Top Ten Home Office Essentials

So you want to create a home office? There are a few essential items you'll want to get right away.

It seems like these days, even if you don't work from home, you need to have a designated space that is considered the "home office." It's a space where your kids can do homework or you can surf the net or check your email. Sometimes a home office is an entire room but many times it's a corner of your living room or kitchen.

Wherever you work, here are some of my home office must-haves, so you can check them off your list.












1. A desk
This is certainly debatable if you have a laptop, but trust me, not a lot of work gets done in front of the TV while sitting on your sofa. A real desk at the proper height is very important, especially if you use a mouse. Since I work from my home office, I use a mouse quite a lot and I noticed a huge difference in my posture and arm/wrist pain when I graduated from the dining table to a real desk.

2. Seating
Depending on how long you sit, but especially if you put in a full 8 hours at the (home) office, you'll want to invest in a comfortable chair. The minute I bought a good quality chair, I noticed a dramatic difference in the way my body felt after a long day at work. If you sit for hours, you will definitely want to invest. If you sit for a few minutes here and there to check email, then you probably don't have to worry about fancy ergonomics.

3. An Internet connection
Obviously, you will want to get an Internet connection if you plan on using a computer for more than just word processing or budgeting. I prefer a wireless connection so that I can move around the house with my laptop or use my desktop. Call your local cable company for details on different options.

4. A computer
Just because you have a home office, doesn't mean you have to own a computer! Home offices can be for just doing homework or paying bills. However, as the Internet becomes increasingly helpful and relevant to our lives, it seems as though every home office should have at least one!

5. A printer
A printer is a great home office investment because chances are, you will want to print out emails, directions or receipts from online purchases. Oh, and you'll probably need paper, too! Before purchasing a printer, think about your needs. Do you need color ink? Do you want to print gallery? Where will you put your printer, and what size do you need? These are all important questions to ask.

6. A wastebasket
When you get those bills paid, you'll want somewhere to trash the junk mail. Check out my post on trash cans for some inspiration.

7. Writing utensils and a notepad
Just because you can type it doesn't mean you won't want to write it down. Keep pens or pencils and a notepad nearby in case you need to jot down a phone number or address. I like to create to-do lists and "note to self" reminders using a paper and pen.

8. Desk accessories
Of course you'll need a place to store those pens, so get some desk accessories, like a pencil cup and paper tray. These not only make your desk look complete, but add some personal touches to your space. Sorting with Style has a great selection of cute desk accessories and organizers.

9. A lamp
Using your computer screen as a lamp at night is a bad idea and bad for your eyes! Remember your mom used to say "stop reading in the dark!" Same goes for working. So, get a task lamp.

10. An outlet with a surge protector
Finally, it's important to get a surge protector to protect your electronics from damage in the event of a storm. I have so many electronics that I have two surge protectors!

Now, some of these might be debatable if you have a laptop and consider your home office a mobile one. However, to create a true home office, having the items listed above is a great start. Get to work!