Setting up a home office in 2022: The best gadgets for the home office

Working from home is efficient and fun - but only if you have prepared well in advance. We show you which equipment home office professionals use to be able to work productively and comfortably.

Due to the spread of the corona virus, many employees were forced to switch to the home office. For some people this is a completely new situation, for others it has been normal everyday work for years - long before COVID19. What do you absolutely need, what makes the work more pleasant? Here are the tips from the xiaomist editors.

The basis: A height-adjustable desk

"The desk is the place where the world decides" is a saying of unknown origin. Well, there's something to it - at least the desk is the basis of every office workplace. So it makes sense not to be too stingy here, but to equip yourself as best as possible. The Ergotopia desk is electrically height-adjustable. This practical function is implemented with particularly quiet motors.

Cheap alternative: IKEA Rodulf for 329 euros.

For power supply: power strip

This Brennstuhl power strip protects the connected devices during thunderstorms. It has 6 sockets and a central on/off switch. A clever solution: The sockets are arranged at a 45-degree angle, which can be an advantage with bulky power supplies.

Desk 2 from Bachmann is an option for the luxury desk: Sockets with HDMI and USB 3.0 are installed here – but the modules can also be replaced if necessary.

For USB, Lightning & Co.: Desktop cable organizer

If the charging cable for your mobile phone has already fallen behind the desk and a search operation starts on all fours - then it's time for a cable organizer !

Signum, the cable duct from IKEA, is also worth a look.

For concentration: A quiet mouse

Why do computer mice actually click so loudly – ​​can't it also be done quietly? For noise-sensitive people, a so-called "silent mouse" is a blessing. Personally, I use the Logitech M330 regularly and am satisfied so far. Although it does not offer the range of functions of a gaming mouse, it is wireless, not too expensive and, above all, pleasantly quiet.

An alternative with a cable is the Gentix Silent from Cherry.

For the feet: slippers and footrest

When your feet freeze, mood and concentration are gone. The best measure is heat-insulating slippers. Our recommendation is the Thermoball Tent from the outdoor brand The North Face. Flexible, chic and above all warm.

Also worth a look is Ergosund's ergonomic footrest with excellent Amazon reviews.

For the PC: Monitor with integrated webcam

Virtual meetings every day? The Viewsonic VG2440V monitor is a 24-inch screen for the PC with a webcam built into the frame. A microphone and speakers are also included, and the model is height-adjustable.

For joy: fitness tires

How are you supposed to be sad while spinning a hula hoop around your waist? The piece of sports equipment, which was already popular in the 1950s, makes people happy and makes the home office pounds tumble and is currently making a comeback.

Clean up quickly: reusable cleaning compound

Crumbs and dirt in the keyboard can be removed quickly and easily by using the Cyber ​​Clean cleaning compound. The reusable high-tech product from Switzerland even has an antibacterial effect.

For the back: A real office chair

Sitting in the wrong chair for hours is not recommended. It is therefore worth investing in a good office chair that is adjustable and comfortable to sit on. One of the bestsellers at the mail order giant Otto is the Duo Collection executive chair "Regensburg", which is currently available at a particularly good price.

Alternative: The Nowy Styl Net Motion scored "good" (1.9) in the Stiftung Warentest (issue 02/2017), but it is also significantly more expensive at over 200 euros. More on this in our xiaomist guide "Gaming chairs in the test".

For well-being: An air purifier

"It's not enough to think, you have to breathe" - these words are attributed to the Swiss writer Elias Canetti. Modern air purifiers filter dust, pollen and even cigarette smoke out of the air, providing a "breath of fresh air" that is certainly not detrimental to thinking at work. Test winner at Stiftung Warentest (issue 03/2020) is the Philips AC 2889/10 Series 2000 - it was able to secure the grade "good" (2.4). Inexpensive and good alternative for small rooms: The Sharp UA-PE30E-WB was able to convince in the xiaomist practical test.

Other recommended air purifier models in the xiaomist purchase advice :

For the paperwork: A printer

Now is the right time to ditch the old printer and get a modern successor. The Canon Maxify GX6050 can print on both sides and supports WiFi, Airprint and Alexa. The judgment of the Stiftung Warentest was grade 1.8 ("good", issue 04/2022).

For video conferencing: A webcam with a USB port

Webcam wanted? A real price-performance tip is the Logitech C920 HD Pro , which is simply attached to the top of the monitor and connected to the computer via USB.

You can find more good webcams in the xiaomist purchase guide :

For the bum: A good pillow

Sitting can be exhausting if the surface is not good. We therefore recommend investing in an ergonomic seat cushion with a soft memory foam insert.

For hand and wrist: Vertical mouse and wrist rest

"Working with a mouse has never felt so easy and carefree," says xiaomist editor Robert in the test of the Logitech MX Vertical mouse . Although the wireless input device is significantly more expensive than conventional computer mice, it is particularly recommended for hours of office work due to its unusual vertical orientation. Important: This ergonomic product is only suitable for right-handed people.

