| You may have never looked at home office furniture | | | | real wood are stronger and usually come with more |
| specifically in terms of levels of quality before, but it is | | | | options and accessories, but melamine or particle |
| a useful exercise to engage in when trying to | | | | board can be constructed to last for years and years. |
| determine what sort of furniture you want for your | | | | One thing to note about level two home office |
| home office. Let's walk through three levels of | | | | furniture is that particle board is very heavy and isn't |
| furniture, with a focus on case furniture. Obviously, a | | | | as durable as real wood, or metal. If it is dinged, or gets |
| similar discussion could be applied to things like | | | | damaged, it is almost impossible to repair. If it gets |
| couches, chairs, or mirrors that are common in any | | | | soaked it turns to mush. Some people even refer to |
| office, but I've decided to stick to the hard case | | | | this construction material as "oatmeal board". Some |
| furniture for now. | | | | traditional wood working joints can still be used like |
| One of the things many people struggle with is to | | | | dovetail and rabbit joints. These offer added strength, |
| transition from the old thriftier type home office | | | | but, if subjected to any severe impact it will rip out and |
| furniture they got accustom to using during college or | | | | be almost impossible to fix. |
| early married life. In those years money is super tight | | | | Wooden credenzas, desks, printer stands, hutches, |
| and you do what you have to do. This is level one. | | | | bookshelves and tables all make up the majority of the |
| Furniture is functional. It isn't really fancy or beautiful. It | | | | home office furniture most of us are familiar with. |
| gets the job done. Cinder blocks and pine boards | | | | When you go from level one to level two you make a |
| made a nice bookshelf for me for years. A card table | | | | serious improvement to the things you use. It is easy to |
| served as my desk. Once I recognized that it was | | | | stay in this level for a long time, maybe forever. Many |
| okay for me to upgrade it felt good. I suspect that | | | | people content themselves with that and that's fine. |
| many people can relate to this. If you are still using your | | | | However, if you of a mind to, level three opens up a |
| old stuff maybe it's time to take a look at what you | | | | whole new vista. |
| are using, whether you can afford an upgrade, and | | | | Level three home office furniture uses materials like |
| then take the leap to level two. | | | | studded leather and fine woods. A mahogany desk or |
| The second level of home office furniture is nicer than | | | | a cherry bookshelf beats the pants off card tables |
| slap-together pieces, but still sort of stuck in functional | | | | and pine on cinder blocks. Lockable drawers, pullout |
| world. Particle board seems to typify this level. It's | | | | writing surfaces, hidden compartments, adjustable |
| nothing really special or nice, but not awful. | | | | shelves, and nearly indestructible construction |
| Manufacturers have actually done a great job making | | | | techniques set this level far and above the rest. It is |
| these pieces look nice. Many imitate wood grains, are | | | | worth giving up your old stuff. Be bold! |
| adjustable and look fine. Pieces that are made from | | | | |
