Since the lockdown during the pandemic, working from home has been one of the norms for many people. What was once a corporate attire worn going to work, has now become just a pair of loungewear. What was once a commute going to work, has now become a few steps going to the computer desk. Working from home has its benefits, but of course, we all know that there are a lot of distractions, making it difficult to focus on just work alone. One of the ideal things to keep you from getting distracted is to set up a proper workspace or home office so that you can still feel the work atmosphere even while you are at home. 

A home office is more than just placing a desk, chair, and filing cabinet on the side. Since you will be working from home, it’s better to choose furniture pieces that can provide comfort, functionality, aesthetics, etc. To help you out, here is a guide to buying home office furniture:

1. Learn Your Personal Style

There are various types of styles and themes you can choose for your home office, so you need to decide which one of them suits your preferences best. Are you into modern, minimalist, traditional, contemporary, or maybe Scandinavian? Would you want your home office to have that work-centered feel or a family-friendly style? Learning your personal style helps you determine what kind of home office furniture designs and materials you can mix together and which ones will not look good together. 

2. Consider the Space You Have

Home office spaces vary depending on the size of the house. Before you buy furniture for your home office, see to it that you measure the available space you have and work with that, so you don’t end up buying the wrong furniture size, which can either be too big or too small for your space. If you have limited space, multifunctional and space-saving furniture pieces will be ideal for you. 

3. Think About How Many Hours You Work

Considering the number of hours you work is also important when buying home office furniture. This is for the reason that more hours spent for work will entail more headaches, neck aches, and most especially, back pains. So you would need to buy home office furniture that will be able to provide you with comfort to match the long hours of work you will have each day. We suggest that you opt for ergonomic chairs with a sturdy backrest that will give optimum support as you sit down. Aside from the office chair, choose an office desk that can efficiently accommodate the kind of workspace you need. Choosing good lighting for your home office will also help with your productivity. 

4. Set a Budget

Of course, setting a budget when buying furniture for your home office is needed. Once you determine the style you want to achieve as well as the space available and the hours you spend for work, you can now start counting the costs. If you are just about to start furnishing your home office, it is best to prioritize setting a budget for furniture pieces such as the office desk and office chair. After that, you can set a budget for other essentials such as cabinets or shelves for extra storage, some lighting fixtures, and other decorative items to amp up the style of your home office. 

5. The Office Desk

As you look into buying an office desk for your home office, you should take into account these factors:

• Size

You can’t just simply buy an office desk because of its aesthetics alone. You need to consider the items you will be placed on the desk, such as the computer and other work items, as well as the space available in your home office. If you buy a desk that’s too small, you may end up not having enough space to accommodate all your work items. A large desk is advisable if you need a large workspace. But if you don’t have a spacious home office, you can opt for a multifunctional office desk with extra storage that can house your workspace needs. Choose the right office desk size that will suit your needs and comfort. 

• Shape

Along with the size, the shape of your office desk also matters because it determines not only the functionality but also how much space you still have for other home office essentials. For example, if you are all about space-saving furniture, then a corner desk will be good for you because it can provide you with more storage space and a free-moving work environment. Straight desks are also space-saving and functional furniture pieces. Wall-mounted desks offer extra floor space, but they don’t have much storage space for your work items. 

• Functionality

When buying an office desk for your home office, it is important to check its overall functionality and how it will match your work needs. If you need a desk with built-in storage, it will be good to count that as a function you will look for. Are you buying an office desk for a small or large home office space? Should it be foldable? Do you want it to be a wall-mounted desk, so it doesn’t take up much floor space?

6. The Office Chair

There are many office chair designs out there that will catch your attention, but that doesn’t mean comfort should be compromised. Here are some factors to consider when buying an office chair:

• Material

The material (leather, fabric, plastic, etc.) used to make a chair largely contributes to the comfort it provides to the person sitting. When buying an office chair for your home office, go for the material that fits the comfort you specifically need for work. Check for its breathability and airflow. For long hours of work, a padded office chair is advisable as it gives extra support and comfort to your back, neck, and arms. 

• Lumbar Support

A quality office chair should have proper lumbar support or extra support for your spine. Spending long hours sitting and doing work can do damage to your spine, so the lumbar support helps keep it aligned and provides a good backrest. 

• Seat Height

The seat height is another important factor you should consider when buying an office chair. It should also be aligned with the height of your office desk. We suggest that you go for an office chair that has an adjustable backrest, height, and armrest. 

7. Storage Furniture

The office desk and chair are not the only ones you will need to complete the functionality of your home office as extra storage will also come in handy for keeping documents and other items organized. Here are some of the storage solutions you can choose from:

• Shelves

Shelves can both be wall-mounted or just standing. They are great if you are looking for home office furniture that’s space-saving. You can use basket organizers to store your files. You can even place figurines and indoor plants to add life to your shelves. 

• Filing Cabinets

For some people, working from home has also turned their houses into actual offices because of all the piled-up documents. Filing cabinets are built for storing heavy loads of files and documents, making them perfect for people who need immediate storage for all their paperwork. 

• Bookcases

Bookcases are elegant-looking furniture pieces that fit perfectly for both modern and traditional home office styles. It is a sturdy cabinet with several built-in shelves that can store large amounts of books in different sizes. Given its usual tall height, it works for larger spaces that have high ceilings. You can put up a mini library in your home office and place the bookcase in the corner where it is best to have some afternoon reading. 

• Office Cupboards

Office cupboards are ideal if you need a large storage capacity for office supplies, files, documents, and other paper works. Although, they take up a lot of space because of their wide structure. See to it that you measure the space you have to check if buying an office cupboard for your home office will be beneficial. 

• Office Rack

Office racks come in different sizes and are versatile storage solutions because they fit both small and large spaces. For small home office spaces, choose an office rack that will not cramp your space and is multifunctional as well, so you can store a lot of items. 

We hope that this article has been helpful in giving you a guide to buying home office furniture.  

If you are looking for office furniture and other items for your home office, visit our page. We have a variety of furniture items for you!

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