7 Things to Put in Your Home Office
Working from home has become increasingly common – whether you’re a freelancer, a full-time remote employee, or someone balancing a hybrid schedule. A comfortable, well-equipped workspace can boost your productivity and help you maintain clear boundaries between work and personal life. In this post, we’ll explore seven essential things to include in your home office so you can work efficiently, healthily, and happily.
- A Dedicated, quiet workspace
- Comfortable, ergonomic furniture
- Good lighting
- Organizational tools
- Essential tech
- Personal touches
- Houseplants
1. A Dedicated, Quiet Workspace
Your first priority should be setting aside a distinct area in your home purely for work. This helps you stay focused and prevents work from intruding on your leisure time. Aim for a spot that’s quiet, well-lit, and well-ventilated, with enough room to store any resources or materials you need. If you have the option of using a separate room, even better! But if that’s not feasible, carve out a corner or nook that meets these key requirements.
If you live with family or housemates, let them know when you’re working so they won’t disturb you. Simple communication can make a huge difference – especially if the people around you don’t work from home themselves. By having a dedicated space and establishing ground rules, you’ll minimize interruptions and keep your work life from overlapping with your personal life.
2. Comfortable, Ergonomic Furniture
Since you might spend several hours a day at your desk, comfort is paramount. An ergonomic chair, specially designed to support your lower back and allow you to sit with forearms parallel to the ground, can help you maintain good posture and reduce aches and pains. If you’d rather not replace your chair entirely, you could invest in a back rest, memory foam cushion, or wrist rest to give yourself extra support.
Sometimes, even with a great chair, sitting for long periods of time can be uncomfortable. In that case, a standing desk can help you vary your position and reduce back strain. Research shows there are several benefits to standing for part of your workday, so you might consider an adjustable desk or laptop stand. Laptop stands can also improve your comfort by elevating your screen to eye level, helping you avoid hunching your shoulders or tilting your neck.
3. Good Lighting
A poorly lit workspace can cause eye strain and headaches, so avoid relying solely on harsh overhead lighting. Natural light is ideal, so position your desk near a window if possible. Otherwise, consider adding a floor or desk lamp that offers adjustable brightness and warmth. This allows you to adapt the lighting to your tasks and preferences.
Beyond reducing strain, good lighting can improve your mood and focus – especially during long, dark winters. If you don’t get much natural daylight where you live, try using a sun lamp for an extra boost. Proper illumination will keep you energized and motivated throughout the day.
4. Organizational Tools
Staying organized is essential for managing projects and deadlines. While digital apps are great, sometimes a physical calendar or planner provides a clearer visual reminder of upcoming meetings, due dates, or events. Meanwhile, an organizer tray can help you keep track of stationery, paperwork, or anything else you use regularly.
Once you have the right tools, make tidiness part of your daily routine. We find the best approach is to do a little bit of cleaning and sorting every day. Before you finish working, ensure everything is placed where it belongs, then tidy away anything you won’t need the next day. This will help you start the next morning fresh – no rummaging around for lost documents or supplies. A clean, orderly environment also promotes a calm and productive mindset.
5. Essential Tech
In most remote roles, having the right technology is vital. You don’t need a supercomputer, but a decent laptop – or desktop – and key programs to support your work are good starting points. For many people, that might be a word processor or a professional app specific to their industry.
Your internet connection can also make or break your workflow. According to expert guidelines, a speed of 30 Mbps should be more than sufficient for most routine tasks, such as downloading files, hosting video calls, and browsing the web. If you rely on Wi-Fi, positioning your workspace near the router can help ensure a stable signal, or you can boost your range with a wireless extender or mesh network.
It can also help to have a separate computer dedicated to work. This keeps all your files and records safe, and it reduces wear and tear on your personal devices. Plus, you won’t be staring at your work computer during downtime when you just want to watch Netflix or browse the internet.
Finally, there are tools you can use to reduce distractions. Whether it’s a busy family household or the screech of construction outside, noise can easily break your concentration. A set of noise-canceling headphones can help you stay focused. Using headphones can also improve the quality of your work calls and ensure you communicate with clients or colleagues as clearly as possible.
6. Personal Touches
A home office shouldn’t feel sterile or impersonal. After all, the word “home” is right there in the name! Adding art and photos can help keep you motivated and joyful throughout the day. You can use anything from pictures of loved ones to visual reminders of the goals you’re working towards, like a poster of your dream holiday location or that piece of tech you’ve been saving up for.
If you enjoy pleasant aromas, consider placing a candle or diffuser on your desk. Scents like lavender (for serenity), jasmine (for confidence), or peppermint (for vitality) may help shift your mood or boost concentration. If you don’t want open flames in your workspace, there are plenty of fire-free alternatives, such as essential oil diffusers or wax melts.
7. Houseplants
Spending time in nature, or even just near it, can make a huge difference to your well-being. Research suggests proximity to greenery can increase happiness and improve focus. Some lucky people get to work outdoors, but for most of us, a few houseplants are the next best thing.
Not only can plants brighten up your space visually, but many also help improve air flow and quality. Spider plants and rubber plants are known for their air-purifying benefits, while cacti, succulents, and devil’s ivy are low-maintenance options for those who aren’t blessed with a green thumb. Even a small plant on your desk can add a refreshing burst of life to your workday. Plus, it’s a great eco-friendly decor option!
Learn New Skills From Home
Establishing a comfortable, productive home office is just one important part of preparing to work remotely. If you’re interested in developing new expertise – or even starting a fresh career path – why not explore our self-paced, CPD-accredited courses? Knowadays offers comprehensive training in proofreading, copy editing, content writing, and copywriting. You can even sign up for some free lessons to get started.
Updated on April 7, 2025
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