There are many things that can contribute to a pleasant working environment, including enjoying what you’re doing and interacting with people that you like. But, what may not come to mind immediately is having the right home-office furniture and the right type of working space. Finding the correct fit for your lifestyle can take some research. The trends in home-office furniture run the range from ergonomic to modular to good old-fashioned wood products.
Note: Ergonomic furniture is furniture that fits the needs of the human body. It reduces the instances of work-related muscular-skeletal disorders and repetitive stress injuries, include Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome.
Cornell ergonomist, Alan Hedge, is presently testing technology to reduce work-related repetitive motion injuries. Among the items being tested is a vibrating mouse that will signal people to remove their hands from the mouse occasionally, a massaging chair that alleviates back pain, and a movable arm to adjust LCD screens for better viewing and more room. While the results have been mixed, Hedge continues experimenting in the hopes of improving the overall quality of all office furniture. Beyond injuries, there are other dangers with one-size-fits-all home-office furniture. Uncomfortable workers are less productive workers. A tall man who cannot comfortably fit his legs under a desk will not be a happy worker. Adjustable desks and foot rests for petite workers will help increase efficiency.
Some ergonomic innovations have been around for years. These include wrist pads, keyboard trays for both comfort and space, and adjustable chairs. But, adjustable height tables have just been introduced that can snugly fit any body type. Chairs are now being made with lumbar support and a rainfall type seat to better contour to the human body. Teknion’s Fitz’s furniture is purported to be able to accommodate 95 percent of the world’s working personnel. They have a molded foam seat that equally distributes weight and reduces the pressure on certain parts of the body. The size of chairs have also increased to accommodate any body type.
For those who enjoy comfort, but also like style, solid wood products can easily fit in with any home décor and are widely available. Companies are now making ergonomic wood furniture for home offices that will meld with your current tastes. No more office furniture that looks like it belongs in an episode of The Office. One I like is Spacify’s Twister Modern Office Desk. It’s an ergonomically designed mix of wood and metallic components. It fits naturally into almost any home. While solid wood products are more expensive, new veneer furniture is being made better and heavier. The particle board of the past that fell apart in six months is no longer the norm. The wood is thicker and more durable.
Since the home office worker isn’t usually confined to one room of the house, occupational furniture is now being made that will match any space. Aspenhome’s Liv 360 is an oak table feature with a flip top to store any office supplies, including your laptop. It effectively conceals your work when company comes over. Hooker Furniture and Stanley Furniture companies are incorporating entertainment features and functionality into their sales line. They have both experimented with monitor lifts that act like flat screen TVs. Hutchtops, reminiscent of antique desks, have become popular again. By closing the top, a computer and peripherals are effectively concealed behind a beautiful wood top.
Current furniture technology can not only help reduce injuries and stress, but can also provide a pleasant working environment that can match the rest of the residence. Whether looking for the latest in comfort or the latest in style, current trends for the home office can merge both.