41 Work

Jun 07, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

"Lemme upgrade you" —you to the same sad work setup you've been using for too long now.

BuzzFeed Staff

The set includes a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse with a USB receiver. Pick up some AA batteries — both will need them!

Promising review: "So, I just transitioned to work from home and wanted a cool keyboard for my new workspace. I tried two others, and they worked but I wasn’t 100% happy with the style, shape, or color. A friend showed me her keyboard, and I fell in love with it. Her’s was the pink/colorful option. I immediately went on Amazon and found the purple/lilac colorful and ordered. I received it today, and I’m so pleased. I’m one of those who love hearing the click-clack sound of keys being hit with my nails and the weight of the keyboard is nice and heavy — it feels well made. I’m still getting used to the mouse it’s a wider shape than I’m used to, but it works and matches my keyboard. Now if only I could find a purple monitor, LOL. I highly recommend this keyboard. Happy typing!" —Kimberly Renee

Get it from Amazon for $40.99+ (available in 11 colors).

Promising review: "I really love this pad! It really helps me put my week into perspective. I also love the habit tracker and the top three things. This really helps me stay on point and gets me thinking a bit more about the things that make my weeks brighter. I also love the neutral colors of the pad. Perfect addition to anyone's desk who loves using pen and paper!" —Joanna Marshall

Get it from Amazon for $13.95 (available in three colors).

This Black woman–owned business makes super cute apparel, prints, notepads, and more! This notepad is 6 inches x 8 inches and has 50 sheets to help coordinate all your to-dos.

Promising review: "Absolutely perfect! It arrived quickly and helps me in the morning to prioritize, and it looks great on my desk. I can’t recommend it enough!" —Stephanie Horowitz

Get it from Godly Gorgeous on Etsy for $17.

Promising review: "This chair is unique because it has a large, wide seat that allows you to sit in different positions including cross-legged. It is also supremely comfortable with the quality of cushions. I'm 5'8" and, I find it spacious with an appropriate amount of height adjustability for feet on the ground. So far great for all-day office use!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $219.99.

Promising review: "I'm an art teacher, and working from home during the coronavirus outbreak was going to put a lot of strain on my wood desk (which I keep mostly for show but now am forced to use for work). I ordered this desk pad because mint green is my favorite color, and I wanted something to protect my desk from paint and other art supplies. It arrived today, and it was so cute! It's exactly what I wanted. It's thin enough not to add too much bulk to the desk, the color is so fun, and it wipes off easily. I love that it's reversible, too, so I'll probably use one side for making tutorial videos for my classes and the other for when I'm painting. I was worried that it wouldn't lie flat because it came rolled up, but it lay flat immediately. And it came with a cute little belt in case I need to roll it back up again and store it!" —Jill S

Get it from Amazon for $13.39+ (available in three sizes and six color combinations).

Promising review: "I was hesitant to buy this monitor because I had never heard of the brand and am always a skeptic. I wanted a portable monitor for when I work from home. I also utilize this as a third monitor with my laptop and second monitor. I've had this product for almost a year and can only say great things. It works perfectly. It comes with a foldable case, which can double as a stand. It also comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable, a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable, and a power adapter (with a USB-A to USB-C cable). I couldn't have asked for a better portable monitor! Don't hesitate!" —A. C. Pham

Get it from Amazon for $139.99 (available in three colors).

You can use this with any Mac, PC, and Chrome laptop that's between 13 and 17 inches. It attaches with magnetic device-safe metal plates, so you can move it around from room to room. Plus, you can rotate the display to customize it to fit your work style perfectly.

Promising review: "I recently purchased this since many of us are working from home these days. It makes my job and my life easier and does not take up space as a large monitor connected to your laptop would. The customer service rep was amazing and answered my questions. You can use the same SideTrak on a different laptop if you need to (for work/personal use). It's interchangeable. I highly recommend this monitor. I'm very happy with it." —Fightergirl

Get it from Amazon for $299.99 (available in black and silver).

Brighttia is a New York-based small business established in 2018 that specializes in industrial and modern interior lighting and decor!

