The working from home thread: tips and advice

New desk if off the list for now but I definitely need a new chair, I've just moved house and I'm currently sat on a packing box. My budget is around £300 - £500, with the lower end being preferable. I'm looing for all the usual adjustability, lumbar support etc. I'm 6'4". I really like the look of the Steelcase Series 1/2. 2ndhnd also have a load of Steelcase Leap V1s (£250 ish) which I think are probably better chairs but don't look as good. What's the deal with 2ndhnd? Are the chairs decent? I know they're refurbished but I'm worried about how thrashed they are. I guess for the price, even if it only lasts me a year or so I'd be doing okay.

my steelcase leap v2 from 2ndhnd is going strong about 4-5 years on.

I think if it's in a state fabric wise when they get them they'll reupholster it themselves and they combine the nice parts from the less presentable chairs into fewer "good ones".

mine felt pretty much brand new with a couple of small very light scuff marks on the wheel castors legs from someone resting their shoes on it but it had brand new fabric and all the moving parts were in perfect condition.

I was able to get a leap v2 with the draughtsman version of the gas lift and foot ring when i purchased which increases the usable height quite a bit (for sitting at drafting tables etc) and makes the lowest setting around normal desk height. might be worth asking them if they have any of those in stock as you might get a better sitting position with the extra height at 6'4" especially if you paired with a slightly taller desk.

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I had a very good experience buying a Steelcase Please V2 2nd hand. I paid £190 and could hardly detect any signs of use. Am 6'3" and find it very comfortable. Used this site: https://www.officeresale.co.uk/refurbished-furniture/free-shipping-products/swivel-chairs-free-shipping-products/steelcase-please-v2-task-chair-in-dark-grey-fabric/

@HatBeard @jonuxuk thanks for the replies, really helpful and reassuring. You’ve sold me on going the second hand route.

Just to chip in, I got a second hand Steelcase Please v2 from 2ndhnd and it might be ugly but it is really comfortable and service was good, I am only 6'2 but the way the back works on the Please v2 is great

Just got a vertical laptop stand from eBay and now the laptop is sat on my desk (luckily it is out of the way in the corner), previous solution of a cargo net down the side of the desk just wasn't giving it enough cooling giving its proximity to the desk leg and a wall.

Thanks greentricky, yeah, I've pretty much narrowed it down to a Leap V2 or Please V2. I can't find much stock anywhere at the moment, does anyone have experience with Zero office furniture?

I'm looking for a chair for home office use, is there a "cheap" option worth considering?
I don't know what budget I need to apply, was thinking of around £100, but worry that is too low looking at the recent suggestions.
Was considering whatever IKEA have in that range, but am concerned they might be a false economy

If you can stretch to £180, the MARKUS at Ikea is actually pretty good.

Consider also the JÄRVFJÄLLET

Have had both the Markus and Jarvfjallet, not had any issues with either of them.

Cheers.
Hoping new employers will give me a home office budget as WFH is part of the deal.

I have a Flintan from IKEA with an extra back support and it's ok, good for the price.

ManoMano is worth a look and you can get a few quid back via Top Cashback. I've got one of the faux leather recliners and is decent for the price.

https://www.manomano.co.uk/office-chairs-4646

You could build a chair if money is tight. Decent car chair and an old swivel mechanism and you’re there

Finally got around to putting in better shelving for the computers. Which makes what I see a lot more attractive (it was a very messy well before this).

Top to bottom:

• Main PC (runs everything on my desk from that single cable that spans the gap)
  
• Media PC (runs Plex)
  
• NAS
  
• Shelf of networking stuff + Philips Hue
  
• Shelf of networking stuff + Home Assistant
  
• UPS (powers everything... including the monitor, lighting, and speakers on the desk!)
  
  

Now the shelving is done I'll finally come back to everything on the desk and will do a better job of cable tidying.

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nice

I need a proper chair, that also looks nice. Any suggestions and recommendations where to grab a bargain? Never bought an office chair before and grabbing one from John Lewis feels a bit punter.

I don't think there are any proper chairs that also look nice. They all just look like office chairs.

Yeah this is my fear, may go for an old vitra.

Nice, assume that radiator doesn't get turned on?

It has cold water pumped through it to keep the hardware cool.

Nice, assume that radiator doesn't get turned on?

Permanently turned off, which makes sense given that everything above it produces heat.

Fn key in bottom left instead of CTRL so that's a HARD NO from me.

#NeverKnowinglyKeyboardRemapped

I am forced to use Lenovo by my last two companies. They even acknowledge how shit it is and let you remap it using Lenovo's own management software.

I would never buy one with my own money for this reason.