The freelance economy has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last decade, but the pandemic pushed more people than ever into working from home. Now that they’ve gotten used to it, many professionals are deciding not to go back to the office when given a choice.

Unfortunately, you can’t just pick up and move to get a place with an additional room or office space. Most people have been using their dining rooms as their temporary home office, with the table functioning as a desk by day and a dining surface by night.

The harsh reality is that the workspace will continue to take up more and more space, with cords posing trip hazards. Eventually, many families have given up and switched to eating in front of the television. When the situation is seemingly temporary such inconveniences seem minor, but if you have decided to work from home for the long haul you’ll need a more permanent solution.

Creating a space where family and work can exist in harmony requires having the right dining room furniture and arrangement. Here are some things to keep in mind as you redesign your dining room to use as a mobile office.

Choose dining sets with extendable tables

If you know that your workspace is not going to be easily dismantled or moved aside, it might be best to get a new dining set that can accommodate those needs. Extendable tables are a great option because you can make the table larger if you need more workspace. If your work is taking up more of the table than usual, the extension leaves can be added to provide more space for family dinners.

A long table might seem like an unnecessary expense, but when you buy a dining table set with extension leaves online you’ll have many more affordable options.

Matching console table or sideboard

Getting complete dining set with a sideboard and/or console table can give you additional spaces to organize your work and supplies. The storage capacity of some sideboards is perfect for housing office and printing supplies, with the surface a good option for a wireless printing and document prep station. You can also use console tables to set up an easily accessible coffee and snack station.

Comfortable executive style seating

When choosing a dining set that has matching chairs, keep in mind that you need both comfort and style. If you plan to host client or vendor meetings in this workspace, you are going to want to have professional furniture and décor to create the right aesthetic for success. Some dining sets come with chairs that closely resemble the executive seating in traditional professional offices.

However, keep in mind that you aren’t just sitting in these chairs to eat. You’ll be sitting in one chair specifically for hours at a time. You might want to consider getting a separate, more comfortable, and functional chair for use at the end of the table where you have your workstation. If there isn’t a good option with the dining set you’ve chosen, look at chairs of all types from the same brand or collection for something that will work with the rest of the room.