Promising review: "These brass cable organizers are beautiful and high quality. I’m using two of them to keep a plug-in sconce cord attached to the wall and to direct the cord to the electrical outlet. These little gold pieces add a touch of functionality and glamour to the sconces. Exactly what I was looking for." —Amy Margolis

Get a set of two from Brighttia on Etsy for $11.98+ (available in eight colors).

You can set the timer for 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, and 30-minute blocks by rotating it to the time you want. Then it will start the countdown. There are also four volume options in case you don't want to disrupt any other people in your home.

Promising review: "I love this timer to keep me on task while working from home! For the price, I was honestly impressed with the quality. My only suggestion would be an option for the display to stay backlit. You can press the snooze button on top to light the display for about five seconds, but that’s not super convenient if you have it rotated in timer mode, plus you have to actively press the button rather than just glancing at how much time is left. Honestly, this is a very small quibble that I could fix simply by not working in a dimly lit room, but it’s really the only critique I have. All in all, this is a fun and functional desk accessory!" —Angela Reiber

Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in 30- and 60-minute configurations and six colors).

BuzzFeed Shopping editor Jenae Sitzes says, "After seeing this coffee warmer all over BuzzFeed Shopping and even gifting my dad one for Christmas, I finally decided to buy one for myself. Based on all the reviews, I was pretty confident I'd soon be kicking myself for not getting it sooner, and that proved to be true: This thing not only looks good but works great for keeping my coffee warm all day long (because yes, I'm one of those people that'll sip on coffee until 5 p.m., all right!!). I was kind of worried it'd be too small for some of my larger mugs, but the center plate is bigger than expected and accommodated every mug in my (very eclectic) collection perfectly.

"I can confirm that flat-bottomed mugs are the best option for using with this warmer as they do stay hotter, but it still keeps my concave-bottom mugs warm enough for my taste. Also, I looove how sleek the white version looks on my white desk, and the auto-shutoff function is a nice safety feature as an absent-minded person."

Get it from Amazon for $24.29+ (available in eight colors).

And if you're as obsessed with Jenae's mug as I am, you can get it from Dipped In Rose on Etsy for $15.99.

The environment will even thank you for reducing your paper use. The whiteboard also comes with a dry-erase marker, an accessory channel (to hold the marker), and a storage drawer.

Promising review: "Never thought something analog would be SO useful in my daily routine. I work from home and am constantly project managing multiple complex strategic projects. Having pertinent information directly in front of me and top of my mind has done incredible things for my productivity. Never would have imagined it would make such a difference. For a nominal investment, I highly recommend it if you have trouble keeping up with things."—Captainflapjax

Get it from Amazon for $23.65 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "I work from home in a small apartment, and this really made my setup work the way I want it to. I need to use all six plugs, plus I like to keep my phone and Mi-Fi charging while working too. This was the perfect thing for me to get everything plugged in and essentially retrofitted into a built-in apartment wall desk setup that was intended for the large desktop towers of the late '90s. I’m ordering a second one in hopes it transforms another part of my weird floor plan. Bonus: The USB ports seem to fast-charge my iPhone XS Max. I can go from dead to fully charged in about 90 minutes." —Moose

Get it from Amazon for $16.17+ (available in two styles).

iJoy is a small business that sells tech accessories, speakers, and headphones.

Promising review: "I rarely write a review (this is the second in the past few years). One of the best purchases in a long time. Nice design and very practical. It solves all of my problems as it can go in any direction. It's worth every penny. I turned around and bought two more. I am about to buy my fourth one. Love this!" —Pond P.

Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in five colors).

Promising review: "I'd seen this product circling around on TikTok, and I had to have it for my computer monitor. It fits perfectly. It's sturdy and made to last for sure. Love it." —Shauna Grace Buckley

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in two colors).

You get two pieces — one for in front of your keyboard and the other for your mouse.

