Tips for Working From Home
The global pandemic has caused a rapid shift in the way people work and earn a living. Going into a shared office quickly became a risky endeavor, and more people were asked to work from home to help lessen the adverse health impacts of the pandemic.
Video conferences quickly replaced in-person meetings, and daily commutes disappeared. While there were some obvious benefits from this new paradigm, many have been left to wonder how to create or improve their home office setups.
The Best Products to Upgrade Your Home Office
Fortunately, there are plenty of great home office ideas that only require a small purchase or some minor changes.
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101 Tips for Working From Home
A little bit of planning your home office space can make these working in home tips easier to implement. Start with the big items you’ll need (office furniture, computer equipment, storage solutions, etc.) and add personal touches once you can answer what I need to work from home.
Office Furniture
Key pieces of furniture can go a long way towards creating a productive work environment at home.
Locking File Cabinets
Keep important documents under lock with locking file cabinets.
Matching Office Furniture
These coordinating pieces from Sauder feature a “Chalked Chestnut” finish and can be configured with the pieces needed in your home office.
Standing Desk Converters
For anyone who wants the option to adjust their home office desk setup, a stand-up desk converter allows easy adjustment from a seated desk position to a standing desk position.
Adjustable Standing Desks
Enjoy the flexibility of standing while working at a desk with an electric adjustable standing desk. Different colors, sizes, and styles available including an adjustable L-shaped desk!
Credenza
This rustic credenza adds style to any room while adding helpful storage space.
Decorative Filing Furniture
These smart filing solutions help organize files while providing double duty as decorative furniture. Great for small spaces!
Storage Carts
Keep multiple projects running with ease with smart storage solutions. Wheeled carts are available in multiple sizes in black or white.
Moving Work Tables
These innovative work tables can quickly swivel or roll into position to let you comfortably work from the bed or your favorite spot in the living room!
Wobble Stool
Adjustable wobble stool is great for standing desk users who may want to occasionally give the legs a break. Available in black, blue, and red.
Chair Mats
Chair mats help office chairs move around smoothly and are available in different sizes and styles.
Rolling Office Chairs
These executive desk chairs are made of leather and offer lumbar support and multiple ways to adjust for all-day comfort.
Herman Miller Aeron Chair
Treat yourself to the gold standard for comfortable, stylish, and supportive office chairs — the classic Herman Miller Aeron chair.
Computer Accessories
Add smart accessories to your computer setup to make work as efficient as possible.
Webcam Covers
Webcam Cover, 6 Pack Ultra Thin Camera Cover Slide Apply to Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone, Protect Your Privacy
Leather Desk Pad
This leather desk pad has a classic refined style and provides the ideal surface for a mouse to glide smoothly and easily.
Laptop Stands
Position laptops at a better viewing angle while allowing increased airflow to the internal components with a laptop stand. Add a fan for increased airflow and equipment cooling.
Quiet Mouse
Reduce unnecessary noise with a quiet mouse that does not produce a click sound when the mouse buttons are pushed.
HD Monitors
Keep important pages in front of you at all times by adding an additional HD monitor to your computer setup.
Monitor Stands
Upgrade your computing experience with an arm mount for your monitor(s). These allow the monitor to be easily and quickly adjusted to a comfortable height for any user.
Wired Keyboards
These keyboards offer a more ergonomic alternative to the built-in keys on laptops and other devices.
Wireless Keyboards
Keep the desk clear or cords with a wireless keyboard with programmable shortcut buttons.
HD Webcams
Add more versatility and options to your webcasts with an HD webcam that can move independently from your laptop.
Docking Stations
These docking stations make it much quicker and easier to get set back upon return to your desk.
Audio Essentials
Add upgraded audio equipment to your home office to be sure that communications are as clear as possible.
Shure Digital Condenser Microphone
Getting studio-quality sound at home starts with a good quality microphone.
Bluetooth Speakerphones
These Bluetooth speakerphone devices improve sound quality on calls so that everyone can stay on the same page.
Headphones
These headphones can operate untethered when charged, or operate in the wired mode when needed.
Noise Canceling Headphones
Often the key to a successful working home office setup is finding a space that is free from distractions. These highly-rated noise-canceling headphones help to tune out distractions and focus on the important things. Large over-ear design is a visible cue to others that you are not available for chats.
SONOS speakers
Enjoy music in your office and throughout your home with highly-rated, easy to install SONOS speakers.
Home Office Electronics
The right tools can make a world of difference in personal productivity. Pick up these Amazon electronics and get ready for improved performance!
