A Checklist of What You Need in Your Home Office
Working from home isn’t what it used to be.
What was previously just a few hours on the couch here and there has turned into a full-time situation for many. If you’re one of those who are working from home on a longer-term basis, you’re going to want to make sure that you have everything you need to conduct your business in complete comfort and productivity.
From choosing the right office furniture through to stationery and technology, everything needs to have a purpose, and everything needs to fit your needs.
In this home office checklist, we’re going to outline all the things you’ll need to get for a home office space that works for you to make your life easier at home.
Quick Summary List of Essential Office Items
Deciding On Your Space For Your Home Office Setup
The most obvious place to start when remote working is to consider an appropriate space for you to work in your own home.
As you go through this home office checklist, you’ll have a better idea of just how much space you think will need for your home office essentials.
Outside the equipment side of things, you need to carefully choose the perfect spot for your working environment.
Factors you should consider may include but are limited to:
- Do you have adequate lighting?
- Do you have enough office space to store all your furniture and documents?
- Is the room well ventilated with fresh air?
- Do you want a quiet space for your home office setup?
Home Office Supplies: Furniture
Ensuring that you have the right furniture for your home office will be vital for your setup.
Office Desk Decisions
Office Desk DecisionsThe kitchen or lounge table aren’t going to be great for your posture, or your productivity when working for long periods.
Your home setup must have proper furniture and a good office desk with the space for your computer, paperwork and other equipment is vital– not to mention those all-important draws to store important documents.
While a minimalist desk will probably do, over the past few months and years, more and more people are discovering the merits of a standing desk, which is said to bring about a range of health benefits when compared to sitting down all day.
A standing desk will help reduce back pain, improve your posture, and promote better blood circulation.
If you can, get the adjustable variety rather than a minimalist desk for your office setting, as this means you can transition between sitting and standing to get the best of both worlds.
Chair Choices
Chair ChoicesYour office chair is every bit, if not more important than your desk when working on the job. It will be where you spend most of your time and needs to be comfortable, supportive and ergonomic.
An ergonomic chair should be designed with pain points in mind, and while they may appear larger and cost more, they will be more than worth it in the long run and save your back a lot of aggravation.
There are a whole host of places you can consider buying an office chair for your home setup but choosing carefully is key when you make your purchase.
Filing Cabinets
Filing CabinetsPaperwork, folders, receipts invoices and other documents will build up over time.
It’s a good idea to get yourself a small filing cabinet and even some paper trays to help you stay organised. You never know when you’re going to need that document from years ago!
While it’s true that society has slowly gone paperless, it still makes the cut on our checklist and therefore we believe that investing in a good file cabinet can still have its uses.
You are still bound to come across situations where you will want to store hard copies of documents. A well-organised file cabinet could be the answer.
They will also offer additional space and could complement external drives well if you work on a computer.
Home Office Supplies: Tech Essentials
Investing in the appropriate technology for your business will be key, especially for online work.
Computers and Laptops
Your home office won’t function much without a computer or laptop – especially in the digital age we now live in! This makes it number one on our home office essentials checklist.
While desktops have been around longer, laptops have quickly become the main tool for many home office workers as it allows for much more flexibility. They have also become an essential item for many businesses regardless of which industry you work in.
You can change your working position any time you want and can even take work with you to the local coffee shop for a change of scenery.
With your computer or laptop, we also recommend you get the following equipment:
A Monitor
Having a decent computer screen will increase your work performance and reduce eye strain.
Although not essential, a second screen is is a good option for any home office worker who needs to look at many things on a computer. It let you multitask with greater success whilst offering a larger area for visual interaction.
Depending on the size of your desk, you can even consider looking at a larger monitor if you are going to be working remotely most of the time.
Finally, keep in mind that most monitors will require another power supply, but you can purchase ones that plugin via USB only.
Keyboard And Mouse
While this is an essential if you are working off a desktop computer, you might want to consider buying a decent mouse or keyboard for your laptop too.
While any modern laptop will have a trackpad and keyboard, they can be a little small. Choosing the proper kit for your computer can make a big difference.
We recommend having a wireless keyboard and mouse as this will help you stay productive and help reduce wrist fatigue or carpal tunnel syndrome.
A Laptop Stand
A Laptop StandThis raises the laptop more towards eye-level, meaning that you don’t have to stay hunched at the desk.
By using a high-quality laptop stand you’ll minimise your chances for back pain and bad posture.
Decent Computer Speakers (Optional)
Although by no means essential when you work remotely, they do come with advantages.
