‘I’ve been relegated to the cupboard room, which also functions as a laundry room’
Frontend developer Owen Franssen lives with his wife and six-year-old son in Killarney, Co Kerry, and says he is forever searching for a well-priced, ergonomic office chair.
‘II’ve been working from home for about six years now. I was a freelancer before Covid but my work was tourism-related so that disappeared when the pandemic struck. I’ve since found a new job with StudioForty9 in Cork.
The dining room used to be my office but that’s since become a play/school room for our son. I’ve been relegated to the cupboard room, which also functions as a laundry room and family wardrobe!
There was a stage when my wife and I were both working from home and sharing the desk space in the dining room. That kind of worked unless we both had to take a phone call and one of us had to dash up the stairs.
I use a laptop if I’m moving around the house, and I use a desktop PC with a big monitor if I’m sitting at my desk. The real estate on the big screen just makes life easier — and it makes it easier on the eyes as well.
I’ve been trying to find a decent chair that doesn’t cost too much money. I start by researching ‘ergonomic office chair’ but they start at €1,500, so that’s out the window! Then I look at the cheaper options and there’s no improvement on the one I’ve got already.
Between Brexit and Covid it’s nearly impossible to find anything at the moment. I actually ordered one at Christmas. I settled on what is technically a gaming chair that doesn’t look too bad office-wise. Unfortunately, two months later, and it still hasn’t turned up so I’m waiting for a refund on that one.
I’d also like a deeper desk that would allow me to move away from the screen a bit and rest my elbows on the surface. A chair with armrests would do the same but they take up so much space.
My advice to anyone working from home for the first time this year is not to sit at the dining table or at a table that’s too high. It just becomes uncomfortable to sit at for any length of time.
Also, if you’re working at a laptop over a long period of time, you’re probably best investing in a mouse and a keyboard. It will make your life so much easier.”