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Home Office Essentials Checklist: 11 Unique Must-Have Items

Home office essentials checklist

Last Updated on: 22nd June 2023, 12:38 pm

Is it your desire to work remotely at home? Or are you already doing it and needs some tips on setting up a home office? Here is the perfect home office essentials checklist for a comfortable workspace.

Freelancing and remote working have tremendously grown over the past years. Unlike when people saw going to the office as a privilege, things have currently taken an entirely new course. Working at home is the new normal, especially with the increased growth in technology and the internet.

With many companies adapting to the idea of hiring remote workers and independent freelance contractors, it’s no secret that most homes are turning to offices. And although this change has come with many advantages, it also has its shortcomings and complications. Being able to work at home and be productive is not an easy task.

That’s why we’ve researched wide compile some of the must-have items that facilitate your working-at-home idea. This way, you can easily set up a conducive home office that will ensure you remain productive.  

See Related: Remote Freelance Jobs: A Comprehensive Guide to Lucrative Opportunities

Home Office Essentials Checklist: 11 Must-Have Items for a Remote Worker

This work-from-home essentials checklist will help you avoid the tendencies of slow production due to various interferences found at home.

But before we dive into these essentials, we must first tackle these issues – Where and how to set up the home office:

Where in the House to Set Up the Office

You can’t start buying the home office equipment before you identify the best spot for your office. This is the first and most important thing to do. The following are crucial questions you must ask yourself to help you with this:

  • How much space do you need? What items will you need in that office?
  • What kind of work will you be doing? Is it online and do you need reliable internet or not?
  • Does the job require video conferencing? How do you want your background to appear?
  • Are there kids or other family members in the house? Do you want to avoid distractions?

All these questions will help you to locate the best spot in the house for the ideal home office. After identifying the location, you can then list down the necessary items for the remote office.

How to set up your home office?

Now that you have a location, it is time to design your office’s actual structure or the setup. You can start with the main items like the work desk, chair, and a computer, as you progress to the minor ones.

The idea here is to make the space as work-friendly as possible. This way, your productivity will not decrease but rather improve.

Things You Need When You Work from Home

If you’re planning to go remote, here is the ideal home office essentials checklist for optimal productivity. These items include even extras that will help make your working space more even more favorable.

1. Computer: a laptop fits your home office better

Whether you are working online or not, a computer is an essential item you must have. The “New Apple MacBook Pro 16” is a perfect fit if you are especially working online or have large projects.

 
Home office essentials checklist

It’s one of the fast and reliable laptops that easily compete with high-tech desktop computers. Also, it gives you the flexibility to work from any spot in the house – when you don’t want to be in your home office.

But, for those who favor a Windows, then Apple, the “Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches,” is an excellent choice. It’s also fast, lightweight, and quite favorable in terms of price. And, with a battery life of up to 7.5 hours, power problems will never be your worry.

Macbook Pro

2. Office Desk

This is another crucial item you must have in your office. You don’t want to be putting your laptop on your lap or documents on the floor. Something minimalist that also offers ample room for your computer and monitor is ideal.

Home office essentials checklist
Work from home office desk

“SHW Home Office 48-Inch Computer Desk,” is a perfect suit for this task. The 4.7 stars rated desk is Amazon’s best choice as it is for many customers. Its modern design, powder-coated finish and steel frame, makes it perfect for your home office. If you are looking for the best work-from-home cool stuff, then this fits the category.

It is also easy to assemble and comes with a step-by-step assembling guide.

3. Office chair

Workplace ergonomics is key when designing your home office. You want items that offer the most comfort to ensure good health and avoid injuries. That’s why choosing a home office chair is such a vital task.

Home office essentials checklist

You should always invest in a comfortable chair to prevent long-term injury, especially on your back. The “Herman Miller’s Embody Chair with Fully Adj Arms and Graphite Frame/Base,” which is the Amazon’s choice, is a perfect option. Embody chair is designed in a manner that stimulates blood flow, thus sufficient oxygen to all parts of your body. Also, it helps you to relax and stay focused for long.

But, if you are more concerned with cost, “Office Chair Ergonomic Desk by BestOffice” is an excellent brand that offers comfort at an affordable price. It is 4.1 stars rated in Amazon and also a best seller. In addition, it includes a 90-day, 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

4. Keyboard

A quality keyboard is particularly useful for freelance writers and transcribers. If you want to increase your typing rate, a keyboard will come in handy. If you are using a Mac, our best choice for a home office keyboard is the Apple Magic Keyboard that includes a numerical keypad.

Home office accessories
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This keyboard has an extended layout, and document navigation controls, which allows quick scrolling. It is also Bluetooth enabled.

