The American furniture industry is significant. August 2019 saw home furnishing store sales sum up to $10.28 billion. Many of us are currently working from home and may very well be doing so for the foreseeable future. As we shift from our typical offices to the home office, one thing to pay close attention to is the types of furnishings we use for our offices. Why? Well, for the simple reason that when a home office feels more like a typical, standard office, we are more likely to function efficiently. Half of working well at home is about your mindset, and if your home office is furnished properly, you'll be more likely to remain in the right mindset. Of course, this means choosing the right types of furniture in the first place as well. Fortunately, a lot of home furniture stores are also home office furniture stores. Let's look into some of the types of furniture you should consider when shopping for quality office furniture.

1. A High Quality Desk

When looking through home office furniture stores, the first thing you should look for is a good desk. While you could presumably work on your computer anywhere, you're best suited to work when sitting at a good desk. A desk is where most office work is carried out when you're in a traditional office, and many of us who have worked in offices before are mentally trained to be in a working mindset when at a desk. When working in your bed or on the couch, you may be able to get work done; but you'll probably do so far less efficiently than you would when at a proper desk. You need a good surface for writing in general, not just on your computer. After all, a lot of us still need to get things done on paper with a pen or pencil every now and then. Home offices often utilize floating or built-in desks. If you need to conserve space, you will probably want to buy a home office desk that can store office supplies as well.

2. A Comfortable Office Chair

When considering new office furniture, you of course need a comfortable office chair, while being mindful of it not being too comfortable. A lot of people like the idea of buying office chairs that swivel or are incredibly comfortable; both providing some advantages and disadvantages. A lot of home office furniture stores sell chairs that are too cushy, and therefore can set you up for falling asleep on the job. You will need an office chair that encourages alertness by keeping you sitting up straight but is also comfortable to sit throughout your entire workday. Furthermore, a chair without the right kind of support may feel comfortable in the moment, but over time it could cause you to experience back pain.

3. Spacious Office Cabinets

A good spacious office cabinet system is incredibly important if you're keeping files and office supplies in your home office. While you can keep some supplies in your desk, cabinets will more efficiently enable you to store important documents and information. Initially you may not feel like you have the space for cabinets, but a lot of home office furniture stores offer cabinets that are slim and easy to fit in a single room. Some cabinets also have flat, roomy surfaces designed to also function as another workspace.

4. Secure Safes

Some home office furniture stores sell safes so you can more securely store potentially valuable items at home that previously were kept at your company's office. While you may feel as if you don't need one now, not all items can be solely stored on a computer. A lot of safes have key-in passwords, and in fact you can potentially keep your computers in safes if you are concerned about their safety.

Remember: while you may think you're returning to your typical office space soon, many companies are considering keeping their employees home for the foreseeable future, requiring you have a home office space. Make sure you're prepared!