Choosing Your Home Office Desk and Chair with Safety and Comfort in Mind

About Office Furniture

Having a home office can be a wonderful thing, especially for the mom who wishes to work from home or the person who lives a far distance from the nearest potential employment location.

Although a home office is usually casual, with less expensive (and less extensive) equipment, you shouldn't sell yourself short when making a home office furniture purchase.  The cheapest will not always be best for you.

The Office Desk

One of the key items in your home office will be your office desk.  The desk is the area where you will place your computer (if working with a computer), keyboard and mouse, phone, calculator, important files, etc. Before purchasing a desk, make a list of all items that your desk will hold.

Using this list, you'll be able to determine what features your desk will require.

For basic office needs, it's wise to choose a desk with a low keyboard drawer (that slides outward over your lap).  This tends to be one of the favored positions of the keyboard since it allows for the computer to be brought closer to the eyes as well as the keyboard being at a comfortable level.

The desk should also contain at least a few cubby holes for storage, some drawers and possibly a storage cabinet, along with plenty of leg room for working.  Having all these features will give you enough space for organization, which is a must if you're going to operate a successful home office.

The Office Chair

Your office chair is an extremely important piece of furniture in your office.  Why?  The chair can and should provide comfort and support while you work.  Finding a chair to meet your needs is a matter of individual choice and preference, but there are a few things every office chair should
have.

Throwing an old wooden or metal chair in front of your computer desk is not ideal for office furniture.  Even though you're probably not going to have many visitors to your office, you will be there many hours each day or week, and your  health and posture are important.  An unhealthy and uncomfortable chair will hinder your work and your ability to focus.

Here are a Few Key Features Every Office Chair Should Have:

1.  Arm Rests

Although you may not use the arm rests at all times, it's good to have them for support. During those long typing sessions or Internet browsing and research sessions, you'll find the arm rests to be very pleasant.  The rests should be slightly above level with your keyboard and mouse.  This is one of the healthiest ways to type and use the mouse.  Your elbows can rest while typing, giving you maximum strength in your hands, where it's needed the most.

2.  Back Support

Back support is vital to good health and posture while working.  Even if you've never experienced back problems before, you'll want to have a  chair with exceptional back support that is adjustable if possible.  If you don't, it might not be very long before you begin experiencing backaches after a day's work.  Your back can only take so much strain during the day.  Don't abuse it by using a chair with no support.

TIP:  If you already have a chair which offers no or little support, you can supplement with a back support pad.  A back support pad offers reinforcement to your back while sitting, and will protect your back from too much strain.
 
3.  Adjustable Height Office Chairs

Make sure your chair is adjustable in height, especially if the chair is not the right height for you.  Remember, your keyboard might be sitting directly over your lap, and you'll want to adjust the chair accordingly.  Your feet should be able to touch the floor with your knees bent in a normal sitting position.

4.  Turn-a-round Office Chair

Your chair should be easy to turn around (from side to side) while you work.  This helps to prevent back pulls and neck cricks, and makes life easier in general when you have several tasks to perform in various areas of your office. A chair "on wheels" is also preferred if possible.

You might be tempted to get the cheapest brand of office furniture no matter how it's designed, but this is not wise if you'll be spending any length of time in your home office.

Test Your Home Office Furniture Before You Buy

A great way to find the right desk and chair is to buy them both at the same location and try them out before buying.  If you've found a possible desk and chair match, place the chair you'll purchase under the desk area and test it out for height, comfort, etc.  You'll be able to get a feel for both the desk and chair together, and make an informed decision about your purchase.

If buying online, find a similar desk and chair in a physical store first to try it out.  If this is not possible, make sure you are able to read the features of the furniture and see a photo before buying.

Having pleasant office furniture that adds comfort, safety and organization to your office is well worth the time and effort.