SB Home Matters

WORKSPACES Home

Remember back when you went to the office every day? By 10:30 every morning, you were staring into the inky blackness of your second cup of coffee, daydreaming about the freedom and flexibility you believed came from working from home. Then COVID happened.

We were all sent packing, with our files and computers and staplers in tow. Suddenly we became gypsies seeking a homeland. And it wasn’t just the desk jockeys. Even our kids were scrambling to find a new way to learn.

In the blink of an eye those serene dreams of working from home became a chaotic nightmare that was all too real.

Suddenly, everyone had to reorient themselves. Schedules had to be juggled. The cat began plotting his revenge on the humans who had invaded his “me time.”

And just as suddenly, that folding card table was no longer sufficient for a desk, and the milk crates and plywood would no longer cut it for the “office” bookshelves.

In short, it was time for a serious upgrade. The home renovation platform Houzz conducted a Houzz and Home study and found home office projects increased 4 percent nationally in 2020, and spending on those renovations was up 10 percent over the previous year.

Tony Ochoa, sales manager at Hester’s Office Solutions, said the rush to create home offices has ebbed somewhat, but they still are in demand. “At first there were a lot of cup of coffee, daydreaming about the freedom people coming in,” he said. “It has tapered off. People were working from home but not being productive. There’s been kind of a push to move people back to the office. A lot of people are splitting time, but they all have places to work at home.” Chad James, general manager of Office Furniture Source, said home office furniture was evolving even before COVID sent more office workers home. Traditional office furniture home became a chaotic nightmare that was all too real. wasn’t fitting into the aesthetics at home, he said. “Traditional office furniture is more plain, with clean lines,” he said. “That won’t work in the home. Now people the humans who had invaded his “me time.” want something more ornate, more decorative, that flows with the house.” ger sufficient for a desk, and the milk crates and plywood Ochoa agreed that people are shying away from putting contemporary office furniture in their homes, opting instead to harken back to the days when studies and home In short, it was time for a serious upgrade. The home ren offices were more common. “Some of that older-looking furniture is heavier furniture, more so than contemporary office furniture. A lot of people come in looking for nationally in 2020, and spending on those renovations smaller computer desks with hutches that can go against the wall. They want the walnut and mahogany finishes.”

Tony Ochoa, sales manager at Hester’s Office Solutions, said the rush to create home offices has ebbed somewhat, but they still are in demand. “At first there were a lot of people coming in,” he said. “It has tapered off. People were working from home but not being productive. There’s been kind of a push to move people back to the office. A lot of people are splitting time, but they all have places to work at home.” Chad James, general manager of Office Furniture Source, said home office furniture was evolving even before COVID sent more office workers home. Traditional office furniture wasn’t fitting into the aesthetics at home, he said. “Traditional office furniture is more plain, with clean lines,” he said. “That won’t work in the home. Now people want something more ornate, more decorative, that flows with the house.” Ochoa agreed that people are shying away from putting contemporary office furniture in their homes, opting instead to harken back to the days when studies and home offices were more common. “Some of that older-looking furniture is heavier furniture, more so than contemporary office furniture. A lot of people come in looking for smaller computer desks with hutches that can go against the wall. They want the walnut and mahogany finishes.”

James said that most customers are looking to create functional spaces for both the adults and the students in functional spaces for both the adults and the students in the home. Some have a dedicated room in the home, but about 60 percent are carving space out of a living room, about 60 percent are carving space out of a living room, den or even a dining room to work. Many customers visiting Hester’s Office Solutions are look-Many customers visiting Hester’s Office Solutions are look ing to utilize unused or under-used spaces. “The kids are ing to utilize unused or under-used spaces. “The kids are gone, and they don’t need that extra bedroom anymore,” gone, and they don’t need that extra bedroom anymore,” Ochoa said. “Or they don’t really use the dining room.” Ochoa said. “Or they don’t really use the dining room.” The biggest challenge, James said, has been finding the right setup for students working at home. “Parents are right setup for students working at home. “Parents are looking for inexpensive desks for a child,” James said. looking for inexpensive desks for a child,” James said. “That’s not something we typically carry. Schools pro “That’s not something we typically carry. Schools provide their own furniture. With the kids home, parents vide their own furniture. With the kids home, parents wanted to create a space where they can learn in their own environment, away from the parents, that is condu-own environment, away from the parents, that is condu cive to helping them learn and stay on task.” Whether you are shopping for an adult or a child, in Whether you are shopping for an adult or a child, investing in a good chair is essential, James said. “Wheth vesting in a good chair is essential, James said. “Whether you’re old or young, sitting in dining room chair or er you’re old or young, sitting in dining room chair or lounge chair, that’s not what’s best,” he said. “A chair lounge chair, that’s not what’s best,” he said. “A chair makes a big difference. Especially for students. Proper makes a big difference. Especially for students. Proper seating impacts how productive a child is and how they focused they stay.” James encourages people to check out Pinterest and oth-James encourages people to check out Pinterest and oth er sites for inspiration if they want to upgrade their home workspace. You can even find some great DIY ideas, he workspace. You can even find some great DIY ideas, he said. But nothing beats visiting a local store and looking said. But nothing beats visiting a local store and looking around, he said. Ochoa offered a word to the wise about shopping locally versus ordering home office furniture online. “Be careful. versus ordering home office furniture online. “Be careful. What looks good in a picture online is usually too good to What looks good in a picture online is usually too good to be true,” he said. “There’s a lot of cheap stuff sold online. Then, when you get it home, there’s nobody to service it.” Then, when you get it home, there’s nobody to service it.” Martin Grau, owner of Officer Furniture Source, also is a strong proponent of buying local, as evidenced by his ra-strong proponent of buying local, as evidenced by his ra dio commercials. “When you buy local, that money stays dio commercials. “When you buy local, that money stays in the community,” he said. “You’re making an invest-in the community,” he said. “You’re making an invest ment that will impact our community for generations. ment that will impact our community for generations. If you live in the country and need eggs, you go to your If you live in the country and need eggs, you go to your neighbor and get eggs. I’ve had eggs in this community for years. My eggs are office desks and chairs.” years. My eggs are office desks and chairs.”

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