Furnish your home office for the long haul
In those faraway pre-pandemic times, remote work was a remote option. According to a study published in February by the Pew Research Center, 23% of Americans with jobs that could be done from home exercised that choice all or most of the time before the virus struck. During the pandemic the number rose to 71%, and now 60% of those who worked from home said they would like to continue doing so.
For people settling permanently into home offices, it might be time to rethink the makeshift furniture. Time to move from the kitchen table to a proper desk. Time to spend those working hours in a comfortable, ergonomic chair with an efficient task light that is flexible enough to reach all the corners of the work surface. Time for dedicated shelves for storage. As the furniture industry strives to meet those demands, it offers a host of well-designed products at every price range. (Note that prices and availability were confirmed as of April 19.)
Desks
Premium: Thomas and Benjamin Cherner founded the Cherner Chair Co. in 1999 to revive an award-winning plywood chair designed in 1958 by their father, Norman, among other of his creations. In 2013, Benjamin Cherner designed the Studio desk as a complement. The piece is manufactured in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with plywood and sustainably sourced American walnut veneer. Gently tapered legs provide a graceful silhouette. The 48-inch-wide desk includes a pencil drawer. From $2,149 from lumens.com
Business class: The Celine desk, by Nazanin Kamali for Case, has a streamlined, midcentury-modern vibe. The 43.3-inch-wide desktop accommodates a monitor, keyboard and printer. A drawer and open cubby offer storage and a pathway for cords and wires. Celine comes in walnut or oak veneer with a blackpainted option. The turned hardwood legs snap into place without tools. $1,295 from dwr.com
Economy class: Poppin, a 13-year-old American company, specializes in affordable office products. Its Key desk features a powder-coated metal frame, commodious drawer and angled legs. The 48-inch-wide desktop, made of medium density fiberboard, has rounded edges and a built-in covered tray that hides cords and cables. Key is available in veneered oak or walnut or in powdercoated white, gray, slate blue or brick. The desk requires assembly, but the task is tool-free. $425 from poppin.com
Bookshelves Premium:
Simple but substantial, the New Order bookshelf by Stefan Diez for Hay, a Danish manufacturer, can be modified by adding panels, doors or drawers and is available with cabinets or credenzas. The interconnecting, powder-coated aluminum elements are offered in light gray, charcoal or red. Each shelf holds up to 66 pounds. This High Single version stands 71 inches high, 39.5 inches wide and 13.5 inches deep. Assembly is required. $1,795 from dwr.com
Business class: Hitch stands alone as a single unit or can be incorporated into a wall of shelving. The system, produced by the Minneapolis-based Blu Dot, consists of a powdercoated steel frame that must be attached to the wall, and wood shelves that come in walnut, white oak, smoke or ash veneer, or in white or black lacquer. An individual unit is 73 inches high, 28 inches wide and 11 inches deep. Assembly requires a Phillips head screw driver. $695 from bludot.com
Economy class: The Container Store produces this cast iron bookshelf, which can be folded flat to stash away. The six-shelf unit stands about 69 inches high by nearly 28 inches wide by just over 11 inches deep and has a natural pewter finish. Each shelf holds up to 60 pounds.
The design is also available in three- and four-shelf versions, none of which requires assembly. About $230 from thecontainerstore.com
Office chairs Premium:
Joe Doucet designed the 25-inchwide Duet office chair expressly for small spaces. Manufactured by Bernhardt Design, the perch has polished stainless-steel arms that wrap around a bent plywood shell that provides a nest for the molded polyurethane fill. Duet is adjustable, with a standard gas pneumatic lift and swivel tilt mechanism. The base, made of polished cast aluminum, is outfitted with casters that are said to function equally well on carpet or hard surfaces. A wide variety of flat or quilted leather options are available. $1,330 from hivemodern.com
Business class: The
Dirk office chair sports a chrome frame and a foamfilled seat and back that are constructed as a single piece and upholstered in leatherette. The seat and arm heights are adjustable, and a tilt mechanism offers five locking positions. The chromed-steel swivel base has 2-inch chrome casters. It is certified as commercial grade by the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association, which says the chair will easily withstand more than eight hours of use per day. About $715 from keyhomefurnishings.com
Economy class: Offering many of the same features as its higher-price peers, the Kilbourne office chair has a tilt mechanism that can be locked into place and an adjustable seat with lumbar support. (The chrome-plated arms are fixed.) The seat is filled with foam and upholstered in vinyl with ribbed stitching, resembling leather. The five color options are black, brown, gray, white or orange. Kilbourne is a product of Wrought Studio, a trademark of Wayfair. About $120 from wayfair.com