My Work from Home Desk Setup

We’ve all seen the absolutely magnificent and beautiful home offices on Pinterest and Instagram. They are IMMACULATE. DIVINE. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. AND I LOVE THEM! BUT, I would also be terrified to work in those spaces for fear of ruining them 😂; I much prefer a more realistic home office. (And again, nothing against the perfect home offices; if I didn’t have kids and a dog, or ADHD, or if I knew I could keep it perfect, I would 100% have it LOL.)

On the very rare occasion I get to work remotely (my company hates remote work, but that’s another post for another day 🙄) I have a pretty nice setup at home. During lockdown when we had no choice but to work from home, my husband (H) and I didn’t have a home office to work from, so we generally worked from our laptops on the couch or the dining room table. I was then moved to hybrid the minute NYC allowed private offices to reopen (meaning not NYC government buildings), but still working from a laptop when I was home. After we had a fire in our home, we were working from our hotel rooms, and thereafter a trailer in our backyard. H was then sent home his computer from work since he was on a more permanent remote basis, while I was slowly becoming more and more in office.

As renovations post fire on our home began, we decided to turn what was originally our first floor play room into a multi use office/piano room/play area that the whole family would be able to use. We would now have a dedicated office space to go with the evolving work culture (even though *one* of our employers refuses to acknowledge this change to this day.)

Below is my dedicated work space, and it works out pretty well for me!
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Originally I was still using my laptop, but since I deal with numbers all day, I had decided to purchase an all in one computer with a larger monitor to reduce eye strain. The larger monitor also meant I didn’t have to worry about purchasing a secondary monitor to use in conjunction with my laptop. Though the laptop is still very useful on days I don’t feel like powering up the desktop, or if I’m not feeling too great and I want to work from the couch or in bed.

HP 24-inch All-in-One Touchscreen Desktop Computer

I got this computer stand to bring the monitor more to my eye level. The little shelf inside also helps with keeping things a bit more organized, and I also like that I can tuck away my keyboard and wrist support when I’m not using my computer.

Monitor Stand Riser

My computer did come with a keyboard and mouse, but I much prefer wireless! The bluetooth keyboard and mouse connect seamlessly and last for a very long time before you need to recharge, and bonus: you can use WHILE charging if you need to! The one I currently use are currently unavailable (https://amzn.to/3G7UaIE) but here’s one that’s comparable:

Wireless Keyboard Mouse Combo

H and I love our white furniture, and people think we’re nuts since we have two boys (and a dog), but to help keep my white desk clean I got this white desk mat. I figure it’s easier to replace a desk mat than to replace a whole desk!

Leather Desk Pad Protector

I can’t stress this enough — support your wrists!

Ergonomic Mouse Pad Wrist Support and Keyboard Wrist Rest

And here is a pencil holder that does a pretty good job at matching the above wrist supports🙂

WAVEYU Pink Pen Holder for Desk

Not visible in the picture because I keep them hung up behind my computer on a 3M hook (organization hack!), but I have these headphones with a mic. These are great to block out sound when H is on meetings, or to listen to music to get through my day!

AILIHEN C8 Headphones with Microphone and Volume Control Folding Lightweight Headset

With all my Pops, bits and bobs, and accessories, I was having trouble keeping my desk organized. It doesn’t help that random school papers and tests find their way to my desk as well (mom life, after all). So, I searched Amazon for small shelving and found these stackable shelves that are actually for the kitchen, but ended up fitting my desk perfectly!

SONGMICS Cabinet Shelf Organizers

Well, it’s no secret I’m a millennial, so naturally I love my rose gold accessories (and white furniture…) and found this really pretty set that includes a stapler, staple remover, staples, tape dispenser, diamond ballpoint pen, and binder clips

KIDMEN Rosegold Desk Accessory Kit

When we moved back into our home after the fire, one of my close friends gifted me with an essential oil diffuser to replace ones that I had lost (and got it to match our new dark hardwood floors🙂) but here is a comparable one

Aromatherapy Diffusers with Auto Shut-Off Function

I like to keep my phone on a stand; I’m constantly getting messages and calls throughout the day, so it helps to keep it upright versus having to always pick it up. This is the phone stand I use, and the one below is an adjustable one that H uses (I may end up purchasing the one that he has as well because I like being able to adjust the angle!)

CreaDream Cell Phone Stand Adjustable Cell Phone Stand

When discussing our new multiuse room, we knew we wanted our desks to be side by side in order to maximize space in the room (and be able to sit next to each other🙂) We also didn’t want your typical mesh computer chairs, not that there’s anything wrong with them. But since you see the office area pretty much as soon as you walk into the house, we wanted chairs that were more aesthetically pleasing, so we found these upholstered swivel desk chairs. Our original writing desks were from Target, but I found comparable ones on Amazon (and ones that were on my shortlist for the house)

Linon Desk Art Leon Mid-Century Modern Swivel Accent Chair

I personally like keeping my feet up when I’m working, so I found this cushioned foot support for under my desk

Foot Rest for Under Desk at Work

I am OBSESSED with pineapples, and look to add some pineapple flair anywhere I can. Bless H for letting me add pineapples anywhere I can LOL. I have a pineapple lamp on my desk in the office, as well as one in my bedroom. They come in a bunch of colors, but we have the gray ones. I feel like they add a cute touch without being too ridiculous

JONATHAN Y JYL4019B Pineapple 23″ Ceramic LED Table Lamp

I already suffer from chronic headaches and migraines, and do what I can to keep them at bay, including wearing blue light glasses. I feel like they help, especially when I’m staring at numbers on a screen for 8 hours a day

TIJN Blue Light Blocking Glasses

I just love highlighters, whether they’re for my planner that I try to, but barely use, or for work. And these are just adorable and pastel (vs super neon)

TWOHANDS Highlighter

And of course I have my bits and pops from all my fandoms across my desk and shelves, but that’s what makes my desk mine and personal. I really do love when I get to work from home; not just because I don’t have to worry about a 2 hour commute each way, but because I’m more relaxed and surrounded by stuff that I love (and I get to see my family for a lot more time in the day!)

Do you have the option to work from home, whether full time or in a hybrid posture? If so, do you have a dedicated work space, or just kind of work from where you can? Let me know in the comments!

-VC