Smart Plugs
Add smart plugs to your office to upgrade electronics to work with voice commands, Alexa, and Google Home.
Surge Protectors
Add outlet capacity and power surge protection for electronics with a high-quality surge protector.
Document and Card Shredder
Keep sensitive information out of the wrong hands with this 8-sheet paper and credit card shredder.
UPS Backup Power Supplies
Protect your computer equipment from surges and power outages with a top-rated Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system.
Wireless Copy / Scan / Printers
These all-in-one wireless printers are highly-rated and can print in color, scan, and copy documents!
Weather Stations
Keep up with weather conditions at home with an electronic weather station.
Home Office Organization
Learn how to organize your home office space with smart organization solutions. These organized home office ideas involve elegant solutions to help to keep important work and reference items where they are needed.
Cell Phone Stands
These foldable cell phone and tablet stands can position your smart devices in the perfect space for viewing, recording, and charging!
Matching Desk Accessories
Enjoy a cleaner, more organized look with a matching set of desk accessories.
Notebook Portfolios
Keep active project essentials in an organized space with a leather notebook portfolio.
File and Letter Organizers
Letter and file organizers are smart ways to keep a home office organized and neat.
Shelf Units
One of the best small home office storage ideas is to add wall-mounted shelving solutions — no floor space is required!
Bulletin Boards
Keep photos, receipts, tickets, to-do lists, and more right where they are needed with a bulletin board. Available in multiple styles and sizes to match any home office.
Calendars
Keep a visual tab on important dates with an eye-catching calendar.
Whiteboards
Keep tabs on current projects with these stylish whiteboards that encourage big ideas to take shape!
Digital Clocks
These digital clocks come in 3 different colors and display the essentials: day of the week, time, and date.
Flip Clocks
Keep track of the time with a retro-style, easy-to-read flip clock.
Label Makers
Give everything an official home with these portable P-touch label makers. Dozens of colors of refill tape are available for highly customizable labels. Models available with PC connectivity for large labeling jobs.
Upgraded Office Lighting
No matter if you are looking for traditional home office design ideas or something more contemporary, adding plenty of adjustable task lighting can help to customize brightness levels for a wide variety of tasks.
Dual Ring Lights
Put your best face forward on Zoom meetings with a set of dual LED ring lights that eliminate unflattering shadows. Dimmable and adjustable light modes.
Extra Large Himalayan Salt Lamp
Enjoy the warm glow of an extra-large Himalayan salt lamp with a dimmer switch.
Dimmable Desk Lamps
Add just the right amount of light with a dimmable office lamp. Includes USB charging port to conveniently charge other devices. Available in multiple colors.
Desk Lamps with USB Charging Ports
These desk lamps provide task lighting to the desktop along with a convenient USB charging port.
Light Therapy Boxes
Add therapeutic bright lighting to any space with a 10,000 lux light therapy box.
Corner Floor Lamp
This corner floor lamp provides a soft dimmable glow in a wide variety of soothing colors.
Glitter Lava Lamps
This glitter motion lamp heats up quickly providing a subtle, hypnotic display of dancing glitter.
Smart Office Supplies
The most common items needed work home are basic office supplies. Pick up these highly-rated top-quality supplies to make sure you’re ready for any office challenge that arises.
Smooth Flow Ink Pens
These roller ball ink pens are highly-rated for their vivid color and smooth-rolling ink!
Note Paper
This green-tinted notepaper makes it easy to organize notes and sketch ideas with ease!
Paper Clips
These office staples are both fun and serve a practical purpose when you need them.
Do Not Disturb Sign
This door hanger lets everyone see your current availability with a simple glance.
Magnifying Rulers
Be sure that you can always read the fine print with one of these magnifying rulers. Choose the lighted version for even more visibility!
Cord and Cable Management
Keep cable clutter at bay with these easy-to-use cable management solutions.
Self-Inking Custom Stamps
Choose a favorite style to instantly mark all your outgoing mail and important items with these custom-printed stamps!
Home Office Décor
Personal décor items add comfort and joy no matter what tasks are on your list. You could choose to go all out and spare no expenses with a themed office or choose to only keep select favorites when deciding how to decorate your home office on a budget.
Planters
This stylish set of modern planters can be customized with plants of your choice and proudly displayed on the walls.
Plants
Highly rated live plants from Costa Farms add radiant life to indoor spaces. Choose the best type of plant for the amount of sunlight the plant will receive.
Message Boards
These felt letter boards allow you to share a brief message with the world. Includes numbers, letters of the alphabet, plus other special characters and emojis. Available in multiple sizes and colors.
