Self Storage: Start the New Year with an Organized Kitchen

The Holidays are over, but the clutter is here to stay. The family is busy with school and work, but they still find plenty of time to leave disorder in their wake. If you don’t organize now, you’ll be watching the kids playing in the pool while you daydream about getting the the house organized when school starts again.

Where should you begin? Well, the most used room in every home is the kitchen. It’s the gathering place for friends, family, and messes, and that’s what makes it the best place to begin your organizing project.

Start By Leasing a Self Storage Unit

Before you get started, consider renting a self storage unit for the items that you don’t use regularly or that you may be replacing but don’t want to discard. It will be a relief to know that you don’t have to decide how to deal with duplicates and seldom used items right away. Stash them in self storage, and wait until you have time to think. For more information on renting the best unit for your needs, check How to Choose the Right Self Storage Facility for Your Needs.

Declutter Your Kitchen

Empty Cabinets and Drawers

Empty every cabinet and drawer in your kitchen, including the pantry. Place everything in front of you on tables, counters or any other space so that you can get a good view of your items. You may find a few surprises that belong in self storage (or the trash).

Discard the Junk

You’ll be surprised at how many broken or incomplete items are lurking in the back of a drawer or cabinet. You might find containers without lids, a broken hand mixer, or pans without handles. It’s time to dump that stuff and clear up some space.

Group Items into Categories

For example, group cake pans, cookie sheets and pie dishes into a “baking” category. Use separate categories for pots and pans, casseroles, serving dishes, and many other items that you keep in your kitchen. You should have a category for large serving trays, beverage dispensers, and other items that you use only when hosting a party. These items can be easily packed and placed in your self storage unit for easy access when you need them.

Say “No” to the Junk Drawer

It’s frustrating to open a drawer and find everything but the citrus zester that you’re looking for. It’s not easy to zest lemons with a screwdriver. Organize the flatware, small implements and linens with drawer separators and small divided baskets. Tools belong in a toolbox – not the kitchen.

Group Duplicates to Donate or Store

Duplicate items can really clutter up a kitchen. You might discover that you have 2 crock pots or 2 large roasting pans. You can give your duplicates to family and friends, or you can put them in self storage, where you’ll have backups for worn or broken items.

Don’t Forget the Pantry

Categorize in the pantry the same way you did for the rest of the kitchen. Separate baking ingredients; canned food; snacks; drink mixes, soft drinks, coffee, and tea; spices, and cleaning supplies. You can find appropriate sized baskets and bins on Amazon or at Target. And don’t forget The Container Store for tons of great pantry organizers.

Start Fresh

It goes without saying that before you refill your cabinets and drawers, they should be thoroughly cleaned and lined with fresh shelving paper. Some of your items may need washing before you put them back in drawers and closets.

Use Countertop Decor That Will Make You Happy

The kitchen is known as the heart of the home, but it can also give you a heart attack if you are constantly cooking and cleaning in a disorganized mess. Give your counter top a facelift that gives you a positive vibe. Use attractive containers to hold cooking utensils, trays to hold frequently used items and green plants. Whether it’s farmhouse, minimalist or traditional, give yourself a happy visual experience.

You’ll Be So Glad to Have that Self Storage Unit

Now it’s time to take that trip to your self storage unit. You’ve worked hard; you can delay decisions about what to do with duplicates, small appliances, and serving platters that you use once a year. And leave some room in that unit for the stuff from your next cleaning project now that you’re an organizational rock star. Look out Marie Kondo!

Self Storage: How to Enjoy Packing Up the Christmas Decorations

Does the title of this blog trigger your interest? Are you eagerly awaiting the happy little secret to enjoying packing up those Christmas decorations? Sorry…I lied. There is nothing that makes this job enjoyable unless you can gather about 50 friends who love you and want to help. The chances of that happening are about the same as your Christmas mess becoming a Netflix episode of “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo.”

Nobody enjoys this task. It’s tedious and lonely because no one wants to help. If you do coerce family members into helping, they suddenly remember a previous engagement or a contagious disease (Covid is perfect for this). Get used to it; it’s not going to change. Ask Alexa to play “the happiest songs for dismantling Christmas decor,” and get to it.

