Create a Comfortable Home Office with These Must-Have Upgrades
The best way to be successful when working at home is to create a comfortable environment that is free from distractions so you can focus exclusively on your work. That sounds simple enough, but it can be quite a challenge if you’ve got kids or pets at home. Finding a quiet, private space is a great way to start, but you will probably need a few upgrades to really make the space work for you.
From cool gadgets that make you more efficient to comfortable seating that prevents and alleviates back pain, the list of potential home office upgrades has a lot of appealing options. Let’s take a look at some of the must-haves chosen by people who have already set up their own home workspaces. Each one could improve your health, make your work more enjoyable, increase your productivity — or maybe all three.
Best Overall: Flash Furniture Swivel Ergonomic Desk Chair
More than anything else, you need a comfortable chair that is good for your back, muscles and joints. Thousands of people who work at home agree that the Flash Furniture Swivel Ergonomic Desk Chair is the best option.
Flip-up arms, waterfall seating and an ergonomic design ensure lumbar support and alleviate pressure on your back and legs. Furthermore, you can lock the chair in one position or allow it to rock. The rolling chair is inexpensive, and users say it’s well ventilated, so you won’t get hot sitting in it for long periods. They also like that it’s easy to assemble.
Best Value: Logitech MK550 Wireless Wave Keyboard and Mouse Combo
For a great price, you can add some excellent hand and wrist comfort to your home office with the Logitech MK550 Wireless Wave Keyboard and Mouse Combo. The keyboard’s layout is designed to reduce stress on your hands and wrists while typing, and it features a palm rest and three adjustable heights.
The mouse works with laser precision, and both gadgets come with a long battery life. Those who have used the items say the layout and size of the keys are great, and they love that the keyboard is quiet when they type. Setup is easy too.
Best Speakers: AOMAIS Life Bluetooth Speakers
By adding a quality speaker to your home office, you can listen to music while you work as well as enjoy better sound quality for group chats and meetings. There are many Bluetooth speakers on the market, but we like the AOMAIS Life Bluetooth Speaker for several reasons.
Not only are these speakers attractive, but they offer crisp, clear sound, excellent volume control and up to 100 feet of Bluetooth range. The charge lasts for up to 12 hours. Reviewers love that these speakers are inexpensive — available between $50 and $100 — compared to similar options. They also say that AOMAIS offers excellent customer service.
Best Lighting: TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp
A well-lit room is a must for productivity, but the light that comes from your screens can strain your eyes. Natural light is always best, but when that isn’t possible, a soft light lamp on your desk is a great way to reduce eye strain and create a cozy space. The TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp is gentle on the eyes, and you can change up the way you use it, thanks to five color options and seven levels of brightness.
The lamp tilts and swivels, allowing you to use it in different ways, and it even has a USB charging station built into the base. Those who own it say it’s the best desk lamp they have ever used, and they love all the different brightness options that are available for various tasks as well as how much natural light is available.
Best Desk: Walker Edison Furniture Company Modern Corner L-Shaped Desk
If you have enough room for a desk, that doesn’t mean just any old desk will do. You need a desk that is comfortable and easy to access and provides plenty of space for all your supplies. The Walker Edison Furniture Company Modern Corner L-Shaped Desk is popular with both those who work at home and gamers, probably because it’s designed with both those groups in mind.
The desk’s size and shape make it a great option for smaller homes and apartments. If you need more workspace, you can buy two and join them together. Thousands of people who work at home say it looks nice in their offices, and it’s sturdy and easy to put together. The desk also offers plenty of legroom for ultimate comfort.
Best Organization, Creativity and Productivity Booster: VIZ-PRO Magnetic Dry Erase Board
If you don’t have a dry erase board in your home office, you need to get one, and you can’t go wrong with the VIZ-PRO Magnetic Dry Erase Board. It offers a writing space that is 34 inches by 22 inches, and it’s easy to mount both vertically and horizontally.
The writing surface is smooth enough for any type of dry erase marker, and it holds magnets as well. Use the board to brainstorm, write memos, keep notes or just as an excuse to get up and stretch your legs and clear your mind with a little light doodling. Those who have purchased it say the board is high quality and lasts for a long time.
Best Mood Booster: Plants for Pets Succulent Plants
Do you need plants in your home office? Not technically, but experts agree that having a little greenery at your desk can help boost your mood and decrease your stress levels. And if you don’t exactly have a green thumb, don’t worry. The Plants for Pets Succulent Plants are hard to kill.
This five-pack of succulents can be planted in practically any container, and they don’t need much attention at all. People who have purchased them praise the high quality of the plants and note that they make a beautiful addition to their homes or offices. They also like that the company donates money to help shelter animals with every purchase.
Best Power Source: BESTEK USB Power Strip 8-Outlet Surge Protector
Few things are more stressful than running out of plugs for charging all the USB devices you need to complete your work tasks. Maybe it wasn’t a problem at work, but in your home office, you need the BESTEK USB Power Strip 8-Outlet Surge Protector, which can power up to eight standard electrical cords and six USB connections at once.
This allows you to plug in everything you need at once for convenient access to all your work essentials. It comes with a heavy-duty, 6-foot cord that not only protects your gear from electrical surges but allows you to move it around your space. It’s even got a built-in safety door to keep kids from playing with it and getting shocked. Users say it’s powerful and a “must have” for any office.
Best Security Source: AmazonBasics Paper and Credit Card Shredder
With so many scams and cases of identity theft these days, you know you can never be too careful when it comes to protecting your personal and professional documents. That’s why every home office should have the added security of a product like the AmazonBasics Paper and Credit Card Shredder.
Paper shreds to meet security level P3 standards, and the shredder runs for up to three minutes continuously. It can handle up to eight pieces of paper at a time, and the bin holds 4.1 gallons of shredded paper. Users say the value is great —the shredder is typically available for less than $50 — and they love that it doesn’t take up much space.
Best Writing Tools: Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens
You may have all the computers and tables in the world, but you still need to make sure your home office is well stocked with high quality writing tools like Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens. This set offers traditional office colors, like black, blue and red, but it also gives you some interesting pops of color, like pink, purple and green.
Studies have shown that color coding your personal notes can make you more efficient and help you recall certain ideas better. Beyond the science, using colored pens is also just a fun way to break up the monotony of your day. Users love the fact that this set of 12 pens doesn’t smear, fade or bleed through paper. They also say the colors remain vibrant, even after multiple uses.
Advertiser Disclosure: When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.