It may take some getting used to, but it's a blessing for the wrists: special pads with memory foam make office work at home a lot more pleasant. Available as a set consisting of a mouse pad and keyboard palm rest for around 12 euros. And to be honest: who cares what it looks like - it serves its purpose and that's a good thing. Additional tip: A hand trainer set that keeps the muscles fit.

For the ears: noise-cancelling headphones or hearing protection

You can concentrate on your work in a quiet environment. Anyone who is exposed to rampaging children, construction site noise, airplanes and cars rushing by at home should get good noise-cancelling headphones that you can wear for several hours at a time. Our current recommendation is the comfortable Bose QuietComfort 45. Also suitable as a headset for Skype and Slack calls.

Further to the topic:
The Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Over-Ear and In-Ear Noise-Cancelling Headphones

A cheap alternative (without music and without a headset function) is professional-quality hearing protection for around 19 euros.

And if it's the noisy children who keep you from working at home: Familie.de has put together recommendations for children's indoor games. They could keep bullies from dancing on the desk.

For notes: good pens

A well-equipped home office has writing instruments to rely on. Our recommendation is the Uni-ball UB-157ye fine ballpoint pen (5 pieces approx. 9 euros) - a quality product from Japan. Suitable for this: College block A4 squared, pack of 5.

For the whole body: Smartwatch or fitness tracker with movement reminder

If you sit a lot at work, it's easy to forget to get up and move around in between. A useful helper is a smartwatch like the Apple Watch 6, which regularly reminds you that it's time for some exercise. The Fitbit Charge 4, which can also do this, is significantly cheaper.

If you stay at home all day, the lack of exercise is already pre-programmed. xiaomist has tested fitness apps and services - they help to carry out a small or large sports program at home without additional aids:

For communication: A reliable headset

Another Slack call where nobody understands you? Poor sound quality is not only annoying, it also comes across as unprofessional to colleagues and customers. Don't trust the built-in microphone in the laptop. Better: A decent Sennheiser headset for around 50 euros is enough to improve the situation significantly.

Further to the topic:

Headset test: recommendations for home office, office and Co. 5 Bluetooth headsets and in-ears with mute button

For the power supply: A power supply for professionals

The Anker PowerPort+ Atom III for around 45 euros is ideal for making your desk a little tidier. The compact power adapter for the wall socket can supply two devices with energy at the same time, such as a smartphone and a Macbook Air.

Here's an important tip: Changing your electricity provider is easier than many people think. With comparison portals such as CHECK24 , you can compare electricity tariffs and ideally save several hundred euros a year. The more time you spend at home, the more important it is to have a cheap electricity tariff.

For high-performance WLAN: A top-class router

Everything depends on the internet. If the home WLAN keeps causing problems, then the home office becomes a test of patience. Therefore our advice: Don't skimp on the router! The best models come from the Berlin manufacturer AVM, as the Stiftung Warentest has also confirmed. The AVM FritzBox 7590 for DSL connections is highly recommended - at just under 230 euros it is not exactly cheap, but it is technically outstanding. Thanks to multi-user MIMO, it is a good investment, especially in households with many end devices (laptops, tablets, smart TVs, etc.).

For more screen space: A second (mini) monitor

Many people have two monitors at work, but only one at home. If you want to save some space in your own four walls, get a portable and compact second monitor, such as the USB-C monitor from Viewsonic for just under 270 euros. Perfect for Slack or Skype while the main monitor gets to work.

For well-being: indoor plants

Beautiful to look at and good for your health: Plants can clean the air in the room by removing harmful substances from the air - this has been scientifically confirmed. What a lot of people don't know is that you can order indoor plants from the comfort of your own home and have them delivered to you from online retailers such as Amazon or Blume2000.

For the breaks in between: A Bluetooth speaker with good sound

Listening to your favorite song at high volume in the office? Rather difficult - unless the colleagues share the same taste in music. At home, it's easier to clear your head by listening to music for a few minutes. In addition to Bluetooth, the Sonos Roam also supports WLAN and sounds great. Of course, it is also perfect for listening to the news via the radio app. More on this in the detailed xiaomist test.

Alternative: The JBL Tuner 2, a Bluetooth speaker with integrated DAB radio.

You can find out more about Bluetooth speakers in our video:

And after you've done your work, you can use the speakers straight away to listen to audio books - if you don't prefer to watch the best series for a quarantine.

For the whole desk: A mega mouse pad

A mouse pad can be big - the hardcore gamer scene has been doing it for years. You can now find a great selection of giant mouse pads on Amazon, such as the easy-to-clean "Eleoption" measuring 90 x 45 cm. If you prefer the "classic" soft material, you can get the "Amazon Basics mouse pad" with a fabric surface for 15 euros.

For the muscles: ergometer

Kicking is good! Instead of slowly putting on new pounds in the home office, you should rather do some sport. An ergometer gets the circulation going and maintains general physical performance. You can find detailed information on this in our new Ergometer Purchase Advisor: These are the best home trainers for cycling at home.

For order: desk organizer

It used to be ink cartridges and paper clips, today it's SD cards, adapters and USB sticks. You need an "organizer" so that the nasty odds and ends don't turn your desk into a rummage table. It ensures that nothing is lost.