If You Work From Home, Here’s 6 Tips To Create The Perfect WFH Office

The widespread work from home movement was born of necessity during COVID-19. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2019 and 2021, the number of people primarily working from home tripled — from 9 million to 27.6 million. Years later, working from home continues to be a way of life with some still at home on a full-time basis, and millions more engaging in a hybrid model, dividing their time between home and office work.

Working remotely provides the opportunity to live almost anywhere, allowing renters and homeowners alike to move out of expensive cities and into more affordable regions — and some buyers are even rejecting suburban McMansions in favor of minimalist, simple-sized homes that require less upkeep and provide more peace and quiet.

Another advantage of working from home: commute time savings. A report by the National Bureau of Economic Research reveals that globally, people who work from save an average of 72 minutes a day that would have been spent commuting (in the U.S. the average daily commute time is 55 minutes). Working from home also results in less wear and tear on vehicles, and reduces clothing costs – and this extra money will come in handy now that they need a six-figure salary to comfortably afford a home.

Admittedly, some companies are beckoning their employees back to work, even though a report by Hubstaff reveals that remote workers experience fewer interruptions and spend more time on focused tasks, compared to office workers (22.75 hours/week versus 18.6 hours/week).

A home office, or a space that can be used for a home office, is now a feature that both homeowners and potential buyers consider an advantage. I previously covered the most popular home projects, according to the 2024 Houzz and Home Study, and in 2023, homeowners spent 6.6 months planning how they would renovate their home offices, and an additional 3 months on actual home office construction/remodeling. On average, survey respondents spent $2,000 renovating a space to convert it into a home office.

“Working from home can be super relaxing — sometimes even a little too relaxing,” says New York City interior designer Emma Beryl. However, she tells me that creating the perfect WFH space can help you stay motivated and get your work done.

But this entails more than just a cool design and stylish items to make your home office look good. “Proper home ergonomics can help prevent degenerative disc problems at L5 from prolonged sitting with a poor work setup" explains Dr. Allen Conrad at the Montgomery County Chiropractic Center in North Wales, Pennsylvania. "With a proper ergonomic home workspace setup, you can help prevent degenerative spine conditions which could lead to painful sciatica,” he says.

Whether you want to renovate, or just furnish and decorate your office space, these are some helpful tips to create the perfect WFH environment.

Location

If you’re building or renovating your home, Jay Kallos, SVP of architecture at Ashton Woods in Atlanta, Georgia, recommends putting the home office in a quiet, remote part of your home. “In new construction, you can add sound insulation to aid in creating a quiet sanctuary,” he says. However, Kallos advises against using a barn door if you need to keep noise out of the office (although it’s fine if noise is not a problem).

One of his personal preferences is to use daylight to help keep track of time, but window placement is crucial. “If your office is in the front of your home, I recommend a window on the side or rear of the office – but not in the front, because you could be distracted by what is going on in front of your house.”

Ariana Lovato, owner and principal designer at Honeycomb Home Design in Arroyo Grande, California, agrees that distractions should be kept to a minimum. “The best case scenario would be to dedicate a spare bedroom to your work space so you can close the doors and have privacy for phone calls and meetings, but for most, space is limited, and usually work from home happens in a small corner of a living room.”

Design Look

But if you have space to create separation, Leigh Spicher, Orlando, Florida-based national director of design studios for Ashton Woods, tells me that similar to the concept that bedrooms are for sleeping (and other stuff) only, home office spaces are for work only.

“Thoughtful design can ensure this space is free from the stress of mixing work with family time,” she says. “Move the home office out of a secondary bedroom or the dining room into a dedicated space that is for work only.” And Spicher likes a space with doors that you can close either when you’re working or when you’ve closed up shop for the day.

Christopher Grubb is an interior designer and the founder of Beverly Hills-based Arch-Interiors Design Group. “The majority of the time, we approach the design of a workspace to have a much different look from the home to create the psychological effect that you have ‘gone to work,’” he tells me.

Before the pandemic, Grubb says the emphasis in a workspace was to create as little clutter as possible, based on the theory that without a lot of stuff, people could focus and not be distracted. “But now, we have exceptions of the clients that want dramatic wallpaper that they say gives them energy for the workday, and an appreciation of accessories they can look at while on calls, which make them feel happy and more relaxed.”

Also, during the pandemic, some people worked outdoors in the fresh air and post-pandemic, exterior workspaces are still popular. “For them, we install in-deck waterproof power and data outlets underneath an outdoor dining table used as a desk,” Grubb says. “We also install outdoor waterproof outlets with USB connections at outdoor cooking areas or seating zones, which are also ideal for a guest who wants to charge a device.” In fact, his firm has even used motorized outdoor umbrellas that include lighting and heat at the dining table ‘desks.’

Functionality

You want a stylish office, but functionality is also important. “The Europeans included it for years, but the American market now appreciates efficient and versatile organizational details in drawers and in cabinetry,” Grubb says. For example, he says printers and shredders can be hidden in furniture with slide-out shelves.

“If you do have a built-in, make sure to get extra shelves, which provides the possibility to store smaller items, instead of having objects stacked awkwardly high because of fewer shelves.” And if you don’t use the extra shelves, Grubb says you can just put them in the bottom of the cabinet, but this is much easier than trying to order additional shelves later.

Beryl also likes the idea of furniture as storage. “I recommend a cabinet or credenza for storage options to keep clutter off your work surface so it can remain stylish and organized,” she says.

