10 Tech Solutions to Enhance Your Home Office

Remote work is here to stay. Even when offices open again after the pandemic, many employees plan to spend at least part of the week working from home.

If your home office is evolving into your full-time office, you may want to spruce it up with some new tech. From Bluetooth speakers to smart home solutions, there are plenty of gadgets that can make you more comfortable and productive. Consider these 10 tech solutions for upgrading your home office.

1. Bluetooth Mouse and Keyboard

The keyboard and trackpad on your laptop are fine in a pinch, but they're less than ideal for many reasons.

A Bluetooth mouse is much more comfortable, convenient, and accurate. Not to mention, a mouse is much easier on the wrists than a trackpad is. There are several options to choose from, ranging from basic mouse designs to hyper-ergonomic options.

If your job involves a lot of typing, you'll also want to consider an ergonomic Bluetooth keyboard. Your wrists will thank you down the line. Remote keyboards also give you the option of putting your laptop on a stand. This both helps you position the keyboard at the correct height and frees up desk space for other tasks.

2. Smart Home Devices

You spend a lot of time in your home office. It's worth some investment to make sure it's comfortable. Overlooked details like lighting, air quality, and temperature can make a big difference.

New tech makes regulating these things easier than ever thanks to smart home solutions. A smart thermostat can be adjusted remotely, lights can be scheduled, and air purifiers can be automated. Not only can you make your home office more functional, but you can do so without much extra work on your part.

3. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Depending on where your home office is and who else is around, noise-cancelling headphones are probably a smart investment. Whether you're listening to calls or using music to help you focus, good headphones keep your work private and your concentration unbroken. 

Bluetooth headphones are generally the easiest option. They keep your hands free and can be used on any device. If they're also noise-cancelling, they'll enable you to work without distraction..

4. A Smart Plug

If you don't want to invest in many individual smart devices, you can smarten up "dumb" devices with a smart plug. Smart plugs are like standard power strips but connected to the internet. This means you can use an app to control any device plugged into them.

With a smart plug, regular devices become part of your smart home. You can turn them on and off from your phone and schedule them to come on at certain times. Basically, they allow you to do anything you could do with a smart device.

5. A Wireless Printer

We live in a digital world, but that doesn't mean we don't need to occasionally print, scan, or copy things. It's worthwhile to have your own multifunction printer instead of relying on the library or a print shop.

Fortunately, printers are much less unwieldy than they used to be. Most personal printers have wireless connectivity, so they can be used from any device without having to be plugged in. All you need to do is download an app.

6. An Adjustable Desk

You've probably heard that sitting down for eight hours a day, every day, can be unhealthy. How do you stay at your desk long enough to get your work done without the health risks? One solution is to invest in an adjustable desk.

These desks can be moved up and down so you can alternate between sitting and standing as you work. Most let you preset your preferred heights so you can go between positions with just one press of a button.

7. A Smart Speaker

It's hard to imagine modern life without an Alexa, Siri, or Google Home. If you don't have a smart speaker yet, it could be a great addition to your home office.

A smart speaker can be used to answer quick questions without stopping your work. They can remind you of appointments, play music to help you focus, and any number of other things. Your smart speaker can also control other smart home devices, letting you turn on lights or adjust the thermostat with mere words.

8. An Extra Monitor

Most work tasks involve switching between windows, whether you're inputting data in a spreadsheet or doing competitor research. An extra monitor keeps you organized and prevents information from getting lost amidst multiple windows.

If you don't want to give up space for a large monitor, you might want to consider a smart display. Some smart speakers come with displays, but if they don't, you can get one that stands alone. These respond to voice commands and can do anything from showing the weather to displaying video calls.

9. A Smart Notepad

Even the traditional pen-and-paper notebook is becoming smart these days. While you can take notes on your computer, sometimes it's helpful to scribble them down on paper - or something that feels like paper.

Smart notepads mimic paper and pen, but once you've written something down, you can immediately save it to the cloud. After your notes have been made digital, you can then clear the notepad with a wet-erase wipe. One model even lets you clear it by putting it in the microwave. The page gets erased, and you're ready to write again.

 10.   A Smart Coffee Maker

To be honest, this is more of a treat than a necessity. Still, who can deny the productivity-enhancing properties of coffee? Being able to brew a cup by tapping a button on your phone keeps the java coming without you having to pause for a break. If you're modernizing your whole office, it can't hurt to bring some smart home devices to your kitchen, too.

If you're working remotely for the foreseeable future, you should think about how to make your office more comfortable and productive. These suggestions are just some of the ways smart devices and other tech can help you build the office of your dreams.