Home Office Furniture – A worthwhile investment

A doubled edged sword, working from home has both advantages and disadvantages; some people are able to manage it, whilst others find it difficult to get into a work mentality what with all the distractions and temptations that come with having all the home comforts just a door away. Of course, for some people there may not be a choice due to disability or family obligation and working from home is the only option.

If do you happen to be working from home the furniture that you have in there is going to have an effect on many aspects of your productivity, morale and attitude. By having functional, attractive and good quality furniture you can make sure that your work output is not affected by disorganisation or by being uncomfortable.

I personally like my home office furniture in white. It keeps the space looking clean and bright.

One of the most important things to consider with your home office furniture is comfort and back support, especially if you are sitting in front of a computer for prolonged periods of time; a low quality chair will do nothing but leave you with back pain, and over time may affect your overall posture. Investing in an ergonomic and quality chair when putting together a home workspace should be a top priority.

I think open "cubby" shelving such as this are great for storing office files, binders, and magazines in an easily accessible way. I plan on getting a similar piece in white and placing it horizontally, so it acts as a table surface, and storage. 

The second most important thing to keep in the back of your mind is how you can augment and improve your productivity levels; your computer desks and workstations should not be there just to prop up your computer and your files, it is the centrepiece of your work and needs to allow you to reach all of your important tools, peripherals and documents within easy and convenient reach. Having to scoot around in your office on a chair can get tiresome and often lead to breaking concentration and affecting those all-important productivity levels. A cleverly designed desk can go a long way, giving you the nooks and crannies in which to store the things you need.

This desk is great if you don't have a separate room for your home office, because at the end of the day you can close the cabinets and drawers and be left with a pretty piece of furniture, without having to look at your office tools.

Comfort and productivity aside, aesthetics are the final element in this holy trifecta; having attractive office furniture can have a positive psychological effect and can go a long way into improving the quality of your work. Attractive, modern furniture can really give a room a professional atmosphere. Additionally, ensure that there is a window in your home office; natural light can have a wonderful effect on how you work, and also gives you something to glance at, other than a computer screen which can alleviate eyestrain.

Below are a few more examples of the impact that furniture can have on your home office:

A pretty file cabinet in white wood is much more inspiring than a traditional metal one.
 2 above via Ballard

 A mix of different style furnishings keep the space functional but also personal.
via High Gloss

via Lifework

Different people have different needs to be at their most efficient.  Even if you're a minimalist - lighting and a desk with enough space for your materials is a must.


*disclosure: This post is sponsored by Wooden Furniture Store.co.uk

The new traditional: interpreted

 classic but unstuffy
Sternfield Design

 I don't know if this is a painting or a photo but I love the artwork here
Passal Design

One fabulous design
Jeff Andrews Design

I love this home office!
Ballard & Mason design

Trad Home Mag

A winter's day refuge: the home library

As the days get colder and gloomier, we naturally spend more time inside. Sometimes a rainy or snowy day is just the excuse you need to cozy up and spend the day with a new or well-loved book.

via House of Fifty

That's one comfy looking loveseat. I'm sure I could read there all afternoon.

via Little Green Notebook

Talk about book storage!

via Loft Life Mag

If I ever have the space, creating a little reading nook like this will be a top priority!

via Maree Homer

via Marie Claire Maison

Check out how they've even extended the bookcase on the sides. Definitely making the best use of space here.

via Poppytalk Handmade on Pinterest

via Apartment Therapy

I've been reading a lot lately that if you have "ugly" books, to cover them in plain white paper to create a nicer looking shelf. I don't know how I feel about this. Something about it to me seems too forced, but I've never seen it in person. Has anyone tried this?

via Ballard

dreamy

via Sweet Home Style

Squeeze the most out of an otherwise unusable wall space by running low shelf units along the bottom.

via Sweet Home Style

Do you have a dedicated home library, are your books spread out throughout the house, or have you carved out a space for books in another room?

Home office bliss

The home office is so important to me since I work from home. I think with more and more people working from home these days we'll be seeing even more great home office inspiration and solutions in mags and blogs.

Happy Friday!

a fab duo office

via Ballard Home

so pretty!  The white, the cube shelving - the window seat!!

via BHG

Tons of storage for inspiration!  My shelves are always overflowing, but sometimes I feel like the more storage space I have, the more likely I am to hoard more stuff...
via Ikea

Looks like an archivists dream right?

via Inc.com

A down-to-earth but still chic space.

via House of Fifty

via Ivy and Piper

Only problem with this one is that the gorgeous wall mural might have me daydreaming of tree houses all day

via Sweet Home Style


Which one do you like best?

The home office/studio of one of my favorite graphic designers/bloggers

Designer Fabien Barral's blog, Graphic Exchange, is always my go-to site for design inspiration when I'm starting a new project and feel a little bit of designer's block. He has a way of finding the most stunning work being produced in the graphic design world - especially when it comes to typography. It was no surprise really that his home office, which he shares with his wife in the countryside of France, is as equally inspiring.

Separate work stations provide lots of work surfaces, and in my humble opinion, one can never have too much surface area...

The plants are a nice touch... I have three in my space

One day I'll have space to have a separate table for pencil/ink/and paint, and a separate desk for my computer...

Make organizational tools like filing/storage that are out in the open pretty, and somehow visually cohesive - love these.

Lovely office right? I know I'm a bit jealous.  You may also know Barral from Harmonie-Intérieure, a home-decor stencil company that does some really unique wall stencils.  I did a post on them years ago.

images via Graphic Exchange

A potpourri of French pretty...

From our effortlessly stylish friends across the pond...

I have that rocking chair!  Just not that much light

I never would have thought to put a wicker chair in with that stainless steel table - but it looks good here

What do you think of the french style?

via Marie Claire Maison

Pretty home offices and workspaces

via BHG

These striped curtains add a tailored look to the natural blinds
via Apartment Therapy

This office belongs to Jen Ramos of Made By Girl
via Adore Home

Love the chair and the pendants...
via Casa Diez

via Elle Decor

via Covet Garden