Image by Luis Ricardo Rivera from Pixabay

By Lizzie Weakley

Building a home office is trickier than it looks, especially if you’re trying to outfit and arrange the space in a way that maximizes your productivity. Here are just a few essentials when you’re putting it all together.

Tech

In the work-from-home era, having the right gadgets can make all of the difference in the ease and quality of your work. This doesn’t just apply to phones and laptops, either. A larger monitor can provide more detail on your files. A webcam can be used to attend remote meetings; a ring light can improve your visibility when you do. A speaker can allow you to move freely through your office while still listening to important chatter.

Organizers

There’s something uniquely frustrating about reaching for a document and not being able to find it. The good news is that there are plenty of office accessories to keep you neat, organized, and efficient throughout the day. You can invest in everything from mail sorters to color-coded filing systems to prevent messiness as you work. You might also consider buying a label maker for a little DIY coordination.

Desk furniture

A comfortable working environment is critical for productivity. In terms of desks, you’ll want to consider things like storage space, leg room, sight lines, and whether to go with something compact or something grandly U- or L-shaped. As for chairs, think about materials, ergonomics, and adjustable controls. You can also look into extras for your workstation like chairmats to protect your floor while also providing a smooth and frictionless surface for your wheels. Glass chairmats can look particularly striking, and there are many glass chairmats online for purchase.

Power station

Gone are the days when you would scribble into your ledger by candlelight. The modern office requires power, and the easiest way to keep it readily available is to create a DIY power station. Stock it with USB cables, wall charging outlets, or wireless charging pads. Have a power bank as a back-up in case you ever lose electricity. Don’t forget the Wi-Fi, either: You can plug in your router by your other electric devices.

Decor

Last but not least, you’ll want to personalize your office in a way that motivates and empowers you to do your very best work. It doesn’t have to be purely decorative. The right kind of plant, for example, can improve your indoor air quality even as it looks pretty on your windowsill. An illustrated calendar or planner can keep you on task even as it adds personality to your walls.

These are just a few must-haves for a home office. With the right tools at your disposal, you can be just as productive as you would in a traditional office setting. Try adding in one or all of these items to see an improvement in your work.

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Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and walks in the park with her husky, Snowball.