How to Choose Ergonomic Furniture for Your Home Office

Are you looking to buy new furniture for your home office? If so, you should choose ergonomic pieces to reduce unnecessary stress and pressure on your body. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), over one-third of all missed days of work are attributed to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). By designing your home office with ergonomic furniture, you'll be better protected against MSDs that could otherwise impede your productivity.

What Is Ergonomic Furniture?

Ergonomic furniture consists of chairs, desks, benches, tools and file cabinets that have been designed to reduce stress and pressure on the person or people who use it. They are typically still designed with a stylish appearance. However, ergonomic furniture focuses on ease of use, specifically to reduce stress and pressure.

Why Ergonomic Furniture Is Important for Your Home Office

While you can include any type of furniture in your home office, ergonomic is the way to go because of its ability to protect against MSDs. In a typical home office, MSDs are the most common type of injury. Sitting for long periods at a time places stress on your spine, as well as other parts of your body. When exposed to a significant amount of stress, you may develop an MSD like a pulled back muscle or sprained wrist.

Ergonomic furniture helps to protect against MSDs. Most MSDs are caused by stress and pressure. When using ergonomic furniture in your home office, you can rest assured knowing that stress and pressure isn't a concern.

Tips on Choosing Ergonomic Office Furniture

Now that you know what ergonomic furniture and why it's important, you might be wondering how to choose it.

• Choose a chair that allows you to adjust the height, armrests and back.
• When shopping for a desk, make sure it has a slide-out tray for a keyboard and mouse.
• Consider choosing a hybrid desk that allows you to alternate between sitting and standing while working.
• For your chair, look for a mesh backrest that increases breathability.
• Research office furniture online to read customer reviews. Doing so will give you a better understanding of whether a particular piece is ergonomic.

Don't make the mistake of choosing the wrong furniture for your home office. Whether you're designing your home office for the first time or looking to renovate your existing setup, you should choose ergonomic pieces to lower your risk of MSDs.