School Memorabilia
Display proud school spirit by hanging a flag pennant next to your diploma(s).
Decorative Shelf
This rustic shelf unit provides the perfect space to display favorite items to enhance your mood throughout the day!
Tissue Covers
Keep tissues in a convenient desktop location with elegant tissue box holders.
Abstract Art
Choose abstract art that inspires creative thinking akin to finding objects in the clouds.
Giclee Canvas Art
Choose high-quality giclee canvas art that complements your space while inspiring great things at work.
Wrapped Canvas Art
Add inspiring artwork to your office space to stay inspired and energized while you work. Available in different sizes and styles.
Working from Home Comfort
These items will add comfort to allow you to focus on work.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
These blue-light blocking eyeglasses help reduce eye strain caused by too much time in front of a screen. Multiple colors are available.
Anti-Fatigue Mats
Suitable for standing desk configurations, these innovative anti-fatigue mats provide a comfortable alternative to sitting.
Foot Rest
Keep this footrest under your desk to provide proper ergonomic support so that you can focus on work.
Foot Massagers
Working from the comfort of home means that shoes are optional and these foot pampering treatments can be used any time they are needed.
Foot Warmer
This ergonomic footrest doubles as a foot warmer! Adjustable tilt with 2 heat levels.
Humidifiers
A small humidifier can add much-needed moisture to a small space like a desk, or a larger model can treat an entire room.
Aromatherapy Diffusers
This essential oil diffuser provides soothing or energizing aromatherapy with your choice of oils and the touch of a button. Essential oils sold separately.
Sound Machine
This sound machine provides white noise and other gentle sounds that help to reduce distractions. Over 30,000 reviews!
Massage Cushion
This heated massage cushion can be used on a chair or sofa and provides 6 massage modes to choose from.
Space Heaters
These highly-rated space heaters each have over 10,000 reviews! Keep chills away with one of these convenient space heaters.
HEPA Air Purifiers
These highly-rated HEPA air purifiers provide desktop filtration against allergens like pollen and pet dander.
Electric Fans
Add a cooling breeze to the office space with a highly-rated electric fan! Available in smaller sizes for desktops and larger sizes for cooling a room.
Personal Air Conditioners
These portable air conditioners help to create a cooler, more comfortable work environment. Helpful for those carving out office space in places without climate control like attics, garages, sheds, and more!
Beverage Station
Designate a space as an office beverage station to have hot coffee and tea conveniently located where they are most needed.
Serving Trays
Keep the essentials contained with a simple yet stylish serving tray.
Nespresso Coffee and Espresso Machine
Serious coffee drinkers should strongly consider upgrading their old coffee pots with a Nespresso Vertuo machine in their home office. These amazing machines make it easy to enjoy high-quality drinks without a trip to the coffee shop!
Nespresso Vertuo Pods
Enjoy a different coffee beverage every time with a Nespresso Vertuo variety pod pack.
Digital Electric Kettles
These electric kettles quickly heat water to precise digital temperature settings for the best possible cup of coffee or tea!
Personal Coffee Mugs
These mugs are designed to keep drinks at the ideal temperature with a variety of different technologies.
Electric Water Coolers
Stay hydrated at the home office with one of these smart bottom-loading water coolers that have 3 temperature settings. Current office gossip not included.
Fun Office Products
Work does not need to always be 100% serious — add a few fun elements here and there to brighten up the workspace.
Sticky Note Dispenser
This sticky note dispenser looks like an old-style Polaroid camera – a perfect gift for photographers!
Sushi Desk Accessories
Add some flavor to your desk setup with sushi-themed accessories like maki tacks and sticky note rolls.
Tape Dispenser
Music fans will love this tape dispenser that brings cool music vibes to the desktop.
Funny Stamps
Make a unique statement on documents with these quirky self-inking rubber stamps.
Racing Themed Mouse and Mousepad
Racing fans will enjoy these fun desk accessories featuring a car-shaped mouse (available in different colors) and a mousepad that provides a “track”.
Feather Pens
Enjoy a little more flair with each signature when using these stylish feather-shaped pens.
Note Pads
These bright note pads add a fun energy to ordinary notes and to-do lists.
USB Fans with LED Display
Add a gentle breeze and an eye-catching message with a LED display fan that is powered by USB.
Buddha Board
Start or end your day with the transformative practice of creating a temporary image that gradually fades away.
Brain Teasers
Enjoy a quick break during the workday with these attractive puzzles that look great on a desk!
Office Pets
Be sure to keep your “personal assistants” happy with these fun ideas for office pets when creating home office workspace!
