Office Storage Buying Guide
All workplaces perform better when everything has its place. Whether you’re managing a retail store, office space, stockroom or warehouse, the right storage doesn’t just keep things tidy – it provides the foundation for safe, efficient and well‑organised daily operations.
Buying office storage isn’t as simple as picking a cupboard or cabinet and calling it a day. Today’s workplaces can choose from a huge range of storage options designed for different roles, processes and workflows. From heavy‑duty shelving to space-saving personal storage, there’s a solution for every space, task and team.
In this Office Storage Buying Guide, we’ll cover…
- Our top five tips for buying office storage
- Popular office storage solutions
- Things to consider when buying office storage
- Where to buy office storage
Top 5 Tips for Buying Office Storage
If you want the full lowdown on the different types of office storage and what they’re best used for, keep reading – this guide covers it all in detail. But if you’re short on time and you’re looking for some quick pointers, check out our top five tips for buying office storage and you won’t go wrong!
- Assess your available space
Understand how much room you actually have to work with by measuring all available space. Remember to include height, clearance and walkways. - Think about what you need to store
Whether it’s documents and stationery or equipment and stock, knowing what you’re storing will guide the type and capacity of storage you need. - Explore different styles and finishes
Storage should be practical, but it can also complement your workspace. Compare colours, materials and designs to find something that fits your environment. - Set a realistic budget and stick to it
Decide what you’re willing to spend before you start browsing. It helps narrow your options and prevents overspending. - Always consider privacy and security
If you’re storing sensitive documents or valuable items, look for lockable units or storage designed with security in mind.
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Types of Office Storage
Each type of office storage is designed to solve a specific problem. Whether you need to keep documents organised, maximise floor space or improve security, you’ll find a huge selection of storage solutions to ensure your workplace runs smoothly. Below, we’ve highlighted our most popular storage types – and how they work best.
Office Cupboards
Among the most versatile of storage solutions, office cupboards keep contents neatly organised and out of sight.
Available in a wide range of sizes and materials, they provide a variety of fixed or adjustable shelf configurations behind single or double doors. Perfect for offices requiring secure, practical storage while retaining a tidy, professional look.
Popular Recommendations
- Wooden Office Cupboards – natural wood finishes for a warm, welcoming aesthetic
- Metal Office Cupboards – robust, durable and secure construction for heavy-duty use
- Tambour Cupboards – space‑saving sliding doors perfect for tight or busy areas
- Combination Cupboards – mixed shelving and compartments for versatile storage
Specialist Cupboards
Specialist cupboards are designed for workplaces requiring storage with a specific purpose in mind.
Whether that’s meeting safety regulations, protecting valuable equipment or keeping essential health and safety supplies easily accessible, these cupboards ensure safety and compliance where standard office storage simply isn’t enough.
Popular Recommendations
- COSHH Cabinets – compliant storage for hazardous substances and workplace safety
- First Aid Cupboards – clearly marked, secure units for essential medical supplies
- Laptop Storage – ventilated compartments for safe device charging and security
Filing Cabinets
The go-to choice for any office needing a reliable way to store and access important documents.
Available in a range of sizes, drawer configurations and materials, filing cabinets keep paperwork secure, categorised and easy to retrieve. Whether you’re managing everyday files or long‑term archives, these units provide a practical, space‑efficient solution.
Popular Recommendations
- Metal Filing Cabinets – sturdy and secure drawers with durability for busy office use
- Wooden Filing Cabinets – natural wood finishes for a fresh and airy office aesthetic
- Side Filing Cabinets – wide lateral drawers for high‑capacity, easy‑access filing
Under-Desk Storage
Under‑desk storage is essential for keeping everyday essentials close by without cluttering your workspace.
Designed to fit neatly beneath standard desks, these units offer a convenient mix of drawers and compartments for documents, stationery and personal items. Lockable drawers are available to improve security as well as organisation. A smart way to maximise the use of space beneath your desk.
Popular Recommendations
- Mobile Pedestals – fitted with castor wheels for easy movement around the office
- Steel Pedestals – strong, secure units to coordinate with other metal furniture
- Desk High Pedestals – placed alongside desks to expand your desktop area
Lockers
Lockers provide secure, personal storage for staff and visitors.
Available in a variety of sizes, storage lockers can offer small compartments for holding personal belongings like keys, wallets and phones, or larger capacities for clothing and expensive tech equipment. Perfect for workplaces where staff need to change into a uniform, wear PPE or spend lots of time away from the office.
Popular Recommendations
- Staff Lockers – secure personal compartments for personal effects and work essentials
- Laptop Lockers – ventilated, lockable units for safe device storage and charging
Sideboards
An office sideboard is a fantastic addition to any open plan workspace or conference room.
With generous storage capacities and ample space on top to hold refreshments or decorative objects, they’re ideal for modern offices and meeting rooms. Among the most popular types of sideboard is a credenza, thanks to its decorative design that blends the best features of a cupboard and a display cabinet.
Popular Recommendations
- Sideboards – useful storage with spacious worktop for drinks and refreshments
- Credenzas – versatile units which can include built-in fridges and light-up storage
Display Cabinets
When you want to showcase items while you store them, display cabinets are a great choice.
They’re perfect for showing off awards or trophies, but equally useful for displaying anything from product samples and manuals to decorative features. With options ranging from open shelving to lockable glass-fronted designs, display cabinets create an attractive, accessible focal point in any workspace.
