From rubbish WiFi connections to awkward Zoom calls, for many of us the adjustment to working from home has been a bumpy ride!
For most of us, our ‘offices’ will be limited in space, often occupying the smallest room in the house or even just a corner of the kitchen or living room. That means home workspaces need to be efficient, organised, and, ideally, inspiring too. If you aren't lucky enough to have a dedicated home office, consider purchasing a room divider to clearly delineate your workspace within the room.
That’s why we’ve scoured the High Street in search of the best home office furniture buys, so you can sit back, relax and get your hustle on in style! Here are our five recommendations for items you can’t do without in your home office!
1. Space-saving desks
If you’re reading this from the kitchen table, or a laptop on your sofa, it might be time to re-think your desk situation!
Having a dedicated work area is vital for maintaining a good relationship between work and home. Everyone’s heard the saying that a home office should have a door on it, but the reality is that’s not always achievable. The good news is there is a multitude of savvy space-saving office furniture designs that can help create a study space anywhere, no matter how small.
One design we’re loving is Nöa & Nani’s corner desk, designed to sit underneath its high-sleeper bed to create a super-efficient workspace within a bedroom. Available in clean and crisp white or cool grey it’s a great bargain buy.
2. The perfect chair
Did you know the average full-time office worker spends around 1,920 hours a year sitting at their desk? With numbers like those, it’s only right that your chair has your back – literally.
When searching for your perfect chair, as well as a good-looking exterior, it’s important to look at how well it will adjust to your body. Adjustable height settings should come as standard with most office chairs, but if you’d like more flexibility lookout for seat tilt, lumbar support, and a head-rest for a truly customisable fit.
We've put together a round-up of the best office chairs on the market right now, to get you started.
3. Flexible lighting
The smell of pumpkin spice is in the air, which means the nights are inevitably drawing in. But is your office space ready to handle the darker evenings?
While overhead pendant lights or living room wall sconces are great for your general lighting needs, they’re not ideal when it comes to more detailed desk work.
Luckily the solution doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Desk lamps come in all shapes, sizes and budgets, but be especially sure to look out for desk lamps with articulated arms; their handy movable parts are particularly useful when it comes to focusing your lighting on detailed work, while limiting any distracting glare from the bulb. For ideas, check out our round-up of the best desk lamps!
Plus, investing in quality lighting will guarantee you look your best on all those Zoom calls!
4. Add-on organisation
Your desk is sorted, your chair is feeling comfortable and your task lighting has got you covered, now it’s time to organise your office space and amp-up its efficiency.
If you’ve only just joined the working from home club, chances are your desk’s storage will be somewhat limited – especially if it’s your kitchen table! Add-on units like separate drawers are a great way to organise your supplies and contain them within one unit. Look out for units with wheels, in particular, as these can be wheeled next to you when you’re working, and then stowed under your desk at the end of the day for a clutter-free feel.
5. Stylish filing cabinets
Having somewhere to properly store your ever expanding collection of books, correspondence, stationary and supplies won’t only leave your space looking better, but it’ll give you a better sense of focus by default.
A stylish filing cabinet makes a perfect addition to a home office because it's such a hardworking piece of furniture - not only can you use it to neatly organise all of your paperwork, loose tech items and miscellaneous office supplies, but it also makes a great design feature, especially if you opt for one with a chalkboard front.
6. Room zoning solutions
Whether you're in a large, dedicated office space or set up at a desk in the corner of another room, zoning your space can be really helpful as it allows you to distinguish your working area from your relaxing space.
Room dividers are great for providing that all-important privacy when you’re on a Zoom call, whereas rugs can visually map out different zones in an open plan home. If your office space is part of another room, try coordinating your office furniture and decor accessories for maximum effect. Team a rattan room divider with a rattan desk chair, and so on.
7. Personal touches
Practicalities aside, your home office should be a part of your home that you love to look at – after all, you’ll probably be spending a lot of time there. One of the perks of working from home is that your desk can be exactly as you want it. Whether it’s patterned ring-binders, an abundance of houseplants, or an obscene amount of fairy lights, now’s the chance to go all-out and make the desk of your dreams! Don’t forget to add some seasonal touches, too. From spooky Halloween cobwebs to tinsel and baubles at Christmas, the possibilities are endless.