Whether you’ve been making do with the kitchen table since spring or your desk has quietly become a dumping ground for post over the summer, autumn’s back-to-routine energy is the perfect nudge to start again properly.
The good news is that setting up a home office doesn’t need to mean a full room refit. With the right pieces – a desk that fits your space, a chair that supports a full working day, and storage that keeps paperwork out of sight – you can create a workspace that’s comfortable, organised and, importantly, one you’ll actually want to sit down at each morning.
Here’s our guide to setting up the ultimate home office space, whether you’re working remotely, studying, or working on a personal project.
Reset your home office for optimal productivity
When you’re busy, a home office refresh can often become overdue. From back-to-back meetings, and the post-work school run, most of us forget to create a remote working environment that feels homely, while remaining organised and a hub for productivity.
If you’ve spent the last few months working from a laptop balanced on your knee or a corner of the dining table, now is the time to create an office space that works for you.
Tips for setting up a home office often focus on technology and software, but the furniture underneath you matters just as much – a proper desk and chair make it far easier to settle into a routine and stay there.
How do I choose the right desk for my office?
The desk is the anchor of any home office, so it’s worth getting right. Think first about where the office is actually going, a spare room, a landing, or a quiet corner of the living room, and let that dictate size and shape before style.
A single pedestal desk is a solid, space-conscious choice for smaller rooms, offering a drawer or two for everyday essentials without taking over the space. Browse our Dorchester Oak single pedestal desk for smaller home offices. If you need a dedicated spot for a laptop and not much else, a laptop desk keeps things neat and compact.
For those with more room to play with, a double pedestal desk, such as our Rustic Plank double pedestal desk, gives you far more storage and worktop space, which is useful if your role involves paperwork, files or a second monitor.
Whichever you choose, our desks for the home office are made from solid oak, pine and reclaimed wood – furniture built to last, not something you’ll be replacing in a hurry.
An office chair that supports a full working day
It’s easy to overlook the chair when setting up a home office for remote work, but if you’re at your desk for several hours a day, comfort isn’t a luxury, it’s essential. A chair that doesn’t properly support your back will make itself known by mid-afternoon, and no amount of productivity planning fixes that.
Look for a chair with proper back support and a seat height that keeps your feet flat on the floor and your screen roughly at eye level. Fabric and vegan leather options tend to suit a home setting better than a purely clinical office chair, so you can pick something that also looks the part in a home environment rather than a corporate one.
Our office chairs range from classic wooden styles to swivel and upholstered designs, so there’s a fit whether your workspace leans traditional or contemporary.
How can I keep my home office organised?
Nothing undoes a fresh start faster than a desk buried under paperwork! One of the most practical furniture ideas for home office spaces is simply building in proper storage from the outset, rather than trying to retrofit it later.
A filing cabinet gives invoices, contracts and household admin a proper home, rather than a growing pile on the corner of the desk. It’s a small addition, but it’s often the difference between a workspace that stays tidy and one that slowly reverts to chaos.
At Pine & Oak, our filing cabinets, made from oak, pine and reclaimed wood to match the rest of your setup rather than looking like an afterthought bolted on beside the desk.
Small office furniture ideas that make a big impact
Beyond the desk, chair and filing cabinet, a few smaller choices go a long way towards making the space feel like a proper office rather than a converted corner:
- Task lighting for the darker autumn evenings, positioned to avoid screen glare
- A second chair or small side table, if the room doubles as a space for video calls or client meetings
- Shelving or a bookcase nearby for reference materials, so they’re not competing for desk space
- Rugs or soft furnishings, simply to make the room feel warmer as the weather turns
Often, it’s the small, practical additions that turn a spare room into a space you’re genuinely glad to work from.
Can I get made to measure office furniture?
If your home office is going under the stairs, into an alcove or beneath a sloping ceiling, off-the-shelf furniture can leave you with gaps and wasted space. Our made to measure service is designed for bespoke home offices, built to your dimensions and finish, and crafted in England. Ask about made to measure service to craft the office furniture that works around you and your home.
Create your workspace from home
Setting up a home office for remote work or studying doesn’t need to feel like another task in the diary.
From finding the desk chair you’ll use every day, to adding proper storage once you know how the space is being used, you can quickly build a productive at-home environment. Shop our office and study furniture range online to find pieces built to see you through this routine and the next.
Alternatively, we have plenty of furniture on display in our showrooms, ready to view and take away on the day. Our showrooms in Midgham, Berkshire and Winchester, Hampshire are open seven days a week, so you can set at the desks, try the chairs for comfort and see how the finishes look in real light. Visit our showrooms today.
Frequently asked questions about home offices
What furniture do I need when setting up a home office?
At a minimum, a desk suited to your available space and a supportive chair. Beyond that, storage, such as a filing cabinet, makes the biggest difference to keeping the space usable day to day.
How much space do I need for a home office?
As much space as you require throughout your workday. A single pedestal or laptop desk can fit into a landing, alcove or small spare room, or a double pedestal desk is perfect for dedicated rooms.
What’s the best material for home office furniture?
Solid oak and pine are popular choices for durability and a warmer, more homely feel than typical flat-pack office furniture, while reclaimed wood pieces suit a slightly more rustic look.