Promising review: "Having worked from home for almost a year now without any ergonomic cushion, I finally decided to buy this and am so glad I did. They come with stickers that you can place to avoid movement but so far they don't seem necessary...The mouse pad cushion feels perfect! I appreciate not having the ball of my palm resting against a hard surface all day long. This also isn't sliding around on the desk. Feels perfect. These cushions have a great memory foam feel but not so much that they are very sensitive to the touch, they mostly keep their shape." —UAstudentn

Get it from Amazon for $11.98+ (available in 17 colors).

Promising review: "I use these pads all the time. I'm sure it's not ergonomically correct for me to rest my wrists on my laptop while I type, but it's hard to kick bad habits...so if you're in the same boat with the same annoyingly sharp edges on your Mac, these puppies are the perfect solution. They significantly extend my comfortable writing window." —Samuel A. Nordli

Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.98 (available in two sizes).

There's also a touch sensor, an integrated USB port, and a wireless charger in the base.

Promising reviews: "A must-have for your desk! This is one of the best lamps I've bought. The style is great. I like how there are different light settings, and there's a timer that helps, too. It's a sleek lamp that folds up for storage. I like how you can plug it directly into your computer, with no messy wires or anything. Definitely a must-have for any office. Would buy again!" —Julia

"This lamp is exactly what I needed. It has various shades of lights, touch buttons, and a timer, and the best part is it will also charge your phone. Working from home, sometimes I need to work late. The various shades are helpful for any time I need to get something done!" —Valeria

Get it from Amazon for $19.98+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "Great addition to my standing desk set-up. Easy to put together once you figure out the proper ends. Also functional and wide enough to hold a double-row surge protector. Highly recommend!" —BizBossJess

Get a set of two from Amazon for $20.79+ (available in two colors).

Chic Geeks is a Black woman–owned business that designs luxury tech accessories to add personality and color to people's workspaces.

Promising review: "I bought this keyboard cover as a gift for my niece who uses Final Cut Pro often. She absolutely loves it and discovered new shortcuts for editing. It’s totally worth the money." —Staci Rutherford

Get it from Chic Geeks: $20 (for the Adobe Photoshop Shortcuts cover) and $20 (for Final Cut Pro X Shortcuts cover; both are available in most MacBook models and sizes).

Promising review: "I have a white desk and a light grey chair, and this headphone hanger matches the design perfectly. The quality and simple hinged design are brilliant. The adhesive is very strong provided you clean the surface before applying and let it cure for 24 hours before hanging anything on it." —Henry Ting

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in black and white).

Get it from our Goodful shop for $72.

Promising reviews: "I love it. I use my phone for conference calls (wfh), and I don't know how I lived without this. It's sturdy and keeps the cord out of the way. It's right there in my face so I can mute while on work calls or just see notifications at a glance. Highly recommend." —Cyndie L. Tozzo

Get it from Amazon for $8.79+ (available in eight colors).

Beyond 3D Creations B3D is a small Boston-based biz that specializes in creating useful gadgets that solve small problems in your office and home.

Promising review: "This is definitely a hit! I installed it horizontally because my desk has a square frame under it that I couldn’t put it on as the instructions say, but it still does its job. Now I’m so used to reaching my phone from this holder without looking down at my desk, and my screen time has decreased a lot during day time. I work remotely from home, this really helps in terms of being more efficient so that I can finish my work early and get more time back at the end of the day. Highly recommend it if you want to be less distracted while working!" —Shelby Cedrone

Get it from Beyond 3D Creations B3D on Etsy for $11.88+ (available in two sizes and six colors).

You can stick this to basically any surface and can cut it to any size. The adhesive on the back means you can easily remove it (without damaging the surface) and move it to a different spot. It also includes an eraser and three dry-erase markers (one blue, one black, and one red).

Promising reviews: "This item is PERFECT for WFH. I wanted a whiteboard of sorts, but I wanted it to blend in with my room. This product is such a smart solution!!! It blends right into my desk! Big fan." —Allison

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I absolutely love this as a solution for hiding our never-ending wires from two at-home workstations. I love the top which provides a safe and cute platform to easily charge your devices without having to leave them on the floor. I will be buying a second one." —Barbara Konchinski

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in three colors).

Also, there are eight different lighting modes, and you can get either warm, cool, or white light as well as colored options. OH — and if you love how the setup looks in the picture on the left, you can add some fake vines with the lights, as the reviewer did!

