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How to furnish the perfect home office: Choosing a desk

March 13, 2018

Do you work from home? You're not alone. According to recent data from the Office for National Statistics, a record 13.9% of the UK work force are home workers. Whether you only work remotely on some days, or you're entirely home-based, it's important that your home office is comfortable and healthy, so you can be as productive as possible. So where do you start when furnishing the perfect home workspace? 

 

Two of the most important things to consider when choosing furniture for your home office are ergonomics and wellbeing. This is especially true when choosing a desk. People in the UK spend an average of 8.9 hours a day sitting, according to research quoted by Get Britain Standing. But even if you have an active lifestyle and exercise regularly, the research goes, prolonged sitting for more than 4 hours a day can lead to a number of health problems, including obesity, back pain, and increased blood pressure levels. Using a sit-stand desk to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day can have a positive impact on your health and help avoid these problems.

 

There are many height-adjustable desk options on the market, covering the whole price spectrum, including electric height-adjustable desks that can go up or down at the touch of a button, cheaper sit-stand desks with manual winding handle, or even different desk mounts that can be used with a standard fixed-height desk.

 

Some great examples of sit-stand desks in our collection are the Vitra Hack and the Narbutas Easy desk. Or if you still prefer to work at a fixed-height desk, check out the beautifully crafted solid wood desks from Wewood, made of French oak and American walnut. 

 

Whichever option you choose, remember to regularly change your position, as neither sitting, nor standing for a long time is recommended - you should aim for a good balance between the two. There is no magic formula about how much time you should spend standing, and everyone should try to find their own balance, but experts recommend that you should stand for at least two hours of an eight-hour work day.

  

If you enjoyed this article, also check out the other blog posts from our home office series, How to choose a task chair, and How to deal with noise. Or get in touch with us if you need more ideas on how to design your workspace.

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How to furnish the perfect home office: Choosing a task chair

March 13, 2018

In our last blog post we discussed the importance of ergonomics and wellbeing when choosing furniture for your home office.

 

The task chair you sit on has a huge impact on your wellbeing and comfort. Sometimes it's tempting to go with the cheapest option, but considering how much time we spend sitting, it's worth investing time to research and choose a well-designed ergonomic chair that will serve you well in the long term.

 

Chair mechanisms

Some of the main features to look out for in an office chair are the mechanisms that control the seat, armrests, and backrest, such as seat height adjustment, synchro tilt, knee tilt, and backrest height adjustment. Most work chairs have levers to control these, located under the seat.

 

Seat height

How do you know your chair is set at the right height? Ideally, your feet should be resting flat on the ground, and your knees should form a 90-degree angle when sitting. Again, most work chairs will have a mechanism to adjust the seat height to your preferred height. It's always a good idea to try the chair in person before buying, so you can be sure it's the right model and size for you.

 

Lumbar support

If you suffer from back pain, and frankly, even if you don't, look for a chair with adequate lumbar support. The lumbar support is the cushioning which is usually found in the backrest. Ergonomic office chairs allow you to control the lumbar position via adjusting the height of the backrest. As a rule of thumb, the lumbar support should follow the natural curve of your back.

 

Upholstery

Another important element of a good office chair is the upholstery. There are so many options out there, that it's easy to get overwhelmed. Selecting the fabric or leather is often a matter of personal taste or budget, but if you know what to look for, it's easier to narrow down the choice. Fabrics with a high wool content, for example, are able to withstand a high amount of wear and tear, and are also less likely to crease. Wool is also known for its great thermal insulation. Woven mesh seats and backrests are also increasingly popular with work chairs, as they allow for better air circulation. Leather upholstery is very durable and easy to maintain, so it's suitable for homes with small children. Check out our Buyer's Guide for more detailed information on choosing fabric or leather upholstery.

 

Castors

Last but not least, consider whether you will be using the chair on a hard floor, or with a carpet. Many manufacturers nowadays offer wheels for both types of floor. Braked castors for hard floor will stop the chair from rolling away on the hard floor when no one is sitting on it, and they are also designed not to scratch hard floors. Castors for carpet, on the other hand, will facilitate the chair's movement within carpeted areas.

 

Task chair ideas

There are lots of great office chairs out there, but below is a list of models which could work particularly well in a home office.

