Buying Guide: Home Office
HOME OFFICE SHOPPING CHECKLIST
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Room Dimensions
_____ Feet & _____inches by
_____ Feet & _____inches |
Electronic Component Dimensions
- Computer________
- Monitor________
- Keyboard________
- Laptop________
- Printer________
- Scanner________
- Fax Machine________
- Cell Phone________
- PDA/Blackberry________
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Features
- Keyboard Tray
- Cord Manangement System
- Charging Stations
- Compnonent Housing
- File Cabinet
- Additional Storage
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Pieces
- Desk
- Return
- Hutch
- File Cabinet
- Computer Armoire
- Wall System
- Chair
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Before you begin your shopping trip, take some time to think about your requirements.
This guide will help you hone in on what you need.
Measure the space
Home office furniture varies widely in scale, so the first step anyone should
take is to measure the room, or the space within a multi-function room, it
will be placed in. Don't forget to measure the doorways. Many furniture returns
are made because the furniture can't be moved into its intended room. Try
laying things out with an online room planner to get an idea of how you want
to set up the space.
Power and Connectivity
Next, consider whether or not there are outlets, phone jacks, or internet
ports access in the immediate area and plan your furniture placement accordingly.
You will save yourself a lot of frustration if you plan for these necessities
in advance. Attention to this detail will also allow you to line up power
strips, battery backups and the like before you put the furniture in place.
Otherwise you may end up doing a contortionist act to plug in your computer.
Work style
Are you the organized and efficient type who prefers to work in a space that
keeps everything in its place? Then you might do well with a tidy computer
armoire or an office in a box with storage capacity and compartments, but
not a lot of counter space. Or perhaps you like to spread things out to get
the big picture. If this is your work style you might be better served with
a full desk and a return.
Capacity
What equipment do you use in your home office? Is your computer a laptop or
a tower? Is your printer a compact inkjet or a hefty laser printer? Take inventory
of your equipment before you go shopping so that you can find the furniture
to house it all. It's also a good idea to measure your equipment in advance.
Computer hardware and peripherals have gotten smaller and smaller with each
new model. So if, for example, your printer is more than a couple of years
old, it's probably bigger than the newest models on the market, and it may
not fit into a printer cubby on a new computer armoire.
As you inventory your components, you might want to check the ventilation
requirements for the equipment. Excess heat can impair the operation of electronics,
so you want to make sure that cooling fans will not be blocked in your new
office furniture.
The best furniture designed for the home office will have built-in features
that make it easy to set up your workstation. Cord access holes are essential
to modern home office furniture; look for finishing touches of wood, metal
or plastic grommets around cord access punch-outs. Many designs also incorporate
cord management systems that neatly tuck them away so you won't be left in
a tangle. Newer innovations include built-in recharging stations for cell
phones, PDAs and other electronics.
Keyboard trays have become a common feature in home office furniture. Many
times they are masked by false, drop-down drawer fronts. In addition to keyboard
trays, pull-out platforms for scanners, printers and fax machines can improve
a workstation's functionality.
There are many options available in home office furniture today, scaled for
different needs and different spaces. In addition to looking at your needs
for computer storage, be sure to consider storage for all the little stuff
that goes with it. Do you have tons of disks and CDs stacked around your computer
now? If so, then you might want to look for home office furniture that offers
built-in disk storage areas.
Workspace
We all need a space to sit down, pay the bills and check e-mail. But some
of us do much more in our home offices. Workspaces can be customized to fit
your work style and available space.
A desk is what we immediately think of when we conceive of a home office.
At its most basic, it offers a broad level surface on which to work. No matter
the style, a desk's functionality can be increased with the addition of other
components.
A return attaches perpendicularly to one end of a desk to create an "L" shaped
workspace. If you like to spread things out while you are working, a return
can keep you from dropping stacks of stuff on the floor. A return can also
increase your storage capacity with additional drawer space.