Aquariums
Bring some life into your office space with a small or tabletop aquarium. Note that fish (or other animals) are not included with the purchase of a tank.
Office Cat Beds
Cat owners know that it’s often easier to distract or bribe your cat(s) with a toy than it is to convince them they shouldn’t be walking all over your work.
Office Dog Sofas
Invite man’s best friend into the boardroom with their very own dog sofa. Employee morale is already looking up!
Back to Business Travel
Prep yourself for life back on-site or at the office with these great travel products for work.
Cable Lock
Use these simple but sturdy cable locks to add security to laptops, monitors, safes, and more.
Travel Tote
This portable tote bag makes it easy to carry all the essentials between the home office and working on-site.
Lap Desk
Work comfortably anywhere with this adjustable lap desk.
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What do you think are the best work home items? What working with home tips and ideas would you add? What is the most important step when planning how to organize home office files?
The Best Products to Upgrade Your Home Office
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Great tips for making an office at home… initially during lockdown, I was working on the sofa… then I moved to my desk (once I had cleared it of clutter)… but I need to get a proper office setup to make it more conducive to work and to make me more efficient – very helpful list of home office products to help me work more efficiently.
Hi Mohammad, It’s definitely helpful to have the correct tools for any job — a properly set up home office is no exception!
Omg! This article is so helpful. I’ve been working from home for over a year now and oftentimes get back pain. I was thinking about getting some helpful furniture but never seen that wobbly stool before. This looks like something I’m missing! Also, one thing that is cool about home office is feet massaging balls – you may check those out too.
Hi Cogito, I do have a spikey ball in my home office that I use for foot massage — what a great suggestion! Thanks for sharing!!
Have a comfortable and ergonomic workspace is important. This is even more so when a person is suddenly working from home, as it can be disorienting. Your suggestions are all good ones but I feel the most important ones are to take care of the ergonomic issues with the correct chair, proper desk height and keyboard positioning. Having said that, I’m happy you’ve covered the other things that may not occur to people but are also important such as headphones, speakers, microphone and cam. You’ve done a thorough job with this article. Thank you for posting.
Hi Cynthia, I agree that good ergonomics should be given high priority in any office. The difference that ergonomics can make is incredible – it’s an investment that should pay for itself with increased productivity and reduced injuries.
Wow! this is an amazing post! I learned about some things by looking at the things you chose to show. I never knew there were smart plugs to make your lights and small appliances work with Alexa, for example! Pretty cool!
I do wonder if perhaps you might want to break this page into several pages — say one for office supplies and one for furniture? It did get a bit exhausting looking at all the lovely things after a while. But what kept me going was how interesting the things you chose were.
Office lamps with USP charging ports! Decorative filing cabinets! Movable ones! Your page was really fun to see.
Hi Lisa, Thank you so much for your feedback! There are definitely some easy ways to upgrade a home office, and I’m glad that you might have found some fun new favorites!
I began working from home during the pandemic and I would like to keep on doing this for the rest of my life. But I have realized that there are things that must be bought to create a comfortable home office. One of them is a UPS backup power supply. And another thing I need urgently is a monitor stand.
Hi Paolo, I purchased a high-quality monitor stand at a doctor’s recommendation about 10 years ago. It is easily one of the best purchases I have ever made! A monitor stand will obviously make it easier to do your work by placing your screen where you need it. A huge added benefit was that it also improved my health by preventing previous issues caused by awkward screen-viewing positions!
I do work from home from my home office and welcome these great tips. I need to get my space more in tune and comfortable for working from home 🙂 I love some of the items you have shown for the office furniture and I definitely need to use something besides my kitchen chair.
Hi Leahrae, I’m so glad to hear that you found some workable home office ideas. I definitely recommend that you get a good office chair if you need to sit for long periods — you will thank yourself for the investment in your own comfort!
I am so happy I came across your site, I will be going through each of these to see what is the best fit for my family, we are currently in the process of outfitting our office. It’s well laid out and all the necessary furniture and equipment are presented in one location. Thanks for including a few choices in the categories as well. Great article about working with home tips and products.
Hi Tracey, It can definitely be helpful to have a handful of home office space ideas as you plan a new functional space. Best of luck to you and your family with the home office arrangement and setup!
I have been working from home for the past year and I still need to get a comfy chair! At the moment I sit at the dining room table with my laptop and by the end of the day, my shoulders are all bunched up and sore. You have given so many great ideas of things I need to be more comfortable with. I have a Himalayan salt lamp that gives out a lot of natural light and a soothing soft glow. Thank you for the recommendations working from home!