• Eames EA 117. A true 20th century design icon, the Eames Aluminium chair EA 117 has a swivel base, adjustable seat, and a tilt mechanism which can be adjusted to the user's weight. If you like the look of this chair, but don't need the seat height adjustment or the armrests, Eames EA 101 and EA 104 are the slightly cheaper alternatives in the Eames Aluminium Group of chairs. 
• Lei chair. This chair designed by Monika Förster for Officeline has been specifically created for women, following years of ergonomics research. Its lumbar support follows your body, even as you lean forward, and provides support in all three working positions: active, upright, and reclined.
• Allstar. Designed by Konstanting Grcic for Vitra, Allstar is a modern funky office chair, which blurs the lines between work and play.
• Generation chair. A smart, flexible office chair by Knoll that adapts to your body movement. The mesh upholstery encourages air flow for optimal comfort.
• AAC52. Part of HAY's About A Chair series, AAC52 is an elegant plastic task chair, which is light and easy to move around. Great choice for student accommodations or informal home offices. 
• Pivot. This soft and comfortable chair by Vitra is perfect for the home office. Its slender backrest allows considerable freedom of movement. Thanks to its flexible shape, the chair can also be used in a sideways position. 
• ID Air Chair. This is a well-priced fully ergonomic chair offering a high degree of comfort. Part of the ID Chair Concept system by Vitra. 

If you found this article useful, make sure to also check out the rest of our blog posts on how to create the perfect home study: How to choose a home office desk, and How to deal with noise.

 

Get in touch with us if you need more office chair ideas, or a quote.

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How to furnish the perfect home office: Dealing with Noise

March 13, 2018

When we talk about productivity at home, two of the biggest challenges to tackle are background noise and distractions. Have you ever tried to make an important business call while working from home, and found yourself trying to outshout the kids and the dog? Or participated in a video conference from your living room, and felt embarrassed about the clutter in the background. If that has happened one time too many, you might consider installing an acoustic privacy booth, such as the Framery O available from our sister company Office Blueprint. This compact soundproof booth has great sound insulation, and blocks sound from entering or leaving space. You can use the booth for Skype or video conferences, or simply to get away and focus on important tasks in silence.

Framery O can help solve the issues with privacy and acoustics

Originally designed to bring some privacy to open-plan offices, these compact booths can also work quite well within a home office. The booths' small footprint - 1 x 1m - allows for flexibility with their positioning within the house. The Framery booths also come in a larger size, Framery Q (1.2 x 2m), which can be configured in four different ways to use as a meeting room for 2-4 people, workspace for one, or as a space for dynamic group work sessions. 

Framery Q can be configured in several different ways, depending on your needs

Get in touch with us for more information about the Framery booths, or for more ideas on dealing with problems with acoustics.

Also make sure to check out the other blog posts from our home office series, including How to choose a task chair and How to choose a desk.

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Inspiration from Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2018

February 13, 2018

 

Our visit to Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair 2018 didn't disappoint. We feel so inspired after seeing so many of our favourite brands and their new product launches at the world's meeting place for Scandinavian furniture and lighting design. Browse the photos below for some highlights from the show. 

 

Fritz Hansen's elegant stand

 

Arne Jacobsen's Series 7 in an office chair version, upholstered in gorgeous cognac leather

 

Eero Aarnio Originals showcasing their collection of Ball chairs and Bubble chairs against a pale pink backdrop

 

The hanging Bubble chair is one of the all-time Eero Aarnio bestsellers

 

Modular shelving system by String

 

String shelving system

 

Upholstered Mila chairs (in black) designed by Jaime Hayon and Pila chair (in brick red) designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

 

The new incredibly comfortable Officina armchair by Magis, designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec

 

New rug collection by Kasthall

 

Get in touch with us for more information about the products above. 

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Get an extra 10% off in the last week of Sale

January 23, 2018

 

Our Winter Sale must end 31st January 2018, and we are offering an extra 10% off all new orders in the last week of Sale. The discount is in addition to the standard sale discount. Just use code sale10 at the checkout to apply your extra discount.

 

Also, don't miss the Home Stories promotion by Vitra, which is running until the end of this month. Get a free gift with each Eames Lounge Chair or Eames RAR chair purchased before 31st January. 

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Winter Sale Now On!

December 22, 2017

 

Our Winter Sale is now on, with up to 20% off new orders, and huge savings in Clearance. Shop our newest products below, or check out the Clearance section for some great ex-display and stock bargains. 

 

Don't miss the festive Home Stories offers by Vitra, as well as the limited editions of the iconic Eames House Bird and the Eames RAR in white. 

 

Happy holidays from all of us at Couch Potato Company!

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Christmas Opening Hours

December 11, 2017

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 

 

Please note that our London showroom will be closed for the holiday period, from 25th December 2017 until 2nd January 2018. 

