13 Essential Work from Home Tools for Designers to Setup Home Office

The one thing that this year-long pandemic has taught us is to be ready for work even if you’re at home in your PJs (that we mostly are).

And creative beings are never off duty EVER whether it’s a pandemic or regular days. So, the need to stay prepared with a home office is unavoidable.

Wait! Do you have a home office?

Well, you should if you don’t already have remote working tool setup in one of the corners of your bedroom.

Being a creative person, I remember how frustrated I felt during the first few months when the world went into lockdowns. Then, I started to gather the work from home tools that helped me a lot in maintaining the office-like feel inside my bedroom where I can easily manage my work affairs.

And today I’d like to share this handy list that you must read and set up your home office with the correct remote workers toolkit.

Keep reading fellas!

Remote Workers Toolkit Recommended for Designers

You might have seen various embarrassing work from home fails where someone dozes off during a zoom conference or an unexpected entry of the cats. If you don’t want to experience such an awful situation, let’s start by discussing some key work from home tools for designers and developers who have to stay in front of their laptop screen most of the time during the day.

And I’ve handpicked each remote worker’s toolkit recommendation to suggest you a perfect addition that makes your home office complete.

Laptops

Apple MacBook Air

First in the list of work from home tools is undoubtedly the Apple MacBook Air that is a must-have for all designers.

Since you’re going to continue your professional matters from your home office, don’t forget to make Apple MacBook Air your trusted partner. It offers you a 512GB SSD storage space along with 8GB RAM (considered faster in graphic design industry), and a powerful M1 Chip processor that offers you fastest processing speed.

Plus, it’s the 13″ screen that convinces every graphic designer to own an Apple MacBook Air for keep up with their creative projects.

Learn More

Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop

And if, by any chance, you want a bigger screen with better picture quality in your work from home tools, consider Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop!

It offers you an even bigger screen size (15.6″ to be exact) with the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H Processor that makes your surfing and editing ventures flawless and obstruction-free. The Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM and (similar to MacBook Air) 512 SSD storage space.

Also, it has the Nvidia GTX 1660Ti graphics card that makes your visuals crystal clear and Hi-Res especially when you’re working on a video project.

Learn More

HP Envy X360 Business 2 in 1 Laptop

And if you’re a little short on the budget but still want to have a bigger screen laptop, consider having the HP Envy X360 Business 2-in-1 Laptop!

It comes with a decent 256GB PCIe SSD (sorry, you have to compromise on storage space), and AMD Hexa-Core Ryzen 5 4500U (Beats i7-8550U) processor. This combo allows you to work on a faster pace in presence of an AMD Radeon Graphics card that makes your picture quality fantastic.

Plus, it’s the 15.6″ FHD IPS touchscreen that caught my attention and I added it to the best work from home tools to suggest to you.

Learn More

Also check: Top 15 Graphic Design Laptops That You Should Buy In 2021

Webcams

ASUS Webcam C3 1080p HD USB Camera

Staying at home doesn’t mean that there won’t be any official interactions, in fact all companies conduct 3 online meetings in a week ever since the world has gone undercover (pun intended).

So, I suggest you own an ASUS Webcam C3 1080p HD USB Camera for completing your work from home toolkit. This offers you a wider, 1080p picture ratio that maintains your professional looks amongst your coworkers. Plus, the sharp FHD picture quality eliminates the pixelated, embarrassing video experience.

Plus, you get a 90-degree tilting option with easy adjustment on your laptop or monitor screen which makes ASUS Webcam C3 1080p HD USB Camera an ideal option as a remote workers toolkit choice.

Learn More

Aluratek HD 1080P Video Webcam

Or…I’ve another webcam suggestion for adding in your work from home tool list in the shape of Aluratek HD 1080P Video Webcam!

The clipper makes it easily adjustable on any surface and it supports a multitude of programs which offers you a smooth work from home experience especially when you attend online meetings often

Along with offering you a Full HD picture quality, it offers you 30 fps and 2.0 mega pixels with auto low light correction which is an amazing feature to have. Apart from attending meetings, you can also use Aluratek HD 1080P Video Webcam for creating HD streaming videos for various platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.

Learn More

Microphones

HyperX QuadCast Gaming Microphone

Whether you want to be heard without missing a word or if you’re thinking of working on your personal branding as a graphic designer, having a fantastic microphone is another wise addition to your work from home tools.

So, I present to you the HyperX QuadCast Gaming Microphone that gives you full vocal control and a freedom to customize your audio as you want.

It has four selectable polar patterns along with a mount adapter and a convenient gain control adjustment. With such ideal features, you can personalize your studio exactly how you want to sound whether in a meeting or when recording your podcast.

Learn More

Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Podcasting Microphone

If not HyperX QuadCast Gaming Microphone, you may also consider having Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Podcasting Microphone as your trusted microphone when you prefer to work from home.

