Have you recently started working from home?
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has forced most of us to be confined to our homes, and think of new ways to stay productive. However, working from home is not for everyone.
So, if you’re not accustomed to remote working from home, you might have some trouble adjusting to your new “home” office environment.
That said, we’ve put together a list of AV gear and equipment for you that goes beyond the deemed necessities, to make work from home just that much more comfortable (and fun!).
So, whether you’re practicing social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic or work from home remotely full-time, in this post we’ll get you up to speed on all the AV gear and essentials you’ll need to stay organized, connected, and productive.
Here are our top 20 workspace organization, power, and connectivity recommendations for efficient remote working from home:
Sure, you’ve got a sturdy wooden desk and an ergonomic work chair, but how organized is your working space? Do you have cables running everywhere? Or, find yourself always a socket or two short when you need to plug-in a new device?
Here are X products we recommend to keep your home office space better organized and connected, so you can concentrate on the work and not the clutter:
Cable Ties and Wraps
Sure, you can always use plastic cable ties, but there are also other creative cost-effective options that can get you organized in no time. Velcro ties (hook and loop) are easy to use and completely reusable! They come in different colors, can hold more weight and can be cut to any length you need. Here are a few cable ties and wraps, we recommend you get your hands on:
American Recorder 12″ Regrip Basic Style Black Reusable Straps (6 Pack) – $7.96
Wrap-N-Strap 906M Mixed Color Cable Wraps (6 Pack) – $9.99
Rip-Tie 1″ X 3″ Rainbow CableWrap (10 Pack) – $21.40
Surge Protection
If you’re currently setting up a workspace at home, you’ll definitely need a surge protector strip.
While a regular power strip that you can buy at your local department store can power up your computer and other devices, a surge protector will also prevent your electronics to incur damage from fluctuations in power caused by outages, spikes, lightning and more. Here are a few we recommend:
Tripp Lite SK6-0 6-Outlet Direct Plug-in Surge Suppressor – $24.49
Tripp Lite Striker Power Strip – $30.09
Prime Wire 6-Outlet Metal Surge Protector w/ 15ft. Cord – $31.19
Furman MIW-SURGE In-Wall Surge Protection System – $41.14
Wiremold by Legrand 8 Rear Outlet Rackmount Power Strip – $90.92
Power and Charging Stations
If you just need a few outlets on your work surface coupled with a few easily accessible charging points, you can opt for desktop power centers that have built-in surge protection, and provide power as well as convenient USB charging. They take up a small footprint and use existing cord drop openings that most office desks and workspace table tops already have. Alternately, they can be mounted onto the side of a desk or table.
Wiremold WSC320-S Desktop Power Center w/ Surge – $61.05
Legrand WSR320-S Desktop USB/Multi-Outlet Charging Station – $64.99
NTE Electronics EMF-3 Three Outlet Surge Protector with 2 USB Chargers – $19.99
Power Cords
Need to replace a worn-out computer power cable? Or extend the reach of your laptop? Getting a power cord is great to make your work environment more flexible, and efficient, while still staying connected. So, if you feel like working from the couch and your current cord won’t stretch so far out, grab one of these:
Belden 17255-C EIA/IEC Power Supply Cord (7.5FT) – $5.92
Tripp Lite Universal Computer Power Cord (15FT) – $8.76
Tripp Lite Universal Computer Power Cord (25FT) – $13.39
Extension Cords
Besides supplying power to your PC or laptop, extension cords come in very handy when you want to extend a cord to power or connect a device that does not reach an outlet or connect it to another device. For example, you may want to connect a USB printer or a keyboard from across the room, or need to power two pieces of equipment such as your PC and monitor off one electrical outlet. You can do all that and more with these nifty cords below:
Tripp Lite Piggyback Power Extension Cord (6 FT) – $6.76
PacPro USB 2.0 Active Extension Cord Cable Type A Male to A Female (16FT) – $13.95
Tripp Lite Universal Power Extension Cord Y Splitter Cable (6FT) – $11.99
Handy Lighting
Need to work late into the night without wanting to keep the lights on? Or control the lighting in the room, to match your current mood as you work? Well, now you can do both with these creative lighting solutions below!
NEBO Tools FlipIt400 400-Lumen LED Light Switch (2 Pack) – $14.99
Middle Atlantic LT-GN Gooseneck Light – $23.81
MiLight 9w LED iPhone and Android Controlled RGBW Light Bulb – $24.99
Ready to setup your home office?
If you have questions or need help with any of the AV gear mentioned in this post or on our website, reach out to us, and we’ll be happy to get you set up!