Office Storage Through the Ages

Modern Office Storage

Office storage is arguably the most evolved type of office equipment, as it has had to adapt to our ever-changing needs in the workplace, as well as evolving technology. This is a quick look at how office storage has changed along with office culture throughout the years.

Office Storage in the 1950s & 1960s

Classic Filing Cabinets

Formal attire was the standard in fifties office culture, as well as an open space office plan, but smoking and drinking alcohol was permitted in the workplace too. The machine most office workers used at that time was the typewriter, which went hand in hand with the classic wood or steel filing cabinet, for the manual filing of important papers and documents.

The typical office space in the 1960s was no longer the open space office plan, but rather the cubicle. Furthermore, machines such as printers and photocopiers were becoming commonplace.

1970s & 1980s

Large Computers Began To Appear in Offices in the 80s

The first computers began to appear in offices in the 1970s. They were huge machines that filled entire rooms. For this reason, they weren’t practical or commonplace yet, so cupboards, bookcases, and filing cabinets still accounted for the most common types of office storage.

In the ‘80s smaller, desk-based computers known as PCs began to appear in offices, as well as fax machines.

1990s & 2000s

Laptops & Smart Phones

In the nineties women and people from different ethnic backgrounds began to finally see increased equality in the workplace. Casual attire began to be more acceptable in the office too, with the introduction of ‘Casual Fridays’. Meanwhile, the mobile phone was replacing the standard phone, and floppy disks had become popular as a type of office storage for documents; although they would go on to be just a passing fad.

The 2000s saw the commonplace use of the smart phone and laptop as tools for many jobs in the workplace. Working from home also became more acceptable as technology evolved.

Mobile Pedestals in the Modern Workplace

2010s to the Present Day

In the modern era many office storage needs are catered for by server storage, such as the Cloud, and by any number of devices including PCs, laptops, smart phones, and tablets. However, cupboards, bookcases, and filing cabinets can still be found in many offices around the world. The filing cabinet has made a comeback in recent years too and is often considered to be retro and vintage. Furthermore, the mobile pedestal has become a staple in the office storage industry, for its practical and secure personal storage uses.

Andrews Office Furniture can provide the office storage you need. Call 0800 102 6893, visit one of our showrooms, or email [email protected] for more information.