Offering you an XLR connector with a unidirectional polar pattern, it is a nice entry level microphone that you can use for zoom calls or for other semi-professional activities. Its size perfectly goes with the 937 grams weight that makes it an ideal option for a microphone that can be easily adjusted on your work desk.

Learn More

Laptop Stands

Seville Classics airLIFT

Alright, if you don’t want to have a full office setup and seek a mixed work from home approach, just get a laptop stand that can fit everything in it.

For example, I suggest you check out the Seville Classics airLIFT that comes with a 30″ wide surface plus it offers you a mobile/tablet holder, too. You can pretty much use it anywhere from the couch to your bed or even when sitting on the ground.

It comes with a shelf that contains your keyboard and mouse along with a stable, long stand to adjust the height.

Learn More

Steklo Laptop Stand Adjustable Ergonomic

If not that, you may just buy a laptop riser and adjust the screen on the right angle with a product like Steklo Laptop Stand Adjustable Ergonomic!

Yes, Steklo Laptop Stand Adjustable Ergonomic is an ideal option for MacBook users who don’t like to have much of the remote working tools and want to keep their station limited with a minimalist approach.

It comes with a silver aluminum color and has a 6.7 x 2.9 x 1.7 inches dimension that gives you a true minimalist feel. Plus, it only weighs about 5.8 ounces so you won’t feel any weight issues with this extremely portable device.

Learn More

Also check: 21 Best Laptop Stands for Graphic Designers & Developers In 2021

Desks

RESPAWN 63″ Gaming Computer Desk

Despite having the best laptop for my graphics design work, there’s one trusted partner that never lets me down, my work desk!

I’d recommend you to consider the RESPAWN 63″ Gaming Computer Desk that comes with a height adjustment feature.

I just adored this work desk for work from home purposes due to its wider surface and the T shaped legs that offer you great stability experience.

Plus, it comes in a multitude of material options including wood, metal, steel and plywood so you can select the right material option that goes with your interior settings.

Learn More

Calico Designs Adapta Adjustable Office Desk

And if you’re seeking a smaller work design for your home office, I suggest you consider Calico Design Store’s Calico Designs Adapta Adjustable Office Desk!

Along with having a thick black frame with a grey top, it offers you a nice 23″-32″ inches height.

Plus, it only weighs about 29 pounds which makes it extremely easy to rearrange without the need to have someone’s help.

In short, it’s the best option for work from home tool choices that you can have for graphic design or digital art related work when staying at home due to pandemic or unexpected lockdowns.

Learn More

Chairs

AKRacing Masters Series Premium Gaming Chair

So, after having the right work desk for work from home, it’s time to have the right chair that would extend its support for a straight 8-9 hours shift, each day.

Let me present to you the AKRacing Masters Series Premium Gaming Chair that comes with a versatile range of features to keep your body in good shape. The metal frame is the most prominent feature that makes it a worthy inclusion in the remote workers toolkit.

And you get to control the tilt and swivel with the side lock along with the back and headrest that is the best treatment the makers have done to this chair.

Learn More

Amazon Basics Ergonomic Office Chair

Amazon has started to take interest in the comfort of creative beings like us and they did justice to their initiative with the Amazon Basics Ergonomic Office Chair!

Yes, if you seek a comfortable chair for your home office, I’d recommend you to give it a thought especially if you feel the need of foot rest’s non-existence in most of the chairs.

Made with faux leather, Amazon Basics Ergonomic Office Chair comes with the bonded leather seating and gives you the backrest to ensure there aren’t any back pain issues as you work.

Learn More

Monitors

LG 34GP83A-B 34″ UltraGear Curved QHD Gaming Monitor

For a graphic designer, it is very important to have the perfect picture quality with a wider angle. So, I’d suggest you consider buying LG 34GP83A-B 34″ UltraGear Curved QHD Gaming Monitor!

Enjoy working on a QHD Ultra-Wide 1440p resolution with 34″ wider screen size that makes your picture crystal clear and you get to produce awesome graphics for your creative project.

This LED display monitor is an ideal work from home tool to have with its DCI-P3 98% Color Gamut with VESA DisplayHDR 400.

Learn More

Acer Nitro KG252Q bmiix 24.5” Gaming Monitor

Wait, here’s another fantastic option from Acer for completing your work from home setup in the shape of Acer Nitro KG252Q bmiix 24.5” Gaming Monitor!

Enjoy VGA, HDMI connectivity that offers you a stable connection whether you use it with a PC or attach it with a laptop.

With 1920×1080 resolution and a nice 24.5″ screen size, its a nice mid-range option for graphics designers and developers.

Learn More

Also check: Top 20 Best Curved Monitor for Designers & Illustrators In 2021

USB Data Hubs

TP-Link Powered USB Hub 3.0 Charging USB Ports.

In case you need to plug in more devices with your laptop, I’d suggest you buy TP-Link Powered USB Hub 3.0 Charging USB Ports!

