Your New Home Office: What You Need and What You Don’t

During the month of March 2020, the number of U.S. workers doing their jobs from home doubled—from 31 percent to 62 percent—due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, those workers are being bombarded with lists of “must-haves” for their home office.

This may have left you wondering, “Do I really need all that?” So, we decided to put together a list of what you really need and what you don’t. 

What You Do Need

The following is all you really need to work from home:

Computer                                                                                       

Depending on the policies of your employer, you may or may not have to provide your own computer. Additionally, the type of computer, monitors, and other equipment you need will depend on the type of work you do. 

Internet                                                                                                  

If you don’t already have access to the Internet in your home, you will need to set that up in order to work. To establish WiFi in your home, you will need a modem and router or a wireless gateway, which is a modem and router in one. Modems provide access to the Internet, while the router broadcasts the WiFi signal, enabling your devices to connect to the Internet and to each other.

Somewhere to Sit

When you think of an office, the first image that likely pops into your mind is a desk and chair, however, when working from home, that traditional set up isn’t technically a necessity. While a desk and desk chair are ideal, a kitchen table or a couch and lap desk may suffice. It’s important to figure out where you work best and what type of space you need for your computer. For example, if you work from a laptop, a lap desk and your couch or a bar and stool may work well for you. But if you need multiple large monitors and other bulky equipment for your setup, a table or desk may be necessary. 

Lighting

Good lighting is obviously essential so that you can see your work and so that you are visible on video calls. However, it is also important for setting the mood of your home office. If possible, work in a space that receives a lot of natural light. When that isn’t possible, or to add additional light to the room, choose fixtures that give off bright, warm light. Your goal should be to illuminate the space without casting shadows or creating glare or contrast.

What You Don’t

You can successfully work from home without a dedicated office, fancy lighting, or an expensive ergonomic chair (although, you should keep ergonomics in mind). Stick to the basics that we listed above and then periodically reevaluate how you’re feeling, your focus and comfort levels, and productivity.

Budgeting for Your Home Office

Creating a home office does not have to be expensive. In fact, the beauty of working from home is that you can literally work from anywhere—your couch, porch or kitchen table, or even a local coffee shop (if you’re practicing social distancing, of course).

If you would like to set up a dedicated room or corner of your home as an office, source furniture and décor from places like thrift shops, Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor, and Ikea to keep your budget low.

Where did you set up your home office? Drop a picture below—we’d love to see how you’ve adapted!