Before you start packing your decorations into either the very expensive storage containers from Target or Wayfair or the leftover egg cartons and disposable coffee cups from your garbage, you need to think about where you’re going to store these items. If you’re anything like me, you have enough decorations to transform the entire neighborhood into a Christmas wonderland. You need a solution, and you need it before the Christmas ornaments find a new home in your garage and the cars are stuck out in the driveway all year.

What you need is a self-storage unit, preferably a convenient, secure, climate-controlled storage unit. Here at Trusted Self Storage, these units are available in a variety of sizes that are suitable for large or small Christmas trees and all your other seasonal items. You can add pegboards to the walls for hanging your wreaths and garlands and shelving for plastic ornament boxes and Christmas linens. With climate-controlled storage, you won’t find a pool of hardened wax that used to be a candle or a moldy piece of fabric that was once the beautiful table cloth that grandma crocheted with her arthritic hands

Tips to Prepare Your Decorations for Their Temporary Home

Take Pictures of Your Decorations

Did you ever begin your Christmas decorating, suddenly realizing that you can’t remember which decorations you used on the mantel or which centerpiece you used on the dining room table? As you age, this will happen. Before you remove those decorations for storage, take pictures for future reference. Mobile devices make it so easy to take photos. Add a few selfies before you store them; memories of the bags under your eyes are precious.

Be Careful with the Christmas Ornaments

In many families, Christmas ornaments are irreplaceable treasures. They represent life events, travel, and tradition. Many were created with little hands out of construction paper, glue and glitter. Some are given as special gifts. Fortunately, you can find endless options in boxes and containers made specifically to protect fragile ornaments. They’re available in Wayfair, Home Depot, and Target, just to name a few. Remember to leave the hangers on the ornaments, so that you don’t have to make a trip to the store in the middle of next year’s decorating.

Keep Your Christmas Tree Looking New

Even though artificial trees are quite durable, storing your tree in its original box is not the best idea. With each passing year, the box will deteriorate, making it prone to insect (and deranged squirrel) infestation, and the tree will not look as nice if it has to be jammed into the box and reshaped every year. There are several different tree storage container options that will protect your tree and keep it in great shape. Climate-controlled storage is perfect for keeping your tree in pristine condition. This is especially important if you have a frosted or flocked tree; they don’t do well in extreme temperatures. Actually, they make a mess at any temperature.

Maintain your Wreaths and Garlands

As with all your other Christmas paraphernalia, there are numerous options for wreath and garland storage. Look for sturdy containers that will preserve the shape of these items and protect any decorative bows and ornaments. They can also be hung from hooks on a pegboard in your storage unit. For extra protection, you can cover them with a lightweight dry cleaning bag.

Keep Your Christmas Lights Untangled

Clark Griswold should not be your “go to” example for Christmas light storage or design. Think “organization.” The first thing you need to do is to dispose of any lights that are damaged or not working properly. Then, you need to avoid the tangled mess of previous years by wrapping your lights around storage reels. When you’re finished organizing the lights, place them in a large plastic storage bin along with the necessary extension cords. Don’t forget to take pictures as a guide to next year’s light design.

Keep Your Christmas Linens Crisp and New Looking

Be sure that your Christmas table linens, bed linens, and towels are clean prior to storage. Stains can oxidize over time and be impossible to remove, so don’t be lazy and store them with wine and gravy stains. Don’t wrap linens in tissue, newsprint, or cardboard as these materials can release gases that will turn your fabric yellow. Plastic can also damage the fabric, and hangars can cause creases that are hard to iron out. If you have the space, you can store these items on an extra shelf in your linen closet. A better option is a suitcase that you no longer use in your storage unit. Keep in mind that these items should be stored in a climate-controlled environment to maintain their beauty and prevent further damage.

Candles Require Special Care

Wrap candles in old socks or cellophane to prevent scratching and color transfer. Do not use plastic wrap or wax paper as they can stick to your candles. After you finish wrapping, store them in a box or crate, even in your ornament storage boxes.Be sure that they are in a climate-controlled area in your home or storage unit. Unless, of course, you want melted, misshapen globs of wax.

Organize

It goes without saying that you should store your boxes strategically and with labels. Not only should each label show a detailed content list, but they should be numbered and stored in the order in which you want to open them.

