Whether you just started freelancing or you ended up having to move your office home (for the foreseeable future), one of the greatest challenges is to set up a home office that allows you to be productive and comfortable when you work from home.

The good news is that you really don’t need a lot of space to create your own home office. Basically, all you need is a table, chair, and some pieces of tech.

I’ve been freelancing since I was in university (1999), so I’ve always worked some from home. But I’ve switched to fulltime freelancing in August 2005. My home office most often meant a desk or a coffee table. For a short while, it was the top of my bed (I still regret that decision after having fried my laptop).

With that being said, let’s take a look at the gadgets I use and recommended to have if you work from home.

Work from home: the essentials

A wireless mouse & keyboard

I am sure you love writing on your laptop’s keyboard but trust me on this one: it will wear out easily. And I have yet to meet someone who can work using the trackpad no matter how good it is.

And yes, there were times when I used my laptop’s keyboard a lot and only for the past five years, I’ve also started using an external keyboard. I’ve always used a mouse.

Somehow, I ended up buying a Logitech combo again. Such as this one. I need a keypad because I work with numbers a lot, and I also need a small mouse to fit my small hands. Since I write a lot, the keyboard has to be ergonomic, too.

Laptop stand

Especially if you don’t have a desk and use the laptop on a coffee table, for example, it’s crucial to have a laptop stand. It will allow you to adjust its position and the laptop won’t overheat.

This laptop stand is cheap and compact enough.

Laptop cooling pad

If you have a desk or use the dining room/kitchen table, you won’t necessarily need a stand, but you will certainly need a cooling pad. I’ve only started using these about 9 years ago.

They come in many shapes and sizes but I go for those are not noisy, allow for good air circulation and are not very bulky. I’m known to pack it up and carry it with me when I work from elsewhere.

This cooling pad is similar to the one I use now (although mine only has two large fans).

Mouse pad

And yes, I’m very serious. You will need a mouse pad and any other improvisation won’t make a for very effective use of the mouse.

Mouse pads are cheap and you can even wash them! For a touch of color, why not go for a mandala mouse pad ?

Headphones

You will need headphones for all those work calls.

I always have at least two pairs of them that work, one over the ear, one in-ear. It’s a matter of personal preference but, for example, when I edit videos, I prefer to over-the-ears bluetooth one whereas when I am in calls, I go for my other pair (in-ear, wired).

When I did customer service, I had a fancy pair of USB over-the-ear ones complete with a microphone.

In general, you should look into noise-cancellation ones, whether they are wired or bluetooth. Such as this pair .

Work from home: nice additions to have

External monitor

A secondary monitor will make you very productive, especially if you are already used to one from the (regular) office.

Those of us who work with numbers know how much it helps to just have those huge spreadsheets out of the main working area.

Plus, you don’t really need to invest in a 4k monitor, especially if your laptop already has one (so you can do all the video and photo editing on the laptop’s main screen).

For the past 10 years, I’ve used a Samsung monitor but I am in the market for an Asus one (like this one).

USB laptop lamp

I’ve been looking for an USB laptop lamp for a while since I wanted to avoid switching on the lights in the room when I worked in the evening. I managed to find one I really like (and it was cheap, too).

You want to get one that can also be powered via an adaptor because it certainly doubles as a reading lamp. Such as this one.

USB hub

My Asus Zenbook came with one normal USB and one type C. Suffice to say, the first thing I did was to get a USB hub. There are many of them on the market and you need to make sure you get the right kind (I got one to plug into to type C and now I have 4 additional normal USB ports). And you also need to make sure it is suitable for your device.

This one works on all devices and gives you 4 additional USD ports.

Bluetooth desktop speakers

Let’s be honest here: we listen to music when we work and watch movies after work. A good bluetooth speaker comes in handy and I will always recommend JBL.

They have a wide range of speakers, for every budget. Even this small, portable waterproof one will be more than enough.

Portable hard drive

You may be backing up work in the cloud, but you’d also want to keep a “hard” copy. And while your laptop may not have enough space, a portable hard drive will save you of all the headaches.

There are many brands out there and each has its advantages and disadvantages. I’d go for an SSD although they tend to be pricier than regular hard drives.

This one from Samsung comes with 500GB.

Work from home: laptop, desk, and chair

Laptop

If you’ve just started as a freelancer, you may already have a laptop you use. But you may also be in the market for a new one. Technology still changes pretty fast and you will need to keep in mind what you will be using your laptop for.

Back in 2006, I got my first laptop, an HP Compaq I still have (but obviously I cannot use for work anymore). Then I used a Nec (which was second-hand, as my significant other gave it to me when I managed to fry the HP) and after that, I got a Lenovo (which I still believe was the biggest mistake of my life). That Lenovo managed to fry its motherboard after a year so I switched to my current laptop, an Asus Zenbook.

I got it in February 2017 and I can still do video and photo editing on it (8 GB RAM and 500 SSD). It’s brilliant for creating and using any MS Office document and also for web stuff (think WordPress, Google Drive, Canva).

Plus, it is lightweight and the battery lasts for very long. I’ve DJ-ed for 3-4 hour and I didn’t need to plug it in and it barely used any power. With external mouse and keyboard plus wi-fi from my cell, it lasted for more than 4 hours, too.

This Asus Zenbook is really affordable right now.

Desk and chair

Yes, you can use your coffee table, kitchen or dining room table as a desk, no doubt about that. But if you have a bit of space in a corner, it will be easier to just get a small desk for your needs.

There are many models out there and, of course, it depends a lot on the space you have. Here’s one suggestion .

As for the chair, I can assure you that any chair that is not an office chair will make for some really uncomfortable hours for your behind (and your back). I should know since I have used a bean bag among other things as an “office chair”.

If you have to choose between a desk and chair, get the chair! They also come in many shapes and sizes, but it’s most important that you are comfortable in it. Here is a good option for an office chair. Oh, and by the way, using a stability ballis not a bad idea, either.

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