The digitization and globalization have made the geographically unbound work more attractive. Since last spring, many people around the world have been forced to work in the home office - and are rediscovering the New Work structures for themselves. Often, however, the necessary structures and appropriate equipment for efficient working at home are lacking. We show you how to set up your office furniture to achieve perfect concentration in your own home. The must have home office furniture and interior moods for your inspiration:
Home office furniture - functionality meets design
According to a representative forsa survey on behalf of the IBA (Industrieverband Büro- und Arbeitswelt), around a third (34%) of employees worked at home on one or more days per week in December 2020, even though the necessary space was not available there. Almost half (47%) of the domestic workplaces were inadequately equipped even after nine months in the home office.
Suitable equipment mainly includes an office chair, desk and lighting, but also electronic devices. When it comes to office furniture, many people focus on functionality and durable design. But before you can start setting up your home office, individual preferences need to be determined first.
Here's what you should look for when setting up your home office
- How much space is available to me?
- What work materials and electronic devices do I need?
- How do I work best - in the middle of the action or do I need space just for myself?
- What do I need to keep my workplace tidy?
- How much of my personal touch do I want to find in my workplace?
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The most important eco furniture in the home office
You cannot do without these things when setting up your home office. Because they form the basis for an efficient workplace. Additional must-have: eco design.
- Matching wooden table/desk
- Comfortable chair with natural fabric cover
- Storage space with boxes and baskets
- Efficient lighting
- Second-hand furnishings and utensils
1. Matching wooden table/desk
The requirements for a desk are just as varied as the work that is carried out on it. For example, if you work with many documents or have several technical devices in use at the same time, you need a larger work surface than is needed for working with a laptop. Cable guides or pre-installed sockets can be helpful for technology users. In terms of material, a table is made of certified real wood or solid wood preferable. It is a little more expensive, but therefore lasts longer. Alternatively, bamboo offers a beautiful filigree look.
In addition, the amount of space you have available in your room also plays a role in choosing the right desk. A secretary is ideal for multifunctional living rooms. A corner table also fits into small rooms because it saves space. However, be sure to choose a table at a suitable height and consider how much time you will spend at it every day. The correct desk height is between 63 and 75 centimeters, depending on your own height. Thereby the forearms lie loosely on the table top and the upper arms hang relaxed from the shoulders.
2. A comfortable chair with natural fabric cover
A desk chair should not only look good, it should above all make work easier and take the strain off the body. Here too, however, the following applies: The longer you sit at your desk, the more important it is to have an ergonomic chair. Many models can be adjusted to the body weight and size of the person working. A flexible backrest yields to pressure and protects the back. A neck and head support helps stabilise these parts of the body. If you work a lot at a computer, armrests can also be helpful.
Whether swivel chair, executive chair or design classic: You decide which chair is best for you to sit on comfortably for a long time. The right material should also be taken into account, chairs with a plastic cover, for example, are less air-permeable and sustainable than a chair cover made of cotton. However, when aligning, make sure that you sit high enough and reach a reasonable distance from the table you are working at. Furthermore, very important: As comfortable as the chair may be in the end, do not forget to stand up regularly.
3. Storage space with boxes and baskets
A mess of paper, pens or tangled cables: As in any room, sufficient storage space is also crucial in a home office. The more storage space, the better - because you can find everything easily only in a well-sorted office. If you have enough space, a cupboard or chest of drawers for the work materials is of naturally a good idea. But also boxes and baskets, for example made of sustainable rattan, can help to keep an overview and to neatly stow important things in a clever way.
4. Efficient lighting
With the right lighting, it is much easier to work. It can increase your performance and keep you focused for longer. Which colour and intensity is the right one, depends on both the type of work and the rest of the room. Three components provide optimal desk lighting: daylight, indirect desk lighting and flexible work light.
If the study is already very bright and open, you may only need a little atmospheric light. If, on the other hand, you use an alcove for your home office, a bright daylight fixture can be the right choice. Adjust the brightness and light warmth to your needs - for example bright, cool light for attentive reading or warm, subdued light for the coffee in between. When buying a lamp also ensure that it is energy-efficient lighting and don't be put off by energy-saving lamps or LEDs.
