Working from home is not a thing of the future anymore. For different reasons, more and more people are ending up working from the comfort of their home… is it that comfy, though?
Is your home office set up as it should?
No matter if you are new to the whole work-from-home thing or you’ve been hustling in your pajamas for the last few years, the time to update your home office equipment has come.
Today, I give you a simple list of 10 things you must have in your home office… but there’s more. I dig deeper into the ways to make the most out of each idea with specific instructions of what you need and, most importantly – why you need it this way.
If you struggle with small office space, all of these items would fit even better as they will make the working day less stressful and help you focus and be as productive as you want to be.
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Ergonomic Office Chair
An ergonomic office chair is arguably the most essential item when it comes to your home office setup. If you work from your kitchen, chances are you don’t have a suitable chair to work from for 8 hours a day. And that’s a problem.
But why is it so important to have an office chair at home? The short answer is they keep you comfortable and in the correct position for hours at a time. Here are some of the benefits in more detail:
Ergonomic chairs support proper posture, and by doing so, they reduce stressful forces on your body. They also help proper hip and pelvis alignment, which will cause low back pain while sitting if not appropriately supported. Ergonomic chairs also prevent slouching and forward head posture, which might lead to lead to muscle guarding, pain, and headaches.
Last but not least, office chairs are incredibly comfortable since you can adjust them according to the height of your desk/table. By the end of your workday, it will be like you haven’t been sitting down for the past 8 hours.
Our pick for the best ergonomic office chair:
Stand-up Adjustable Desk
Sitting too much is seriously bad for your health. Even if you have a good ergonomic chair sitting down is harmful to your body. So, at the center of any efficient work-from-home setup is your desk. That’s why you should get a stand-up desk.
A stand-up desk that allows you to stand up comfortably while working. An adjustable stand-up desk is even better. They allow you to change the height of the desk and alternate between sitting and standing.
So why is an adjustable stand-up desk essential for the perfect home office? Here are the reasons:
Standing desks lower the risk of weight gain. Standing instead of sitting down burns more calories. They also reduce back pain, improve mood and energy levels, and even boost productivity.
Do you need any more reasons to get a stand-up desk for your home office? Didn’t think so.
Our pick for the best adjustable home office desk:
Noise-canceling Headphones
If you’ve ever googled “What equipment do I need to work from home?” you already know that a noise-canceling headset is a must-have.
Noise-canceling headphones are specifically designed to eliminate sounds and reduce background noise at the office. Imagine having a call while people are talking around you, printers are running, papers get shuffled around, and phones are vibrating. It makes sense to have a noise-canceling headset at the office, right?
Why do you need one for your home office? Well, let me paint you a picture.
I’m currently writing this article from the comfort of my home office. The dishwasher is running, my housemate is taking a shower, I can hear dogs barking from outside, and my cats have their daily wrestling match in the hallway. Do you think I could have a decent work call if I didn’t have a noise-canceling headset?
If you’re convinced that you need to invest in a good headset, here’s our Amazon choice:
Lap Desk
Home office comes with a number of benefits. You save time on commuting; you can have home-cooked meals for lunch, you have more time to spend with your family or housemates.
But not all apartments and houses are suitable for remote work. Some of them (mine including) are tiny and cozy, but there’s no space for an additional desk or office chairs.
That’s why (and believe me when I say it) you should get a lap desk. I usually work from my couch, and a lap desk helps a lot. I don’t have to spend all day with a hot, radiation-emitting laptop on my legs all day.
The lap desk is a simple but innovative work from home office essential. It puts a barrier between you and your laptop, making it safer and better for your posture.
I can confidently say that I experience less body pain since I have my lap desk. Plus, it comes with cool additional features like a built-in cooling stand to keep your computer running smoothly and a cell phone holder.
Our choice for a lap desk that does the job perfectly:
Desk Lamp
If you’re working from home, chances are your lighting isn’t suitable, which might damage your sight. That’s why when you’re setting up a home office for remote work, you should consider getting a desk lamp.
The main purpose of a light lamp is to provide enough brightness and well-distributed lighting of the working area. The two best options, in that case, are a tabletop desk lamp and an adjustable desk lamp.
A tabletop desk lamp is made with solid material making it very sturdy. It’s a perfect choice for small spaces because it consumes very little space. The adjustable table lamp has a flexible arm, and it’s great for small work areas because you can adjust its height, and the lighting becomes more flexible.
Both options are great and will be extremely useful for your home office regardless of your choice.
Our choice for the best office desk lamp:
Wireless Mouse
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of dragging my fingers along an overly sensitive laptop touchpad. And a wireless mouse is the ticket to avoid slouching over the keyboard.
If you don’t have a good wireless mouse as a part of your home office setup, then what are you waiting for?
Unless you’re incredibly tech-savvy, chances are you might be a bit overwhelmed by the hordes of options available for you to choose from. What’s the difference between a USB mouse and a Bluetooth mouse? Do I really need to go wireless? Does my laptop support all types of mouses?
Lucky for you, I’m here to help.
My advice is to start with a wireless USB mouse and don’t go too crazy initially. Get a cheap one to see if that works for you. If it does, then you might want to invest some more money into a better one.
One thing’s for sure – a good mouse is an important element of your work from home office setup.
Our choice for a perfect wireless mouse:
Mug Warmer
If you’re like me and you often forget your cup right after you’ve poured it, you’ll love this home office setup idea.
Don’t you just hate it when you take your first sip, and you’re met with a lukewarm liquid that isn’t giving you the kick you need? Here’s an advice – rather than reaching for the microwave, consider getting a mug warmer.
Essentially a mug warmer is a tiny hot plate that sits on your desk and heats the bottom of your cup to keep the liquid inside hot. Some warmers even have different settings depending on your beverage choice.
So, it doesn’t matter if you’re a tea drinker or a coffee junkie; a mug warmer is a must-have for any home office setup.
Our choice for the best mug warmer:
A Safe Power Strip
In a home office setup, you’ll probably have more electronic devices than you have plugs. Mug warmer, laptop, phone charger, speakers…you’d be surprised how quickly your work from home setup grows. But do you have space to plug all those items in?
Power strips are a must-have addition to your work-from-home office. And when you have several devices plugged in, you’ll need to buy one with surge protection. When the voltage increases above the norm, the heat generated in the arc can fry your electronics and damage your electrical outlets. A surge protector controls the sudden electricity peaks and protects your electronic devices against random power spike damage.
Power surges may not be an everyday event, but you can’t predict when they will occur. So invest in a safe power outlet and protect your electronics from damage.
Our choice for a safe power strip:
Office Stationery
We indeed live in the era of electronics where more and more people avoid paper notes. Some of my co-workers shared that they don’t even own any notebooks.
But let’s not forget that paper notes are still better than typing. When you write your notes by hand, you develop a stronger conceptual understanding.
That’s why your home office stationery should be on point. Now, I’m not saying it’s mandatory to have a printer, folders, and document sorters if you don’t need them. I’m simply suggesting that a nice notepad, a highlighter or two, and a pen are essential for any home office setup.
Water bottle
I know that adding a water bottle to this list might seem silly, but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to forget to drink water when you’re working from home.
When you’re at the office, drinking water is a great excuse to leave your desk. But when you’re home, sometimes you get so soaked up into work that you forget to hydrate—staying hydrated supports vital brain functions. So if you don’t drink water regularly, you won’t be as productive, you might get headaches, and it’s harmful to your body overall.
Keeping a water bottle at your desk will remind you to stay hydrated. You can even go a step further and add this Chrome extension to your desktop, which sends you reminders.
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Best Home Office Set Up When You Work From Home
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