Promising reviews: "I've been looking for fairy lights for my curtains for a while. These are great and look great! I love the multiple settings you can use to set the right mood/ambiance. I'm currently using them in my gaming office and really like the aesthetic feel to the room now." —Charlie V.

"I bought these beautiful string lights a little over a month ago for my college bedroom and love them!! If you’re like me and are looking to spruce up your new apartment, or maybe you don’t have much room for intricate lighting, these are PERFECT. These lights are very in. I saw something like these on TikTok, and I just had to have them. As soon as I put these babies up, they fell right into place (really, like a curtain), are the perfect brightness (but can be dimmed), and fill the entire wall." —Katie Ernst

Get the warm white lights from Amazon for $22.98+ (available in seven colors and two sizes).

Promising review: "Best purchase I have made in years. Only had it two days, but the first words out of my mouth to my wife were, 'I can work for hours like this.' If you work from home and like to work on the couch, recliner, breakfast nook, patio, etc, and you have your computer in your lap, this is an absolute must-have. Not only does it keep your legs and lap cool, but it also keeps your computer cool and able to process much more efficiently." —Trent Thiel

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in three colors).

The light is powered via USB and has three light colors and 10 brightness levels.

Promising review: "I don't have the best light in my living room. Working from home, I have had my fair share of Zoom and Skype meetings and without this light, my face was shaded no matter how hard I tried to get light. Now with the different shades of light as the day passes, I can change the light brightness and not look like I'm in a dungeon." —Paige Ruark

Get it from Amazon for $16.79.

Promising review: "I needed some extra shelf space for my home office, especially now that we are working from home for the rest of the year. This was so so simple to set up and holds everything I need without any issues. You can also assemble it as you please, which is a great feature!" —TanzA

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "Sticks to my white board and can hold a fair bit of trash. For the price and sturdiness, I would definitely buy it again." —Justine T.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in orange or blue).

Promising review: "I work from home, and if you do too you may also encounter this odd scenario: Merely closing the door to one’s office is not actually a reliable method to let others know you are working. I can’t say enough good things about this sign. It is a far better design and quality than expected at this price point. The sign is a dial style, and really sturdy. The dial even has a click-in-place feature to prevent your status from accidentally moving when the door swings shut. Gone are the days of people thinking you’re available when you’re not! Well, at least you have forewarned them! I am extremely happy with the sign, and can recommend it to anyone who might need a little extra assistance in deterring work interruptions!" —Conscious Consumer

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in black and white).

See it in action in this TikTok here. The speed range is 0.5–6mph, and it can hold up to 220 pounds.

Promising review: "This thing is awesome. I'm a small, not technical person and managed to haul this thing up two flights of stairs (slowly), unbox, turn on and even connect my phone to the Bluetooth in it. No assembly. Simple instructions. Distance and time measurements seem to be accurate, but the 'calories' might be missing a decimal point. No squealing or groaning under my walking. Not too loud. Slides right under my bed. Didn't need to adjust the belt, though the tool to do so is included. Packaging says to oil every 30 hours. The remote is needed to make the treadmill function. It is extremely cheap — like dollar store cheap. I hope the company has a remote replacement for if/when the remote bites it. Even still, I would 100% buy this again. Great treadmill!" —Crowells

Get it from Amazon for $318.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "This has definitely been in a game changer for WFH. I've always wanted a standup desk, but they've either been too expensive, too chunky, or not simple enough. I love this Flexispot desk because of the variety of options in sizes, leg colors, top colors, and materials. I'm super picky with what furniture I bring into my home. I want all the pieces to be aesthetically pleasing, and in the office specifically, I want the pieces of furniture to be functional and serve a purpose. I recommend two people putting the pieces together, as the pieces are pretty heavy. This standing desk has helped with my back and retaining focus for longer periods of time. Being able to change from a sitting to standing position has helped set the pace for my work environment." —Amazon Customer

Get the 48x24" size from Amazon for $179.99 (available in five sizes and six colors).

