If you’re working from home, chances are you may need to tweak or even create a whole new office setup. You don’t have to go all out and spend thousands to do this, but I say it’s always worth the money to make sure you’re comfortable while you work.
Here’s my current setup when I work from home:
The Logitech K480 keyboard might be older, but it’s a cheaper alternative to some of the other Mac-friendly wireless keyboards out there. I like that you can set it to pair with your PC, too, and it’s lightweight and small enough to move around easily.
But while I swear by this off-brand keyboard, I wasn't impressed by how "sticky" the sensor was on the off-brand wireless Mac mouse I tried. Using it was not a smooth ride, so I splurged on the Apple Magic Mouse instead. And hey, it works like a charm (except for the strangest charging design that basically renders the mouse unusable).
For my gaming setup, I’ve had my Razer BlackWidow keyboard and Razer Naga mouse since 2012. They’re holding up well, and I love the design on both. Of course, you can’t buy those same models today, but I’d be willing to bet the newer versions of both will still help you snag those skill shots.
And whether I’m using my Mac or PC, I absolutely love my gigantic mouse pad. I think these are a must-have because nothing is worse than snagging your mouse on the edge of your mouse pad.
I think my Sony headset is the perfect compromise between lightweight and functional. The ear cups are padded, so it’s comfy, and the band doesn’t squeeze my head. The audio quality is also pretty great for a low-cost headset.
When I need more than one tiny little MacBook pro screen for work, I use the USB-C hub to hook my little laptop up to one of my Acer gaming monitors.
I love the 27-inch display—it’s the perfect size to see everything coming when I’m in a raid or easily drag, drop, type, and research when I’m working. And the laptop stand makes sure I’m not angling my head down while I work, which is a huge ergonomic no-no.
I love my gaming chairs, and I recommend them often to my friends. They typically come with adjustable armrests as well as seats, and the more expensive ones add lumbar pillows and headrests too.
I'd say a chair is one area you want to splurge a little. I originally had a cheaper desk chair on this list, but upgraded to the Staples Hyken task chair because I needed support for my head, neck, and shoulders. The Staples Hyken offers a lot of ergonomic customizability for its cost, plus it's mesh back means you won't work up a sweat.
I also wanted to have the option to stand and work, but a full standing desk kit was way out of my budget. So I researched standing desk converters and found one by VIVO. It’s solid, easily adjustable to any height (up to almost 20 inches), and costs less than $150 (at least it did when I bought it).
And with two cats roaming my office, I knew I needed some cable management to hide those tantalizing cords. I grabbed a pack of reusable Velcro cable ties as well as the cable management box made by DMoose. The cable box is a lifesaver because it not only hides everything in an inconspicuous white compartment, but it doubles as a shelf too. Winning!