Storing your decorations the right way is tedious and time consuming; but, when next year rolls around, you’ll be happy to find everything organized and in perfect condition, just like Marie Kondo. Then, you can start the process over again. Happy Holidays!

Have You Heard that Self Storage can be Your Black Friday Helper?

It’s November, and you know what that means. The holiday season is coming in for a landing. With the ease of online shopping, many of us have already begun to stash away Christmas gifts and surprises. And we all know, the earlier you start shopping, the more you buy.

When you think of the excitement on those sweet little faces at 5:00 a.m. on Christmas morning, it’s hard to resist buying everything they want!. Calm down and step away from the credit card. By noon, they’ll be playing with an empty box and sobbing with exhaustion. And you still have to navigate them through the remainder of the day with relatives and friends. Here’s an idea. Make the time leading up to this day of disorder a little bit easier by using self storage.

Give Yourself a Break – Use Self Storage to Stash the Presents

Black Friday is the shopping kickoff, followed by Cyber Monday, and every day and night thereafter until you have to find time to bake cookies, drink wine, and have one of many emotional breakdowns leading up to the big day. After all of that shopping comes the challenge of trying to find hiding places for all of those presents. It’s harder than trying to find a parking space at the mall on Christmas Eve.

You need a plan, or the stashing of gifts will become a logistical nightmare. You’ll forget where you put them; and, if you wrap them prior to hiding, you’ll absolutely forget who they’re meant for. It’s so annoying when you open the freezer and the Lightsaber Academy Interactive Battle Lightsaber falls out and breaks your toe because brain fog caused you to forget you hid it in there. But the most fun you’ll have by far is watching Aunt Karen open Cousin Sydney’s Cards Against Humanity. Cue another breakdown.

Trusted Self Storage is your seasonal helper. Rent a convenient, secure, affordable self storage unit to use as ground zero for gifts. Our small sizes are perfect. You can use inexpensive shelving to keep the gifts off the ground, and you can even add a table to use for wrapping the presents. You don’t have to worry about making a long-term commitment to rent a unit, because we have flexible month-to-month leasing.

Wrap With Friends

Better yet, if you want to save money, rent a slightly larger unit and share with friends. You not only use the space for gifts, but you can set up a wrapping station. Place a folding table with several tape dispensers and scissors in the unit. You can use it individually, or plan a wrapping party, complete with eggnog and snacks. Wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbon can be supplied by each renter.

Choose The Right Storage Facility

If you’re going to use storage for your gifts, you need to find a facility that is secure and convenient.

Location

At this time of year, you need to think about convenience. You’ll be stopping at the unit frequently, so you’ll need a facility in your neighborhood that is close to the places where you shop and run errands.

Security

Cost is an important factor, but it shouldn’t be your only consideration. Find a reputable company with state-of-the-art security. Look for video surveillance, perimeter fencing, security locks, and electronic keypad access. You’ll also want a friendly, knowledgeable management team that is willing to answer your questions, understand your needs, and show you around the property.

Delivery

As an additional advantage, many self-storage facilities accept deliveries. You can spend a day shopping on the internet and have all of your items shipped to your storage facility: the ultimate in convenience.

Climate Control

If you live in an area that’s subject to extreme temperature fluctuations, opting for a climate-controlled unit will be better for you and your gifts. If you plan to share with friends and spend time wrapping gifts in the unit, you want to be comfortable and you want your gifts to be protected from damage and humidity.

Insurance

One last thought. Don’t forget to check with your insurance agent to verify that your gifts are covered under your homeowners’ or renters’ policy. If your policy does not cover these items, you can purchase insurance from your storage company.

You’ll be surprised at how much less stressful your life will be with a safe, comfortable hiding place for your gifts, especially if you bought one of the kids an electric ride-on car. You won’t have to store it in your neighbor’s living room for two months. Merry Christmas!

Creepy Self Storage Stories

Self Storage seems innocent enough. When you run out of space, you rent a unit from a Trusted Self Storage location, move your belongings into the space of your choice, lock the door, and go home, comfortable in the knowledge that your possessions are safe, secure, and conveniently out of your house. For the most part that’s true, but did anyone ever tell you about the insane things that sometimes happen at those other self-storage facilities? In honor of the Halloween season, we thought you might find these spooky stories amusing and maybe a little bit scary. If you want to hear about everything from a meth lab to a chop shop being run out of a storage unit, read on.

