Apart from the many benefits that working from home provides, you’ll surely get a kick out of shopping for furniture items for your home office, especially if you have a penchant for design. It’s no secret that your surroundings can influence the mood you’re in, as well as your productivity. Naturally, you’d want a conducive home office that sparks creativity, has a lot of functionality, and is arranged accordingly to minimize distractions.
It can get overwhelming pretty quick though, what with the full range of home office ideas available on the net. Consider this list your starting point on your journey to spruce up your work area. Here are essential furniture items for your home office you should look at investing.
Comfortable chair
Perhaps the number one thing that will motivate you to stay on your desk is an ergonomic and comfortable office chair. Ideally, you’d want one that supports your back, is adjustable, and offers enough cushioning for your bottom. It’s also a good idea to invest in one that has a wider seat.
An ergonomic seat is so important—you will naturally slouch or slack after being on the chair for so long, which usually happens when you’re engrossed in work. This can eventually result in bad posture, body pain, and other more issues. It’s best to sit the proper way, which an ergonomic chair can help you with.
You may also want to consider buying a chair that has a pop of color or a fun pattern. This will liven up your whole home office space and instantly transform the vibe of the room. There’s no particular rule on what kind of design you should get—just make sure you love it!
Standing desk
In an ideal world, you’d sit down on your comfy chair and work away for eight hours straight. However, that’s not possible, and it may even pose serious health risks, as earlier mentioned. Most people who work from home agree that it’s impossible to stay in one area for the rest of the day.
That said, it’s a good idea to have a standing desk where you can prop your laptop with ease. Not only can you still accomplish your work with this kind of desk, you also get to move around or stand instead of just sitting down and posing threat to your body. This could be at the opposite side of your main office, by the window where there’s a view, or anywhere else you feel comfortable.
If space doesn’t allow it, you can go for a laptop stand. Merely prop that on top of your desk, and stand up. It’s worthy to note that you should measure the height of your standing desk or laptop stand. Your elbows should be parallel to the floor with your eyes level to the monitor of your computer.
Expandable table
Don’t scrimp on the size of your workspace! Remember: You won’t just place your laptop on it, but notebooks, pens, a mouse pad, décor, and others. A tight work area might make you feel claustrophobic and overwhelmed, so it’s best to get a size bigger than what you think you’d need.
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If you have a small home office area, it might be more critical for you to invest in a foldable and expandable desk. These cost-effective space makers could also house nifty storage areas hidden underneath, great for stowing away important documents and gadgets.
Storage box cabinet
Storage boxes are an essential part of your home office furniture checklist. You will need big compartments where you can keep important items. This could be an empty cabinet with file organizers and drawers, or something ready-made. Label them so that you know where everything is.
If you want to save space, there are furniture that are built with storage spaces, or multipurpose furniture; for instance, sofa and bed with drawers underneath that can be pulled out. Here, you can put the more essential documents as the storage is hidden from plain view. Or, if you are going the DIY route, consider investing in one or two fire-safe boxes for your most sensitive and valuable documents.
Adequate lighting
Positioning your home office by a window or an area with great natural light is always a good idea. However, not all types of homes will allow this. You also have to factor in the times you will be working at night.
A tall lamp with adjustable light settings is suitable for additional visibility. If you have adequate light fixtures in your home office area already, you’ll fare well with a desk lamp.
Floating shelves
To reduce clutter further, you can opt to install shelves either behind, beside, or facing you, depending on where your wall is. Some stores sell these home furniture sets in packs of three or four, allowing you to stack them on top of each other or place them elsewhere.
The extra space will also give you room to add décor, greenery, books, and other things that will make you feel comfortable about your home office. Talk about design and functionality!
Smart side table
Yet another table/desk, but with a completely different set of benefits, this time. Whether you prefer a side table or a nightstand, a smart table is perfect for your techie lifestyle, as it comes with built-in USB ports, a wireless charging station, and Bluetooth speakers.
The smart table would need to be plugged in to work which, all things considered, is still tidier compared to the mess of cables you probably have around your home right now. They aren’t just unsightly—charging cables are also a tripping hazard when left on the floor.
With this table or nightstand, you are now rest assured that your devices are charging while you sleep—and you can easily reach out to it when you wake up in the morning.
Final Thoughts
Always choose comfort over anything else. Your home office should inspire you to get work done and be more productive. It’s your chance to customize your work needs according to your taste, so let your creativity and quirkiness shine through. You can find a lot of design inspirations online or hire a professional interior designer to get expert ideas and let them do the job for you.
DIY is a good option for things you feel like you can’t see anywhere else on the market. Go through many options until you know the stuff that works best for you. A fantastic home office will undoubtedly add to your productivity.