When outfitting your home office, it often feels like you have to choose between style or pieces that perform. But the best office furniture can do it all—and make you more productive at the same time. After all, since most of us spend at least eight hours a day at a desk, you should enjoy where you work—plus, you should be sure it’s not actively breaking your back. Why not build your space around a candy-colored filing cabinet or choose a midcentury-modern icon for a desk chair? As far as we’re concerned, home office furniture should honor your personality and blend seamlessly with the rest of your home’s interior design style. No matter how small your office space is or how often you actually use it, we’re highlighting the eight best places to buy office furniture and revamp your workspace.
Our Top Picks for the Best Office Furniture:
For the It girl who wants her productivity zone to match her aesthetic, Lulu and Georgia offers office furniture that would look more at home in an interior design studio than a corporate high-rise. The kidney-bean-shaped Ortega desk still gives you plenty of surface area to spread out, but it mimics the curved sofa trend that’s everywhere right now. Plus, the brand is known for its fashion-forward collaborations, like Aimee Song and Carly Cushnie, so your pieces will always feel like a style statement.
A mid-century icon, Herman Miller offers office furniture that is as functional as it is easy to look at—though the prices often reflect the brand’s dominance in the space. The Soft Pad office chair is a colorful addition to a typically greyscale work environment, while thoughtful design details (like the extra-plush back cushion) are stylish without ever sacrificing comfort. For those who prefer more utilitarian office furniture, Herman Miller also sells folding drafting tables, traditional office chairs, and task lighting.
Every piece of office furniture from Steelcase is designed with ease of use in mind. Whether it’s a soft-close filing cabinet or an ergonomic office chair, this is the brand to buy from if you value efficiency in your office setup. They even make lounge chairs to continue that back support long after office hours have ended. Senior commerce editor Nashia Baker works from the Gesture chair every day and says it’s a solid addition to her workspace. “My favorite qualities are the leather upholstery and seat,” says Baker. “The material is smooth and easy to clean, so I can simply wipe it down with a napkin after snacking at my desk to keep it in its best condition. The seat is also comfy, offering a little give and bounceback, so there’s no dipping after sitting for hours on end.”
With a chair that’s beloved by nearly every AD editor, Branch is known for its ergonomic seating and versatile standing desks. Streamlined and minimal, the only bells and whistles in Branch’s office furniture are details that make your workday better (like adjustable arm rests and flexible lumbar support). You get what you pay for, which is ultimate ergonomic support. “Poor posture fears the Branch Ergo Pro. The chair’s fully customizable support system makes it easy to spend long hours in a static position with all the adjustments you need to feel more comfortable throughout the work day,” says commerce editor Audrey Lee.
For those who want their home office to carry the same mid-century glamour and gravitas of Mad Men, we recommend combing for office furniture at West Elm. Commerce editor Audrey Lee recently picked up the Pierce bookshelf for her space, and notes that the matching wall-mounted desk is a great addition for smaller workspaces. “What drew me to the design was that each shelf has a different amount of clearance, which lets me get creative with what can fit in each section,” says Lee. “The shorter shelves are ideal for storing stacks of paperbacks, while I can use the taller ones to fit items like my Symbol Home x USM record crate and my KitchenAid mixer.” Rich wood tones and plush upholstery provide you with a more sophisticated-looking home office, even if you’re just answering emails.
While the countless pages of furniture options on Wayfair can be overwhelming, there are diamonds in the rough worthy of outfitting your home office. Not just for those on a budget (although the number of design-forward desks under $500 will surprise you), Wayfair has reviews from real customers that can aid in your purchase decisions. Whether you’re looking for an actually cute desk chair or bookcases to build out your home library, Wayfair is a one-stop shop for every style and price point.
With offerings from vetted design brands like Gubi, Fritz Hansen, Blu Dot, and Kartell, 2Modern is the source for those who like to collect iconic pieces (without the antique seller upcharge). Commerce writer Julia Harrison has been testing the Fritz Hansen Series 7 office chair for the last few months and loves the supple leather upholstery and high-back seat. “I think if you’re the sort of person that cares very much about the aesthetic of their creative space, it’s a no-brainer piece,” Harrison says. “It’s elevated, a hallmark of sophisticated design, a nod to Arne Jacobsen in your home, and—to my frame, anyway—a comfortable choice in which I feel, actually, quite powerful in my craft. It’s not every day you find a chair that makes you feel capable.” If mid-century or Italian modernist pieces aren’t your style, 2Modern’s vast inventory also includes more traditional office furniture.
A moody take on office furniture, look to Crate & Barrel for pieces chock-full of thoughtful design details like button-tufted seats and desk drawers that can open from both sides. The reliable retailer is great for high-quality pieces and stunning designer collaborations (like AD100 honorees Jake Arnold and Athena Calderone). We particularly love the Ellison office chair with an academic-leaning olive green upholstery, and the Greye desk, where the burl texture almost gives off a metallic sheen.