Somewhere in a self-storage unit near you …

Looking for spare parts?

A man in Hartford, Connecticut was using two storage units for his “business.” No, I don’t mean his auto supply business; I mean his chop shop. He was dismantling stolen cars and selling the parts or using them to build new cars. This operation was discovered when a picture of a stolen car was posted on Facebook. A good Samaritan who saw the post contacted the victim and explained that he had seen the car in a storage unit. When the Sheriff opened the unit, he found several cars, along with parts and engines. An 18-year old man was later arrested. How’s that for creative vehicle storage?

Need a place to live?

We all know that a storage unit is not for storing “people.” It’s meant to be a home away from home for your belongings, not for you. You can visit your stuff, but you can’t live with it. Unfortunately, the homeless population doesn’t see it that way. Not only did a group of them break into a unit, but they weren’t happy with the chilly temperatures. When firefighters responded to an early-morning fire in a storage unit, they found that it was caused by a heating source that was placed too close to combustible items. Twenty-eight units were affected, causing a $240,000 loss in structural damage and stored items. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

Is your basement meth lab exhausting your space?

Remember Walter White’s storage unit meth lab in Breaking Bad? Well, it seems that he doesn’t have the exclusive on that idea. A man and his uncle bid $80 on an abandoned storage unit in California and ended up with boxes full of meth lab equipment. Another man was arrested in Florida when passersby noted that he was acting strangely. The owners of the property happened to be allowing local law enforcement to use the facility to train their drug-sniffing dogs. When one of the dogs became suspicious, they ran an activity log. The odd tenant at this 5 x 5 unit accessed it twelve times in one week and was always accompanied by a “lookout.” I don’t think he was checking on his vintage Barbie collection.That was the end of his meth lab and his freedom.

Is your pet part of an ugly custody battle?

During a divorce settlement, arguing over custody of pets is becoming commonplace. Pets are not children, but they are part of the family. One cold-blooded fellow took things too far. He trapped a beloved cat in a bin and stored it in a unit. The bin had no air holes, no food, and no water. There are no details as to how long the cat was kept in these conditions; I can only imagine. Not only is this an extreme way to deal with relationship issues, but it is outright animal cruelty. I hope this was reported to local police, and this heartless person was punished appropriately.

Need any spare body parts?

A former Florida assistant medical examiner enjoyed taking his work home with him, but he must have run out of space in his garage. After conducting hundreds of autopsies between 1997 and 2007, he decided to keep a few souvenirs — in his storage locker. Police say Michael Berkland stored more than 100 body parts, including brains and hearts, in his storage unit. He kept them in formaldehyde in specimen cups, trash bags, styrofoam cups and plastic containers. The worst part? Some of the containers were leaking. The body parts were found when the purchaser of the facility was cleaning out the unit. Mr. Berkland is no longer with the medical examiner’s office.

Do you know a missing person?

Mother’s instinctively protect their children, but this is over the edge. For two years, a worried California family searched for a missing relative who had mysteriously disappeared without a trace. His body was eventually discovered in a Southern California self storage unit in a freezer. He was murdered in cold blood by his ex-girlfriend’s son. The girlfriend aided her son in hiding the body in the freezer. Can you say, “Bad Moms”?

Need a place to hide a dead body?

By this time, I’m sure you’re feeling pretty creepy, but I have one more spine-chilling story. Most storage facilities try to avoid auctioning the contents of a tenant’s unit; but, if the monthly rent isn’t paid within a certain time period, the facility is within their legal rights to do so. The owners of a self storage facility in Florida contacted a family to inform them that they would be auctioning off the items in their unit due to unpaid bills. The family explained that they couldn’t do that because their grandmother’s body was still inside! When the unit was opened, the police found a blue painted coffin with the skeletal remains of a woman who had been dead approximately 17 years. The body had been properly prepared for burial, but she was never buried. It seems Page 2 of Google isn’t the only place to hide a dead body.

A certain segment of the population thinks self storage is for more than their cast off furniture. Luckily, with advances in technology, most facilities incorporate state-of-the-art security that will keep even Hannibal Lector from being able to break in or use his storage unit for, let’s say “unusual” items. If you’re considering renting a self-storage unit, choose wisely. You never know who’s watching.