Great Useful Stuff is a small business based in Sonoma, California, featuring a selection of home and lifestyle products that are...you guessed it...great and useful.

I upgraded to this laptop stand, and I love it so much. I was first drawn to it because the light color actually matches my desk super well, giving it a more cohesive look. Before this, I just had a cheap laptop stand, and this one just looks so much nicer. But it's so much more than that. The stand also comes with its own power hub, so you can plug in your computer right on top of the desk — no need to fish it behind and down to the plug every time. This is so convenient, and I love that there are holes on the side so the cords can come out easily. I really only use it to charge my laptop, but there's plenty of room to charge other devices as well. *And* I can't forget to mention that the lid also flips over and becomes a whiteboard, which is a cool feature that I haven't had much need for...yet. Overall, I love that this laptop stand is multi-functional. It really adds so much to my workspace.

Get it from Great Useful Stuff for $44.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "My husband purchased this umbrella for me as a gift. I work from home and love to work outside, but seeing my laptop screen can be a struggle. This umbrella is perfect for enjoying the outdoors while working. It is adjustable in three points, so you can maneuver it to almost any position you may need. I don't even have to wear a hat to see the screen because it blocks the sun so well." —NYRed

Get it from Amazon for $27.49+ (available in four styles and nine colors and patterns).

Promising review: "I have procrastinated in writing this review and am actually happy to say that after a year, the product is continuing to stay strong. The adhesion is as strong as it was on day one, and this product is continuing to meet and exceed expectations. I have noticed significantly less eye strain. If I were needing computer monitor backlighting again, I wouldn't hesitate to repurchase." —college_engineer

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available for monitors up to 80 inches).

This diffuser has over 55,800 5-star ratings! It also has a color-changing lamp with seven colors, a nightlight, auto-off, and a programmable on and off, so you can go to sleep or wake up feeling better than you ever have. You should use 100% pure essential oils with it.

Promising review: "This diffuser works well with my essential oils. The mist is just the amount I want when I place it next to my computer; moist enough but not too watery. I think it is a good company while working from home." —Dawn

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I work from home and sit at a desk in front of a computer for a minimum of 10 hours per day. I used to have to get up at least hourly for breaks which never helped to alleviate the 24/7 sciatica pain down my left leg. And long hours at my desk would leave my whole body sore. I've only had this cushion for one day, and my sciatica is barely noticeable, and I woke up today in no pain after using it yesterday. I'm a small person, so I can see how this might not be a good fit for everyone, but for me, it's already had a positive impact. I think because they are just cut foam with a gel top and a thin cover they will probably wear down easily, especially since I sit for so long, but it's a reasonable price and if I get six months at a time out of one, I'll consider that a pretty decent return on my investment. :)" —T. M.

Get it from Amazon for $47.95+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I have a desk chair that I live in that I have tried various configurations on the arms to keep from bruising my elbows. Nothing has been much help. I am very glad that I gave this a try! The covers are super soft, and the memory foam works extremely well. I have only had the covers in use for a week, but already I can feel a difference. This is a product that will continue to be appreciated by my elbows." —Kindle Customer

Get them from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "As a teacher working remotely from home, I needed something to help me organize all of my files, teacher manuals, workbooks, and supplies! Now everything has its place! Not to mention how pretty it looks! Instructions were simple and easy to follow… Assembly only took a couple of minutes!" —Lori R.

Get it from Amazon for $26.97 (available in two colors).

Plus, you can remove the velvet cover for easy cleaning!

Promising review: "My feet have found heaven! After just over a year of working from home, I've finally decided to invest in some home office upgrades. I was on the fence about a footrest, but the new desk chair I had purchased had a few comfort issues, and I thought this footrest might help address those. I wasn't wrong! From the first moment my feet landed in the plush comfort of the foam, I haven't wanted to take them off of it. As a fairly active person most of my life (basketball, horseback riding, running, etc.) I haven't been kind to my body. My back, knees, hips, and feet have all paid the price. This footrest has helped alleviate much of the daily pain I deal with, and at a far cheaper price than the ergonomic chair." —Wild-Haired Gurl

Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in four colors and two styles).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.