The Best Accessories for Working from Home Like a Pro, From Electric Desks to Planners
Let’s face it. Working from home has become part of the routine for many people, including those who’ve been accustomed to the 9-to-5 office life. If that’s the case, or you’re looking to spruce up your existing WFH space this summer, now’s a good time as any to upgrade your setup.
Whether you’re finding yourself regularly hunching over your laptop, getting distracted by desktop clutter or you just want a change of scenery, consider WFH essentials such as ergonomic standing desks, laptop stand, comfortable cushions and more. You can even incorporate some accessories to set the mood, help you focus and encourage productivity.
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Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the best work-from-home accessories for home workspaces and cubicles alike. From laptop risers and an under-desk elliptical to posture-correcting seat cushions and more, see our top picks below.
The Best Standing Desks and Converters
1. FlexiSpot Kana Bamboo Standing Desk
Whether you work long hours and need to move around or have back pain, standing desks are a game-changer. FlexiSpot offers a variety of sizes, styles and shapes, including an L-shaped standing desk. The brand’s Kana bamboo standing desk is a durable option made with a chemical-free bamboo desktop that has carbonized 2H lacquer coating that resists scratches, water and insects. It comes in rectangle or curved shapes to fit your body.
FlexiSpot Kana Bamboo Standing Desk
$350
2. Vari Electric Standing Desk
We’re fans of Vari’s spacious 60-by-30-inch electric sit-to-stand desk (also available in other sizes and table colors), which has four presets that make it easy for those who share a home office. The brand offers dual-monitor arms, monitor arm/laptop stand combos, power hubs, file cabinets that can double as extra seating and other matching furniture and accessories that make it easy to customize your workstation.
Buy: Vari Electric Standing Desk $795.00
3. TechOrbits Standing Desk Converter
If you’re looking to switch up your workstation, TechOrbits’ standing desk converter makes it easy to adjust your stance and alleviate shoulder and back pain that can be caused by sitting too long. This sit/stand desktop riser is 37 inches wide and features two tiers that can hold your laptop, keyboard, mouse, second monitor, speakers and other office accessories.
Buy: TechOrbits Standing Desk Converter $219.99
The Best Home Office Chairs
1. Autonomous ErgoChair Pro
Autonomous’ sleek products are used in the offices of Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Deloitte and other big-name companies across tech, business and beyond. The brand’s ErgoChair Pro is fully adjustable from the headrest and height to the arms, seat tilt and back. It reclines smoothly into five positions, and the woven mesh back has lumbar support to correct your posture. The office-friendly design includes a synchronized tilt so you can rest and stretch your back and legs easily.
Other features with health benefits include an adjustable tilt to help strengthen your core, contoured edges for improved circulation and a headrest that prevents neck strain, according to the company.
Autonomous ErgoChair Pro (reg. $549)
$449
2. Learniture Adjustable Height Active Learning Stool
Learniture’s adjustable height active learning stool utilizes your core’s strength and balance and gives you a low impact break from standing all day. The padded desk chair has a weighted base so you can use it on hard floors or carpeting, and offers wide range of motion while you sit. It encourages you to adjust your posture and helps increase your movement as your energy levels shift.
Buy: Learniture Adjustable Height Active Learning Stool $124.96
3. Flexispot Deskcise Pro Desk Bike Fitness Chair
We’ve found it easy to clock in some extra “deskercise” time in Flexispot’s desk bike chair, which has a comfy mesh backrest and adjustable seat. It’s available with or without casters, and we like the fact that it’s an all-in-one seat with an ergonomic design that’s comfy when you’re pedaling or sitting still.
Buy: Flexispot Deskcise Pro Desk Bike Chair $369.99
4. DeskCycle Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser
Want to move more while you work? Add DeskCycle’s compact bike pedal exerciser under your chair to squeeze in some cardio while you try to get to inbox zero. It can fit under desks measuring 27 inches high or taller. This under-desk elliptical has eight resistance settings and super-quiet pedals, plus the removable LCD display lets you monitor your time, speed, distance and calories.
