Get More Done With the 20 Best Home Office Accessories for 2020

With a large portion of the workforce going remote due to COVID-19, many have had to carve out workspaces wherever they can—in closets, kitchens, patios, and family rooms. This unusual situation means that some of the best home office accessories this year are those that can do double duty or are convertible space savers. Other trends include accessories that can promote mental peace and calm by creating a Zen-like environment using minimalist decor. Plus, you may even be able to write these off your taxes as business expenses at the end of the year. Below are the top 20 best home office accessories designed to make your work at home life easier in 2020.  

1. A Comfortable Chair

Anyone spending significant time in their home office chair will tell you that comfort and durability come first. Having said that, it’s great when you can find a chair that is both fashionable and comfortable. And at a price that doesn’t break the bank.

The Mecor office chair meets all these criteria. Comfort features include ergonomic support, breathable mesh back, lumbar support, and generous padding. The simple, clean design fits with the current minimalist trend in office decor but it’s not boring coming in five bold colors. But the best part of all may be the price!

Mecor Small Office Chair, $65.99 with free shipping

2. Get a Cozy Throw for the Cooler Weather

Nothing adds to the cozy factor more than a soft, comfortable throw. Add flair to your home office with this classic sweater-inspired design from Pottery Barn. Available in three classic fall colors, Bluma Chunky Knit throws are one of the best home office accessories to keep you warm. Finished with long tassels at each corner, this stylish throw is guaranteed to give your office that Scandinavian ‘Hygge’ feeling.

Bluma Chunky Knit Throw, $119

3. Fold it Away at the End of the Day

A great option for sneaking a practical workspace into a living area or dining room is the SEI Furniture Fold Out Convertible Desk. This wall-mounted solution folds up neatly into a wall panel only 6 inches deep when not in use. But when open, it reveals a wall organizer complete with shelves and cubbies and 2- x 3-foot workspace. This practical desk makes our list of best home office accessories for 2020 as a budget-friendly solution for tight spaces.

SEI Furniture Fold Out Convertible Desk, $157.85 on Amazon

4. Treat Yourself to a Personal Assistant

Ok, maybe you can’t afford a full-time human assistant, but you can probably afford Alexa. A good budget-friendly electronic assistant option is the new Echo Dot with clock. This version of the popular Echo Dot has an LED display that can show the time, outdoor temperature, or timers. Get notified of upcoming appointments, reminded of your to-do list, play music, get the news, call almost anyone, and control compatible smart home devices.

Echo Dot with Clock, $54.99

5. Take a Load Off

We have all heard of the dangers associated with sitting too much such as heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers. As a result, many are switching to a standing desk format. However, too much of a good thing can be tiring, so one of the best home office accessories this year include the Wobble Stool standing desk chair. This compact adjustable active sitting chair allows you to perch easily, get up quickly, and rock, swivel, and move around to burn more calories. This ergonomic, functional, and durable stool will help you feel healthier and more productive when working from home.

Wobble Stool standing desk chair, $99.99

6. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

If you’re looking for a stand-up desk that will store all your office equipment, files, and supplies and then roll away when you’re not using it, you’re in luck! Turns out, there is exactly that in the PRC Laptop Caddy. It may not be much to look at it, but what it lacks in style it more than makes up for in functionality. The utilitarian design features a cupboard with three shelves, an open shelf, an adjustable laptop tray and writing area, all on sturdy wheels. Small enough to tuck away in a closet when you’re not working.

PRC Laptop Caddy, $252.65

7. Be Soothed by the Sounds of a Desktop Fountain

There are few sounds as soothing as the sound of flowing water. Bring these peaceful sounds into your home office with this five-tier cascading bowl fountain designed for a tabletop. This sturdy and lightweight fountain comes with a submersible pump and light. Allow the trickling water to keep you relaxed by transporting you into the peace and beauty of nature.

5-Tier Cascading Bowl Fountain, $40.99 from Wayfair

8. Displaying a Professional Background

Just because you’re working remotely doesn’t mean you don’t need to meet. However, professionalism in your video conferences can be challenging when our backgrounds at home are less than ideal. A green screen is a savior in these situations. However, green screens not only take up space, they can be expensive too. Thankfully, there is a simple, budget-friendly fix! The Collapsible Green Screen Background folds up neatly when not in use and attaches to the back of your chair when you need it. Work from anywhere you want with a perfect background for Zoom GoToMeeting, WebEx, Youtube Videos, and Skype meetings.

Collapsible Green Screen Background tor Chair, $39.95

9. Get Some Light on Your Face

Another issue with those pesky video conferences is lighting. Finding a lighting solution that illuminates your face evenly so you don’t look like Count Dracula can be difficult using a makeshift solution. Luckily, social media influencers and bloggers have paved the way, and businesses have come up with a variety of portable studio lighting solutions. The U-Stream Home Streaming Studio can be set up for use with a laptop or desktop camera as well as for smartphone use.

The U-Stream Home Streaming Studio with 10″ Ring Light & Tripod, $49.95

10. Get a Clearer Picture

Of course, a great background and professional-style lighting are of no use if your picture is blurry or pixelated. Relying on your desktop camera can quickly become frustrating, so one of the best home office accessories for 2020 is definitely a good quality webcam. Fortunately, camera technology has come a long way and a good quality webcam with a bargain price is the Logitech C930e. Its sophisticated technology provides clear video and sound with 1080p resolution, H.264 video compression, and a wide 90-degree field of view.

