Work From Home Office Essentials Checklist

A proper home office setup makes the difference between productive work and constant frustration. This checklist covers everything from furniture to stationery, organised by category with specific product recommendations and tips for claiming ATO deductions.

Desk and Chair

Your desk and chair are the foundation. Safe Work Australia recommends that home workers have the same ergonomic setup as they would in a corporate office. Your employer may have obligations to help fund this.

• Desk: At least 120 cm wide and 60 cm deep. This gives you room for a monitor, keyboard, mouse and a notepad. A sit-stand desk converter (~$200-$400) is a worthwhile upgrade if you're working from home permanently.
• Chair: An ergonomic office chair with adjustable seat height, lumbar support and armrests. Dining chairs and bar stools cause back pain within weeks. Budget at least $250 for something that'll last.
• Monitor riser or arm: The top of your screen should sit at eye level. A simple riser ($30-$50) or a clamp-on monitor arm ($60-$100) fixes this without stacking books.

Stationery Basics

You'll use less stationery at home than in a shared office, but running out mid-task is annoying. Stock a small supply of the essentials.

• Ballpoint pens (blue and black) and a gel pen for signing documents. See our pen guide for recommendations.
• A4 lined notepad or notebook for meeting notes and daily task lists.
• Sticky notes (76 x 76 mm standard size) for quick reminders on your monitor.
• Paper clips, bulldog clips and a small stapler with staples.
• Scissors, clear tape and a tape dispenser.
• Highlighters in two or three colours for reviewing printed documents.

Filing and Organisation

Home offices generate paperwork faster than you'd expect. Set up a basic filing system from day one rather than letting papers pile up. Our filing guide has detailed advice on systems and labelling.

• A desktop file organiser or small filing box for active documents.
• Lever arch files or ring binders for policies, contracts and reference material.
• Document wallets for current projects.
• A label maker or adhesive labels for folder identification.
• A small lockable filing cabinet if you handle sensitive client information at home.

Tech Accessories

Your laptop is the core, but a few accessories make the experience much smoother.

• USB hub: Most laptops have two or three ports. A powered USB hub ($30-$50) gives you room for a mouse, keyboard, headset and external drive.
• Mouse and mouse pad: A proper mouse beats a trackpad for all-day use. A padded mouse pad with wrist rest reduces strain.
• Cable ties and cable management clips: Keep your desk tidy and prevent cables from falling behind the desk.
• Surge protector: Protect your equipment from power spikes. Choose one with at least four outlets and USB charging ports.
• Headset with microphone: Essential for video calls. A USB headset ($40-$80) gives clearer audio than laptop speakers and built-in mics.

Printing and Paper

Not every home office needs a printer. But if you print more than a few pages a week, having one at home saves trips to the local library or office.

• A4 copy paper, 80gsm: Standard weight for everyday printing. Buy a ream (500 sheets) to start.
• A4 paper, 100gsm: Heavier stock for presentations, proposals and anything client-facing. The extra weight feels noticeably more professional.
• Spare ink or toner: Always keep one replacement cartridge on hand. Running out on a deadline is avoidable stress.

Postage and Shipping

If you send mail or ship products from home, keep a small stock of mailing supplies ready.

• Padded envelopes in DL and C4 sizes.
• Packing tape and a tape dispenser.
• A small postal scale (accurate to 1g) for calculating Australia Post rates.
• Shipping labels and return address labels.

Cleaning and Maintenance

A clean workspace helps you focus. Spend five minutes at the end of each week wiping things down.

• Screen cleaning wipes (alcohol-free to protect coatings).
• Compressed air for cleaning keyboard crevices and vents.
• Antibacterial desk wipes for your desk surface, mouse and phone.
• A small desk bin with liners.

ATO Home Office Deductions

If you work from home, you can claim a tax deduction for your running expenses. The ATO offers two methods.

• Fixed rate method: Claim 67 cents per hour worked from home (from 1 July 2022 onwards). This covers electricity, internet, phone, stationery and computer consumables. You still need a record of hours worked, such as a timesheet or diary.
• Actual cost method: Calculate the actual work-related portion of each expense separately. This requires receipts and a reasonable basis for apportioning costs (e.g., floor area of your home office as a percentage of total home area). More work, but sometimes results in a higher deduction.

Keep all receipts for office supplies, furniture and equipment. Items over $300 are depreciated over their effective life rather than claimed in full in the year of purchase.

Setting up a new office from scratch? Our New Office Setup Checklist covers larger offices with the same category-by-category approach.