Hi Lisa, I hope you are able to treat yourself to a quality home office chair soon — it will likely make a huge difference in your level of comfort on a daily basis!
Hi, thanks for this article on tips for working from home, I like the product that you featured in this article, I will get some! thanks to the pandemic I am also one of those people working from home. It is a bit strange but with your tips and bringing some of the items like the office chair home, it will give us more of a feel of a proper working environment that we should adapt to!
HI Nedia, I have been working from a home office for over a decade now, but the first thing I bought to make my home office more workable was the Herman Miller Aeron chair. I was fortunate to work for an employer who had them and I became quickly hooked on these comfy office chairs! It’s been a fantastic investment and I recommend them to everyone!
This is just a timely post. I was having a conversation with my husband that it has been a year now, since we both started to work from home but we are still working on the best home office setup. It is our next project to set up work spaces for ourselves and for the kids as we are also homeschooling. Your article will come in handy as we embark on this process. Thank you .
Hi Bogadi, It can definitely feel like a bigger issue to solve when you have so many different work styles and people to accommodate. Best of luck and I hope that you find some perfect home office setup ideas!
Hi, Thank you so much for your great content. My home office has become the place where I spend the better part of my day, I am always looking for some great work from home tips and products that will make my life easier. I am a writer and I must say that a mechanical keyboard will really make things much easier for me, not to mention feeling spoiled as well. Take care
Hi Jean, I agree that a great, comfortable keyboard is extremely important for writers and anyone doing a lot of work at their desk! It’s a huge upgrade from the “chiclet” style keys that are standard on most laptops these days!
So many people worldwide are turning a part of their home into an office because of what is happening globally. For many, this shift has been a life and a game-changer that so many people are adapting to. What better way than to add home office ideas to set up with all of the modern amenities and make working from home so much better. I believe it’s all about planning your home office the right way. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Norman, This past year has definitely made a lot more of us think about how to organize home office!
I really like the furniture because the Coronavirus disease has made us change what is needed to work from home. The organizing home office tips are smart since we are no longer keeping our files at a separate office away from the house. I would definitely get some things on this catalog. They look very splendid
Hi Collinsss, One of the best things about having a separate office was having that dedicated space for work and a separate space for leisure. Successfully adapting our homes to include this functional area can indeed be challenging, but it is definitely possible!
Our home office setups have become more important then ever. These are some good products that can help increase productivity. One thing that I do recommend adding are mechanical keyboards. Mechanical keyboards are worth the higher price tag as they make typing easier, and more satisfying. Especially if you’re a writer.
Other good products to increase productivity include ultrawide monitors, and a comfortable chair. This way, you can be at your desk the whole workday without ever feeling uncomfortable. While stand up desks allow you to continue working while getting that much needed stretch.
Hi Rhett, You are correct. It is very helpful to have a mechanical and ergonomic keyboard. I’ve also been surprised at how much of a difference it makes to have a silent mouse to cut down on unnecessary clicking noises. Thanks for sharing your work from home tips and ideas!
This is an excellent theme for a post. There are indeed many more people working from home and they will need some home office design ideas. I must admit I don’t know why anyone would want to stand all day to work, so I much preferred looking at your luxurious desk chairs!
As usual, you have really thought it out carefully and included a vast array of products.
Keep up the good work!
Hi Geoff, I have worked in a lot of corporate offices, but only once did I meet someone who preferred to use a standing desk configuration full time. Most people prefer comfy desk chairs for office jobs.
This pandemic really has changed the whole employment landscape for a huge portion of the workforce. Thousands of businesses have seen they do not need to have everyone working in a consolidated area in cubicles in order to get the job done. Working from home is quickly becoming the new way to run a business. This is a great site for an all in one place roll up to get everything you need for a home office. Great site.
Hi Al, I expect that even when the pandemic is behind us that employers will realize that there may be a huge cost-benefit for them to allow workers to work from home. I’ll bet the work from home life is here to stay!
Hi, this is an interesting and helpful article about tips for working from home. Sometimes we simply take a small chair, sit down, and start working, but that isn’t ideal for the long term. These working in home tips introduce home office ideas to create a more productive home environment. This is very important. I’ll be getting some of these items and create a strong productive environment. A set of noise cancelling headphones would be really helpful, or even just a good sound machine.
Hi Kokotala, Thanks for sharing! It’s definitely helpful to tune out distractions when focusing on work. I use the SONOS speakers in my home office with the CALM app. The CALM app has some great background “music” options that can be used for a variety of scenarios, including focusing on work.