Logitech C930e HD Video Webcam, $147.95 from Amazon

11. Smell Your Way to Relaxation

Essential oil diffusers are the newest trend for scenting your environment. They disperse scented oils in a fine mist that is credited with a variety of benefits including softening winter-chapped skin, helping you to breathe better, and reducing feelings of anxiety in addition to freshening up a room. The InnoGear Diffuser with essential oils is a highly-rated and attractive aromatherapy diffuser that comes complete with a starter set of eight essential oils including tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, sweet orange, rosemary and frankincense.

InnoGear Diffuser with Essential Oils, $34.99

12. Is it a Desk? Is it a Bed? It’s a Desk Bed Combo!

For anyone working from home that is relegated to the guest room, or even worse, your bedroom, a Sasheer Murphy Bed could be the solution. This ingenious piece of furniture instantly transforms from a queen bedroom suite into a fully functional office workspace. The beauty of the work surface is that it maintains orientation when the bed is being opened or closed so you don’t have to clear anything off the desk. It’s not cheap, but as a space-saver, it’s priceless.

Sasheer Murphy Bed, $5,099.99 on Wayfair

13. Get Your Steps While You’re Working

If your treadmill has been taking up valuable real estate while gathering dust, here is the solution. The Stylezone Treadmill Laptop Computer Desk. Made of transparent acrylic, this 34- x 14.5-inch laptop desk straps on easily to your treadmill arms allowing you to work on your computer while walking on the treadmill. Now you have no excuse not to get those 10,000 steps in!

Stylezone Treadmill Laptop Computer Desk, $99.99 on Amazon

14. Take Your Exercise Under the Table

If you find you lack the coordination to walk on the treadmill while working, or just don’t have a treadmill handy, never fear! There is a solution! Check out the Cubii Jr. Adjustable Under-Desk Elliptical. The ultra-quiet operation and ergonomic design help improve your posture and strengthen your core, leg muscles, and hip flexors while you work away at your desk. You can check your progress via a digital display and adjust the resistance to suit your needs.

Cubii Jr. Adjustable Under-Desk Elliptical, $249.99

15. Relax Your Mind with a Unique Desk Toy

There are endless varieties of handheld stress relief toys from squishable stress balls to spinners. But you’ve probably never seen anything like this. Channel your creativity and relieve stress with Speks Magnetic Desk Toys. These are 2.5mm magnetic balls made from rare earth magnets that come in packs of 512 or 1000 balls and your choice of 21 different colors. You can fiddle and build a multitude of shapes with these oddly satisfying little balls to your heart’s content while your worries melt away.

Speks Magnetic Desk Toys, start at $24.95

16. Not Your Dad’s Old Filing Cabinet

Just because everyone needs a filing cabinet, doesn’t mean it has to be the same ugly metal one that your parents used. Check out this modern, minimal design that locks and rolls for easy convenience. Not only that, its powder-coated steel construction comes in a full range of colors to match your décor.

3-Drawer File Cabinet, $269

17. Get Creative in Your Zen Garden

One way to clear your mind and creative thoughts to flourish is to spend some time in a Zen Garden. If you don’t have a full size one near you, you can improvise with your own Panda Zen Garden. This whimsical desktop version doesn’t take up much space at 5.25 inches square and comes with pebbles, gemstones, and shells. Exercise your creativity by arranging the items anyway you wish or clear your mind by raking the sand.

Desktop Panda Zen Garden, $23.00 from Esty

18. Vertical Storage Saves Space

High style and ultimate functionality meet in the Silo wall storage unit by Dorothee Becker. Featuring a variety of storage pockets, hooks, and clips, this versatile piece keeps your supplies handy but in their place. Taking up only 2.5 inches in depth, the Silo in two sizes for added functionality.

Uten.Silo, $525.00

19. A Low-Tech Way to Guard Your Identity Against Identity Thieves

Before tossing old prescription bottles, bills, and credit card offers, quickly protect your private information with this convenient roll on stamp. The stamp leaves a unique pattern designed to hide the text underneath using a special ink formulated to work on most coated surfaces. Each kit contains 3 roller stamps which are each good for about 1,000 uses.

Guard Your ID Advanced 2.0 Roller 3-Pack, $25.99

20. Silence is Golden

One of the biggest problems new remote workers report is difficulty focusing due to multiple distractions. An easy way to limit your distractions is to put on a pair of good quality noise-cancelling headphones. While top-of-the-line models can get pricey, peace-of-mind is priceless. Currently, Sony’s WH-1000XM4 wireless, noise-canceling headphones are the best in the market, recently overtaking the Bose headphones. If price is an issue, you can shop around for last year’s model, the Sony WH-1000XM3, for a $100 price break.

Sony WH-1000XM4, $349.99

Whether you’re aiming to modernize, upgrade, or improve the look and functionality of your office, these are the best home accessories to consider. And although it may require some upfront costs, the return in productivity and efficiency is well worth the investment.

What are some of the best home accessories that you can’t live without? Connect with Virtual Vocations on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube to share your advice. We’d love to hear from you!

Images via Canva