Over the past year and a bit working from home has become quite normalized for most industries. Before the pandemic, I know for myself and most of my loved ones working from home was never an option with their professions and not a thought. One of the most important things I learned very quickly when transitioning to work from home was what essential work from home items, I needed to have set up for myself.

Essential work from home items
Traditional offices vs work from home offices I’ve learned are set up with similarities and differences. Your computer and monitor setup is probably similar, however, your webcam, tablet, or phone for all your virtual meetings is something that likely wasn’t as commonly used in your traditional workspace. This was one of the biggest adjustments for me. So now you need to set that up, especially with meetings being online for most of the workday now.
Working from home isn’t just items in your office, it’s also how you remain productive with an adjusted workspace. Knowing how to spend your time, and how to take care of yourself when working from home for your job or working from a home office full time is so important!
When setting up your home office, it’s important to look at your job in the virtual work and set up what essential work-from-home items you need in that space to make your role work! For myself, I began working from home for my career originally, however, have now transitioned into a full-time work-from-home job offering Pinterest Marketing Services.
This post explores five items that I found to be essential when switching to work from home to help ease the transition, as well as useful for my full-time home office now!
Essential Oils Diffuser
If you frequent my blog, then you know I love essential oils – they’re amazing for helping to really transform a space. When you’re working from home it’s important to ensure your office setup really supports you and your health. Essential Oils are one of my top home office essentials that I always prioritize in my space. Oils not only help with picking up your mood, increasing motivation and productivity but also can support your health as you work.
Using essential oils can help transform your space into an oasis instead of your office being a zone you dread. This has been one of my favourite work from home essentials Amazon purchases I’ve bought to date and use multiple diffusers around my house. It’s important to get a diffuser that will fit your office space and can sit on your desk or standing desk so it’s sitting flat and not going to be knocked off. You also want to keep it away from electronics such as wireless keyboards, desk lamps, ring lights, keyboards, mice and monitors as the water coming out of the diffuser can cause harm if it directly lands on those items. So, place it off to the side away from your electronics if you can.
I use Revive Essential Oils for all my oils as I trust their brand and the science behind their oils. If you’re interested in Revive essential oils, click here for a free 10$ gift card off your first $50 purchase! Some of my favourite essential oils to use in the workspace are peppermint, lemon, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and lavender!

Tablet Stand
One of the things I didn’t anticipate when switching to working from home was the number of meetings that would take place virtually. I don’t think before working from home I ever understood how many people popped into my office, how many meetings I attended or facilitated, and how that added up very quickly. One of my first purchases of essential work-from-home items was my tablet stand. For myself, I prefer using my iPad and having my laptop and desktop reserved for doing work and having documents open.
A tablet stand allows your tablet to be held at whatever height and angle you desire, and some even come with attachable ring lights. Before using the tablet stand, I was often hurting my neck by having a less than ergonomic setup by having my iPad sit directly on my desk. When I started to use the stand, I instantly realized how I was sitting up straighter in my office chair, and my upper back was resting against the chair as it should as opposed to hunching over the desk. For me this was so important as I would often spend 8-9 hours straight going in and out of meetings, so ensuring I had good ergonomic posture was essential.
I read a lot of reviews before making my purchase and I’m so happy with the one I purchased as it’s very customizable. It can hold my phone, a tablet, or any other handheld device with ease. I can easily move it around my desk as needed and bend and twist the stand to meet my eye level.

Power Bar
This might be a no-brainer, but a good power bar is essential to your work-from-home setup. This is an item that I wouldn’t worry as much about the price tag if you can as you want one that is properly certified to surge protect in your country and will work as needed to save your devices. I found that my laptop charger, before working from home, simply went into an outlet and I didn’t need to worry much. As soon as I started to work from home, I learned that I need several things plugged in around my space and a good power bar was the best way to go!
For myself, I opted to get one that not only had outlets but also included USB ports as over half my items around my desk were needing a USB port and my laptop was quickly running out of them! Depending on what home office accessories you have in your space you might want one with USB ports included to help save your laptop/computer ports.
For my setup, I have my power bar sit behind my desk pad and slightly behind my monitor so it’s out of the way. I bought one that has an easy-to-turn-off and on-the-switch so I can save electricity when leaving my space for long periods of time. I also purchased one that is very easy to clean as that was key for me as well. As well, I like how small the power bar is as it’s easy to travel as needed and can be moved very easily.

Office Chair
For the first couple of months of working from home, I decided I could make do with the chairs that were naturally around my living space. I rotated through different chairs all learning their drawbacks to sitting in them for 8-9 hours. I learned in this time, I needed to just get over the price and buy a good quality work-from-home desk chair. This began the search for an ergonomic work-from-home setup to see what the ideal would look like with the desk I owned.
I was able to find a fantastic chair, in my favourite colour, that would fit my needs. It even came with a pop-out footstool, massaging seat cushion, and lots of adjustable features. I had previously had an ergonomic assessment done many years ago and learned the basics of what I needed for my height and work style. So, I found a chair that best matched what I was suggested to look for.
It’s important to ensure you find a chair that fits you. They are not one size fits all and in fact, my fiancé can’t use my chair as he’s too tall and it won’t adjust to a height that would work for him. As someone who now works from home full time, this is one of my favourite purchases as I sit in it much of my day it’s important it works well for me. I also bought a cushion to go under my feet to help raise my feet for my ergonomics as well as my office chair.

