When I got my first corporate job out of school everything had recently changed to work from home once the pandemic hit. Suddenly, everyone needed an entire desk and set up to be able to work efficiently. Whether you’ve been working from home for a few years or have just started a job with remote work days, having a dedicated space can do wonders for your productivity, focus, and give you the ability to better separate your work and home life.
My first place on my own simply had a bedroom and the kitchen / small dining space, and since I wanted to avoid taking work to bed with me I wanted to carve out the most comfortable working space possible. If you’re starting from scratch or revamping your work space there are some essentials you want to make sure to cover so that you aren’t buying a ton of unneeded items that can take up space.
Essentials for a Cozy Home Office Space
1. Laptop stand
Too often we don’t realize how close we’re sitting to our laptop screen and that the height of either or desk, laptop or chair need to be adjusted. A laptop stand can help to sit your laptop at the same height as your monitors and align better with your range of sight
2. Bluetooth Keyboard and mouse
Extra unneeded cords can clutter your desk space removing that cozy and comforting feeling that can boost your productivity. Ditch the cord mouse and keyboard and buy a Bluetooth version so that you can set up the space accordingly.
3. Monitor Displays
Unless your laptop is huge or your work usually sticks to one screen, having a monitor or two can help spread out all that you have to do. If you need something more spacious that you can take with you try a foldable monitor. Otherwise there are various screen sizes and shapes and colors that can fit your mood and work needs.
4. Drawer Storage
If you have a lot of extra papers, recipes or just general documents for work or personal life having some folder space is important to make sure you always know where everything is. For example you never wanna lose your passport
5. Adapter port for HDMI’s
In recent years phones and computers have changed to what’s called a usb-c port. Having an adapter is key to make sure no matter what device you buy or where you work that you can hook up the right things especially in the case of a presentation or saving information. For the creators this is helpful to transfer pictures and videos straight from your phone or camera to your computer for use on a bigger screen.
6. Headphone holder
Music or podcasts can be a great form of helping you focus during your non meeting productive times and nothing is worse that misplacing your headphones or work headset especially if you share your home with someone and there’s background noise. A holder makes sure you have a place for everything you need and can even serve as a place to charge devices at the same time.
7. Phone display and charger
A phone holder for your desk space helps to make sure you have a spot for charging and displaying your phone. You can even set an iPad, Kindle or other device here. Whether you want to use it as a clock or for watching Netflix in between meeting’s this helps your space stay organized
8. Ergonomic chair
Don’t underestimate how important having a comfortable seating is when working. Not only does this help your posture and general health in the long term especially if you spend a lot of time sitting down, but it also can make your office space feel cozy so that it’s a place you actually want to work in.
9. Spacious desk
Having the right size desk that fits your needs and space is key. Whether it’s a small standard desk, a standing desk or an L shaped one you want to make sure there’s enough room for your monitor displays and for you to write or type as needed. The right desk also helps the area feel just right rather than cramped and cluttered. Be sure to measure your desired space before purchasing
10. Bin/ Book Case Storage
Depending on the use case of your office you may find that you have a ton of extra books, notes books etc that need a place to go. A book case or bin set up can double as cozy decor and be a place to organize and place all your miscellaneous items
11. Outlet Surge Power Strip
Having a ton of things to plug up and no where to put it is never fun. Be sure to purchase a power strip to have a spot for all your devices to stay charged up.
12. Candles
You can’t have a cozy space with out some cozy scents! Candles don’t have to be an expensive purchase either. Buy a few of your favorite focus or stress relief scents to keep the room smelling fresh and a space where you want to spend time working.
13. Lighting
The right lighting is key especially in the winter or in a room with limited natural light. If there’s no overhead light in the room already, try a small floor or desk lamp. Build up the cozy vibe but buying a smart bulb so that you can adjust the light color or brightness as needed.
14. Dry erase board / calendar
Dry erase board and calendars are a great way to track your daily to do list, upcoming events or other personal and work matters. Use the wall space behind or around your desk if possible to make sure you always have a good look at what’s next
15. Blanket
Whether it’s winter and you want to keep your gas bill a little lower, or it’s summer and the AC is blasting, it can be hard to work on anything at home if it’s too cold. Keep a nice blanket or quilt (or just one that looks good) so that you always feel cozy and comfortable in your space.
Building a cozy home office space doesn’t have to be expensive or a tough task. Focus on what makes the most comfortable and productive and lean into those items. Most importantly you want the office to be put to good use so make sure you have all the correct essentials to get to work efficiently.
Whether you’re just starting a new job post grad, working on some personal side hustle activities, or just want a space to work on your craft, having a dedicated space even if just a corner of another room is great way to lock in and get things done! You don’t have to sacrifice cozy for productive! Do both and build a space that you truly love!
