5 Must-Have Items for Your Apartment Home Office

The need for a home office has become more commonplace than ever before.  Thanks to a tremendous shift in workplace culture and a boom in the types of technology that are available to us, working remotely is a way of life for many of our apartment community’s residents.

If you work or study from home and require a dedicated space for doing so, you understand that there are certain items that no home office should ever do without.  Obviously, you’ll need the staple items, such as a desk, computer, and reliable internet connection. There are a few other things that you can do to make the space more conducive to working productively, though, and now is the perfect time to squeeze them into your holiday wish list.

Here are our 5 must-have items for your apartment home office:

Great Lighting

At The Habitat Apartments, we have some fantastic natural lighting, and our apartment floor plans provide the flexibility that you need in order to take advantage of that. If you work at night, however, you’ll need to be sure that you are giving yourself adequate lighting. Check out How to Create the Perfect Home Office Lighting Setup, courtesy of Apartment Therapy.  Our personal favorite is the clip-on desk lamp, because it offers plenty of light without taking up any desktop or floor space.

Filing System

Speaking of organization, you simply can’t put a price on a good home filing system. You would be surprised by how a few folders and labels can simplify your entire life.  There’s no need to reinvent the wheel with this one, though. A classic filing cabinet will work just fine.

Hanging or Vertical Storage

One of the biggest challenges of creating an apartment home office is staying organized while also using your space wisely. The beauty of vertical or hanging storage solutions is that they accomplish both of these objectives, and they are also very budget-friendly and portable. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, check out these vertical storage design ideas over at Houzz. You’re sure to find some things there that you’d like to add to your wish list.

Cord and Cable Organization

Cords and cables can become an absolute nightmare for your apartment home office if you don’t make a conscious effort to tame them (and keep them that way). Brit + Co has compiled a great list of 20 Clever Ways to Keep Your Cords in Order, and we love what they’ve suggested. Quite a few of these items can be used as stocking stuffers, too, so be sure to check out their list.

A Headset and Microphone

If you have ever participated in video conferencing of any kind, you understand the value of a reliable headset that offers excellent sound quality.  Check out The Five Best Headsets with Attached Microphones, courtesy of Lifehacker, and say goodbye to static and unpredictable connections forever.

Make your apartment home office a priority when you’re planning your wish list this season, and get yourself off to a great start for productivity in 2016.