23 Work-From-Home Gadgets for an Efficient Home Set-up

The concept of remote work isn’t so remote anymore. The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 tripled the percentage of American employees working from home. 

Remote work still doesn’t make up the majority of work arrangements, but global research on remote workers shows that almost all of them would want to work remotely at least some of the time for their entire career. 

If you already work from home, you probably already enjoy it. With no commute, easy snack access, and less micromanaging, you likely see the value of a home office.  

If you don’t enjoy working remotely, you might not have the right equipment to support a job away from the office. Your body, mind, motivation, and productivity can suffer without the proper home office tech. (Think about it: There’s a reason offices have desks and chairs instead of beds.) 

In this article, we’ll list some of the best work-from-home gadgets and tech to improve the quality of your working experience and the work itself. 

A Remote Set-up That Rivals an Office

When upgrading your work-from-home accessories, you’ll want to keep a few factors in mind:

• Comfort: How you physically feel while working is one of the most important factors when buying new work-from-home gear. Think of how your body, eyes, wrists, and mental state react when you work at home and how you can improve your comfort.  

• Focus: Working from home doesn’t always mean more control over your environment. Spouses, kids, pets, deliveries, lawnmowers, TVs—even blenders are all possible distractions. Take back control over your work setting with work-from-home products that improve concentration.  

• Efficiency: An office’s equipment is designed for long work hours, like bigger monitors and sufficient workspace. Without these accommodations, you may lose out on productivity.

• Motivation: Being close to your bed, snacks, loved ones, and TV and away from higher-ups can reduce your willingness to get work done. Find work-from-home tech that boosts your motivation to counteract the temptations around you. 

Consider Creating More Space for Your Home Office

Before stocking up on the cool work-from-home gadgets below, determine if you can address your concerns with more space for your home office. If you use a makeshift work area like the dining room table, couch, or bed, it’s worth dedicating some space to a better experience. 

Here are some ideas for where to work in your house:

• Guest room
• Converted walk-in closet
• Florida room or sunroom
• Corner or alcove in a room 
• Attic
• Garage
• Basement (with sufficient lighting)

23 Work-From-Home Ideas for Your Home Office

We break the best work-from-home items into groups based on what aspect of your home office they fall under. Take these as inspiration to create your own home office based on what you need and value most along with the limits of your home.

Computer Set-up

1. Ergonomic Keyboards and Mice

If you prefer another navigation system to use with your laptop, tablet, or monitor, special wireless keyboards and computer mice come designed for comfort and ease. 

Some ergonomic keyboards match your hands’ natural typing position by inwardly facing their keys to reduce strain on the wrists. Try the Keychron Q8 Keyboard or Logitech K480 Wireless Multi-Device Keyboard.

Similarly, ergonomic computer mice like the Logitech Lift accommodate your fingers and wrist with an unconventional vertical design. You can also try the Microsoft Arc Mouse for a sleek and slim experience that lets you scroll intuitively up and down and side to side.

Another type of ergonomic mouse is a trackball mouse, like the Logitech MX Ergo. It limits wrist movement by using a finger-controlled ball to navigate instead of a sensor on the bottom of the mouse. 

2. Mesh Wi-Fi Routers

Remote work may require you to be on Wi-Fi at all times during the workday, so you’ll want to ensure your internet connection is reliable. 

Consider buying a mesh Wi-Fi router, like Google Wifi, for a much faster connection. You can buy and connect multiple mesh routers to cover a wider range of your home so you can work from anywhere in your house. Google Wifi covers 1,500 square feet per router, and Google has upgraded versions for even wider coverage. 

Other top brands include Netgear Orbi devices and the Eero Pro. 

Note: You cannot combine different brands of mesh Wi-Fi routers. 

3. Webcams

Love it or hate it, the rise of remote work came with increased virtual meetings. A webcam is necessary to show your face to coworkers even if you’re not with them. 

Your laptop may already come with a built-in webcam, but if you’re looking for higher quality, try the Razer Kiyo Pro. It has a light sensor, a field of view of 80 to 103 degrees, and a 1,080-pixel resolution. 

