Home Office Furniture Essentials

Worried about the cost of tricking out your home office in a down economy? Don't fear - we've boiled down your home office furniture needs for you so that you'll only be spending money on essential items that will provide comfort, enhance productivity and just plain look great. Let's get to the big six!

 1. An adjustable office chair - In terms of comfort and productivity, it all starts with a great office chair. Executive office chairs have the power to transport you - even if your home office is filled with distractions. Be sure and choose a chair that is adjustable and features good ergonomic design to provide support for arms, shoulders and the lumbar area of the spine.

 2. An executive desk - The center point of your home office, the executive desk is a place to start your day, get organized and set the stage for all your business dealings. Try to purchase a desk that gives you ample room to do your work but does NOT dominate the entire home office area. You need to be able to get up and move around during the course of the day, which is hard if you desk has you pinned in a corner of the room.

 3. A reliable file cabinet - Papers flying around without a filing system can lead to all sorts of problems - especially in a home office where there are complicating factors such as kids roaming wild and hungry pets around every corner. That's why a good, heavy-duty filling cabinet made our list of home office essentials. It doesn't have to look great - but it needs to be functional (and if possible, expandable to grow with your business).

 4. Ergonomic computer accessories - Your computer is going to be your small business lifeline. You will be spending many, many hours there every week. As such, it is a good idea to buy ergonomic keyboards, mouse devices, and anti-glare monitor covers to insure that you avoid workplace illnesses such as eye strain, repetitive stress disorders and back pain.

 5. A good desk lamp or lighting system - Proper lighting is a must, but not always a no-brainer for the home office (because the space was built to house people and not working people). With that in mind, buy a couple of nice desk lamps and position one of them behind the computer to cut down on glare. Use the other in the vicinity of your file cabinet so you don't need to strain in order to locate the paperwork you seek.

 6. Inspirational artwork - You don't need an original Picasso gracing your walls to be inspired by art. For most people, the latest crayon masterpiece by a son or daughter provides plenty of peace and motivation throughout the course of a day. Whatever type of art is inspiring to you, try and feature it in your home office space. Remember, it needs to be an expression of who you are and where you are going!