6 Items You Need For The Ultimate Home Office Build

As many of us decide to work from home, the desire for a work-friendly space in your property goes up. If you're spending multiple hours a day at your computer/laptop, then you no longer find it comfortable to lie on the sofa or work from the kitchen table. Those were good ideas when working from home was temporary for you, but now you need a permanent solution. 

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Whether you're turning your garage into a functional home office, converting a spare room, or making part of your bedroom an office, you need the right equipment and products to create a truly proper office space. The list below breaks down all the best items you need for the ultimate home office build. 

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An Ergonomic Chair (Not A Gaming Chair)

A lot of people get conned into buying gaming chairs because they're marketed as being really ergonomic and perfect for many hours of sitting down. In reality, every gaming chair looks the same and they're not built for ergonomics at all. 

When we talk about ergonomics, we're talking about getting your body in the best position to be able to work with minimal discomfort. A proper ergonomic office chair will provide back and hip support so you're not sore after sitting down for five minutes. It should also encourage you to sit at your desk with a straight back to maintain a better seated posture. 

Everyone has different tastes and preferences when it comes to chairs, so the best advice is to try as many as you can. Go to furniture stores or places like Ikea where you can sit on chairs and see how they feel. If you're stuck ordering online, then order from places that provide free returns or "comfort guarantees." This should mean you can return the chair if you don't like how it feels - it's annoying but at least you don't waste money. 

A Height-Adjustable Desk

There are two things you want from a good office desk: 

• It needs to provide you with enough space
• It has to be height-adjustable

Avoid falling into the trap of picking a small and compact desk to save space. If you're building a home office or converting a room, then make space for a desk that's big enough for your needs. It's so frustrating when you don't have enough desk space to move your mouse around. Likewise, your desk should be positioned at the ideal height so you can rest your arms on it while you type without shrugging your shoulders. 

That sounds confusing, but sit down without a desk and let your arms fall into a natural typing position. Your shoulders and upper trapezius muscles should feel relaxed. Imagine a desk slipping under your arms in that position, and it's the height you need to work comfortably. 

This is why you should pick a height-adjustable desk because it lets you set the perfect height to suit your dimensions. It also lets you move the desk up or down depending on whether you want to sit or stand - which is great for breaking up your routine and ensuring you're not sitting for too long. 

A Moveable Monitor Arm

Monitor height is also exceptionally important when creating the ultimate home office setup. You must position your monitor so it's at eye level while you work. Most people don't do this and end up with their monitors lower than their eyeline, which means they spend most of the day with their heads tilted down. 

You could do this, but it will give you a one-way ticket to chronic neck pain town. 

Instead you need to raise your monitor to the ideal height. Monitor stands can do this, though they don't always raise your monitor high enough and take up a lot of desk space. As a better alternative, get a monitor arm that clamps to your desk, attaches to the back of your monitor, and lets you move it around. You get more freedom to position the monitor at the ideal height and angle, while also not taking up any actual desk space. This leaves more room for storage, so you get a cleaner desk and a less painful neck. 

Desk Storage Products

Speaking of which, the next item on the list is a desk storage product. You can find many amazing desk storage ideas that fit on your desk and give you ways to tuck things away. If you always have pieces of paper or documents as part of your job, then you need some small desk drawers to tuck the paper away. If you work with tools or have loads of other bits and bobs around, then a pegboard is a great idea too. You can clamp one to your desk and then pop in hooks and other storage options. 

Acoustic Wall Panels

Are you tired of hearing everyone else in your house while you try to work? Maybe you're also a bit self-conscious when on Zoom calls and don't want other people to hear you. In either of these instances, you can solve your problem with acoustic wall panels. They basically provide some noise-reduction properties so you hear less outside noise - and less noise escapes your office. A must-have if you want to create a quiet and more private place to work. 

Good Blinds & Lighting

You need good lighting in your home office, and blinds are the way to go. They're a bit more practical for a home office setup than curtains because you can adjust how much light enters your room. 

At the same time, ensure you have ample lighting for days when it's dark outside or you're working late. You may also discover that you need to fully close the blinds sometimes because it's too bright out and your screen is covered in glare. This can only be done when you've got good lighting to create a bright and productive space. 

Regardless of how you're making a home office, it won't be complete without these six items. Start with the ergonomic items that make your setup more comfortable, then complete it with a few additional things to aid productivity.