You can also use a better webcam for live streaming and content creation. The Elgato Facecam captures 60 frames per second and 1,080 pixels. 

If you prefer sustainable home office technology, try the Logitech Brio 305 webcam, made with at least 48% recycled plastic. 

4. External Monitors

There’s no shortage of windows you can have open on your laptop while trying to work. Luckily, there’s an abundance of external monitors that can expand your desktop display to make it look less cluttered. 

Try Dell UltraSharp or LG UltraWide monitors which reach over 40 inches and sport incredible size and color. 

If you’re looking for something less extravagant, the Duex Lite portable laptop monitor can attach to your laptop screen for an extended display anywhere you work 

5. Portable Laptop Stands

Sometimes your “desk” is a couch or low coffee table. Improve any at-home working situation with a laptop stand that raises your work to eye level—even if you’re working at a desk. 

Laptop stands can also keep your laptop from overheating. 

The portable and lightweight Roost Laptop Stand can fit any laptop size. Meanwhile, the Rain Design mStand favors minimal design with plenty of space for your laptop, storage for an external keyboard, and an outlet to reduce cable clutter. 

6. Adapters and Hubs

Streamline your cables and ensure your laptop can connect to any device with a multi-port adapter or hub. 

The Satechi Aluminum Multi-Port Adapter V2 with USB-C compatibility comes with ports for ethernet, USB, USB-C, HDMI, and an SD card. The CalDigit TS3 Plus hub has even more ports to connect devices to your laptop. 

7. Computer Speakers

Computer speakers are a step up from your laptop’s or monitor’s built-in output but not as expensive as those you may add to your TV. Use them for your music playlist as you work or for crisper audio during virtual meetings.

Creative’s Pebble V3 speakers are Bluetooth and USB-C compatible and can step up your music game to get you in the flow. If you love bass as you work, you can rely on Logitech Z407 wireless speakers with a subwoofer. 

8. Screen Cleaners

Sometimes we dirty our laptop and monitor screens without even realizing it. A helpful but inexpensive addition to your remote work accessories is a screen cleaner like the OXO Sweep and Swipe laptop cleaner.

Desk Set-up

9. Adjustable Standing Desks

Remote work involves several hours of sitting, which can lead to back pain, vascular problems, and more medical issues. Standing desks help alleviate some of the risks by allowing you to stand at your desk while you work. 

Fully’s Jarvis Standing Desk is minimally designed and adjustable, fitting into any home office and allowing you to switch between sitting and standing. It’s also made with bamboo and sustainable packaging. 

Standing desks from Uplift and Fezibo provide similar features in several different desktop styles.

10. Desk Pads

Similar to a laptop stand, desk pads and mats allow you to organize your desk or bring your work anywhere you choose in your house. 

The MOFT Smart Desk Mat comes with magnetics and a wireless charging pad. You can charge your smartphone, prop up your tablet or laptop, hang a note, or read a book all from this desk mat.

Try the Elevation Pro Lap Desk from LapGear for a more affordable option. Be productive on your couch or bed with a holder for most laptop sizes, a cushion on the bottom, a built-in mousepad, and a smartphone holder.

11. Cable Clips

Simple cable clips with adhesives like these from Amazon will organize the dozens of tangled wires and charger cords you may have behind your desk. They help clean up the space for a more aesthetic set-up.

Document Management

12. Wireless Scanner

Consider going digital instead of having documents take up space around your home office.  

Using built-in Wi-Fi, a wireless scanner like the Doxie Go SE can upload all your receipts and documents to an app, where you can search for them. 

13. Reusable Notebook

Do you prefer writing by hand but don’t like the amount of paper you use? Try a convenient and eco-friendly reusable notebook. 

The Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook allows you to write with a Pilot FriXion pen, scan the page, share your documents, and reuse the pages when you’ve gotten through them. 

Moleskine Smart is another brand of reusable notebook allowing you to record audio attached to notes, write offline, and search your notes. 

