It doesn’t matter whether you have a home office because you work from home, or just because you like having a dedicated space to be productive, you’ll want to have it right for you. In this post I’ll give you 31 home office ideas from the desk and chair right down to the mouse and keyboard to make it the perfect working space.
Put your money where your time is. If you’re spending more time at your desk as you are in your living room, why wouldn’t you invest in good furniture? It’s no secret that I work remotely, and my desk is where I spend the majority of my time. And that’s why I’ve started slowly upgrading my workspace piece by piece into my ideal home office.
I won’t be mentioning any specific laptop or computer upgrades, but if you’re looking for a new one for work then I’ve put together the 12 best budget laptops for work here. Take a look at that guide before you move onto this one for the rest of the room.
Contents
How to Choose the Best Desk for Your Office
Standard Desk Home Office Ideas
People usually flock to Ikea if they want some new furniture, but there is so much available elsewhere without the trek and entire day wasted. The Trestle Desk from The Range is minimalistic and stylish, yet completely functional for all you’d need. Available in both black and white, there is something for every office. With a laminated finish and a slim drawer, it’s suitable for storing all of your papers or laptop away to keep clutter free.
After even more internal storage? The HOME Calgary 2 Drawer Double Pedestal Desk with Filer is available in oak, white and black. There are two drawers, one fixed shelf, one adjustable shelf and a keyboard shelf. Great for those who have the unbeatable fixed home office setup.
Maybe you don’t want your desk to look like a desk, in which case the Habitat Drew Ladder Desk would be a great focal point for any room. Pop a few ornaments and plants on the upper shelves, and you’re sorted. Looking for something cheap and cheerful, though? The HOME Carly Desk is under £30 and will fit in any space no matter the size of your room.
Standing Desk Home Office Ideas
Standing desks aren’t for everyone, but they’re recommended to help your overall health if you’re sitting for the majority of your time every day.
First up is the LaCyan Adjustable Height Standing Laptop Desk, which gives a lot of freedom to set it up just how you like; adjust it into a sitting desk if you’d prefer to change it up one day. It has a glossy wood finish, and the frame is made from carbon steel to make it sturdy. There are also castors, so you have the freedom to move it around your home. It is a pretty good price for a desk of its size, especially as it is also dual function.
The LANGRIA Portable Laptop Stand Desk Cart is a lot more basic, with a mouse pad and just enough space to fit your laptop. This would be perfect for anybody who isn’t stood constantly at their desk, and maybe just wants somewhere to keep their device accessible at all times. The full adjustability and ability to tilt makes it a great choice for anybody who likes to work from bed or the sofa.
If you want something ultra-modern and easy to handle, how about an electronically adjustable desk? This pick from FlexiSpot is a sit-stand desk which adjusts in seconds at a rate of 38mm/s. There are three pre-set options so that you can get it right first time with no extra fiddling, and there is plenty of room and strength to accommodate all of your work appliances. An all-in-one keypad tells you the exact height of the desk and alerts you as to when it is time to stand. The three heights can be your best standing, seating and under desk cycling spots.
Want to get into a bit of under desk cycling but don’t want to have two separate machines? As a bonus pick, the FLEXISPOT V9 Exercise Desk Bike is as it suggests – part desk, part exercise bike. It is actually a great price for the 2-in-1 functionality and will ensure you don’t have to choose between getting your work done and going to the gym anymore.
Home Office Ideas for Your Chair
The argument between tall-backed and short-backed chair lovers rages on (and obviously stems from people with way too much time on their hands), but if you like your chairs to cosy up all the way to your neck, these are the picks for you.
Tall Backed Home Office Chair Ideas
The John Lewis & Partners Isaac Ergonomic Office Chair is crafted from faux leather and padded for your comfort. A high contoured backrest helps you maintain the perfect posture for your back, and the height, depth and front seat tilt can all be altered to keep your spine supported. The armrests are also fully adjustable, so whether you are getting stuck into work or gaming with friends, you have a perfect seat.
Available for a bit less money, the HOME Mesh & Leather Effect Adjustable Office Chair exclusively from Argos is also fully adjustable and a lot less ‘bulky’ looking than most other office chairs. It has excellent reviews, especially from those who welcome its less padded design and wanted something a bit more light and airy.
Short-Backed Office Chair Ideas
If you want to swivel around in a short-backed chair, you can’t do better than these three for budget options. First is the Mid Back Executive Office Chair which is both comfortable and a great price. Customers rate it for the sturdiness and freedom of movement, as well as the assembling and good quality materials. A pretty great all-round product for any home office.
Second is the Gas Lift Height Adjustable Office Chair, which is the standard stereotypically designed office chair but for an incredibly affordable price. With basic adjustments available, it is best for anyone who will only be sitting at their desk intermittently. If you want an all-plastic ultra-modern chair, the Galaxy Swivel Office Chair is available in black and white.
The Best Home Office Chairs
These Herman Miller chairs are, apparently, the ultimate home office chairs. Or normal office chairs. But I wouldn’t know. Why? Because they’re so expensive, I’ve never even seen one, let alone sat on one. But if you’ve got the budget to spend then go for it, you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
The Herman Miller New Aeron Office Chair in Graphite is available in three different sizes and has raving reviews. Which would be expected by the hefty price tag, but it shows you get what you pay for. Slightly more affordable is the Herman Miller Setu Multi-Purpose Chair, which responds to your weight and height as you sit as opposed to having adjustment levers.
