15 Items Every Home Office Needs to Boost Productivity This Year

Working from home isn’t always easy, but sometimes it’s necessary. So why not have a workspace that inspires you to be your most efficient, effective and creative self while clocking in at home? If you’re having a hard time getting down to business, turn your attention to your home office design. Finding ways to balance function, comfort and style will hugely boost your productivity. Whether you have a dedicated study or are in a multi-functional space, these home office needs just may inspire you to be your most productive self this year.

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white-and-gold L-shaped desk in grey home office

Amazon

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Create a Corner Office

Feeling crowded? Having room to spread out your papers and supplies can bring on a boost in productivity, so a spacious desk can make a big difference. If your home office area has a corner, an L-shaped desk maximizes the space and gives you the feeling of two desks in one. Win-win. Mr Ironstone L-Shaped Desk, Amazon, $180.

wood-and-black standing desk in clean home office

Amazon

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Stand Up (Sometimes)

Spend too much time sitting? Working from home, it can be all too tempting to hunker down all day – without much opportunity to stand up and walk around. Still, investing in a standing desk can be a big commitment to being on your feet all day, too. Get the best of both worlds with a height-adjustable desk that lets you stand when you want to – but sit down when you need to. Flexispot Height-Adjustable Sit Stand Desk, Amazon, $465.

white floating desk and white chair in yellow home office

Wayfair

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Hide Away

Having your own workspace to go to can help you feel more “at work” when it’s time to work, but not every home has a separate room or den for working from home. One small home office idea that gives you lots of versatility is a fold-down desk: use it unfolded as a dedicated desk space when you’re working, then store it in the wall-mounted hutch to save space when you’re off duty. Rossville Floating Desk With Hutch, Wayfair, $256.

white hanging planters in front of window in white room

Amazon

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Go Green

Never underestimate the power of nature to inspire. Incorporating a few indoor plants into your home office design is a great way to provide a pop of colour, freshness and inspiration to your workday. To keep your work surface clear, consider a sleek hanging planter to bring in the green – without cluttering your desk. Want to double-up on the productive vibes this year? Add one of these lucky plants to your work space. Umbra Triflora Hanging Planter, Amazon, $54.

dusty blue multi-compartment desk organizer with phone, paper and pens

Indigo

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Desktop Organization Goals

There’s nothing quite like a clean, organized desk to put you in the right headspace for tackling your to-do list. Set yourself up for success by adding some storage and organization tools straight to your desktop: a multi-compartment organizer with compartments of a few different sizes makes it easy to keep pens, papers and even small tech gadgets in check while you work. OUI X Bigso Elisa Desktop Organizer, Indigo, $25.

side shot of home office desk with part of computer monitor, notebook and clamp-on desk lamp

Amazon

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Light Matters

Soft, dim lighting may be perfect for creating a relaxing bedroom ambiance, but it’s not going to help you work to your full potential. As HGTV design expert Brian McCourt recommends, carving out an office space with some natural light is your best bet, but you can always fake it ’til you make it (and do your eyes a favour) with good lighting. Any bright desk lamp will do the trick, but an option that offers an adjustable arm and multiple light settings will come in handy if you need to do video calls from your office, too. LED Desk Lamp, Amazon, $98.

sleek home office with wood floor and black monitor arm on wood desk

Simons

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All the Angles

Sometimes, a few degrees of change can make all the difference. While we instantly think about our desk and chair when it comes to ergonomics, your computer monitor can impact how you feel while working – which can make a difference to your productivity. This swivel monitor arm lets you mount a monitor up to 30 inches in size; once mounted, you can then easily rotate, tilt and even flip your monitor from portrait to landscape mode, so you always have the best possible viewing position. Single Swivel Monitor Arm, Simons, $195.

minimalist home office desk with wood riser for monitor

Amazon

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A Stylish Lift

How’s this for a home office idea to improve work-from-home ergonomics (so you can focus more on productivity than pain in the neck)? A monitor stand elevates your screen for better ergonomics, and a sleek wood look adds some mid-century vibes to your home office space. Samdi Universal Monitor Stand, Amazon, $57.

grey and white ergonomic desk chair in clean home office with white desk

Amazon

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Ergonomic Options

The thing about sitting down and getting to work is that you really need to… sit down. When it comes to home office furniture, comfort and ergonomics need to factor into your selection – but style counts, too. Choose an ergonomic desk chair that lets you adjust the height and arm rests for a comfortable seat, but opt for a sleek design that fits in with the rest of your home’s decor. DJ·Wang Swivel Task Chair, Amazon, $120.

classic chair with wheels in clean home office

Amazon

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Executive Worthy

Desk chairs don’t always have to look like desk chairs either. Give your office a stylish upgrade that makes you excited to sit down and get to work with a CEO-worthy chair that still sports home office-appropriate details like wheels and adjustability. Christopher Knight Home Maye Traditional Home Office Chair, Amazon, $268.

navy blue room with patterned blue rug on hardwood floor

Amazon

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Accent Your Area

In business and in life, the right foundation makes a difference for your success, so it makes sense to ensure your home office design considers your flooring, too. Adding an area rug is a simple home office idea that can bring comfort, colour and style to your workspace. nuLOOM Vasiliki Rug, 4′ x 6′, Amazon, $283.

grey home office with industrial-style wood rolling file cabinet

Amazon

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Roll With It

Storage is essential

for any room in the home, but especially for your home office design. A mobile file cabinet with a mix of drawers and shelves gives you room to store files, papers and books – and the versatility to reposition it in your home as needed. If you’re renovating your office space, you may want to take a tip from Sarah Baeumler by integrating some built-in storage shelves for long-term organization. Here are more of her home office renovation tips to boost your productivity even further. HOMCOM Mobile File Cabinet, Amazon, $140.

minimalist home office desk with computer, lamp and black triangle-shaped file rack

Amazon

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File it All Away

Sometimes you need to have a lot of notes on hand and accessible, but you don’t want your desk to be overrun with loose sheets of paper when you’re working on a deadline. Stay organized with a sleek file rack in a chic, minimalist design – and help yourself stay more productive in the process. EASEPRES 9-Slot Desktop File Rack, Amazon, $23.

two framed abstract prints on wall in white room

Indigo

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Artistic Inspiration

A little visual burst of colour and creativity can give you the push you need to tackle your to-do list – yet we often overlook art when it comes to home office design. Try hanging a few framed art prints in your home office for a pop of colour (and inspiration). Solid Shapes 02 Art Print, Indigo, $24.

white room with wooden room divider with shelves

Amazon

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Smart Separation

No dedicated work space, no problem: you can create your own home office area anywhere with a little creativity. A simple multi-panel divider is a versatile way to create a private work-from-home zone – visually hiding the distractions that can erode your productivity. Giantex Folding Room-Divider Screen With Shelves, Amazon, $327.