14. Wall Files

Upgrade your home office with simple wall files from Ikea to organize your physical documents and declutter your workspace. 

Lighting 

15. Smart Lighting Systems

In a world full of home automation devices, who says you can’t automate your workspace with some smart lighting?

Explore products from Philips Hue, LIFX, and Sengled to control the color of your light bulbs and other lighting products from an app or with your voice.

You can even use a smart dimmer like the Lutron Diva to automate and voice-control the brightness of your lights while you work.   

Cozy Seating

16. Office Chairs

If you plan to work remotely for much of your career, your body will thank you for choosing a work chair that’s both comfortable and durable. 

Herman Miller’s Sayl Chairs are customizable, durable, and built to support your body. They have a breathable back, a comfortable seat cushion, and the flexibility to move as you do. 

You might also consider the NOUHAUS Ergo3D office chair, which includes an adjustable headrest and armrests, mesh material, and dynamic lumbar support to move with you.  

17. Cushions

Consider buying a seat cushion for the times you would rather work at your dining table or couch.

Everlasting Comfort’s Memory Foam seat cushion is a good way to reduce strain if you sit all day while you work. Its rubber underside prevents it from slipping off most surfaces, including wood chairs. 

Promoting Motivation

18. Espresso Machines

Working from home can erode your will to work without the motivators that come with an office: encouraging coworkers, deadlines—and complimentary coffee. 

Buying a cup of coffee daily can get expensive, so consider buying an espresso machine like the Nespresso Inissia or Nespresso Vertuo machines to give you a daily caffeine boost.

19. Timer Devices

Working anywhere for eight hours straight isn’t always possible. Motivation and energy can drain as you work, especially without the typical in-office culture to energize you. 

If you’re a fan of the Pomodoro technique, which involves working for 25-minute intervals with breaks in between, you’ll find Ticktime’s Pomodoro Timers useful. These small desktop devices have several settings and preset timers to help you work in line with the Pomodoro technique. 

Aiding Focus 

20. Noise-Canceling Headphones

Working from home is a dream until countless noises invade your focus and frustrate you. Among all the working-from-home must-haves, a noise-canceling headset is one of the most effective. 

Headphones from several brands can block outside noise while you concentrate. Try the following brands of noise-canceling earbuds and headphones: Bose QuietComfort, Apple Airpods, Sony WH-1000XM4, or Wyze.

21. Laptop Shader

As a remote worker, you can work in your backyard, at your local park, or anywhere else to get fresh air. However, you have to compete with the sun’s glare to get a good look at your screen, which can break your concentration.

A good solution when you can’t work in the shade is a laptop cover or sun shade. Laptop covers like the SunShader are great for blocking the sun by attaching to all sides of your laptop screen. They’re also effective for privacy if you work in a public space, such as a cafe. 

You can find other comparable sun shades on Amazon. 

22. Stress-Relief Toys

You may be a full-time worker, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from a stress toy if you struggle with biting your nails or pulling your hair while working. 

Along with stress balls and fidget spinners, you might be able to focus better while working if your hands have access to a Fidget Cube. The little box has knobs, wheels, buttons, and switches on the outside to satisfy your need to fidget while working. 

You can also try The Squeeze Aromatherapy dough to relieve stress. It comes in different scents and helps relax your nerves as you work.  

23. Digital Calendars

If you work from home and have well-meaning loved ones who don’t know you’re in a meeting, they could unknowingly (and frequently) disrupt your focus. 

Try the Joan 6 wireless meeting room display. The digital display mounts anywhere on the wall or door outside your home office to let those living with you know you cannot be disturbed. 

A Home Office That Speaks to You

The best tech for your home office comes down to what you value and need most. For example, some workers may be able to focus in hectic environments without noise-canceling headphones, but others may need to block the noise. 

While you work, ask yourself what could be different. Is your chair comfortable enough? Could there be more light? Do your wrists hurt at the end of the day?

You don’t need to buy all or most of the items on this list. The best home office equipment adds noticeable value to your workday and helps you be an asset to your company—away from your company.