The key here, is to apply liberal doses of common sense before you buy. Be on the lookout for dumb, even potentially dangerous designs. For example, some computer enclosure products feature a "drop-down, ironing-board style" desk. This is one style you might want to pass on. Odds are, it's eventually going to either bash you in the head, or make your dog a whole lot shorter.

Watch out for impractical design. If the printer shelf pulls out between your knees, you're going to hit your head on the keyboard tray or throw your back out trying to get to your print job, you have to get down on your knees and crawl underneath a workspace to clear a paper-jam, or you have to stand up to reach your printer... well, you get the picture. Incredibly enough, some models even overlook the basics.... like where you're supposed to put your mouse, for example. Does your equipment fit? Take a tape measure with you. Measure your monitor from front to rear, then factor in two to three more inches for the cables. Have that figure in mind when you measure your desk or armoire. If your CPU is oversized, remember to measure that too.

Visualize placing each item in or on the unit you're considering purchasing, then mentally plug in all the equipment on your electrical list. Visualize the items and all of the wires, cables, and transformers each one requires. Now, are there a sufficient number of wire-chase grommets, or will you still have wires and cables running all over the place? Some so-called "wire-management" solutions have significant shortcomings. OK, you've shoved all the wires and cables through the hole and they're all sticking out the back. Now what? Do you need multi-plug strips, surge protectors, an uninterruptable power supply? (Don't even think of doing without an uninterruptable power supply) So where will all of these things go?

Does whatever you're looking at have storage sections mounted on the doors? Does it have desk or file sections you're required to pull out from under the desk? Think about the design very carefully. These designs might work just fine totally empty but imagine them jammed full of heavy files. How user-friendly are these components going to be if they're a hundred pounds heavier? Will doors start to sag if they're stuffed full of files?

Where does your ergonomic chair go? You definitely need one. Unless you choose a design that hides the chair, you're going to have to have to find a chair that meshes with your decor. Don't buy your home office until you think this aspect of your decision all the way through.

Consider your lifestyle. If you drink coffee or cold drinks while you work, grab lunch or a quick snack, smoke, occasionally drop a pen or a marker, or do anything that's likely to result in a spill, a stain, or otherwise make a mess of your worksurface, can you use something like soft-scrub or alcohol to clean it up or will you have ruined your worksurface forever? Remember: Cheap can be expensive Whatever your price range, opt for quality. Keep in mind your health, your comfort, and your productivity. Whatever you choose should not only look good and function well, it should be flexible enough to accept tomorrow's technology as easily as today's. Keep in mind your lifestyle, your work habits. Chances are, you're going to spend a lot of time in front of that computer. Do it right. Consider this product as carefully as you would a new car. Plan to get a lot of mileage out of it. Use your common sense, consider your needs ahead of time. You're certain to make the right selection.

The following sections, presented in order, will give you the pros and cons of various types of home-office furnishings. You'll be able to decide which type best meets the aesthetic requirements of your family's home, and which best responds to your personal/professional computing requirements.

The Tri-City Herald recently published an article entitled Decor Meets The Digital Age telling readers exactly the same thing. Your local paper is probably running similar articles. They each give you the same advice; Do your homework before you buy. That way you won't have wasted money on something that really doesn't meet either your home decor, or your computing needs.

Ready? Review the categories again if you're looking for a particular type of product, or examine all your options by simply following the link below.