- Improve Video Call Quality: If you find your job often involves many video conference calls, then you might want to consider equipping your computer with some quality speakers. This will provide a better sound quality boost and may make it easier to hear people on the other side. While most desktops do not usually come with speakers, laptops often do. These are however not often ideal as they are usually lower quality sound and are small in size.
- Boost Remote Workers Performance: A happy worker often means better quality production. Playing music through quality speakers can lift your mood and can help fill silence at the house when it’s quiet -this goes double if you are the only one working at home.
Webcam
The staple of the digital age. As more and more people work from home, a decent camera has become more important for remote working.
Most laptops have a camera, but you will probably need one if you’re working from a Desktop.
Even if your laptop does have a built-in webcam, they are not always the best quality and so if you’re willing to spend a little extra, you can consider purchasing a better quality camera for some high-definition quality.
A Surge Power Strip
As you build your home office, you’ll quickly realise just how many things you need to plugin.
A surge-protected power strip (or two) will make sure you don’t have to mess around plugging and unplugging the devices you need not mention that it offers an uninterruptible power supply.
On top of this, it will also help protect your plugs and externals in case of power outages or surges.
Fast Internet
Fast InternetAlthough this seems obvious, having high-speed internet access with a stable broadband connection can make or break your home office. This goes double if you are running your own business from your home.
Don’t spring for a cheap or limited internet connection, as slow download and browsing speeds can be frustrating– especially if you’re going to be doing a lot of video calls or conferences.
Cloud Backup Services (optional)
Cloud Backup Services (optional)If you’re feeling savvy enough, you could also consider looking into cloud based backup services or even personal servers for your home office setup, to ensure that you have a backup of any data in case of computer failure.
These will beat hard copies of documents any day and save you a lot of pain recovering lost documents when you have online backup copies.
Good Headphones
Good HeadphonesA pair of decent noise-cancelling headphones is something you might not think of, but they are a game-changer. They are mobile, can plug into any computer or laptop and help you get through the day.
By shutting out the world around you with active noise cancellation headphones, you’ll be able to mitigate distractions and focus on your work.
Coffee Machine
Coffee MachineOk, so this may be something of a luxury, and you may already have one on your house, but anyone who treats themselves to a Nespresso machine or similar say they can never go back.
Especially effective on those Monday mornings if you need a boost and after all, if this is your workplace, coffee will be essential!
Decent software
One thing which many home office workers need to consider is what software they will need – especially if you are running your own business.
Depending on your job, you may need to consider investing in different types of software for your business.
Also, for someone coming from a traditional office or looking to save money, the idea of needing to pay for software can be a little difficult to swallow. Shop around and you may well be able to find free versions of your productivity software, but be aware that they may have limited features.
As well as your usual spreadsheets, email and word processing applications, the software you might want to think about could include:
- Time management and tracking
- Task and project management
- Motivation, mental health and focus apps
- Security
A Good Desk Lamp
A Good Desk LampRelying on the room lights for your home office is a good way to get eyestrain and headaches, especially if your monitor is too bright.
Get yourself a practical desk lamp for the room in order to create an additional light source that will help create a practical and safe environment for your business.
Plants
PlantsRelatively inexpensive and low maintenance, plants can really help you with positive mental health and productivity.
Although not a ‘must have’, having something alive and green in your home office or desk can improve air quality, add a little colour and make your overall environment that much more pleasant.
Home Office Supplies: Stationery
So, there’s the big stuff – what about the little things. Here are the items you’re going to need to complete your home office:
- Pens, pencils and highlighters
- Notebooks and legal pads
- Post-it notes
- Binders, folder and paper organisers
- Stapler, staples and binders
- Scissors, paperclips and tape
- Durable boxes for additional storage
- Fire safe box
- Sticky notes
- Comfortable pillow for your chair to sit in
Now you’re ready to work!
Now you’re ready to work!So there you have it – a nice long list of all the things, both small and large that you need to point you in the right direction and create the perfect home office.
Just remember that organisation is everything, and clutter is your enemy.
One last thing worth mentioning is to avoid going for the bottom of the market on your technology as this may end up having a detrimental effect on your productivity.
Other than that, you’re good to go. Good luck!
Why Not Keep Things Simple: Hire Professional Office Movers Now
That’s it for our office relocation checklist. As you can see, that’s one heck of a list.
As we mentioned at the start, office moving is a big deal and can be a challenging task.
You have to consider many aspects of the move, so why not let us take the logistical side of things out of your hands?
We have over 25 years of experience and our experienced planning team can effectively assist your employee’s pack, move, and unpack. We also assign a moving coordinator months before the move to assist you with your planning.
Our specialist office removal project managers, know what it takes to handle office as well as industrial equipment, and just what it takes to pull off a successful office relocation.
For more information, just get in touch with our friendly team who’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.
