Office space as we’ve known it has changed substantially. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us, and since businesses sent American workers home, the demand for home office furniture is soaring. This demand leads to increased energy use, resource consumption, and waste disposal.
As we purchase more online, packaging and shipping are of great concern as both are energy-intensive to produce and release greenhouse gasses that affect our climate. More on this subject on The most Eco-friendly furniture you will ever find.
Think of repurposing old furniture for a home office. No manufacturing. No packing. No shipping—It’s a perfect time to get those old pieces out of the attic or storage, pay a visit to the consignment store, or improve pieces that you’re already using.
Creating a comfortable home office space helps us be productive. Mom’s dinette table or grandma’s console table make a perfect desk. Just upgrade the finish to suit your style. Aunt Marie’s china cabinet can store all your files and materials. Look at things in a different way. These are times to do things differently.
Old furniture is typically made of solid wood or has far better veneers than most new office furniture, which is made with poor quality veneered particle board. It’s unlikely we can tell the quality of office furniture we buy online. How long will it last?
You don’t need a big budget to create an efficient and comfortable workspace with old furniture that has been refreshed and refined.
With minor or major makeovers, depending on your needs and style, old furniture can make your space interesting and enduring.
According to recent polls, an average of 33% of Americans working remotely think it would not be a bad idea to work from home after the pandemic gets under control: less travel and commuting, more efficiency, and more personal time available.
If you need help organizing your space, check professional organizers who can help you get things done fast. You will be preserving furniture with sentimental value put to good use and getting organized and ready to enjoy your new work space! Being organized saves you time by finding things quickly and keeping them in the right places, so you can find them again.
If you don’t have old furniture at home but are intrigued by the possibilities, take a ride to the closest consignment or thrift store and find some gems at very affordable prices. Whether this becomes a DIY project or gets done by a professional refinisher, it will be an excellent way to repurpose and reuse. Buying local helps your local economy and reduces your carbon footprint by reducing packaging and shipping. In exchange, you get to use something of quality.
These times have helped me redefine my priorities and my needs, including a heightened appreciation for nature. I think this sentiment is shared by many.
Let’s preserve nature for us and for coming generations.
Let’s reuse more and reuse creatively.
The old can be new and fabulous.
Thanks for reading.
I don't monitor this post, but feel free to contact me with questions or comments at gina@furniturerestyler.com
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