Home Office Furniture Buying Guide

Choosing a Desk

The main piece of furniture in your home office is your desk.

Function

Before choosing a desk, make a list of all the functions you will need it for on a regular basis. Knowing what tasks you'll be doing at your office desk will help you choose the best desk.

• Do you spend more time working on the computer than using a pen and paper? You need a computer workstation.
• Will you be printing out documents or sending faxes often? You need a desk with a place to store a printer and a fax machine.
• Do you spend most of your day talking on the phone? You may only need a small desk, with enough room for your phone and a place to take notes.
• Do you need a supply of reference books close at hand? You'll want plenty of shelves or drawers on your desk.

Placement

Next you will want to consider where in your house you are putting your home office, as this will also influence which desk you choose. If you are setting up shop in the living room or in a guest room, you may want to choose a corner desk or other small desk. If you have a whole room to devote to your home office, you can choose something larger.

Style

Whichever size desk you choose, remember that you should also find a style that fits in with your home. Gone are the days when the only computer desks available were plain and strictly about functionality. Now, desks come in a variety of colors and materials, with details that will give your home office a personal touch.

• A wood workstation can give your home office a classic feel.
• A metal workstation will fit in with more contemporary office furniture.
• A plastic workstation may not be as sturdy as other desks, but it is a good choice when you're on a tight budget.
• A resinite workstation can be an affordable desk and often has the appearance of a wood desk.

Types of Desks

Computer Desks

Computer furniture is designed to keep your desktop computer and all its components together in a usable, organized way. Computer workstations and computer desks often include a keyboard and mouse tray, a monitor stand, a CPU shelf and a reinforced hole for cords. Common features in larger desks may include a printer shelf, book shelves or compact disc holders. If your computer workstation is in the corner of another room, consider an office desk with doors, so you can close off the work when it's time for play. If you've already thought about the tasks you'll want to do at your computer desk and which components you'll need handy, choosing your desk will be easy.

Other Desks

A writing desk, secretary desk, student desk or other kind of desk may fit your needs. These desks are not usually set up for computers; they probably won't have a keyboard tray or places to run cords. However, if you do most of your work with paper and pens, or if you use a laptop computer and need a place to use it when you are at home, this kind of desk is perfect for you.

• Writing desk: has a surface for writing or placing a laptop, possibly a few cubby holes and usually some type of closable top, such as a roll-top. A wood writing desk can be a lovely piece of furniture in a bedroom.
• Secretary desk: usually has a few drawers below the writing surface and, like the writing desk, has a way to be closed when not in use. A closed secretary desk is similar to a small armoire, making it ideal for a living room.
• Student desk: usually has drawers under one side of the writing surface, while the other side is open underneath to accommodate the sitter. A student desk is often a small desk, making it a perfect addition to a bedroom.

Choosing an Office Chair

To avoid the strain on your back and neck that comes from sitting for long periods of time, choose an ergonomic desk chair. Here are a few things that make an office chair an ergonomic chair:

• Size: Make sure that you can adjust your office chair to the right height for you. You'll want your feet to be flat on the floor, with your thighs horizontal and your arms at the same height as the desk. Most seat heights range from 16 to 21 inches. The seat should be deep enough that, when sitting back in the desk chair, you have about two inches between the edge of the seat and the back of your knees. The seat should be 17 to 20 inches wide, and the backrest should be 12 to 19 inches wide.
• Structure: An ergonomic chair will usually have lumbar support, which is where the desk chair curves in at your lower back. If you choose an arm chair, make sure that you can rest your arms without any strain to your shoulders and that your forearms aren't on the armrests while you are typing.
• Material: A breathable cloth fabric will be more comfortable than any hard surface. Most office chairs feature some kind of padding--something you'll be grateful for at the end of the day.

All task chairs are designed for sitting comfortably and safely for many hours, but picking an ergonomic desk chair that fits your body will help you keep a healthy back. Once you have chosen your desk chair, remember to pick out a chair mat to go under it to protect both hard floors and carpet.

Executive chairs show clients visiting your home office that you have achieved success. These are commonly leather office chairs, so executive desk chairs also add an element of classic style to your home office and are usually ergonomic chairs, as well.

Having guest chairs in your home office will show that you are prepared for visitors. Comfortable arm chairs or even a leather couch can be a good option if you regularly have clients in your home office. If visitors are less frequent, keep a supply of stacking chairs or folding chairs you can access easily when company arrives.

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