In partnership with Branch. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
I’ve worked remotely for nearly a decade and my preferred “office” has always been the dining room table. I like the proximity to the coffee (and snacks!), always with my dog snoozing underfoot.
But recently I’ve had the itch to change things up. With a dining room table overtaken by LEGO builds and a daily reminder that a dining room chair wasn't actually designed for eight-hour workdays, it became clear my setup wasn’t doing me any favors.
It was time to graduate to a workspace that prioritized comfort without feeling stiff or overly corporate, and that I wouldn’t feel compelled to hide when guests came over. Also, it would be nice to finally free up the dining room table from its day-job as my “office.”
My research led me to Branch. They’re known for making beautifully designed, ergonomic furniture that’s actually meant to be used for entire workdays (and real people). Branch promises “ergonomics for everyone,” all without the eye-watering price tags or sterile office vibes. I tested Branch’s Duo Standing Desk and Ergonomic Chair Pro to see if upgrading my workspace could really change how I feel during – and after – the workday.
We like
- One word: comfort
- Clean, aesthetically-elevated products you want to show off
- Ergonomic designs that reduce back, neck and shoulder pain, improve productivity and lower workplace-fatigue
- High-quality furniture without the astronomical price tag
- Color customization and add-ons like cable organizers, desk trays and headrests
- Easy-to-follow assembly instructions that won’t make you want to throw the Allen wrench across the room
- Fast shipping
We don't like
- Products come wrapped in lots of plastic and foam packaging that aren’t recyclable
- If you are on the taller side, you will want the headrest for the chair, which is an additional add-on.
A Desk That Changes How I Work
When I’m editing and writing at my dining room table, I tend to sit all hunched over with my eyes far too close to the screen. So, it’s safe to say that pretty much any other set up would be an upgrade from what I’ve been using.
Putting Branch’s Duo Standing Desk to the test, I was initially very skeptical. I always thought standing desks were a bit of a gimmick tbh. But Branch quickly proved me wrong. Rated by Wirecutter as a Top Pick, the desk adjusts smoothly with a simple paddle control, allowing you to raise or lower it effortlessly (bonus: there’s a handset lock to prevent pets or enthusiastic kids from accessing it. Thank you to whoever added this feature, from moms everywhere).
You can program the handset to two height options: one seated position and one standing position. To promote movement, you can also set alerts to encourage standing throughout the day, which has kept me from sinking into one position for too long. One feature worth calling out is the silence of the actual motor. It’s merely a whisper, making it acceptable to adjust when on video calls.
Not only are the tech features intuitive, but the look and feel is quite frankly, flawless. I love the clean, unfussy design that fits easily into my small home office. Its frameless silhouette, rounded corners, and compact footprint make it ideal for smaller home offices. And, I’m thrilled that there are no bulky drawers begging to be cluttered or a look that screams ‘boring sterile office.’
With seven desktop finishes and four leg color options, it’s easy to customize to your own workspace. I chose the Woodgrain top with white legs, and it fits seamlessly into my compact home office.
The Duo specifically also comes with a range of compatible accessories, like Desk Trays, a Drawer, a Headphone Stand, a Desk Hook, and a Cable Organizer that comes with a power unit. You can truly “build your own” desk setup with the Duo.
A Great Desk Would Be Nothing Without the Right Chair
My husband has one of those very fancy, very expensive office chairs and guess who I’ve caught using the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro more than once? Consider that a strong endorsement.
This isn’t just a nice-to-look-at office chair. Branch designed it to conform to the realities of how we sit, shift and work. With two-way adjustable lumbar support, 5D armrest support, multiple seat depth options, and a synchronous tilt that moves with your body (not against it), the chair keeps my posture and comfort in check.
In fact, there are 14 points of adjustment that help me adapt to different modes of work. I can sit up straight, get supportive forward-leaning positioning to focus, or recline into a more relaxed posture for calls and brainstorming.
Upgrading to the Ergonomic Chair Pro has significantly improved my comfort to a point where I’ve considered rolling the chair to the dinner table. I no longer find myself hunched over my keyboard or lingering in one position for hours. My shoulders and lower back feel noticeably less fatigued, which translates to less aches and pains and more energy when my kids get home.
Lefty Loosey, Righty Tightey
I’d be remiss not to talk about assembly – especially as someone who identifies as assembly-challenged. Since moving into our new house, we’ve wrestled with bunk beds, closet shelves, and towel racks, usually resulting in a healthy dose of swearing (from me) and a calm request for me to step away from the installation. So when the Branch boxes arrived, I blocked off a full morning and braced myself.
To my surprise, I put together about 95% of everything on my own, which is a small miracle. Each piece comes with a clear, photo-driven guide, and all the hardware is clearly labeled and organized, making the process feel nearly foolproof. I put together the Duo Standing Desk entirely solo (with some enthusiastic moral support from my five-year-old), and only hit one small hiccup with the chair, which took minutes to fix once I spotted the issue (I confused the front and back of the seat).
I was fully prepared for an IKEA-level spiral. Instead, Branch delivered straightforward instructions, smart design, and an assembly experience that felt actually doable.
Ergonomic Comfort That Doesn’t Feel or Look Stuffy
It took only one day of using Branch for me to realize how poorly configured my “office” had been…for years. I always assumed ergonomics was just about posture: sit up straight, don’t slouch, call it a day. What I learned instead is that good ergonomics quietly supports how you move, focus, and work over long stretches of time.
Because when it comes down to it, we spend nearly as much time at our desks as we do in our beds, yet most of us put far less thought into our workspace. I was no exception until Branch made it clear how much an ergonomic workspace truly can make a difference in both comfort and productivity.
Branch is not only thoughtfully engineered, but its smart, minimalist design actually makes me look forward to sitting down at my desk — proof that a workspace can improve your mood, comfort and motivation.
Improve your WFH setup with Branch
