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Keeping Students Engaged: Classroom Furniture

Just as a typical workplace has evolved over the years, so has the classroom. And just as with the workplace, the furniture to support modern educational spaces has changed as well.

In both cases, the key term is “engagement.” Workers who are engaged do more and better work, and students who are engaged do more and better learning, no doubt about it. So what does it mean to be “engaged” in the classroom, and how do furnishings support that?

Engagement is a move away from the classrooms you might have grown up in … neat rows of uncomfortable desks that were never moved, all facing the teacher/lecturer at the front of the room. The classrooms were inflexible arrangements to support an inflexible model of education: teacher speaks, students listen.

Today, education is much more of a two-way street with critical thinking, collaboration, stimulation and more participation from students as typical goals. And a bunch of hard chairs facing the same direction simply do not support this model.

Classroom furniture for the 21st century is not only more comfortable, but far more flexible, allowing spaces to change to suit group collaboration, individual pursuits and yes, still the teacher-up-front model when necessary. Swivel chairs promote greater comfort and, therefore, better learning. Tables that are easily moved can be reconfigured to support activities for groups of various sizes. And dividers can be put into place to convert those same tables for individual work (and to reduce the chance of copying from someone else’s test … some things haven’t changed).

Beyond the seating and table arrangements, looks for more whiteboards and lots of markers, or even writeable walls, to encourage creativity, collaboration and sharing. The more whiteboard opportunities there are, the better the chances of converting thoughts from verbal to visual.

This evolution has seen a shift in the epicenter of the classroom from teacher to student as learning changes from passive to active. Furniture that supports this new reality is absolutely vital to its success.

Douron’s 50th Anniversary

In 1969, Eugene and Shirley Hux started a dealership specializing in educational furniture for K-12 classrooms in the basement of their home. Struggling to name the new company, they decided to blend the first names of their two sons into a one-word brand for the firm. Taking the DOU from Doug and the RON from Ron, the DOURON name was created.

No one could have known that those humble first steps would create a regional powerhouse in the educational furniture market. A half century later, Douron is not only a leader in the field of education, but in interior environments across many disciplines including public libraries, federal and local government facilities and corporate spaces.

Douron is now one of the largest family-owned and operated furniture dealerships in the Mid-Atlantic, continuing a half-century of growth from its beginnings in a basement to its current status as a regional industry leader in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. (DMV)

From Eugene and Shirley’s original idea in 1969 to their son Ron Hux assuming leadership of the company in 1984, from a basement to our current 100,000 square-foot headquarters and showroom in Owings Mills, MD, Douron has seen many changes in design trends, and to this day we stay ahead of the curve in the always-changing field of commercial interiors.

But Douron remains a regional industry leader not only because of our ability to change with the times, but because of the things that haven’t changed: the concept of a business built on honesty and integrity, and with a corporate culture of respect for its employees, many of whom have been with us for decades.

New products and design trends have come and gone, but these basic principles have remained a constant guiding principle in the way we work with both our clients and our employees.

The Douron Way—Honesty and Integrity.

Tips To Make Your Waiting Room More Comfortable

Waiting Room Furniture

Is your waiting room boring, unappealing, unwelcoming? Douron can fix it. Douron will create a custom, friendly, welcoming, beautiful space for clients, customers, and patients to wait, enjoy a beverage, and keep their mind occupied and at ease with a unique and comfortable setting.

Waiting Room Chairs

Did you know there was a study done on waiting room chairs and the chairs were being worn out at a faster than normal rate? This is due to the anxiety and unrest people experience while waiting in a doctor’s office. If you are in the healthcare industry, you may need to replace your chair more often than the average office. Make sure you invest in comfortable chairs to help ease your patients’ anxieties.

Enjoy a Beverage

Many waiting rooms offer free beverages, such as water or coffee. It is a wise idea to invest in beverage offerings for your clients, customers, and patients. Offering up a beverage is polite, comforting, and keeps people occupied for a few moments while you finish up with your work and prepare for the next move.

Beautiful Designs

Check out some of Douron’s waiting room designs here. Whether you are looking for a circular, square, or rectangle layout, we can provide a variety of options for you to choose from. Neutral color schemes throughout your waiting room and comfortable seating are must-haves.

Look no further when searching for a company to provide you with the best furniture and layouts for your waiting room and waiting areas. We know what is important to both businesses and clients. Comfort, ease, and beauty are staples of any great waiting room. Contact us at your earliest convenience to find out more information about how we at Douron can help you.

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