Buy: DeskCycle Under Desk Bike Pedal Exerciser
The Best Seat Cushions
1. Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion Pillow
Everlasting Comfort’s best-selling memory foam seat cushion pillow gives you extra support at your chair via a pressure relief design that uses your own body heat to adapt to your curves while you sit. It fits all types of seating, including office and dining chairs and car seats. The memory foam is also slow rebounding and regains its shape after each use.
Buy: Everlasting Comfort Seat Cushion Pillow $49.95
2. C Cushion Lab Extra Dense Lumbar Pillow
Designed by a physical therapist, C Cushion Lab’s lumbar back pillow features the brand’s proprietary Hyperfoam, an extra-dense memory foam with dynamic rebounding for all-day comfort. The patented design “provides firm sectional lower, mid and upper mid-back support” while encouraging optimal posture, thus reducing strain on your back. It has a removable and washable cover and an adjustable strap that’s handy for traveling.
Buy: Cushion Lab Extra Dense Lumbar Pillow $65.99
The Best Headphones and Earbuds
1. Sony WH-1000XM5 Bluetooth Headphones
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones (also available in black) are perfect for audiophiles, frequent travelers and anyone who wants excellent automatic noise canceling (Auto NC) and sound for listening to music, making calls and other situations where you need to cut out distractions. Our go-to for noisy flights, these super comfortable wireless headphones also include a 3.5-millimeter cable for when you want to plug in (such as an airplane entertainment system), and they offer up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge.
The four beamforming microphones deliver crystal-clear voice pickup for phone and video calling, and we like the speak-to-chat mode (which automatically stops the music so you can hear ambient sound) and the intuitive touch control settings for the volume, activating Auto NC, voice assistants and more.
Buy: Sony WH-1000XM5 Bluetooth Headphones $398.00
2. AXS Audio Professional Wireless Earbuds
We recently tested AXS Audio’s professional earbuds, the company’s first foray into “hearables.” They were developed by a team of engineers led by legendary audio producer Rikki Farr (who was behind live concert audio for Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Tom Petty and other icons), and we found that the earbuds deliver studio- and live show-quality audio — which is exactly what you’d expect from something created by a music industry heavyweight.
We tested out the earbuds by listening to AXS Audio’s recommended playlist (which included Shawn Mendez’s “Señorita” featuring Camila Cabello, Mozart’s “Requiem in D Minor” featuring the UK Monteverdi Choir and Too $hort’s “The Ghetto”), and found that the devices packed in an incredibly rich range of sound regardless of the music genre. We could hear individual instruments, crisp vocals and bright arrangements as loud and clear as if we were sitting in a concert hall.
When it came to making calls, the dual microphones and electronic noise canceling automatically lowered the ambient background noise to make it easy to chat uninterrupted. The comfortable earbud tips that were designed with an expert audiologist. They are sweat and water resistant, and the battery lasts for about 10 hours before it needs a recharge. (The charging case offers up to 38 hours of battery life.) The icing on the cake? This reviewer has small ears that make it hard to find in-ear buds that are both snug and comfortable, and AXS’ devices have the best fit we’ve found so far.
Buy: AXS Audio Professional Wireless Earbuds $149.00
3. JLab Studio Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones
For a decidedly more budget-friendly WFH audio option, JLab’s Studio Bluetooth on-ear headphones are a great option. These under-$30 headphones have three listening modes (no app required), comfortable leatherette and cloud foam ear cushions and up to 30 hours of listening time. You can step as far as 30 feet away from your connected device without losing your sound, and there are also on-device buttons for those who prefer a more tactile control experience.
Buy: JLab Studio Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones $23.99
The Best Tech and Desk Accessories
1. Azio Retro Classic Bluetooth Keyboard
If stylish desk accessories help in banishing the Sunday Scaries, Azio’s cool Retro Classic Bluetooth keyboards will have you happily clickety-clacking through Monday morning emails. We like the old-school typewriter feel of the vintage backlit keys, which come in PC and Mac options. Get the matching wireless mouse (not to mention the rest of the Los Angeles-based brand’s chic accessories) for the full luxe home office experience.