How to Choose the Right Self Storage Facility for Your Needs

The school year is off to its usual confusing start. Fall is a few weeks away, and family gatherings, overnight guests, celebrations, and holiday decorating are closer than you think. Look around your home. Do you have enough space for these events? Is the guest room overflowing with stuff that you have no place for, is the kitchen in need of an update, and are the main rooms crowded with too much furniture? Did you ever think about renting a storage facility as a solution to all of these problems?

The demand for self storage is high, and storage providers are working hard to meet this demand. Renting a facility is as easy as making a phone call or locating a website and clicking a “Reserve” button. There are so many great facilities available that you might need a system to help narrow down the competition.

The following tips and suggestions will help you organize your ideas, prioritize your needs, and find storage that is the best fit for you.

Find the Perfect Self Storage Solution

Understand Your Needs

Think about what you’re storing and how long you plan to store these items.

Make an inventory of all the items you plan to store.
Identify the items that you might need to access while they are in storage.
Measure and estimate the collective packing size of the items you plan to store.
Account for extra space to provide ventilation and ease of access.

Arrange your belongings for easy access. When storing items for short periods of time, it’s fine to pack everything close together. If you’re storing for a longer time, provide extra space for ventilation and for an aisle so that you can access belongings that you may need regularly.

Decide Whether You Need a Climate-Controlled Unit

Climate-controlled spaces keep the temperature and humidity within a specific range.

Whether or not you need a climate-controlled unit depends on the climate in which you’re storing your items. For example, dry climates can cause wood to crack and split, and humid climates can cause mold and mildew. Make your choice based on the value of your belongings and the cost of the unit. Climate-controlled units can be more expensive but worth the cost over time.

Think About Location

How many times will you need to visit your storage facility? If you’re going to need regular access, a convenient location is important. Be aware that a facility located in the heart of the city will be more expensive than one outside of town. If you don’t need quick access to your items, a facility farther from the city will be less costly.

Consider Size Options

Self-storage units are available in a wide range of sizes and configurations. Naturally, larger units cost more per month, so it’s a smart to have an overall idea of how much space you’ll need. You don’t want to pay for extra, unused space unless you’re planning to store more items over time. Another factor to consider is the design of the space. Some units are narrow but have a lot of vertical space; others are wider with lower ceilings. In some cases, one layout may be preferable.

Storage Facility Cost Can Vary Considerably

Because many storage facilities are independently owned, business owners have the option of setting their own prices. It’s always smart to shop around because you may be able to find a better deal by making a few phone calls. Storage companies frequently offer promotions. If your preferred facility isn’t offering any deals, it pays to ask. You can also mention a competitor’s promotion; the facility of your choice may be willing to match the deal.

Verify Security

Cost should not be your only consideration. You need a reputable company with state-of-the-art security, a variety of customer amenities, and a range of unit sizes that will be a good fit for your needs. Look for video surveillance, perimeter fencing, security locks, and electronic access. You’ll also want a knowledgeable management team that is willing to provide you with answers to your questions, a tour of the property, and a professional level of customer service.

Check Insurance

If you have homeowner’s or renter’s insurance, call your agent to verify that your stored belongings are covered under your present policy. You may find that your facility must provide specific security features in order for your items to be covered. If your policy does not cover stored items, you should be able to purchase insurance from your preferred storage Company.

Tenant Protection Plan

Some facilities offer a tenant protection plan. This plan is not insurance but a contractual agreement between the facility and the tenant, with the facility assuming limited responsibility for the tenant’s belongings while they are stored in a locked unit. In other words, operators agree to pay customers for damages to belongings up to a specified dollar amount. These plans are typically offered in several coverage options and paid for along with monthly rent. They’re inexpensive and add an extra layer of protection to already existing security systems. It’s worth a discussion with the facility manager.

Conclusion

Whatever you do, choose carefully. It’s worth the time and effort to find the facility that is your best option. Once you’ve moved your belongings into a unit, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll want to take the time and trouble to switch facilities.

