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In the wake of the pandemic, individuals who were accustomed to the office environment had initially anticipated a swift return to their workplace. However, fast forward nearly 18 months, and a significant portion of the workforce remains engaged in remote work. Some forward-thinking companies have even adopted a “remote-first” approach for the foreseeable future. Those who have been homebound for an extended period have transformed their comfortable abodes into efficient workspaces. To facilitate this transition, we reached out to seasoned remote professionals who were well-versed in the art of telecommuting prior to COVID-19, as well as those who had recently embarked on the journey of setting up their Best Home Office Essentials.
We used what they told us and what we knew from our own archives to make a list of all the things that are necessary for a good work-from-home setup. Even though you need a computer, wireless router, and modem to work from home, this piece focuses on the other things that can make your experience better. We’ve put together 68 suggestions, ranging from desks, chairs, and computers to less well-known but useful tools that help people get work done every day. These things not only make working from home easier and more fun, but they also help keep you from getting burned out.
Best Home Office Essentials Comparison Table
| Product Name | Adjustable Height | Ergonomic Design | Portability | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stand Up Adjustable Desk | Yes | Yes | No | All devices |
| Ergonomic Chair | No | Yes | No | All devices |
| Nova Microdermabrasion Adjustable Drafting Table | Yes | No | No | All devices |
| The Edge Desk System | Yes | Yes | Yes | All devices |
| Apple Magic Keyboard (and Magic Mouse 2) | No | No | Yes | Apple devices |
| LapGear Home Office Lap Desk | No | No | Yes | All devices |
Stand Up Adjustable Desk
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Height Adjustment Range | 28.3 inches – 45.7 inches |
| Desktop Dimensions | 47.2 inches x 23.6 inches |
| Weight Capacity | Up to 220 pounds |
| Material | Steel frame, MDF tabletop |
| Additional Features | Cable management, dual motors |
Your desk is the most important part of a good set-up for working from home. Your choice of desk is very important because it will hold all of your important office supplies and keep its shape while you type, talk on the phone, and think through the day. There is a lot of information about how bad it is for your health to sit still for too long and how much better it is to stand. This is just one of many good things.
You should try to switch between sitting and standing as you work throughout the day. You can do this with a standing desk that lets you change its height. Some desks need to be moved by hand by turning a handle, while more expensive ones can be moved by pressing a button. When you start to feel tired, sore, or achy, you can switch between sitting and standing at a flexible standing desk. So, it’s a great purchase for people who spend most of their day at home working.
The Good
- Encourages better balance and lowers the risk of becoming too sedentary.
- Makes it easy to switch between sitting and standing.
- Can help you concentrate and get more done.
- Gives you options for how to set up your desk.
The Bad
- May require added space due to its adjustable design.
- Some types can be more expensive than other desks.
Ergonomic Chair
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Seat Material | Breathable mesh fabric |
| Lumbar Support | Adjustable lumbar support |
| Armrests | Height and width adjustable armrests |
| Tilt Mechanism | Multi-function tilt with lockout feature |
| Weight Capacity | Up to 250 pounds |
If your health is a concern, your work chair might be even more important than your desk. Many office chairs don’t have enough support to keep you in the right position and relaxed for hours at a time. These pain points are taken into account when making ergonomic chairs is the Best Home Office Essentials. Even though they are bigger and more complicated than a simple office chair, this is for a good reason.
Ergonomic chairs are designed to support and comfort the parts of the body that are known to be weak or hurt. Before you buy a chair for your office, you should do your own study. Everyone has different places where they are weak, so each chair works differently for each person.
The Good
- Offers the best support and comfort for sitting for long amounts of time.
- Helps keep the body in the right position and lowers the chance of back and neck pain.
- Features that can be changed let people make them fit their own tastes.
- Increases output by making people feel better and less tired.
The Bad
- Some chairs with good ergonomics can be pricey.
- Finding the right fit and making the right changes may take a few tries.
- Not every style or body type will look good in every model.
Nova Microdermabrasion Adjustable Drafting Table
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Tabletop Dimensions | 35.4 inches x 23.6 inches |
| Adjustable Height | 27.6 inches – 38.2 inches |
| Tilting Angle Range | 0° – 60° |
| Material | MDF tabletop, steel frame |
| Storage Space | Three drawers and one storage shelf |
Elise Yeo-Donaldson, who works from home for a London-based educational technology start-up, says that this Best Home Office Essentials desk is both inexpensive and easy to use. “It was made for architects, but I use it for normal work with a laptop and notebook,” she says. “I didn’t realize how helpful it would be to be able to change the desk’s angle, and the glass top makes it so easy to clean.”
This drawing table’s angle can be changed from 0 to 60 degrees to meet your needs. Has a carrier joint that makes it strong and stable. On both sides, it has trays with single slots and multiple slots to hold pens, brushes, and other drawing tools. It also has two non-woven drawers that can hold a lot of things.
