Crafting a proper home office

Customers looking for workstation furniture at an office furniture shop in Jalan Datuk Keramat, Penang. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

AS working from home has become a norm now, investing in the right home office furniture is essential for many.

Company executive J.Y. Shen, 44, never realised how uncomfortable a dining chair was until he had to sit on one for hours while working from home.

“My bottom felt sore after having to sit at the dining table for hours, ” he said.

He finally bought an office chair.

“It is an ugly piece of furniture for the house but it works, ” he said, adding that he works at the office only seven days a month now.

“I recently bought a foldable desk as well because my dining table edge is blocking my office chair’s armrests, causing me to have slight backaches.

“Since I got the foldable desk, it has been easier to work from home now, ” he said.

Jesslyn Tan, 31, who works in a multinational corporation in Bayan Lepas, said she bought a medium-sized desk and an ergonomic swivel chair to build her own home office.

“Our company implemented the work-from-home concept in May.

A customer trying out an office chair at a shop.

“Earlier, I bought cheaper home office furniture but I am now investing in better quality pieces as I think my company is likely to make working from home a permanent option, ” she said.

Meanwhile, a furniture warehouse worker, who wanted to be known only as Liu, said they experienced a surge in demand for office desks and chairs in the past few months.

“It is hard for us to sell other types of furniture now. The only pieces that people buy now are home office furniture.

“However, many are choosing budget desks and chairs as people are saving up due to the current poor economy.

“As many people do not have much space at home, they are opting for small desks, makeshift tables and compact chairs.”

Furniture shop managing director Datuk Ng Hooi Lai, 68, said the demand for home office furniture had slowed down over the past few weeks.

“Most people already bought whatever furniture they needed much earlier. Many already have a well-established working space.

“Right now, the handful who are still buying furniture are those who are upgrading their working space, ” he added.