Search "home office essentials" and you'll be handed a list of forty products. Real essentials are far fewer — most of a good workspace is a handful of right choices, not a full shopping cart. Here's the honest checklist, sorted by how much it actually matters.

The non-negotiables

  • A desk at the right depth. Around 60–80 cm deep so your screen sits an arm's length away. Depth matters far more than price.
  • A supportive chair. Adjustable height, lower-back support, a seat edge that doesn't dig in. The one thing worth spending on.
  • Your screen at eye level, with an external keyboard and mouse if you're on a laptop — see monitor height and distance.
  • Reliable internet — ideally a wired connection or a router within range.
  • Good light. Daylight from the side, plus one warm lamp for the evening (our lighting guide).

That's genuinely it for the essentials. Everything below is comfort and polish.

Comfort & health

  • A laptop stand to lift the screen — the cheapest big ergonomic upgrade there is.
  • A footrest (or a sturdy box) if your feet don't sit flat.
  • Headphones with a mic for clear calls and focus.
  • A way to move — a desk riser or simply a reminder to stand, as we cover in are standing desks worth it.
Buy used first

A solid desk and a real ergonomic chair from the second-hand market often cost less than flimsy new ones — and last far longer. See our budget home office guide.

On the desk

Keep the surface to what you touch daily: a mat to define the edge, one notebook and pen, and one personal object or plant. Give chargers and clutter a home in a drawer, and route the cables once — the method is in our cable management guide. A clear desk is an essential in its own right.

What you can skip

  • Most "productivity gadgets." The gimmick drawer fills fast and helps little.
  • A ring light, unless you're on camera all day — a window in front of you is free and better.
  • A second monitor, if you mostly work full-screen in one app. Add it only when you're constantly switching windows.
  • Matching furniture sets. One good desk and one good chair beat a coordinated cheap suite.

The order to buy in

  1. Chair — spend here first.
  2. Screen at eye level — stand plus keyboard.
  3. Desk — right depth, second-hand is fine.
  4. Light — reposition for daylight, add one warm lamp.
  5. The small stuff — mat, notebook, one plant, and stop.

Nail the five non-negotiables and a home office is comfortable, healthy and calm for surprisingly little. Everything else is optional — which is exactly why it belongs at the bottom of the list, not the top. For the full method, see how to design a home office you actually want to sit in.

Frequently asked questions

What are the essentials for a home office?

A desk at the right depth, a supportive chair, your screen raised to eye level with an external keyboard and mouse, reliable internet, and good light. Everything else — a mat, a notebook, headphones, one plant — is a nice-to-have, not a requirement.

What should I buy first for a home office?

The chair. It's the one thing touching you for hours every day, so a good, ideally second-hand ergonomic chair does more for comfort and health than anything else. After that, spend on getting your screen to eye level.

Do I need expensive equipment to work from home?

No. Beyond a decent chair and a reliable laptop or computer, most of a good home office is cheap or second-hand: a solid desk, a laptop stand and keyboard, a warm lamp, and tidy cables. Spend where your body meets the setup and save on the rest.