Work-From-Home Equipment: The Essentials You Need

Even if you don’t commute to your job, you should still have a functional workspace. Read on for a list of essential work-from-home equipment.

Are you trying to find your groove working from home? If your home office consists of a hard stool at the kitchen island and your laptop shares space with the after-school snacks you’re prepping, your WFH life might be harder than it needs to be. It’s normal to struggle with comfort and focus when you don’t have the right gear.

The secret to remote work happiness is setting up a home office with the right work-from-home equipment. And don’t worry, it’s pretty easy to create an effective workspace if you know what you need. Plus, you’re not doing it alone—we’re here to help.

From a proper work desk to an ergonomic chair and beyond, we'll help you find the best gear to make the WFH lifestyle work for you. In this guide, we've listed five pieces of essential work-from-home equipment as well as four optional items for different types of remote workers.

Keep reading to find the perfect office equipment for your workspace.

How to Set Up Your Home Office

Setting up your home office is about more than the right equipment. First, you'll want to pick a home office design you love and think about the perfect home office setup for your space. This step will help you decide what equipment you'll need and what equipment you can skip.

In addition, check with your company's HR about a home office stipend before you buy work-from-home equipment on your own dollar. Some companies will pay for some of your home office equipment to ensure their employees can create an ideal work environment.

Must-Have Pieces of Work-From-Home Equipment

Create the foundation for an amazing office by starting with essential work-from-home equipment that almost all remote jobs will require. This means office furniture that’s designed with ergonomics in mind and quality equipment to support a productive day.

If you're not familiar with ergonomic furniture, it's all about protecting employee health through thoughtful and physical design. It helps to learn more about ergonomics if you're not sure if it's worth the investment. (Spoiler alert: It most certainly is!)

1. Office Desk

A quality office desk is much better for a working environment than working at the kitchen table or a coffee shop table. It'll encourage better posture when sitting for long periods and help you keep your home workspace organized. Plus, you'll have the option for ergonomic features, such as adjustable height, allowing you to switch between regular desk height and standing desk height!

Standing desks are popular because they allow you to switch between sitting and standing throughout your workday. In addition, standing breaks help counteract the harmful effects of sitting for long periods without interrupting your productivity.

2. Ergonomic Chair

An ergonomically designed office chair is a must-have for any remote worker, especially if you work for long periods. Sitting can be tough on your body, but you can make it easier if you get a chair that offers ergonomic adjustments. For example, our Task Chair has five points of adjustment and firm lumbar support.

Before you buy the first chair you see on Amazon, think about how much time you'll spend in your chair. Eight-hour days five days per week add up fast — that's 160 hours per month or a whopping 1,920 hours per year!

3. Computer setup

Almost all remote employees will need a good computer setup. This includes all elements necessary to use your computer for work. Your computer setup may consist of the following equipment:

Laptop or MacBook
Mac Pro tower or desktop PC with monitor(s)
Wireless keyboard and mouse

If you're setting up your office for a new work-from-home job, check with HR or your manager before you choose which computer setup is best. For example, some companies only use Apple because it works better for their creative process.

4. Monitor Arm or Laptop Stand

A monitor arm helps keep your monitor at the correct height for your spine, so you never have to look up or down to see your screen. It's a crucial element of an ergonomic workspace, which is about more than your office chair and desk design. If you're using a laptop or MacBook, a laptop stand will take the place of your monitor arm.

In either case, you want to set up a straight line from eye level to your screen while sitting straight with your chair correctly adjusted. This keeps you from craning your neck and causing that dreaded end-of-day tension!

5. Reliable Internet Service

Not all remote workers will need the fastest internet service in their area, but most will need a reliable high-speed internet connection. This is essential for conference calls and quick coworking video calls, particularly if you work on a team. Zoom isn't fun when you can't see or hear what's going on!

Look for the most reliable internet service providers in your area and choose from the top two or three companies. From there, learn about the available packages and decide what you'll need for your job. For example, if you're a remote customer service representative, your workplace may have a required minimum Wi-Fi speed.

Situational Work-From-Home Equipment

A lot of work-from-home equipment is situational, and you might not need all of it. If you're unsure about what equipment you'll need for your remote job, ask HR or your manager for advice before you start buying. This can save money or allow you to invest in a better desk or office chair!

You will likely need some of these essentials, though, so keep reading to find the right items for your office.

1. Headset

A headset is a must-have for remote workers who rely on voice or video calls to communicate with teammates and clients. You might be able to use a set of Bluetooth earbuds you already own, or you might need a professional-quality headset. It’s all about meeting your needs based on your position, home office, and how often you expect to participate in video or phone calls.

For example, if you spend a lot of your day on calls with important clients, a professional-quality headset is probably an ideal option. On the other hand, if you don’t anticipate many video calls but your home is often busy, you might get noise-canceling headphones with an attached mic instead of a pro headset.

2. Webcam

Most laptops and MacBooks come with a built-in webcam, but some desktop monitors do not. And if you expect to participate in regular video calls, you may want to upgrade from your built-in option to something with additional features.

Quality webcams can cost anywhere from $40 to over $200, and they offer a range of features that you may or may not need. Read up on different webcams to see what they offer and check customer reviews to find something that’s reliable. You might also ask your coworkers for recommendations based on what they use for video conferencing.

3. Organization Accessories

A cluttered space can restrict your ability to focus, so you'll want to stay organized. Whether you simply need a spot to keep your to-do list or you regularly file work-related papers, you'll likely need some organization furniture and accessories.

Here are some work-from-home equipment options that can help you get organized:

Weigh your options and stick to only what you need. It can be tempting to buy all the things when you work from home, but you don't want to clutter your space. And don't forget that it'll be up to you to clean your desk and accessories so that your workstation is always ready for you the next day.

4. Power Accessories

Most work-from-home professionals rely heavily on tech, so you'll want the right power accessories to support your devices. Nothing takes the wind out of a workday like a dead wireless keyboard or having your iPhone die right when you're doing an iOS-specific task.

Here are some items you might need:

Wireless charging pad or dock
Power hub or strip
Power adapters

It helps to also get a desk that has features which help with cable and power organization. That way, if you have multiple devices on your desk that need charging, you won't have wires everywhere that clutter up your workspace.

Make It Your Own!

Remember to go for quality over quantity when picking your work-from-home equipment. Investing in high-quality products can save money in the long term because they'll usually last longer. And with office furniture, it's more than worth it to protect your spine and joints with ergonomic designs!

It can help to buy all of your office equipment from one company, or at least as much of it as possible. This approach can save you money on shipping, allow you to find items that work well together, and help you create an effortlessly cohesive aesthetic. And if you're short on time, our Design My Office feature can help you cover the essentials with personalized recommendations.

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