The Good
- Artists, builders, or anyone else who needs to work on a tilted surface can use this.
- Makes it easy to change the working angle.
- Offers a lot of room for work and storage.
- Sturdy construction so that jobs can be done without wobbling.
The Bad
- The surface may not be good for all kinds of work because it is tilted.
- May need to be put together.
- Size and weight may make it hard to move around.
The Edge Desk System
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Desk Dimensions | 48 inches x 30 inches |
| Chair Dimensions | 21 inches x 22 inches x 33 inches |
| Weight Capacity | Up to 250 pounds |
| Material | Birch plywood, steel frame |
| Additional Features | Built-in document holder, cup holder |
The Edge Desk System is a wonderful purchase for a number of reasons. It provides a sitting position that is very ergonomic, with an ergonomic chair and knee supports that can ease the strain that can be caused by sitting in a conventional chair.
Because it offers such a wide range of adjustment options, my entire family, even my youngest child who is only 8 years old, has been able to find a comfortable position using it. It can also fold up simply and quickly into a shockingly compact and transportable package; you can basically use it in any area, whether your working environment is your living room or even right next to your kitchen table. Its portability also makes it a remarkable value.
The Good
- The design is small and portable, so it can be used in small areas or on the go.
- Adjustable features let you change them to get the most ease.
- Offers a workspace that can be used for many different jobs.
- Easy to put together and take down.
The Bad
- Compared to traditional desks, they don’t have as much room.
- For long rides, the seat may not be as comfy.
- Might not have as much space for storage as bigger desks.
Apple Magic Keyboard (and Magic Mouse 2)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Compatibility | Mac computers and iOS devices |
| Keyboard Layout | QWERTY |
| Battery Life | Keyboard: Up to 1 month (rechargeable) |
| Mouse: Up to 2 months (rechargeable) |
The Magic Keyboard from Apple is a Best Home Office Essentials incredible product. The layout and style are reminiscent to the classic Mac keyboard, and it has a scissor key mechanism. Additionally, it is wireless and connects to devices using Bluetooth.
The best part is that the battery, which can be charged using a USB port, has a life span of several months on a single charge. (For the same reasons, Apple’s Magic Mouse 2 is another product that I adore.) The larger model that has a numeric keypad is also wonderful; I highly recommend it.
The Good
- Design that is sleek and stylish.
- Apple products work with it without any problems.
- For a clean desk, use wireless connections.
- Long battery life lets you use it for longer.
The Bad
- There isn’t much support for products that aren’t Apple.
- Some people might find it less comfortable to type on than other computers.
- For full usefulness, you might need extra parts, like a charging dock for the Magic Mouse 2.
LapGear Home Office Lap Desk
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Lap Desk Dimensions | 21.1 inches x 12 inches |
| Surface Material | Smooth, flat surface with mouse pad |
| Built-in Features | Device ledge, phone slot, pen holder |
| Cushion Material | Foam padding for comfort |
| Compatibility | Fits most laptops up to 15.6 inches |
The surface of the laptop desk is the Best Home Office Essentials and has dimensions of 21.1 inches in width and 12 inches in depth. It is the ideal size for laptops that measure up to 15.6 inches in height. There will be plenty of room for all of your electronic devices and accessories.Your laptop, tablet, or notebook won’t slide about thanks to the device ledge that’s built right in. The user can choose to have the innovative, integrated mouse pad that measures 5 by 9 inches placed on either the right or the left side of the surface.
There is a slot for your phone built right into the mouse pad, so you can keep it close at hand.The cushion is the most important component of a quality lap desk. This soft and solid microbead cushion with two bolsters will provide you a surface that is not only comfortable but also stable. Regardless of the temperature outside, the dual design will keep your lap nice and cool.
The Good
- Gives you a handy and comfortable place to work on your lap.
- It can be used to work or use a laptop or computer in different places.
- Includes extra features like a wrist rest and storage pockets.
- The shape is light and easy to carry.
The Bad
- Compared to bigger desks, it doesn’t have as much space.
- May not be as stable as a standard desk as a place to work.
- Not good for all jobs, like typing a lot or drawing with a lot of detail.
FAQs
Depending on your needs, the most important things for a home office could be a desk, a chair, a computer or laptop, a reliable internet link, a printer/scanner, a desk organizer, enough lighting, and office supplies like pens, notebooks, and sticky notes.
The best kind of desk for a home office relies on what you like and how much space you have. A standard rectangular desk, an L-shaped desk for more space, a standing desk for health reasons, or a small desk for a small space are all common choices. When picking a desk, think about how comfortable it is, how much space it has, and how well it works.
A comfortable chair is important for a home office because it supports you and helps you keep good balance while you work. Look for a chair that is good for your back and has changeable height, armrests, and lumbar support. Investing in a good chair can help you get more done and keep you from being uncomfortable or getting back pain.