Buy: Azio Retro Classic Bluetooth Keyboard $182.74
2. Panda Undated Hardcover Venture Planner
Whether you’re a pro at the Harvard-approved productivity hack of time-blocking or you’re just getting started optimizing your day, Panda Planner can help. We’re particularly partial to the entrepreneur-focused 5.25-by-8.25-inch hardcover Venture planner with undated quarterly, weekly and daily pages that include prompts for goals, gratitude, exercise, focus and renewal to encourage work-life balance.
Buy: Panda Planner Hardcover Venture Planner $13.97
3. Humancentric Laptop Riser
Help reduce neck strain and get your laptop at eye level with a laptop riser, like this one from Humancentric. One of the best work-from-home accessories for stylish desks, this stand also helps to eliminate that double-chin look whenever you turn on your camera for video chats. It has a natural and sleek aesthetic and holds laptops up to 16 inches, featuring a premium black walnut veneered plywood top with an anodized aluminum base.
Buy: Humancentric Laptop Riser $79.99
4. Levoit Core 400S Smart True HEPA Air Purifier
Allergies and poor air quality can distract you from getting your work done, and one way to address the issue is with an air purifier. Levoit’s best-selling Core 400S Smart True air purifier (an Amazon customer favorite that boasts a five-star rating) has a HEPA filter that removes up to 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns (such as pollen, dust and other allergens) and a 360-degree filtration system featuring activated carbon to remove odors and gases. The brand says that the device can clean the air of a 403-square-foot room about five times per hour, the automatic mode can sense and react to changes in the air quality.
You can use Levoit’s accompanying (and free) VeSync Link app to view air cleaning reports, set filter replacement notifications, program the machine to turn on or off at certain times and more. The air purifier is also compatible with voice assistants such as Alexa and Google.
Buy: Levoit Smart Air Purifier $289.99
5. Molekule Air Pro
For a luxury air purifier option, Molekule’s Air Pro (also available on Amazon) is designed for spaces up to 1,000 square feet and lets you track the air quality with the Molekule Air Score, which assesses your particle and chemical levels to score your indoor air in real-time. It also automatically adjusts the fan speed, and shows your air quality score as a color-based metric on the purifier’s screen and app so you can spot pollutant spikes and clean air trends. Some customers even use it as a white noise machine at night.
It’s a favorite in Hollywood, too, and has the approval of investors Maisie Williams and brand ambassadors Bobby Berk and Derek Hough. Molekule has also been seen in the homes of Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba, Hailey Bieber, Dakota Johnson, Jamie Chung, Kate Upton and others.
Molekule Air Pro Air Purifier
$1,000
6. Iron Forge Cable Management Box, 3-Pack
Keep those unsightly power strips and cables in check with Iron Forge Cable’s sleek organizer boxes, which come in a set of three in your choice of colorways (including black or white with wood-print lids).
Buy: Iron Forge Cable Management Box, 3-Pack $29.99
7. Amazon Adjustable Cell Phone Phone Stand
This adjustable cell phone stand is an affordable way to go hands-free from your home office so you can enjoy your games, videos and Facetime chats. The universal aluminum phone holder fits Android and iPhone models, plus it comes with a charging port. The top silicone pads and metal weighted anti-slip base protect your devices from scratches and sliding, so you can easily tap the screen without worrying the phone will tip over or fall off.
Buy: Adjustable Cell Phone Phone Stand $8.99
8. Grovemade Wood Laptop Stand
One of the most stylish laptop stands we’ve seen, Grovemade’s wood accessory brings style and comfort to your home office. Made in Portland, Oregon, this design features an angled, stable platform for improved ergonomics, a stainless steel stop lined with premium vegetable-tanned leather to secure your laptop, and room below for stowing your accessories. It comes in walnut or maple and is compatible with most laptop sizes, and supports up to 200 pounds.
Grovemade Wood Laptop Stand
$170
10. West Elm Appliance Cord Box
Keep your cords organized and out of the way with this appliance cord box from West Elm. It’s a stylish and functional addition to a home office or TV console area. The product is designed and created by South Florida-based Reds Wood Design, a husband- and wife-run home goods company handcrafting stylish and functional pieces for the kitchen and office. You can select medium or large sizes in either walnut or maple.
Reds Wood Design Appliance Cord Box
$300