Wishing for a Home Gym: Use Self Storage to Transform Your Garage

Are you tired of crowded gyms, expensive memberships, and travel time going to and from your gym? Would you love to wake up and go to a mini-gym that is conveniently located just a few short steps from your bedroom? Why not transform a room in your house into the perfect personal workout space? If you don’t have the extra room in your home, think about your garage. You can turn it into a home gym with all of the equipment you need right at your fingertips. It may take some time and a self storage unit, but in the end you’ll be working on your strength training at home!

Read more to discover how to create a personalized version of your gym that is a perfect fit for you.

Clear it Out

Unless you’ve been cleaning it regularly, your garage has become a space for everything that you don’t want to keep in the house. Unopened boxes from your last move, Christmas decorations, craft supplies, and useless junk are taking up valuable space. This is why you need to rent a storage unit. Before you read further check out our previous article Choosing the Right Self Storage Unit.

Take everything out of the garage and place it in three groups: keep, discard, and donate. The items you’re keeping will get packed up and put in storage, and the items you’re discarding will get packed up for the trash. The items you’re donating can be placed in storage until you decide who is getting what. You’re focused on your home gym right now; self storage gives you a place to keep the donations until later.

Clean it Up

Now that you’ve emptied your space, it’s time for a deep clean. The best way to ensure that you don’t miss any dirt is to work from the top down. Start with the ceiling, move to the walls, and then down to the floor. You’ll need to dust and scrub everything before you get to the fun of making the space appealing as well as functional.

Spruce it Up

Paint the walls and ceiling an appealing, bright color and install good lighting. You want to be able to use this space at any time of day. Flooring is important; a cold, cement floor is not the most comfortable place to work out. Carpet sounds nice, but won’t last under heavy workout equipment. The best option is laminate flooring; or, if you want to spend a bit more, you could opt for jigsaw interlocking floor mats. If you choose the laminate, you’ll need to consider purchasing workout mats.

Don’t forget about ventilation. You don’t want to be exercising in uncomfortable conditions. If the garage isn’t already temperature controlled, you can look into portable units that will do the job.

Make it Entertaining

Watching TV or listening to music makes it easier to motivate yourself to work out. If it fits your budget, a wall-mounted TV with a sound system is perfect. You can use it for watching TV and listening to music. Not essential, but fun.

Equip it Properly

Purchasing the right equipment can be a challenge. Where do you begin? Think about your goals and what you want to achieve. If you’re experienced, you’re already aware of your specific needs, but where do you find the right equipment at the right price? Do you want a bike, treadmill, weights, or a freestanding punching bag? If you’re a newbie, check out the verywell fit site for help. This site explains different types of setups, cost, safety, and other handy hints.

Don’t forget about shelving or storage for your weights, kettlebells, and other small items.

Enjoy It

You’ve moved all the clutter to your storage unit, and you’re gradually finishing your home gym. Get the TV connected, fire up the sound system, and you’ll be ready to enjoy your workouts without the hassle of costs, commutes, or expensive gym clothes.

Use Self Storage to Give Yourself a Home Office Upgrade

Working from home, once considered out of the ordinary, is now a regular occurrence. There are plenty of advantages when your commute is just a few steps from your bedroom. You save time and money, and you have far more flexibility than you would in a traditional office environment. Being able to do your job from home, however, means that you need to create a designated office space and outfit it with the must-haves that will make it a work friendly, cozy haven that you’ll enjoy every day.

Look around your home and decide on the best place to locate your office. If you have family, meaning a spouse and children of any age, you need to be able to close the door.

Working from home takes a lot of self-discipline and dedication. It’s not easy to stay motivated over the long haul without giving in to distractions and losing your drive. Nevertheless, you can have the best of both worlds with a little effort and a lot of good advice.

To make your work-from-home life easier, you need to carve out that designated office space. This does not mean finding a corner for an old card table and working with out-of-date technology and uncomfortable furniture. It means surrounding yourself with items that will delight and inspire you. You left a drab cubicle. You don’t need another one.

This is where a safe, secure self-storage unit comes into play. You need a space at home for an office. Whether you choose to make over an extra bedroom, a dreary room originally designated as office space, or a cozy attic area that’s been turned into a playroom, you need to start cleaning and make that space your own. Even though you don’t need all of this stuff right now, you don’t want to discard it because you might eventually use it. You just need a place to put it! Self storage gives you the solution to that problem – the cost effective option of being able to keep your belongings and set up your new office.