5. Second-hand furnishings and utensils
Everyone requires different materials and gadgets for his work. Especially in extraordinary times like these, many new purchases are therefore inevitable, because not every employer can provide its employees with laptops, headsets or writing utensils.
Nevertheless, such investments are accompanied by high costs and not all devices are still necessary after the pandemic. So maybe ask friends whether they have a second screen left for the new (temporary) workstation or buy devices and furniture second hand. This conserves resources and, in the end, also your own wallet.
Set up beautiful interior moods for the home office
Furnishing your home office is fun because you can design it according to your wishes and needs. However, inspiration is often missing. These styles are extremely popular at the moment:
- Modern
- Mid-century
- Coastal style
- Minimalistic
- Electricism
The modern workplace
The workplace can look as modern as the home office concept itself. With clean lines as well as lots of light and beautiful décor pieces, a modern home office invites you to unwind. Chic desks and ergonomic chairs ensure an excellent working atmosphere.
Trend tip: To stay awake and active, it is important to have plenty of daylight at the workplace.If the room does not allow so, a daylight lamp can be helpful. These are available in a wide variety of designs that can become real eye-catchers.
Set up a home office in a mid-century look
An office with vintage charm: the mid-century look combines comfort, functionality and design. Muted colors, lots of wood and simple designs make the home office a new favourite place to spend time in.
Trend tip: Plants offer an organic contrast to the straight lines of the mid-century furniture and are also beneficial for the indoor climate.
A coastal style home office
Maybe it's the longing for distant places, maybe it's just the bright colors and natural materials that make the coastal style so popular. A desk made of reclaimed wood with a chair made of rattan or light fabric creates a maritime flair without falling into a cheesy beach theme.
Trend tip: If you want, you can also add small coastal elements to the otherwise very simple room. Shell-look vases or dried corals pick up the coastal theme perfectly without appearing cluttered.
Minimalistic home office
For those who like things simple and are easily distracted by too much decoration and vivid colours, a minimalist design could be perfect for the home office. Bright, open and without a lot of knickknacks, the minimalist office is perfectly suited for all home workers and is particularly suitable for small rooms.
Trend tip: Despite all the simplicity, you should not forget the personal touch in your minimalist workplace. There is room for a picture of the family or a pen holder with initials, even on the tidiest desk.
Eclecticism in your own office
A little bit of everything while giving the imagination a great deal of space Vibrant colours, many textures and style mixes from vintage to ethnic are combined in the electric style. For some, such rooms seem overloaded, but if the styles are successfully combined, an atmospheric overall picture can emerge despite the many pieces. Creative minds will certainly never run out of ideas here.
Trend tip: It is important not to forget the storage space with all the decorative pieces. Especially in a small home office, functionality is everything.
Setting up a co-working space: many heads in one room
In times like these, we are usually not alone at home. The partner, the children or the flatmate also need space for their work materials. Some prefer to work quietly behind closed doors, but so-called co-working is also a big topic nowadays. Where colleagues usually work side by side, co-working spaces allow people from different work areas to come together and work independently from each other - enabling them to benefit from each other. If you want to set up a co-working space yourself, you should make sure that there are sufficiently large working areas for everyone. Stacks of paper, for example, can be stowed away by organisers or drawers. Above all, functional and modular furniture is the trend here.
Last but not least - solving the space problem in the home office
Not only work, but also the entire private life takes place in one place since the beginning of the pandemic. Many are overwhelmed when mixing work with private life. That is why it is particularly important to separate the workplace from the chill area - both spatially and mentally.
But not everyone has enough space to set up a separate study. So-called multispaces make it possible to use the room for several purposes. Intelligent micro-workspace solutions or even modular furniture that can be quickly adapted to the different uses of the living space make the separation possible, for example in one's own living room. In addition, small alcoves, wardrobes or storage rooms can be converted into functional home offices.
