Our work from home starter kit consists of a few basics to get you started on optimum ergonomics and productivity:
1.) Laptop/PC
The company I work with provides my laptop, and I have a separate PC for everything outside of work.
If you need to acquire your own computer, there are a million options to choose from. From a high level perspective, you can go with a personal computer (PC) or laptop. If I had to choose just one, I’d go with a laptop due to its portability. You can connect additional monitors to it when working from home as well. However, if you plan to stay glued to your desk, you can’t go wrong with a Mac Mini.
You’ll have to decide how much power you need, graphics capability, etc. to decide on what exact make and model to go with. I recommend checking for sales as there are always good deals to be had on powerful machines.
You’re typically better off going with a new computer to ensure you’re protected with a warranty, some product support, and hopefully a properly working machine.
2.) Desk
This one seems pretty obvious. We recommend a standard work/computer desk or an upgraded sit-stand desk – either of which will work as we piece together your ergonomic setup. I’m still using my old and trusty Ikea desk which has withstood multiple moves, and for 2026, I recently converted it to a floor desk.
I was able to custom build it in-store and went with the bamboo wood top, one set of drawers (that double as one side of legs), and two legs to support the other side. It measures 55″x25″, and I don’t recommend sizing down from there.
If money isn’t a barrier, check out these premium options by Jarvis.
3.) Chair
Another obvious choice. you’re going to need somewhere to sit. I picked up a used Autonomous chair off marketplace with adjustable arms, lumbar support, etc. Top end chairs like Herman Miller can run over $1,000. The Autonomous ErgoChair Pro can be found on sale for around $400 and served me well for years.
I have a Yogibo Short bean bag chair coming in the mail to try with my floor desk, and we’ll see if I commit to moving away from the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro.
4.) External Monitor
This one is job dependent. For me, an external monitor is a must-have. I’m bouncing between multiple tabs and documents throughout the workday, and this is tough to manage on just a laptop screen alone.
Elevating the laptop off my desk ensures I’m not hunched over and craning my neck all day as well.
If you’re running an external monitor, a nice addition is a monitor arm, but this isn’t required day one.
5.) External Peripherals (i.e., keyboard and mouse)
If you demand working off the laptop alone (and most likely maintaining poor posture by doing so), I recommend a mouse at the very least. I’d lose my mind using the trackpad alone. Get a Bluetooth one to minimize cables. I went with one that came with a Bluetooth dongle to not have to worry about software issues on the company laptop.
If you add an external monitor, I recommend adding an external keyboard as well. This beats staying hunched over the laptop typing all day. Raise your laptop and external monitor screens to the appropriate height to maximize ergonomics. Plus, you can get lost in the world of mechanical keyboards and build your own.
6.) Headset
Another job dependent item. Built-in laptop mics are typically poor quality and pick up a lot of background sound. I used a Platronics Voyager 5200 with the base for years before the battery life started to fade.
This model comes with a Bluetooth dongle (again, to not have to mess with software on the company computer), and the base doubles as a battery charger for the headset which is a lot more convenient than having to plug a wire in directly to the headset between calls (you can plug it in directly if your headset is about to die while on a call). The base opens up to store the dongle and headset which is nice while traveling.
The mic has built-in noise cancellation, and it’s nice to have the option to move around a bit while on calls.
Mine lasted around 5-6 years before I finally retired it. I’m now using a Jabra Evolve (I believe it’s the 65 model); it’s wireless and is a single-ear headset. While a bit larger than the Platronics Voyager, the battery lasts all week – a tradeoff that I’m more than agreeable to.
