Office Furniture Buying Guide

Whether you have a full time, work-from-home job or a busy side hustle, there’s one thing that everyone needs: a home office space with a desk and other office furniture to support your work. By taking the design a step further and incorporating motivational wall art and even little décor items that make you smile, it can also be a space that you enjoy being in—even if you are just catching up on bills or finishing that project that was due, yesterday!

First things first, you’ll need a desk and a comfortable office chair. Add some files and organizational furniture and accessories, and you’ll be well on your way. Of course, it’s not as easy as that. There are a wide range of desks, chairs and other office furniture available, and you’ll need to choose home office furniture that will fit your room, your design preferences, your work style and, well, you.

Adding to the challenge, many of us don’t have entire rooms to dedicate exclusively as a study or large budgets for expensive office furniture sets. If you have to carve a nook, cranny or small shared room out to house your office furniture, you may need to get creative with the layout and design to make a space that works for you and will fit well with the rest of your house. You can also get the most out of your budget by choosing stylish, yet affordable ready-to-assemble office furniture.

If you are ready to tackle a home office redesign, you should begin the project just like you would any work assignment: with research. Use this home office buying guide to strategize your office purchases and ultimately design a space where you will love to work.

Choose your spot

Not sure where to start? First, you need to decide on a space where you can focus on your work tasks. A spare bedroom is the best choice, because it will give you room to spread out and privacy from the happenings in the rest of your house. Don’t have a spare bedroom? Many of us don’t! There are many good options available if you don’t have a separate bedroom to dedicate exclusively as a home office. For instance, you can section off a part of your guest bedroom, craft room or home gym. You can even make a corner of your master bedroom a make-shift home office, carve out a space off of the kitchen, or claim a nook in your living room, family room or den. By specifically selecting computer desks for small spaces and an efficient office chair and files, you can make almost any empty or unused space in your home an effective office space.

If you are struggling to determine what space is right for your home office, it helps to think about how the office will be used. Do you work full time from home? If so, you should choose a space with as little distractions as possible. This is where a spare room is really nice. You can also consider a room or space on a second level or even basement, since it will be more set apart from the rest of the house, and the happenings of the rest of the inhabitants. No getting distracted by board game tournaments or binge-watching marathons for you!

Maybe your home office space will be used less frequently, but it is still important for you to have a dedicated space where you can be productive for an hour or two in the evening or weekends. In this case, a shared office space may work well—whether it’s a corner of your living room or an end of your family room. There are plenty of ways to physically or visually section off your office space, from room dividers to area rugs that help visually separate different spaces within a room.

If you are still considering a couple of different options, think about how the space will work and how the environment will affect your productivity. For instance, a space with plenty of natural lighting can help you feel more awake and productive. On the other end, a spot that’s in set-back corner of your house can be quiet and more conducive to work.

Office furniture: a search for the best desk

Once you’ve determined the ideal space for your home office, get out the measuring tape. You need to figure out the dimensions before you start choosing furniture, starting with a quality desk. Along with the space that you have available, you should take your workflow and preferences into consideration as you decide on the type of desk that’s right for your needs. There are a wide range of desks available, and even small desks and small office chairs can be used for a lot of work when they are selected and positioned with thought to your daily routine. Here are a few things you should consider when selecting the ideal desk for your home office:

1. Do you need drawers? Most at-home workers will need at least moderate storage for office supplies like pens, staplers and more. Bonus: drawers let you easily hide away a little clutter from a project that’s still in progress. Your guests will never know the difference!
2. Do you need built-in storage? If you have a lot of office supplies, work equipment and files, you may want a desk with built-in storage, such as a desk with hutch. For example, an L-shaped desk with hutch gives you plenty of space for your computer, notebook (if you like doing things old-school), clock and lamp. Plus, you can stow away supplies and files in the drawers and put your additional supplies behind doors in the hutch.
3. Do you use a laptop or desktop computer? You’ll want to make sure your desk has plenty of space for your computer, including the tower if you are using a desktop computer. If you work a lot from home and use multiple monitors, you’ll also need more room on your desktop. If you just need a desk for an occasional task, a small computer desk that doesn’t take up too much room may be the ticket.
4. Does anyone else use this space? If your desk is in a shared area, like a section of your family room or even a guest room that’s frequently used, you may want to look for a roll top or secretary style desk. This way, you can close it when you’re finished—keeping others out of your important work and keeping the space less cluttered for the enjoyment of others.
5. What is your budget? Last, but not least, you need to keep in mind your budget. After all, you don’t want to be looking at maxed out credit card statements in the nice office set that you just purchased. Consider affordable office furniture that can provide the footprint and style that you need, without breaking the bank.

Office chair: take a seat

Once the desk is set, it’s time to pull up a chair! If you work extensive hours at your desk, or even if it’s just a few hours here and there, it’s important to invest in a comfortable desk chair. There are a lot of options available. Of course, you can take style into consideration. After all, you should enjoy at least some parts of your work! There are many options from traditional office chairs to simple mesh task chairs, and even stylish desk chairs in bold colors. But don’t forget to focus on comfort. If possible, you should sit down in a desk chair and see how it feels to you before purchasing. You can also narrow down the choices by considering the following factors:

1. How much time will you spend seated? Office chair prices vary greatly. If you are going to be working full time from home, it’s worth the investment for a quality executive style office chair. If your home office is for homework or bill paying, a nicely designed task desk may suffice.
2. To swivel or not to swivel: Some like the option to swivel back and forth as they work on projects, greet guests and more. Others prefer more stationary options. The choice is yours, friends.
3. What material do you prefer? There are many versatile and affordable office chair materials, such as a black leather-like upholstery fabric that will make you look and feel like a boss. Additionally, mesh can be a cool and comfortable alternative. There’s also upholstered office chairs that may suit the design aesthetics of your space. Choose a neutral material to help your shared office space blend in with existing décor, or create a bold focal point with an exciting color in your favorite shade.

Storage and organizational aids

An unavoidable outcome of office work? Paperwork. Make sure you have the home office furniture and accessories available to organize and store away your important paperwork, from work reports to bank statements. Get set with a combination of file cabinets and bookcases that are small enough to fit in your home office, yet big enough to hold your stacks of files.

Finish with Accessories

You have the essentials: your desk, a comfortable chair and some storage pieces. Now it’s time for the extras. You can finish and personalize your office design with accessories. Choose a desk lamp or floor lamp to make sure you have plenty of light to stay alert and easily work. This is especially important if you are working in a dark corner of the house or a lower level without much natural lighting. Add a clock so you can track billable hours—or just make sure you quit in time for your favorite show. After all, you don’t want to be out of the loop at the water cooler tomorrow!

Also importantly, you should decorate your space with items that make you like being in your home office. Choose wall art with inspirational sayings. Or go another route and grab some picturesque landscapes that will motivate you to earn that next vacation. Framed pictures of your family can also make your home office space feel, well, more homey! Your office space should have accessories that speak to you, and will make your office a space that you like to work in and can be proud to show off to others.