Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
Decor

Desk shortage forces people to get creative about workspaces

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 Sep, 2020 10:22 PM
  • Desk shortage forces people to get creative about workspaces

First it was toilet paper. Disinfectant wipes. Beans. Coins. Computers. Now, desks are in short supply because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Millions of kids logging onto virtual school this fall has parents scrambling to find furniture for them. It’s a small indignity compared with the kids who don’t even have home internet or computers, but it’s a hassle for parents lucky enough to have the space and money to afford desks just the same.

At the same time, some people are realizing they'll be working from home for the long haul and require new furniture. To find desks, people are scouring stores near and far and even making their own.

Elizabeth Rossmiller, a teacher working from home for the first time, needed to upgrade from her temporary setup: an upside-down laundry basket on a nightstand.

The desk she wanted from Amazon was out of stock. None were available for under $200 at Target or Walmart. Her husband found a floor model at a store 45 minutes away from their home in Gresham, Oregon.

It was smaller and more dinged up than she expected, but “better than a laundry basket!"

Target and Ikea are restocking home office supplies due to high demand. Amazon and Walmart did not respond to requests for comment. But John Furner, who runs Walmart’s U.S. stores, acknowledged low stocks of kid’s desks and laptops in a ABC News interview on Sept. 11.

Online, sales of desks and accessories, such as desk chairs and lamps, were up 283% in August from the year before, according to Rakuten Intelligence, which tracks shopper behaviour. Sites that offer used goods show spiking interest: On Facebook Marketplace, interest in desks has doubled in the last month from the month before. But prices aren't necessarily cheap.

Shaynah Dungan, who needs a desk for when she starts esthetician school in January, said desks similar to the sold-out one she wants from Ikea were overpriced on Amazon and OfferUp, an app where people sell their stuff.

People are figuring out other solutions, sharing advice on turning dressers or book shelves into makeshift desks on Pinterest and Facebook.

Megan Fry, who is starting a new work-from-home customer service job in Indianapolis in October, said she had to go the “DIY route” after visits to Walmart, Ikea and other stores found no desk options under $150. She made her own using a $30 legless tabletop from Ikea placed on top of two short bookcases from Amazon, which cost $42 apiece.

“It’s not as cute or trendy as a bought desk and I wish it had drawers for storage,” said Fry. “But I’m happy it’s clean and has a large surface on top for my monitors and laptop.”

Instead of bookcases, Patrick Brugh went with crates to build a desk for his 6-year-old after he couldn’t find a desk at Ikea or Amazon. The Baltimore university administrator built it in two days, spending about $70 at Home Depot on four crates and a board that he painted in bright blue.

Will the homemade desk make it through the school year?

“There’s goo on the top from his snack,” said Brugh, whose son spends about 40 hours a week on it for virtual classes. “I could not believe in three weeks how much damage he’s done to this desk.”

MORE Decor ARTICLES

A room with a view? We're looking for one with a door

A room with a view? We're looking for one with a door
Nearly six months later, many interior designers are helping clients make more considered decorating changes, big and small, to serve the whole family during the new school year.

A room with a view? We're looking for one with a door

Work From Home

Work From Home
As work from home becomes the new routine in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, here are some tips to keep in mind to create the perfect home office.

Work From Home

A scoop of style: Ice cream hues bring summery vibe to décor

A scoop of style: Ice cream hues bring summery vibe to décor
Ice cream has been described as ``happiness condensed,'' so what better way to boost your mood during this pandemic summer than to bring the hues and patterns of this frozen treat into your living space?

A scoop of style: Ice cream hues bring summery vibe to décor

Moncton Canadian Tire displays Christmas products after run on patio furniture

Moncton Canadian Tire displays Christmas products after run on patio furniture
Christmas is coming early to a Canadian Tire in New Brunswick. A store in Moncton has packed its aisles with Yuletide holiday products at the height of summer, replacing wicker sofas and parasols with ornaments and artificial trees after a run on outdoor furniture during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moncton Canadian Tire displays Christmas products after run on patio furniture

Wanderlust woes? Décor ideas for the housebound traveller

Wanderlust woes? Décor ideas for the housebound traveller
If your actual travel plans are on hold, you can soothe your wanderlust with a few home décor change-ups or additions.Whether you’re wishing you were at a wilderness cabin, the beach or an exotic passport destination, designers and retailers are offering clever ways to bring the world into your quarantined home space.

Wanderlust woes? Décor ideas for the housebound traveller

Japandi: The Best of Both Worlds

Japandi: The Best of Both Worlds
Japandi is the hippest design movement that is taking over the world by storm.

Japandi: The Best of Both Worlds

PrevNext