Last updated: January 22nd, 2026
The start of the year is the perfect time to update your home office with the best work-from-home furniture. Immediately after the pandemic, working from home has increased to 67%, and years later, in 2026, you are likely still WFH or working in a hybrid way.
Ensuring you have everything you need in your home office promotes:
- A productive working environment.
- Your comfort and well-being.
Below are our top 9 home office furniture essentials to ensure you enjoy your time at work.
(Related: Ultimate Home Office Setup Guide).
1. Height-Adjustable Desk.
A standing desk will promote your health by encouraging movement throughout your workday. It is a centrepiece of your home office. Be sure to:
- Choose one that is the correct size and has the features you need.
- Set it to a height where your monitor is at eye level and your wrists are parallel to the floor.
- Keep it clean and clutter-free (read our guide here).
You can build even more mobility into your workday by adding an under-desk treadmill to your setup.
(Related: Best WFH Freelancer Accounting Software).
2. Ergonomic Office Chair.
All chairs that you buy for your home office must be ergonomic friendly, as you’re likely to spend the next few years sitting in them for long periods.
The best ergonomic office chairs should have the following:
- Headrest: You can lean on this throughout the day.
- Backrest: Your home office chair should recline 110 degrees to reduce pressure on the spine.
- Lumbar support: The chair should curve to support your spine. Ensure you sit in the back (not the front of the chair).
- Swivel capacity: This will allow you to move about the workspace to reach for items quickly.
An ergonomic chair will work well with a height-adjustable table, as you can position both heights to your comfort level.
(Related: Secretlab Magnus Pro Standing Desk Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly).
3. Filing Cabinets.
Boring, I know. But because you’re setting up your office in your home, you need to make best use of available space.
Filing cabinets allow you to store small items, gadgets and – of course – business documents. Several styles are available, and my favourite is available via Everdesk (as an optional extra with their standing desks).
I suggest you choose one with:
- Multiple drawers: To prevent papers from piling up in one compartment.
- Labels for drawers: To better organise by theme, year, or otherwise.
- Draw dividers: To split your files into smaller segments – for example, by month and year.
Important!
Make sure that your cabinet is lockable, so that you can use it for storing sensitive or confidential items.
4. Desk Organiser.
A desk organiser (and/or a monitor riser) will allow you to keep your table accessible and clean.
Science has shown that adopting a minimalist outlook on your space can increase your mental clarity plus allow you to focus.
Expert Tip!
Clutter around the table will not only cause distraction but can also limit the working space available. Make it a habit to do a weekly de-clutter of your desk.
There are several types of desk organisers:
- Item specific: For example, stationary or tech organisers.
- All-in-one desk organiser: This is suitable for large desks needing a quick fix.
- Generic organisers: These are our favourites. You can buy tubs and trays from Ikea or Howard’s Storage to place in your drawers.
A desk organiser makes it easier to manage your workspace. Moreover, it allows quick and easy access to your necessities.
5. Small Sofa.
A sofa may often be dismissed from work-from-home furniture, but it is essential for well-being.
You may also have visitors who require somewhere comfortable to sit.
I recommend:
- A sofa that can accommodate up to three people.
- One that matches the aesthetic of your office – no vibrant colours or loud prints (unless, of course, that is your style).
- Placing the sofa across from your desk so you can speak to guests without having to join them on the sofa.
Important!
It’s essential to provide yourself with ‘break-zones’ that encourage you to step away from your desk. When you need a break, you can read or recline on the sofa.
6. Coffee And Tea Station.
Unlike a morning commute to the office, you might not be spoilt for choice with cafes nearby to grab a morning brew.
You can save money (in the long run) by investing in the following:
- Great home coffee machine or percolator.
- Coffee beans and tea blends.
- Espresso mugs.
If you have room in your home office, you can place this on a bench near your desk – on a lovely tray with clean mugs, sugar, and spoons.
Expert Tip.
It’s when you want to offer your business guests tea or coffee on arrival, but don’t want them to enter the central area of your house.
7. Printer And Paper Shredder.
Working from home, you will want to dispose of confidential and private papers effectively.
You should set up a specific space for a printer and paper shredder side by side so they do not clutter your desk. You can recycle this paper in your household bin.
(Related: What Is The Best Standing Desk In Australia?)
8. Whiteboard.
A whiteboard is a great way to visualise, plan and mind-map strategies, especially with team members.
Whiteboards also:
- Allow for collaborative brainstorming and planning.
- Allow you to attach notes (magnetic whiteboards).
- Provide a larger space to manage information.
- Are easy and quick to clean.
9. Wellbeing Items.
Let’s not overlook the importance of the space being comfortable and positive.
For well-being, you should include the following:
- Art: Prints or inspiring framed photographs can help boost your motivation.
- Feature lighting: This can improve the space’s ambience and tailor the environment to your needs at different times of the day. Explore our lighting guide here.
- Aromatherapy: An oil diffuser or candle can increase productivity and reduce stress.
- Rug: A comfy rug will soften hard floors and improve sound acoustics in the space.
- Plants: These make the space look relaxing and inviting and can increase focus and positivity.
- Under-the-desk treadmill: Increasing your steps whilst working from home should be a priority.
Bottom Line About Essential Work From Home Furniture.
You must create a comfortable and productive workspace for a home office.
- One way to do this is by considering ergonomics when choosing furniture to support your body.
- Another way is to style the space, so you feel optimistic about being in it.
Practical work-from-home furniture should also support your posture and help prevent injuries, whilst investing in quality furnishings will help you get the most out of your workspace.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven
Goce says:
Do you have a list of best non standing desks? I never stand so I don’t see a reason to spend extra on electric motors etc.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! That’s the best question so far. I don’t – do you think people want a guide on this?