With a hybrid working model now the norm across many businesses in the UK, more and more people are looking to create their perfect home office so they can work from home comfortably and effectively.
Here, we’ve curated a list of 15 home office equipment and furniture you’ll need to create an inspiring and efficient home workspace.
1. Ergonomic Office Chair
One of the most important investments you can make when it comes to creating a home office is choosing an ergonomic office chair. Unlike standard chairs, ergonomic chairs are specifically designed to support the human body in the best way possible to help improve your health, posture and mood. Look for proper lumbar support, adjustable seat height, armrests and headrests and breathable material for the most comfortable and supportive chair.
2. Adjustable Stand-Up Desk
In recent years, adjustable stand-up desks have been a popular choice for office workers thanks to their many health benefits and are easily available to use at home too. If you spend the majority of your day sitting in your home office, a standing desk will give you the freedom to switch between sitting and standing whenever you start to feel aches and pains as well as fatigue. Standing desks can help reduce the risk of health issues that sitting all day can bring.
3. Laptop and Monitor
Of course, no workspace is complete without a business computer, and choosing a laptop over a stationary desktop will give you greater flexibility. While some choose to work in a dedicated home office others may prefer to work from the comfort of their sofa or outside on a sunny day. We’d also recommend buying a larger monitor to accompany your laptop for your home office space, as they can help improve productivity, increase efficiency and boost organisation.
4. Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
With a portable laptop, you’ll also need a wireless mouse as these are vastly more comfortable to use and less likely to result in wrist strain than using the trackpad. Additionally, a wireless keyboard will also prove useful and more comfortable if you’re planning on using the larger monitor often or have purchased a laptop stand.
5. Strong Broadband Connection
If you and your colleagues work from home, you’ll no doubt be needing to contact them through video calls. And, the last thing you want during these calls is for the internet to drop out. While your standard home internet connection may be suitable for your regular day-to-day home life it won’t be able to keep up with your business needs. A faster broadband connection that will allow you to seamlessly make and receive video calls, as well as send large files back and forth in an instant will make your work-from-home life much easier.
6. Noise Cancelling Headphones
It can be very easy to get distracted while working from home. Whether you’ve got children coming back from school, pets, parents or building work going on, you need to make sure that your space is still calm and productive to ensure you don’t fall behind in your work. Noise-cancelling headphones will be hugely beneficial in helping you get into the work zone. Whether you listen to your favourite music or simply want to quiet any background noise, they will be a worthy investment.
7. Printer and Copier
Though you may work predominately digitally, there will still always come a time when a printer comes in handy. From printing out important documents that need to be posted to scanning a new employee’s details, investing in a compact yet reliable printer copier that suits your home office will become invaluable and last for years.
8. Paper Shredder
While working from home, you may find your workspace is laden with confidential documents, such as client information or banking details. When it comes to disposing of these documents, simply throwing them away can be very dangerous as they could end up in the wrong hands. A paper shredder is the most effective and secure way of destroying documents beyond repair.
9. Home Office Stationery
Notebooks, pens, pencils, staplers, folders, sometimes it’s the smallest things that can create the biggest headaches if you don’t have what you need. It’s important to keep your home office fully supplied with all the right stationery and equipment to keep you covered for months.
10. Filing Cabinet
If you have a lot of clients or manage a team of employees and want to keep all of their important documents in one place that you can grab whenever needed, investing in a filing cabinet will be ideal. Filing cabinets have come a long way from the tall, grey metal unit and can now be small, compact and stylish enough to suit your office space and aesthetic. They’ll ensure everything remains organised and easy to get to, which will result in a more efficient day.
11. Suitable Lighting
Lighting plays a big role in our health that can often be overlooked in a home office setting. Many use the natural light throughout the day and then simply rely on the light coming from computer screens during the later afternoon/evening. This can cause great strain on your eyes and may lead to headaches. Desk lamps or standing lamps that work on a timer could be very useful and ensure your space is suitable lit. Just make sure you avoid having too much light on your screen to avoid any glare.
12. Plants
Plants are incredible for our well-being and do far more than just look pretty. Including a couple of easy-to-look after plants for your home office space, such as a snake plant, succulents, aloe vera, or air plants, will instantly lift the look and feel of the room. With air-purifying qualities, plants are known for being able to reduce stress and help improve both your mental and physical health.
13. Home Coffee Machine
A coffee machine is a vital piece of equipment for any coffee lover to get through the day. Rather than spending money and taking several trips away from your home office to go to your nearest coffee shop, a machine will provide a perfect blend every day with very little effort. And with such a wide range of choices in coffee machines these days, you’ll be able to pick one up very easily.
14. Work From Home Business Software
If any of your employees work from home, you’ll want to ensure they have the right business software so they can meet the requirements of their roles without any hassle. From task and project management software to time tracking and communication tools, business software applications will ensure employees can structure their day effectively, boosting productivity.
15. Wellness Products
Employees working from home very often find it difficult to close the computer down and achieve a healthy work/life balance. Aside from taking regular breaks throughout the day, not working past your usual hours and booking time off when needed, purchasing wellness products, such as blue light protection, water bottles and massage equipment, will help keep your mental and physical health a priority.
If any of your employees are working from home, you can help to support them by leasing office furniture and equipment – providing them with better quality products that can be upgraded easily whenever they need them.
Looking to deck out your current workspace with brand new office furniture? Discover the essential furniture every office needs for 2022.