5 Helpful Yet Minimalist Essentials For Home Office Setup
Still not got your essentials for home office setup in order? These are the key things if space and money is limited. If you live in a small space or house share and work from home, you may be keen to get the best and essential items to make your work base comfortable and functional.
Many of us have been working from home for a long while now, but still not prioritising a healthy, comfortable set up. If you’re sick of discomfort (or even experiencing pain) then you need to improve your workspace now.
Repeatedly working in an uncomfortable fashion can have long-term consequences. In an office, you’d likely get an assessment to ensure you were sitting correctly and had all the support you needed.
When we work from home, we often just battle on with things, meaning to get to it at a later date. This can make you miserable at best, or pose health risks at worse. Get your essentials for home office setup sorted today…
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1. An ergonomic home office chair
Are you still sat at a hard kitchen chair? I did for a year and the reasons for my delay were silly; I really didn’t want an ugly chair ruining my nice kitchen and table layout.
But beware, as you can do your back some real damage sitting on a kitchen chair for extended periods, crouched over your laptop. Think of your poor back and get yourself a decent chair such as the Yonisee mesh ergonomic chair.
As I’m all about space saving, the arm rests go up, so it can be tucked right into the table when you’ve finished work. I must admit I was a bit worried about assembling it myself but it didn’t take long (you can pay extra to have it assembled for you).
My back really benefits from sitting at a proper ergonomic chair now and it also makes me feel professional and in work mode! If you’ve not got room for another chair, consider getting a supportive cushion at least so your back is supported and in a better position.
2. Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse
I don’t know about you, but there are only so many cables I can handle, so I wasn’t sure about a separate keyboard and mouse but I found this wireless set . However, this one is sleek and the battery lasts for ages. All you do is plug in the USB and it finds the devices quickly so can get going.
This is another area where you are risking injury and strain, so do consider a separate keyboard and mouse if you work a lot from a laptop. It also pairs well with the next item…
3. Laptop stand
As it’s not ideal to work off a laptop (because we hunch over and strain ourselves), a laptop stand is best if you also need to save space. It’s much kinder on your neck and shoulders to raise your screen/monitor.
Many people splash out for a separate monitor, and just have their laptop sat there closed or open as a second screen, but that takes up more space.
This is is a cheap and space-saving way to make things way more comfortable typing and reading, so key for desk essentials for home office use everyday.
They are super lightweight and can be folded and packed away at the end of the day along with your laptop and other bits. This is great if you want to convert your work zone back into a living space to switch off. Read more about self-care when working from home and creating boundaries.
4. Wireless headphones
Headphones are really helpful to concentrate if you’re easily distracted. Or if you live with others it can be a good way of indicating that you don’t want to be disturbed or are concentrating.
Check out these bluetooth headphones that hook over your ear and last for ages after a charge. If you take a lot of calls, there is also a built-in microphone. They are brilliant walks and running too as they stay firmly in place.
5. A plant
Let’s finish off with a natural one, not a gadget because this is key too when we work from home and need a little green to look at. Essentials for home office setup should include nature too!
If you don’t have a garden but love plants then make this one of your top desk essentials for home office use to make the day more pleasant. This completes your desk essentials for home office setup.
There are lots of easy to care for plant options such as a money plant, cactus, or an orchid with its beautiful flowers that return year after year.
Wrapping up: Essentials for home office setup
The above should help you set up a comfortable and functional work hub, particularly when space is limited and you’re keen to pack all or most of it away at the end of the day, and get your bedroom or kitchen back. This is also crucial if you are working from home with a baby or toddler!
These are strictly the desk essentials for home office setup, rather than a long list of kit you don’t need or have space for. For more special ideas check out gifts for working from home mums.
Check out staying productive when working from home which complements this post and will keep you on the straight and narrow. Now you’ve got your essentials for home office setup sorted, it’s time to work on your productivity, so you don’t just procrastinate while sitting comfortably in your new office chair!
Also, download my daily planner to get yourself organised and add to your home office productivity.
Remember if you work for yourself (& in the UK), you can claim tax relief on your supplies. See what you can claim in your respective country or state.
Let me know which of these essentials for home office setup you can’t live without anymore? And please share this post on desk essentials for home office set up with others to benefit too!
The information provided is for educational purposes only, and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. This site is not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information.
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32 Comments
Catherine Kay
Great ideas for home office setup. I really need a good chair!
Katherine
Love these ideas! The office chair and wireless headphones are definite must-haves! Thank you for sharing!!
Amanda
Great post! We have a small corner desk for our computer and work space when we need it and I love having a plant right next to the desk! Brightens everything up 🙂
Lucy
These are good essentials for a home office setup when you have limited space. I would love to have a laptop desk, it would definitely help with my posture! x
Molly | Transatlantic Notes
I have a space in my bedroom to work in so this was super useful to read! I recently got a proper desk chair ro sit comfortably and it made such a difference. I love the addition of a plant; I haven’t got one of those but I think it will really lift the space. Thanks for sharing!
