Office Reality Buyer's Guide: Home Office

Before purchasing your home office furniture, there are a few things that you need to take into account. Some people find that working from home is a blessing, whereas others find that it is more distracting than the office and cannot get much done. Below are a few tips on planning your space before buying the all-important furniture.

First and foremost is to find an appropriate area to work. The area or room must be well lit, have few distractions (that includes noise) and also be comfortable. A good space to use would be a spare room. You need an area that is outside of the general traffic of the house as well as being big enough to fit a desk, chair and some storage comfortably. The bigger the area the better in this case as it will feel more comfortable.

A point worth noting is that even though you should have good ventilation in the room, it is advised that you do not have your desk facing it as it can be a distraction. Also try, if you can, not to have your desk facing a wall. The reason for this is that it helps your eyes to relax on more different things from time to time when you are working at your computer.

The colour scheme in your office is more important than you might think, so if you are in a position to redecorate your office then do so. Choosing a fresh new colour that is different to the house will give the room its own vibe and will help you get into “the zone”. It is important not to choose a colour that is too vibrant as this will become a distraction and equally not to dark.

Once you have thought about this, you are then ready to purchase and install your furniture.

The item of furniture that is arguably most important is the desk that you will be working on. Within home office ranges, there are many different types to choose from that should suit your every need. Below are a few examples as to what to look for:

Standard Straight Desk – The title is self-explanatory. These desks are designed to be used in small spaces and are simple in construction. Can be made of either glass or wood, these desks are usually very in expensive. Usually the difference between home office furniture and office workstations is that there is more room for integral storage, however this is not always the case. Pictured below are some examples:

Computer Desks – There is a vast array of computer desks that are on offer. These desks come in all shapes and sizes and are designed to house all objects that you will have in your home office, for example CPUs, CDs, printers, stationery etc… Some have straight desktops and some are designed to fit into a corner and are available in different sizes and colours depending on the manufacturer. Pedestals (if the desk has one) are usually integral to the desk. Below are some examples of these:

Glass Computer Desks – The same as computer desks however constructed mainly from glass. Available in different sizes and different colours, these are more expensive than its wooden counterparts. Used in offices to give a more modern appearance, some examples are pictured below:

Hideaways – These workstations are designed to house your computer, CPU tower, printer etc… yet conveniently close to give the appearance of a cupboard. These units are ideal for use in areas where your home office is not the sole purpose of the room as it can save space. Usually constructed from wood, these workstations come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Below are some typical examples:

For storage and seating options, please visit our seating and storage buyers guide.

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