Water Bottle
We’ve all been there, working away, and somehow 2-3 hours go by without you even realizing. Before you know it you parched and can’t remember the last time you had a drink. For the first few months of working from home, this was me. I never realized that in the work office, I had a lot more natural breaks and would take sips of water, or have colleagues pass by asking if I needed to go fill my water bottle. As soon as I switched to working from home this took a major hit. My day was so back-to-back that I barely had time to eat let alone ensure I was hydrating.
One of the main things I realized was I needed to keep water near me to ensure I was taking the time to drink. I can confidently say one of my essential work-from-home items is my water tumbler. Yes, there can be coffee or tea beside it, but water is essential to have near you. My water tumbler (which I loved so much I bought a second of it!) keeps water cold for 12 hours. It holds 24oz of water and has a straw that allows me to take quick sips as needed.
There you have it five essential work-from-home items that I’ve got in my home office. What’s one of your favourite essentials or a work-from-home must-haves of yours?
These sound like good essentials! I might give them a check one by one.
Love these essentials! Water tumbler it’s a must as well as essential oil diffusers, can’t wait to get a better space to work from home x
YES! I cannot function in my space without them. Wonderful to hear you enjoyed this list – thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂
I love my diffuser, it’s great working from home coz I can have it on and candles! Can’t have those in the office! I really want a salt lamp but not sure if the cats will lick it all off.
Yes to both! I always have one or the other going at all moments at home. I love essential oils at work, your right no candles at work! I’ve had a salt lamp for years (and cats) as well as my mum. Neither of us has had any of our cats have any interest at all. My one kitten she puts everything and I mean everything in her mouth, but the salt lamp is just like any other lamp and she doesn’t care. It’s quite heavy and large so doesn’t really excite her. Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
Great list Alex! I really need to set up my home work space better. Right now I work wherever I can. Thanks for sharing these, you’ve inspired me!
I don’t have a good office chair! I’m one of those weirdo’s that likes to do my work in bed, so I’ve never really used a chair while working from home. At some point, though I’d love to have a full-on home office where I can have a proper set-up!
An essential oil diffuser is such a diverse thing to have; it can be used for a wide range of scents whereas with candles you have to have one of each scent.
Love the idea of a tablet stand too, and a comfy chair is a must have!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I have all of these except for an essential oil diffuser. I never even thought of getting one but it does seem like it would be beneficial in the home office. Thanks for sharing!
I do work from home sometimes and this post just gave ideas of what I would be needing. The tablet stand is a must have as it’s quite stressful. Thanks for the essential oil idea
Great ideas for home offices. I started using a tablet holder during lockdown and it was perfect for zooms.
You’re so right, I need a water bottle. All these cups of tea are lovely but I know I’d benefit more from water.
Great suggestions, Alex Jean! My one exception is the chair. I have 2 standing desks and find that I never want to sit until it’s time to eat or relax.
The diffuser is so great. It literally changes the “atmosphere” in our home (including the home office).
Thanks,
Stan
Love this post so much!! I have a giant water bottle that’s 128oz!! I need it by my side or I forget to drink water. I splurged on an expensive computer chair and bought a secret lab one! Not a purchase I’ll ever regret for the most part! Thanks for sharing x
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thanks, Tiffany – I’ve been there with the temporary spaces being wherever you can make it that day! I hope once you’ve got a set up you can invest in some items to really make it yours and have all your essentials!
Interesting – I’m glad you hear you’ve got a setup that works well for you. I’m someone who can’t work in my bedroom it just doesn’t work – but I really admire those who can! Best wishes with a home office set up when you are able to.
Yes – I do love that I can have 2-3 different scents in one day with just switching out the water! I’m glad this post was helpful and informative! Thanks for reading.
Awesome – I’m glad it sparked some interest! It really is something I adore in my space and I hope if you give it a try you enjoy it as well 🙂
Wonderful to hear! I haven’t a clue where I would be without my tablet stand, it honestly was a life saver! I hope you enjoy diffusing essential oils in your office 🙂
YES 100%! thanks for reading this post 🙂
Thanks, Jamie – it really is such a handy office item and really saves your neck and back!
I often do both with having a mug and my water, it’s good to have both and ensure you’re taking sips throughout the day! Glad this post was helpful with that reminder.
Oh, I’m very jealous of your standing desk – I have a standing desk on my vision board for our next space when I have a larger office space for it! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this post – thanks for reading.
WOW, that’s one big water bottle! I’m glad it helps with keeping you hydrated and that you’ve got an office chair that works wonderfully for you! Thanks for reading and commenting Lynn.