Home Office Ideas for Monitors
Whatever monitor you go for, make sure you know what you’re looking for when you buy it. You want to make sure they’ve got a good enough resolution for their screen size. The first two of these monitors are generous in size and have Full HD 1080p screens. Big enough to work on, clear enough not to bother your eyes.
The Best Value Monitors for Your Home Office
SAMSUNG’s C24F396 has a curved LED monitor, which immerses you in the action and means you can clearly see every angle of detail. It is half as slim as previous Samsung curved screens, and has a dedicated gaming mode too, so it isn’t just limited to displaying websites and spreadsheets. The response time is only 4ms, which will keep you working as fast as possible.
The ACER KG221Q has a 21.5” tilting screen and the zero-frame design lets you see more than a lot of other standard monitors. The 1ms refresh rate is lightning quick, great for fast-paced gaming.
A bonus top-rated pick, but more high-budget, is the 28” SAMSUNG LU28E590DS 4K Ultra HD monitor, which also has a fast 1ms response rate which, given its 4K display capability, is very impressive. It boasts 64x more colours than standard monitors, so is the best choice for anyone who wants everything to be displayed just how it was made.
The Best Monitor for Multiple Screens
Some people prefer working with two, or even three, monitors put together. If this looks like the kind of setup you’d prefer, just make sure you go for something that’s not too big (not just for your eyes, but to cut down on the tablespace you need). I learnt the hard way that two giant monitors stuck together just make it more difficult to work and play games on than two medium-sized, good quality screens.
Right now, the HP 4274510 22 inch monitor is a great pick for a dual screen setup – it’s full HD, IPS LED-backlit, and as it is nearly borderless on three sides, there is more screen in less space. Perfect for multiple display setups, especially as it has 178 viewing angles.
The Best Monitor Risers
A common issue with us office and home workers are bad necks and backs. You’ve partially sorted that with your nice chair, but now you need to make sure your screen is at eye level. If you have the budget, these are three great picks.
Amazon Basics Adjustable Monitor Stand is (obviously) Amazon’s Top Pick but is actually a really great design and affordable. The height is adjustable up to 12.5cm, and the 8cm-wide storage space underneath is ideal for tucking laptops and video game consoles out of the way when not in use.
The FITUEYES Wood Monitor Stand has a shelf built-in for extra storage capabilities, such as a keyboard, laptop or notebooks. The Fellowes Office Suites Standard Monitor Riser is arguably not as pretty, but the drawer will keep things tucked away and completely out of sight, and also dust and dirt free in between use.
Other Home Office Ideas
So now that you’ve got your desk setup sorted, I’ve got some extra ideas to make your home office space a productive one. Accessories to beautify it I’ll leave up to you, and instead, I’ll stick to the tech and gadgets you’ll want to have around.
The Best Headphones for A Home Office
The headphones you choose for your home office will completely depend on your need for them. Do you need a microphone? Do you need them wireless? Bluetooth capable? I’ve picked out 11 of my favourite headphones for different budgets for you to take a look at here. The Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones are the ultimate option and are wireless, so you can use them anywhere.
The Best Lamp for A Home Office
Saying ‘the best’ for desk lamps is a tad too subjective. As long as the bulb your desk lamp takes is as bright as you need it, then you can be completely flexible when it comes to the design of the lamp. Generally, I love lamps I can adjust the head of to point in different directions, which is what I’ve channelled into my choices for this section.
The House by John Lewis Tony Task Lamp is my favourite, just because it isn’t only fully adjustable but is also available in white, mint and smoke. The Collection LED Desk Lamp isn’t the prettiest but is perfect for those who want the brightest yet most natural light and really adjustable positioning. The Copper Retro Adjustable Lamp is the bets for those who want something ultra-stylish over something ultra-practical.
You’ll find more expensive options floating around in different online stores, but I really do think these offer the best value for money.
The Best Mouse for Your Home Office Setup
The best mouse for your home office will depend on what type of computer or laptop you have. If you have a Microsoft or Google based one, then I love the Logitech M705 Wireless Mouse. The Apple Magic Mouse is the obvious choice for any Mac user, but the price could well be a limitation for you.
The bestselling mouse on Amazon happens to be the cheapest on this list too; the TeckNet M002 Nano Wireless Mouse. It’s got over 3800 reviews at 4 and a half stars, so don’t let the low price put you off.
The Best Keyboard for Your Home Office
Even if you use a laptop, sometimes it’s nice to be able to push that screen back or pop it onto a monitor stand and have a separate keyboard to work on. The Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard for Windows is one of Amazon’s best sellers, and a great price and comfortable layout. It also comes with a mouse, which is great as a first choice or backup.
Microsoft’s Natural Ergonomic 4000 Wired USB Keyboard is compatible with Mac’s too, and the keys are backlit, so you’ll always be able to see what you are doing. There is a full range of media keys so that you can control your music and videos from the one place.
A good all-rounder is the Anker 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo. It is full size but ultra-thin so could even be easily transported. Even though it is designed for Windows, it can be adjusted to also work with Mac and is reminiscent of the classic Apple keyboard design. The battery life is superior, with the ability to use it up to two hours per day for three months without a charge.
Leave a Reply