If, however, you are using a PC, the “Logitech K350 Wireless Wave Keyboard” will be a perfect fit. It’s wave design and layout helps guide your hands into the right position. And it is also quite pocket friendly.

Keyboard

Other key features of this keyboard include ease of use and comfort, longer battery life, and a Logitech Unifying receiver.

5. Printer and scanner

If you intend to print some documents from your home office, a printer and a scanner then seem to be an essential item. While not all home offices will require these, some remote workers can’t work without them.

Work from home office ideas

So, if you think you need one, it’s wise to choose a brand that guarantees quality and durability. The “HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer,” is an excellent choice. It’s relatively cheap, easy to use, and still offers impeccable quality.

Save yourself time and money from the endless trips to your nearest local printer, and enjoy lasting service from this printer.

6. Lighting

Now that you have your office desk, chair, and computer, some experts recommend that you get a lamp. A lamp will be quite essential, especially if you work during the night or if your home office doesn’t have ample lighting.

Home office essentials ideas

There are several great office lamps that can suit your office, depending on your needs and budget. One of these great pieces is the “TraoTronics LED Desk Lamp.” This desk lamp is 4.8 stars rated, a best seller in Amazon, and it’s not without reason.

CHECK PRICE AT AMAZON

Its light is gentle to the eyes, has a flexible design, and limitless lighting possibilities. All these and more features, make this desk lamp one of the work from home comfort items you must have in your office.

Lighting

But if you want a more decorative piece that goes well with your decors, the “Ikea Forsa Classic Work Lamp” can be a great choice. Although a bit pricey, classic style lamp will light up your home office.

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7. WiFi: For Fast Internet Speeds

If your work requires fast internet speeds, then it’s vital to find a quality WiFi modem or router. This way, you won’t have to experience download or loading delays due to low-speed internet.

WIFI

One of the best options here is the “Nest WiFi Router.” Its excellent speed, ease of use, and other smart features set this item apart from its competitors. Offering up to 2200 ft2 of reliable and fast WiFi coverage, you can rest assured that all your internet problems are sorted.

8. Cables: Connect everything

Even with the advanced technology, you cannot go wireless entirely – you need some connecting cables for your devices. That’s why, when shopping for work-from-home essentials, small things like cables and plugs must also be included. The good thing is, you can easily find all sorts of these cables and plugs online.

Cables

A good example is the “Besgoods 4-Pack – Nylon Braided 6ft, by Besgoods.” This is a premium USB extension cable that is durable and quite long to suit your needs. Also, it is able to maximize signal quality, thus providing an error-free, super-speed data transmission.

9. Computer Stand

Even with an office desk, a portable computer stand can still come in handy. It is one of the work-from-home office essentials that can make a significant difference for your entire workday.

Home office essentials checklist laptop stand

A computer stand might be cheap and discreet, but it can help make the long working hours bearable. There are numerous brands out there offering quality computer desks, but for us, Viner’s Laptop Stand is a perfect choice. It has an ergonomic design for comfort, portable, easy to install, and has every function of a computer stand.

10. Noise-canceling headphones with microphone: Best for video calls

Disruptions and noises can be a great challenge for people working at home. Whether it’s from your kids running up and down or your husband repairing a cabinet next room, these noises can be disruptive. That’s why you need something to minimize the noise for optimal production.

Home office essentials checklist

Noise-canceling earphones are a perfect solution to this problem. Such earphones will not only help you to concentrate on your work, but they are also useful in conference video calls with your colleagues.

 Since they have a pair of microphones, they not only enable you to hear your colleagues clearly but also for them to hear what you are saying perfectly.  A good example of such earphones is the 4.5 stars rated “Apple AirPods Pro,” in Amazon.

But if you are looking for a more pocket-friendly option, “Panasonic ErgoFit Earbud Headphones” fits well. This is 4.2 stars rated earphones by Panasonic, and Amazon’s best choice. They are compatible with Android, Windows, and iOS.

Home office ideas

11. Speakers: Enjoy your focus music

The last but not the least item in our home office essentials checklist is the desktop speaker. Although some people may consider music as a form of distraction while working, other people can’t focus without some background music.

If you fall under the latter category, buying some speakers for your home office is essential. This way, you can play a music playlist that helps you to handle those hard tasks or assignments.

Home office essentials checklist

“Creative Pebble 2.0 USB-Powered Desktop Speakers,” is among the high quality yet relatively affordable speakers around. It is a 4.5-stars rated product and Amazon’s best choice. Enjoy that cool, relaxing background music, as you strive to accomplish your daily work objectives.

Ready to Setup Your Home Office?

Although working at home looks easy and flexible, you have to plan for it well if you are to remain productive. Setting aside a location in your house where you can work without interruptions is vital. And with the above list of work-from-home office essentials, you can now easily set up a home office. Work comfortably at home with these simple items.

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