a day. Commercial furniture from manufacturers like Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth and Kimball is engineered for heavy use, and many of their collections already carry a residential look.
That durability is also why pre-owned commercial pieces make sense. Furniture built to last through years of office use often has plenty of life left when a company moves or downsizes.
Use condition grades to stretch the budget
Office Station grades pre-owned furniture so you can match condition to where each piece will live.
| Grade | Condition | Where it fits in a resimercial plan |
|---|---|---|
| A | Like new | Reception, client lounges, executive areas and anywhere first impressions count |
| B | Very good | Team lounges, collaboration tables and most task seating |
| C | Good | Project rooms, training rooms and back-of-house work areas |
Browse pre-owned designer furniture
A zone-by-zone approach
Arrival and reception
This is where the design sets the tone. Choose lounge seating in warm upholstery and pair it with a side table and a floor lamp. Grade A pieces from brands like Knoll or Herman Miller belong here.
Workstations
Resimercial does not mean giving up workstations. Lower panels, wood-tone surfaces and fabric screens soften a workstation area. For budgeting, a 6'x6' workstation runs $615 liquidation-grade, $1,245 remanufactured or $1,920 new, furniture only. Prices exclude electrical, delivery and professional installation, and installation is $95 per workstation with a $495 minimum. Remanufactured stations are a strong middle path when you want a fresh look without new-furniture prices. See used cubicles for options.
Task seating
A good task chair does more for daily comfort than any lounge piece. Look at pre-owned office chairs from Herman Miller, Steelcase, Haworth or Humanscale, and pick upholstered or softer-toned options where you want warmth.
Collaboration and cafe areas
Replace a formal conference table with a large wood-top table, benches or a mix of stools and upholstered chairs. Grade B is usually the right balance here.
Focus spaces
A single lounge chair with a small table and good lighting makes a quiet corner feel like a reading nook. These spaces are small, so a few well-chosen pieces go a long way.
Checklist for buying pre-owned designer furniture
- Confirm the condition grade of each piece, not just the lot.
- Check upholstery for stains, wear and pilling, especially on seats and arms.
- Test chair mechanisms: height, tilt, tension and arm adjustments.
- Look at work surface edges and corners for chips.
- Match finishes across a group so pieces look intentional together.
- Remember that manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture, and Office Station is an independent reseller, not an authorized dealer.
- Plan lead times: liquidation-grade can be ready in as little as 72 hours when in stock, remanufactured usually takes 7 to 14 days and new runs 4 to 6 weeks.
Fund the redesign with the furniture you are replacing
A resimercial refresh usually means retiring rows of older workstations and conference furniture. Instead of paying to remove them, request a written net offer through office furniture liquidation. The offer equals the resale value of your furniture minus the removal cost. When that is positive, you are paid, and the money can go straight into the new lounge seating. Crews can work nights and weekends and return the space broom-clean with photo documentation.
Free space planning helps you place lounges, nooks and workstations before you buy, so every piece has a spot.
Average market rate Prices subject to availability and project pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What does resimercial mean?
Resimercial combines residential and commercial. It describes offices that feel warm and comfortable like a home, using softer finishes, lounge seating and varied lighting, while still relying on furniture built for commercial use.
Why not just buy residential furniture for the office?
Residential furniture is usually not designed for many people using it all day, every day. Fabrics, frames and mechanisms can wear quickly. Commercial furniture with a residential look gives you the feel without replacing pieces every year or two.
What do the A, B and C condition grades mean?
Grade A is like new, grade B is very good and grade C is good. Grade A makes sense where appearance matters most, while B and C can stretch the budget in team areas and back-of-house spaces.
Is Office Station an authorized dealer for these brands?
No. Office Station sells pre-owned Herman Miller, Steelcase, Knoll, Haworth, Humanscale, Teknion, Allsteel, Kimball, AIS and Friant furniture as an independent reseller. Manufacturer warranties generally do not transfer to pre-owned furniture.
Can I sell my current furniture to fund a redesign?
You can request a written net offer through office furniture liquidation. The offer equals the resale value of your furniture minus the removal cost, and when it is positive, you are paid. Offers are provided within 5 business days of the walkthrough.