 

But don't despair - you can still place orders online on our website, or email us at info@couchpotatocompany.com with any orders or enquiries during that period, and we will respond to you. We will reopen as normal on 3rd January 2018.

 

Need a last-minute Christmas gift ideas for the design aficionados in your life? Why not browse our Clearance or What's New sections for some inspiration? Or check out our Gifts section for some small designer gift ideas.

 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Couch Potato Company!

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Don't miss our Black Friday Deal - 15% off new orders until 26th November

November 23, 2017

 

The most anticipated Friday of the year is only a day away, and we are now offering 15% off new orders* until 26th November. Use code BlackFriday at the checkout to apply your discount. Hurry up, as the offer expires at the end of this weekend.

 

Not sure where to start? Check out the newest additions to our product range in What's New, or take a look at some of our favourite Design Classics. The pieces from the Eames and Saarinen collections are always a great choice.  

 

* Minimum spend £500. Delivery charges apply. Excludes items in clearance, which are already greatly reduced. Offer ends at 23:59pm on Sunday, 26th November 2017.

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Choose your gift with the new Home Stories Campaign by Vitra

November 01, 2017

It is the season of giving, and Vitra has some amazing gifts ready this year as part of their Home Stories for Winter Campaign.

Buy an Eames Lounge chair in any finish, and choose one out of three gift options:

• Occasional Table LTR in American Cherry
• Eames House Bird set of black and white
• Ceramic Clock

or buy an Eames RAR Rocking Chair in any finish, and choose one out of two gift options:

• Vitra Design Museum Publication "Essential Eames: Words & Pictures
• Seat Dot

The offer is valid during the campaign period from 1st November 2017 until 31st January 2018.

Eames Lounge chair and ottoman in American Cherry

Eames RAR Rocking Chair - Limited Edition Winter 2017

 

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Eames Plastic Chair: Create your own design icon and get a free Vitra tote bag

August 25, 2017

"Getting the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least": This is how Charles and Ray Eames described one of their main aims as furniture designers. The Eames Plastic Chairs are among the products that come very close to achieving this goal. 

 

The Plastic chair collection, launched in 1950, introduced a new furniture typology, which has since become widespread in the industry: the multifunctional Eames Plastic chair offers a variety of base options, as well as shell and upholstery colours.

 

Initially made of polyester reinforced with fibreglass, the Plastic chair offered a high level of comfort, both as a dining and office chair. Vitra discontinued the fibreglass models in 1993 for ecological reasons, and nowadays the original Eames Plastic Chairs from Vitra come with polypropylene shells, which are more environmentally friendly. 

 

Today you can specify the most optimal combination for your perfect chair, so it can be used in a dining room, home office, or sitting room, depending on your needs. And the best thing is that your Eames Plastic chair won't go out of fashion any time soon, because the chairs from the Eames collection are true design icons, and as such, they have acquired timeless aesthetic value.

 

With two types of shell (side chair or armchair), over 5 types of base, 14 shell colours, and 28 upholstery colours (for a seat-only or full inner shell upholstery), the combinations available for the Eames Plastic Chairs are virtually endless. To highlight this abundance of choice, Vitra are introducing an updated version of their product configurator, which helps you specify your very own personal Eames Plastic Chair design and check how it will look before you order. 

 

How does the campaign work?

• Enter the world of the Eames Plastic Chair at your favourite dealer (our showroom is very conveniently located near London Waterloo! ;))
• Choose the colour, seat shell, base and upholstery for your perfect chair
• Enjoy your original Eames Plastic Chair in your home
• Get a free Vitra tote bag as a complimentary gift with each purchase of an Eames Plastic Chair (free gift available while stocks last, one bag per customer)

 

Vitra tote bag (front and back)

 

Did you know that the names of the different Eames Plastic chairs can provide some clues about the base and shell type? 

 

DSR = Dining height Side chair, Rod base

DSW = Dining height Side chair, Wooden base

DAX = Dining height Armchair, X-base

DAL = Dining height Armchair, La Fonda base

PSCC = Pivot Side chair, Cast base on Castors

 

 

Not sure where to start? Just play around with the Vitra Configurator, or search for the hashtag #VitraOriginal on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to get inspired by other users' configurations and how they look in situ in their homes. Or why don't you pop into our London showroom, and we would be happy to help you with your choice and provide you with advice and inspiration.

 The Eames DSR, DSW and DSX are all part of the Eames Plastic Chair collection

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