Nelly
This is a great post about necessary stuff to have in a home office. I work from home for many years now, and I still haven’t gotten to the point to organize things a bit. It’s a complete chaos. Thanks for sharing these useful insights!
thecuriousdig
It’s crazy how long we can make do with disorganized home working space, I get it!
New Office Space
Great post!! Thanks for posting like this unique and useful information with us. This is really awesome.
jimmy Clare
i like these tips
Nicolle
Yes to all of these, most importantly the plant!!! Makes the office space so much nicer and brings in some much needed colour and fun during the day 😉
Helen Story
I love this and one hundred per cent think we should grant ourselves the same importance working at home as we would expect from an employer at work. If a boss told us to make do with a kitchen chair, we’d not accept that and yet I’ve done exactly the same as you and only recently invested in a good solid seat for working hours.
I don’t have room for a seperate office space and tend to work in the kitchen so noise cancelling headphones and a Do Not Disturb sign for key periods is a must! As for plants I line the kitchen window sill with herbs. scennt and greenery makes my ‘office’ feel a bit nicer.
thecuriousdig
All sounds lovely! I am missing the ‘Do not disturb’ sign though. That’s briliant!
Lenora
These are all important for an office. I thought you were going to list off supplies but these items are great especially since it’s hard finding the right chair or headphones etc. I love that you listed a plant because that does help make the room feel brighter.
Shar
Having the right tools for a good office is crucial. It supports convenience and even productivity.
Crystal Green
I don’t have any plants in my office. But I’ve found that having proper lighting is also a vital thing to ensure you have in your office. These are some great tips to ensure your home office setup correctly.
Christine
Great tips! I worked for years at my desk in a chair that always gave me back pain until the day I decided that enough was enough and went out to purchase an ergonomic home office chair. And boy, what a difference! Thanks for sharing.
Cassie | a Life on a Dime
A plant, that’s what I’m missing!
Lucy
These are definite essentials for a home office setup, especially if you have limited space x
Lucy
Mummy Conquering Anxiety
Great post. We have a small space for an office set up. But I’ve managed to make it comfortable and practical.
I love the plant idea. I always need to light a candle mid morning, to keep me going!
Louise
Totally agree with all these. I have a tiny work space, but my little plant brings the whole thing together 😀 I definitely need to get myself a laptop stand – I think it would be super handy for all the hours I spend typing!
Louise x
thecuriousdig
Yes it’s a game changer! Thanks for commenting.
Sandra Ans
I also don’t have a lot of space in my home office, so I have all of this and a pin-wall for my notices! Everything works super well together! 🙂
Dominique
Great tips. I have utilized only the first options. Will consider some of the others.
thecuriousdig
Glad it gave you some ideas!
Heather
These are all great ideas! I love having my plants nearby while I’m working. Now I really need to invest in an ergonomic chair. My current chair is not doing me any favors.
Donna Giles
Really interested in this post as I feel like a traveller in my own home; moving between my kitchen table, my son’s desk in his bedroom and a coffee table in the lounge whenever I want to get out my laptop. When we finished our conservatory I requested a desk but we decided it should be just a place to chill. Fast forward to the first lockdown and my husband started working from home – in the conservatory! Now no space for me in there!
Hoping to get a desk for our bedroom eventually – not ideal but best I can hope for – so this post will be really useful to me.
Thank you
thecuriousdig
This is exactly why I wrote this. Even post-lockdowns we are still just making do and not allowing ourselves a proper (and supportive setup) when we’ve been working from home for ages now. You could get a narrow desk for the corner or even a fold up/down desk which I used previously (before it became a baby changing table!). Thanks for your comment.
Dispeller
This post is fantastic, and gosh, I relate! I am sorry to say that I am still using a kitchen chair. Limited space, fears of an office chair looking ugly, etc. Exactly the same issues. I’m going to check out on the chair recommended here, thank you x
thecuriousdig
Haha thanks. So glad I’m not the only one that had this rationale! But my back is so much better now so try and find one you can live with!
Hayley McDonnell
So many great tips especially as more of us are WFH.. thanks for sharing
Caroline
My houseplants have practically taken over my desk haha, but definitely love having them there and seeing the new leaves! I hadn’t ever thought of having a laptop stand, but that’s such a good idea. I’ve added it to my list, maybe I’ll ask for it for Christmas 🙂
thecuriousdig
Sounds great! Got to limit things as I use the kitchen table. The laptop stand is great, lifting up your laptop but you need the separate keyboard and mouse to make it all work. Thanks for commenting!