With its multiple USB ports (total 7) and a faster data transfer rate, it is a must-have work from home tool to harness your creative project’s completion. Plus, you get to avoid short circuits with its safe structure and forget about any possible heating issues, too.

Learn More

Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub

Or else, you can consider buying a Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub that comes with individual power buttons!

Having a USB 3.0 hardware interface, this device is compatible to be used with laptops as well as desktops and offers a speedy data transfer frequency. Just plug and play this creative toy and you’ll thank me for adding this in the remote working tools.

Learn More

Keyboard

Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Don’t forget to own Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo that eliminates the wire issues as you work on your creative projects.

It comes with 20.08 x 6.22 x 1.81 inches dimension and a powerful USB connectivity with wider signal range. Plus, you get to enjoy a longer battery time in Logitech MK270 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo that makes it an ideal inclusion in the work from home tool choices.

Learn More

Amazon Basics Wireless Computer Keyboard and Mouse Combo

Or you may opt for Amazon Basics Wireless Computer Keyboard and Mouse Combo that comes with a compact size!

Its black body fits into your work from home tool arrangements and the 2 AAA batteries offer you a comfortable usage. Being light weight and wireless makes it an ideal remote workers toolkit addition that you can enjoy if you don’t really like using bulky accessories.

Learn More

Mouse

HyperX Pulsefire Raid – Gaming Mouse

After you’ve selected the right keyboard for your work from home ventures, it’s time to select the right mouse and I have a perfect name in mind in the shape of HyperX Pulsefire Raid.

It comes with the 11 programmable buttons that you may modify as per your needs. Plus, it is compatible with various OS and gives you a faster connectivity experience.

Learn More

Logitech M330 Silent Plus Wireless Mouse

Or you may consider using the Logitech M330 Silent Plus Wireless Mouse that offers you a noise-free experience!

What I liked in this option is its compact size that fits in your palm and has minimum RSI risks.

Enjoy its wireless connectivity and two ergonomic buttons with a scroll wheel. Plus, you get to have a plug-N-play experience in this small gadget from Logitech ideal for work from home.

Learn More

Also check: 17 Best Computer Mouse for Designers and Illustrators Under $80

Earphones

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2

Speaking of work from home tool options, don’t forget to add a headphone in the list. And I highly recommend you to buy Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 that comes with noise cancellation feature.

Plus, you get to adjust the volume via the on-ear dials that makes it a real fantastic option when it comes to editing a video for your creative project. Plus, Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 is very lightweight so you won’t feel any burden on your ears.

Learn More

Sennheiser 5.0 Wireless Headphone

Or you may go with the Sennheiser 5.0 Wireless Headphone that comes with a versatile range of features!

What I really liked about the Sennheiser 5.0 Wireless Headphone is its fast charging and longer battery life that I added to the work from home tool list.

Plus, the Bluetooth 5.0 technology is another awesome feature that makes it a worthy option for completing your remote workers toolkit.

Learn More

Speakers

Kanto 2 Channel Powered PC Gaming Desktop Speakers

It’s not just about visuals, audio does play a vital role in making your creative work stand out. And Kanto 2 Channel Powered Speakers are a fantastic choice to achieve your audio correction goals.

Enjoy its matte white color that gives you a fine feel along with the premium sound quality with its YU2 acoustic grade MDF cabinet.

Plus, you’ll find the connectivity options very useful and time saving, too.

Learn More

Creative Pebble Plus 2.1 USB-Powered Desktop Speakers

If you’re interested in something with high bass sound experience, I suggest you have Creative Pebble Plus 2.1 USB-Powered Desktop Speakers as your work from home tool!

It comes with a subwoofer that adds a wow factor in your work routine especially when you’ve to check your project’s audio quality before sharing it with the client.

Control the volume as needed and enjoy a black body that syncs with your whole work from home setup.

Learn More

Printers

Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Printer

As we reach the conclusion of work from home tool list, I’d like to suggest you to buy a printer, too. Consider Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer for completing your home office setup!

It’s a nice option if you’re seeking a printer for colorful printing work and you also get to have the Wi-Fi connectivity which gives you full control over your printing usage. And its wider size let you take accurate prints, too, which is another reason for recommending this printer.

Learn More

Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer

If not Epson, you may go with Canon IP8720 Wireless Printer!

It comes with an inkjet printing technology and is ideal for printing glossy photos. With its wider size, you can ditch standard 8×10″ prints and take wider, clearer prints using its 6-color ink system. Also, the noise reduction is a fantastic feature that compelled me to add it in the work from home tool list.

Learn More

Also check: 18 Must-Have Gadgets and Tools for Graphic Designers

End Note

So, this was a little effort from my side to help fellow designers and digital artists set up the perfect home office with correct work from home tools. If you’re still not sure what to buy and what to skip, simply go with your budget and the most used items that you can’t skip from the list based on your routine usage.

So, pick the right remote working tool for your home office and never compromise on your comfort as well as work quality. Adios!

Disclosure: This content is reader supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.