If you have recently started to work from home or are about to start, you probably know how important it is to have a dedicated workspace. It’s much harder to stay focused when your office also doubles as your living room and your kids’ playroom. 
To make your home office a place that’s truly yours and helps you to get things done, you may want to consider investing in some new furniture and other office tools.

Common Home Office Challenges

Although there are certainly benefits, there are also some downsides when working from home as well. One of the biggest is the obstacle of carving out your own space within the house. Not everyone has a separate room they can designate as their office. At the very least, you ought to try to have a corner of a room that is your “work zone” and doesn’t get used for anything else.

Another common challenge is the issue of comfort. Not all office furniture is created equal and, if your home office is not a comfortable and ergonomic place, you’re probably going to find yourself working from the couch (or not working at all) more often than not.

There’s also the time management issue. When you don’t have a boss breathing down your neck, it’s easy to fall into the trap of saying you’ll “get to that later.” The right office setup can help you stay focused and develop the discipline you need to tackle those dreaded tasks.

Work from Home Items Everyone Needs

To enjoy the benefits of working from home and overcome the drawbacks, you need to have a well-equipped workspace. The following are some work from home essentials that will help you do just this:

1. Desk

One of the first things you’ll need to purchase, whether you’re working in a dedicated office or a corner of another room, is a desk. If you’re short on space, look for a Helios T80 Study Table thats compact in size but still gives you plenty of room to work. You may want to consider an Athena F80 Folding Table that can be a great space saver as well.

2. Office Chair

In addition to a desk, you’ll need an ergonomic office chair, too. Even if you plan on standing at your desk, you still ought to have a good, adjustable chair at the ready. You never know when you’re going to need to sit down and take a rest during the day.

3. Laptop Stand

If you’re working from a laptop, which is common for a lot of work-from-home professionals these days, you ought to look for a stand for that laptop. That way, you can treat it like a desktop computer and won’t have to worry about hunching over it while sitting at your desk. You still get to enjoy the portability benefits, though.

4. Wireless Keyboard

When you’re using a laptop stand, you don’t have easy access to the attached keyboard. To make up for this, you’ll need a wireless keyboard that will allow you to continue sitting or standing in a comfortable position while you work.

5. Wireless Mouse

A wireless mouse is a must as well. Even if you’re using a regular desktop computer instead of a laptop, a wireless mouse can still be easy to use and is less frustrating than a regular mouse (just make sure you keep it charged).

6. Floor or Desk Lamp

Your office needs to have plenty of light to help you stay alert and focused throughout the day. If your office is short on natural light, try to make up for it by setting up a floor lamp or desk lamp (or both). This will give you more light exposure and help to prevent eye strain and headaches.

7. Storage Unit

Organization can be tricky when you’re working from home and handling your own filing. To avoid a mad shuffle to find important documents, it’s best to have a good Storage unit in place right from the start.

Look for a Bookcase or a Storage Unit that provides you with plenty of space. You may want to choose  these versatile Alpha Bookshelves, with its adjustable shelves- Ideal for books, binders, boxes, files, magazines, and other work from home storage needs.

8. Network Router

If you’re going to work from home full-time, you need to have reliable internet access. If there’s more than one computer in your home, or if you have other devices that require internet access like smart TVs, you’ll need to make sure you have a good network router in place. A wireless Range Extender, which will help to boost your signal, is a good one to consider.

9. Surge Protector

A surge protector is a good investment as well. This little tool will give you access to all the outlets you need. It’ll also help to protect your computer and other pieces of office equipment from potentially damaging voltage spikes.

10. Printer-Scanner Combo

Think of how much time you’ll save if you have a reliable printer and scanner readily available at your house. You won’t have to waste time driving around finding a place where you can print or scan documents and will have more time to focus on other projects.

Look for a printer-scanner combo that’s easy to use and is wireless so you don’t have to worry about locating the right card before using it.