Looking for essentials to refresh your home office? These items are designed to get you organized and moving. Working from home has its challenges, so I am constantly looking for ways to optimize my space. One of my major goals for this year is to be mindful of my time and be more organized.
When it comes to creating a home office that works for you, my first tip is to refresh it yourself. A few changes can help the space feel all that much brighter and cleaner to work in. Earlier this year, I dreamt up my ultimate home office and now I’m looking for ways to optimize.
These essentials to refresh your home office setup will get you going in no time. I love to combine both function and style with thoughtful pieces. Take a look at ways to get your home office refresh in no time.
*this post contains affiliate links which means at no additional cost to you I may make a small commission. Your support is appreciated.
The Essentials For the Functional and Stylish Home Office
1. Declutter Your Home Office First
One of the first things to do when reconsidering your home office is to get rid of clutter. A quick “is this necessary?” run-through of what is at your desk will help you decide if it serves you. I know I tend to stack up mail and other items that I don’t use at all while working.
I like to keep my desk a combination of useful + inspirational. So I choose items that both inspire me and are functional. Perhaps it’s a piece of art or magazine cover that I love, and then more functional items like a desk lamp and organizing trays.
2. Get Comfortable
It may be time to upgrade your desk chair if you haven’t in a while. I noticed a few years ago I was having pretty bad back pain and needed an upgrade. Investing in a desk chair can be a mix of both comfort and style, so I’d recommend choosing what works best for you.
I actually work between two desk chairs. Years ago we invested in a Herman Miller that we found secondhand and still cost several hundred dollars. And then I also love our dining chairs so I often work on those too. They have some flex in them and give great support.
A few of the top rated desks for style and comfort:
3. Get Organized
After you’ve decluttered, it’s time to find everything a home. If you’ve seen Marie Kondo’s show, you’ll know trays and boxes will be your best friend for organizing a space. I like to keep a few trays for loose papers and then I stack my journals/calendars together in a corner.
Here are a few of the top decluttering items to store loose ends and essentials:
4. Create Better Lighting
We have a very small pendant light in the office I work in at home which means during winter months, lighting becomes an issue. Natural light dies down and eventually, I need to turn on a desk lamp. Having this extra light softens the harshness of looking at my screen. For better lighting, it’s good to have indirect light instead of working right under the light. So you can do this by creating ambient lighting through corner lights and desk lamps that are placed in a corner.
When it comes to “task lighting” like a desk lamp, here are a few options for a style and function:
5. Make It Yours
Adding a little bit of you to your space is always important. I try to add decor pieces that inspire me or remind of a positive memory. On my desk currently I have a art piece I picked up in Puerto Rico, a vintage camera, a succulent, and a bowl of matches I’ve collected over my travels. They’re little items but each of them remind me of something.
On the wall, I’m planning on hanging one of my print that I have from my travels. To the right of my desk, I have my favorite hats and a stack of books and magazines that I love.
I always love to burn a candle, my favorite is Le Labo Santal 26. If you’re looking for art, check out these travel prints as well to create an inspiring space.
6. Get Tech-Savvy
A few thoughtful ways to get your space “working” for you is to upgrade some of the tech. There are a few items that you can add to help functionality and streamline your day at home working. Here are a few to consider:
- Wireless mouse by Logitech
- Kensington ErgoSoft Wrist Rest for Standard Mouse
- Upgrade to a monitor — there are tons of monitors available that can be used for both Windows and Apple. One of the highest-rated monitors is this 27-inch Dell FreeSync Monitor for under $300.
- Anker Power Strip Surge Protector with 12 Outlets
- A USB hub for all USB connections/memory cards *this is my number one use tech item on the desk
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Photo Printer
7. Choose Paper Products For Creativity & Organization
Though we’ve adopted a lot of tools for organizing our thoughts and calendar digitally, there is still a use for paper products. Every year I invest in three notebooks: 1) a weekly calendar, 2) creativity journal, 3) general notepad. I have these three on my desk at all times.
My number one purchase for this year was this customizable weekly Papier Planner. And I LOVE IT. It’s beautiful and functional for organizing my weekly and monthly tasks. Papier has some wonderful stationery items for the desk, so if I’d give the site a browse.
For other journals and paper pads, my go-to is the Japanese company Midori Way. I buy a no ruled line notebook and a horizontal ruled line notebook.
I’m also a sucker for stickers and the Japanese tape called “washi.” I use both to decorate and organize inside my journals. Plus, the extra pop of color makes me happy.
Save this post for later on Pinterest:
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Flights
Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.
2. Book Your Accommodations
Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Car
Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.
5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access
Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use it frequently for my travels to stay protected.
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