A hutch sits on top of a desk, against a wall, for additional storage. Open
shelves or cabinet doors usually frame the space around a computer monitor.
A hutch with built-in lighting should shed light on the task at hand without
aggravating computer screen glare. In addition to added storage, a hutch can
bring character to your home office.
A corner desk is a great way to make use of what would normally be wasted
space. They work particularly well in rooms with multiple functions, such
as family rooms or bedrooms.
Home office wall systems are a great option when you want to make a dramatic
statement. Desk, hutch, and return can be combined with bookshelves, cabinets,
and lateral files for great functionality and good looks.
Lateral file cabinets have become increasingly popular in home offices. They
offer more capacity than traditional two-drawer cabinets and since they are
broader than they are deep, the contents are easier to access. Rising half
the height of a full-sized traditional file cabinet, a lateral file can provide
an additional work surface. Lateral files can also be fitted with a hutch
for book storage above. Many new designs disguise the purpose of the file
cabinet by making them look like a small chest of drawers.
A computer armoire or an office in a box are both great alternatives when
your home office is located in a multifunction room. In addition to hiding
away computer clutter when not in use, many have built-in extra features to
help organize your workspace. Chalk boards, dry erase boards and bulletin
boards fit neatly on to doors. Mail-sorting cubbies, paper storage and CD
/ disk storage keep your supplies in order. Some armoires incorporate built-in
lighting. Lights should illuminate without aggravating computer screen glare.
If you like to spread things out when you work and are concerned that an armoire
won't offer enough space, try looking at one with a fold-up or swing-out return.
It's sort of like a Murphy bed of desks: a whole table tucks away until you
need it for an additional work surface.
Ergonomic is not synonymous with ugly. With the rise of telecommuting, home
office furnishings have moved towards attractive designs that are intended
for daily use. If you will be spending large amounts of time working in your
home office, be sure that it not only fits your home's decor, but fits your
body too. Try it out in the store: sit down and go through the motions you
regularly go through in your work. Are you sitting in an awkward position?
Do you feel any strain in your arms, shoulders, back or wrists? If so, look
elsewhere.
Seating
While you are furnishing your home office, don't forget to pick up an office
chair. If you spend a lot of time on the computer at home, be sure that the
chair fits your body as well as your style. There are two primary categories
of office seating: executive chair and task chair.
Executive chairs are larger in scale and have arms that are usually attached
to the seat and the back. While the height of an executive chair is often
adjustable, the back is not. Executive chairs also frequently incorporate
tilt features. A column tilt pivots the back and seat from the middle of the
seat. A knee tilt pivots the back and seat from a point closer to the front
of the chair; a knee tilt leans back farther than a column tilt while keeping
the knees in relatively the same position.
Task chairs are generally smaller in scale and consist of a seat and back;
armrests are optional and, when present, are usually connected to the seat
only. The height of the seat and the back are often adjustable on task chairs.
Task chairs may or may not tilt.
A chair that will be used by more than one person should have adjustable height
controls. Ideal seating positions the thighs between 90 and 105 degrees to
the back. The back should be well supported. Thighs should be supported and
square with the floor, and feet should rest comfortably on the floor. A rolling
chair should have five sturdy casters so that it will not tip when you lean
one direction or another.
Construction
Like any case good purchase, you will want to look for the following structural
details before you buy. Overall, the piece should be sturdy and should not
wobble when rocked. Corner blocks should be used to insure the stability of
the piece and levelers will help to make sure that all the doors and drawers
line up correctly.
Drawers should be constructed with dovetail joints for strength and stability.
The drawers should move easily on their glides and should have stops to prevent
overextension. Good quality glides will use ball bearings or nylon wheels
to make it easier to move the drawer. Drawers for file storage should have
compound glides for full access to the drawer contents.
Doors should fit well and should not have any visible gaps. They should be
easy to open and should not squeak or rub. Doors on computer armoires should
have sturdy hinges and should open wide enough for easy access.