Popular Recommendations
- Display Cabinets – attractive presentation for trophies, awards or decorations
- Bookcases – open shelving for easy access to books, folders or reference materials
Shelving
When you regularly need to grab items quickly, office shelving units combine high-capacity storage with easy visibility and accessibility.
Perfect for storing anything from binders, folders to boxes and bulk archives, shelves maximise vertical wall space while keeping items well organised and neatly arranged. A practical choice for workplaces with a lot of paperwork.
Popular Recommendations
- Office Shelving – easily accessible storage that makes the most of unused wall space
- Archive Storage – high‑capacity shelving for long‑term document and box storage
Boxes and Bins
Not all office essentials require fixed shelving or enclosed cupboards. That’s when storage containers come in so handy, allowing you to box up anything from old documents and stationery to samples and loose supplies.
With stackable designs, sturdy construction and a wide range of sizes, they’re a practical choice for both short‑term use and long‑term organisation.
Popular Recommendations
- Storage Boxes – stackable, versatile containers to keep everyday office items organised
- Storage Bins – durable open bins for quick access to tools, parts and small supplies
Things to Consider when Buying Office Storage
Every office has its own unique purpose and requirements. When you’re buying office storage, ask yourself some key questions.
What Items Do You Need to Store?
What industry do you work in? What working processes and tasks do your employees carry out? The answers to these questions will guide you towards how much storage you’ll need, as well as the types of storage that are right for you.
For example, offices with large quantities of paperwork may prioritise multi-drawer filing cabinets while companies with lots of equipment or PPE will prefer large storage lockers. Below are some popular office storage ideas for different areas of the workplace:
- Admin office – drawer pedestals, filing cabinets, archive storage
- Boardroom – credenzas and sideboards
- Creative department – planchests, modular storage
- IT department – laptop storage
- Lobby – display cabinets, key safe
- Staff room – storage lockers
- Warehouse – shelving, racking, archiving
How Often Do You Work From Home?
With so many of us in hybrid roles or working from home, finding suitable storage ideas for small spare rooms or home offices is more important than ever. Consider wooden filing cabinets and wooden cupboards as an alternative to metal to retain a more homely feel.
How Much Space Do You Have?
Office size is another important consideration. You need to match your storage solutions to the amount of space available. Keeping as much floor space available as possible is important to ensure everyone can walk around easily and safely.
After desks and chairs are put in, you might find floor space is at a premium, so you’ll need a good space-saving solution. Using vertical or wall-mounted storage is a great way to maximise every square foot, while tambour door cupboards don’t open outwards – perfect for putting into more confined spaces.
Consider under-desk pedestals to maximise floor space while ensuring everyone still has their own personal storage, or opt for laptop storage lockers if you’d rather reduce the number of individual tech storage solutions in one room. Credenzas and sideboards are a great option if your office is too small for a full-size kitchen or ideal for a meeting room where the room feels too bare.
Check out these helpful articles for more ideas and inspiration on how you can maximise the use of small office space.
- Best Office Desks for Small Spaces
- Vertical Storage Ideas to Save Space
- Wall-Mounted Storage for Small Offices
Does Your Office Have a Specific Style?
Consider the aesthetic of your office, so you can choose between sleek, minimalist furniture or large, industrial furniture to suit the look and feel of your workspace.
For open-plan offices and creative settings, modular storage is a popular option as you can display items while hiding filing and equipment in optional closed compartments. Modular cabinets are also really easy to alter, moving the open and closed modules around to create new looks whenever you want to freshen things up. On the flip side, steel and metal storage would suit a more industrial office – particularly against concrete, steel and black paint.
With the rise of hot-desking and flexible working, mobile pedestals are ideal for modern offices where personal belongings can’t always stay in the same place.
When you need an effective storage solution that also acts as a nice display for personal effects, combination bookcases are a great pick to keep your home office feeling more personal. These come in a range of colours and finishes, with the richer mahogany and walnut tones lending an executive look to your home office. This is also a great option for cheap office storage as it doubles as display and storage.
Do You Need Your Storage to be Secure?
Keeping your office equipment neatly and securely tucked away when the office is empty is a top priority for some organisations, particularly those working under strict GDPR guidelines.
There are different options for the level of security that you require – office storage cabinets such as under desk storage are ideal for each employee to store their own equipment, whereas a large laptop storage cupboard is ideal for office managers to keep track of IT and tech equipment.
Some offices are required to keep a range of keys stored safely, for which a key safe is the ideal storage solution. There is also an extensive collection of COSHH cabinets which are specifically designed for the safe and secure storage of hazardous substances.
Office Storage FAQs
Space-saving storage options for small offices include vertical and wall-mounted cupboards, offering maximum capacity from a small footprint. Other compact options include mobile pedestals and tambour cupboards with sliding doors.
Plan for at least one personal storage unit per employee plus shared storage for documents, equipment and supplies.
Metal cupboards are generally more durable and hard‑wearing, requiring less care and maintenance. Wooden units are strong and robust, but may require regular treatment or polishing.
Use lockable filing cabinets or cupboards with secure locks, and ensure only authorised staff have access. Choose doors or drawers with cam locks or combination locks, and consider having a key safe as well.
Quality office storage typically lasts 10-15 years, depending on materials, usage and work environment. With the correct care and maintenance, they can last even longer.
In Summary
Choosing the best office storage is all about understanding your space, your team and the way you work. With so many options available, there’s a solution to suit every workplace. By focusing on practicality, durability and the specific needs of your premises, you can create a more organised, efficient and professional space that supports your day‑to‑day operations.
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