Following is a list of items that will maximize your motivation by surrounding yourself with things that make you comfortable, happy and productive.

Work-From-Home Essentials

TaoTronics LED Desk Lamp

Eye comfort is so important to productivity, and this trendy little TaoTronics lamp comes with seven brightness levels and five color modes via built-in touch controls. It’s gentle on the eyes, with a flicker-free light that brightens your space without harming your vision. It also comes with a built-in USB port to keep your phone at a full charge. It’s energy efficient and has a frosted light panel to prevent unwanted glare. All this and a very reasonable price.

Porthos Home Xenos Swivel Office Chair

For functionality as well as luxury, you can beat this swivel chair. It ranks high in understated elegance, with velvet upholstery, chrome legs, and a choice of delectable colors. You can instantly adjust the height to complement any desk so that you can sit slouch free, eliminating neck strain, frozen shoulders and backache. It turns in every direction so that you can swivel and roll yourself right over to the printer. The Porthos chair is available on Overstock at a very budget-friendly price.

TaoTronics Laptop Desk

Sometimes you just feel like working from the couch, or even in bed, but you don’t want to fall asleep and experience a sore neck or back. With this TaoTronics Laptop Desk, you can work comfortably. The height elevation adjusts from 5 levels, from 9.5 to 12.6 inches, so you can use this table on your desk or couch, as well as on the floor. The angle-adjustable table tilts at 0-, 15-, 25-, or 35 degrees. The retractable blockers keep it from falling off if you’re working on the sofa. This table even has a wrist rest to reduce strain.

Sony Noise Canceling Headphones

Don’t let your kids loud play or your neighbors construction project disturb your concentration. These Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones are comfortable, foldable, and ensure absolute concentration. Smart listening adjusts noise-canceling levels based on your activity. Touch controls easily let you control music and volume, and a single charge has up to 30 hours of battery life. Alexa is built in so you can ask for information or take calls without using your hands. The comfort and adaptability of the headphones makes them a great addition to your walking breaks.

Dell UntraSharp 24-Inch Screen Monitor

If you need a large, clear display for spreadsheets and design work, boasting a 16:10 aspect ratio, 2910 x 1200 resolution and ultra-wide, 178 x 178 degree viewing angle, the Dell UltraSharp 24-inch Screen Monitor is for you. You can upgrade your setup by connecting with another monitor thanks to the thin 6.9mm bezel that allows “borderless”viewing. This monitor can swivel and pivot depending on your needs and you can also connect other USB devices for convenient charging.

ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion

Whether you’re using a conventional office chair or a bar stool to do your work, you need comfortable seating to prevent lower back or other aches and pains. The ergonomic design of the ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion provides extra support and helps reduce pressure on your tailbone. And, It’s versatility allows you to take it from your desk chair to your car or airplane.

Work From Home Delights

Indoor Plants from The Sill

Though not essential to your home office, plants can relieve stress, elevate your mood, and foster a happier work environment. The Sill, an online plant delivery company, offers a wide variety of indoor plant options. Their website is perfect for plant “beginners” and walks you through finding the best plant for your needs and how to care for it.

InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Enjoy relaxing scents while you work with the InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser. The compact size and two cool misting modes make this diffuser a pleasant addition to your home office. You can set it to mist every 30 seconds (it will last 6-8 hours), or mist continuously (lasting 3-4 hours). The relaxing scents are calming and create instant fragrance. You don’t have to worry because it has a waterless auto-off to prevent overheating.

West Elm Cotton Knit Throw

Whether you’re going through a mid-winter cold spell or a sizzling summer heat wave with cranked up air conditioning, the West Elm Cotton Knit Throw is a comfy, cozy addition to take off the chill in your office space. Sitting at your desk for several hours can make you feel frosty, and this cozy throw will not only add a touch of style to your office, but will come in handy to take off the chill. It’s 100% cotton, machine washable, and comes in eight pretty colors.

Don’t Forget that Your “The Boss” of Your Office

Unlike the conventional office where management makes the rules, you get to make the rules in this office. You can paint or wallpaper in your favorite colors, and hang paintings, posters, or family photos. Use your own personal touches and creativity to make it your space. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in this room, and you want to look forward to the experience of working at home. Have fun with it, and enjoy everything that comes with being able to work in your own personal space.