Interior designer Tama Bell in Sebastopol, CA, tells me that she likes to use a large desk or table with beautiful lines for the main work station. “There is nothing that makes working from home harder than not enough space to spread out.” Bell often uses an L-shaped configuration with some type of console with file storage. “I find that when it is easy to file as one works, it helps to keep things looking tidy and functioning well, and it also allows for a second surface for your computer or laptop.”

In addition, she likes a pair of tall bookcases, within easy access of the desk area. “This is used to store all the necessary working items that one needs, but to also decorate or style with photos, books and accessories.” Bell says that having a space that is personal and beautiful makes working from home a happy necessity.

Sound

According to Grubb (and confirmed by many awful virtual meetings), most workspaces are not conducive for audio and video calls and they also tend to have an echo. “A go-to is an area rug on tile or wood floors, which provides one layer that absorbs sound.” He’s also using more decorative acoustical panels with a thick felt-like quality, and they’re available in solids, shapes or a material that looks like it’s woven, and other dramatic effects. “The panels come in a variety of colors, and the acoustical paint is white, and any color can be painted over it.” Grubb explains that blue tones tend to work best behind the person on a call. “It is a peaceful color, gender-neutral, and gives the viewer a nicer feeling than a cold gray.”

Here’s another tip: Grubb reveals that the more soft surfaces you have (including upholstered furniture or drapery), the more sound absorption in the room. “One client even opens closet doors that have clothes hanging in them to absorb noise when they are on calls,” he says.

Lighting

Lighting is also an important WHF office component, as the right light can help to prevent eye strain. “Light rings are a must, and most rooms have downlights or a chandelier as the light source,” Grubb says. “Put all of your lighting in a room on a dimmer to control the intensity and avoid a ‘hotspot’ on top of your head during a video call.” If you have windows, he says the natural light is excellent for its wellness quality. “And we like using motorized shades that are on a remote control and operate from a battery pack to give you additional control of the natural lighting coming in.”

Beryl recommends placing the home office in a space by a natural light source if possible. “You want to be able to choose if you close the curtains or blinds to limit light, or keep them open to let the sunlight in,” she says. “If you work in a dark space, the second you step out into a room with sunlight, your eyes are going to feel tired.”

Ergonomics

Lovato adds that it’s important to invest in a comfortable chair and a large monitor so you can work comfortably. Dr. Allen Conrad at the Montgomery County Chiropractic Center in North Wales, Pennsylvania agrees, noting that the right ergonomic workspace can lead to reduced pain and less eye strain headaches.

“Many of these problems arise from a poor WFH ergonomic computer workspace — which may have begun out of necessity, but if working from home is something that will be part of your regular routine, then it’s time for proper ergonomics.”

For example, if you’re sitting in a chair that’s too low, Conrad says it will cause you to lean forward more than usual. “This can lead to neck or back strain, and limit how long you can be on the computer doing work.” Depending on your height, if you have a taller chair, he says you may need a shorter desk, and if you have a shorter chair, he says you may need to raise the monitor to accommodate it.

“When you can sit longer without pain, you can get more done, since less strain on the back and shoulders will allow you to sit for longer periods of time and not lose your train of thought,” Conrad explains.

Dr. Sapna Sriram, chiropractor and injury expert at Integra Health Centre in Toronto, Ontario, recommends using adjustable standing desks or standing desk converters, as they offer a range of benefits:

Improved Posture: “Standing encourages better posture as it reduces the likelihood of slouching and promotes a more upright position, reducing strain on the spine,” Sriram says.

Enhanced Ergonomics: The ability to adjust the height of an adjustable standing desk or standing desk converter lets you customize your workspace for optimal ergonomic comfort, and Sriram says this reduces the risk of musculoskeletal problems.

Increased Energy and Productivity: “Standing can boost blood circulation and energy levels, potentially leading to increased productivity and focus during work hours,” Sriram explains,

Reduced Health Risks: “Prolonged sitting has been associated with various health risks, including obesity, cardiovascular issues, and back pain,” Sriram warns. However, she says that using a standing desk or standing desk converter can help mitigate these risks by reducing sedentary behavior.

These are some of the items that can help you create a stylish, comfortable, and ergonomic office space.

Adjustable Standing Desk

The Eureka Ergonomic Two-Drawer Electric Standing Desk has a genuine leather finish. The quiet dual-motor lift system can increase the desk’s height from 34 to 52 inches. The desktop is 55 inches in length by 23.6 inches wide and has a maximum weight capacity of 220 pounds. It includes a built-in outlet, built-in USB port, wireless charger, two drawers, and a movable monitor shelf.

If you’re looking for a smaller option, the Burrow Copilot Standing Desk is 27 inches in length and 43 inches in width, and has a height range of 28.5 to 48 inches. The desk drawer is large enough to hold a 17-inche laptop, keyboard, and mouse, and the desk also has a cord organization compartment on top, as well as a 6-inch monitor mount opening on the back. The solid beech desk, which has a weight capacity of 300 pounds, is available in walnut and oak.

Ergonomic Chair

The Humanscale Freedom Task Chair is unique in that it doesn’t need a lot of levers or dials. It has a dynamic headrest, self-adjusting recline, and synchronous arms attached to the back of the chair. Everything works together to automatically adjust to body weight and seated position. The one lever on the chair is used to adjust the height from 34.6 inches to 41.7 inches. The chair, which has a weight capacity of 400 pounds, is available in leather, woven upholstery, and knit, and in several textile colors.

The X4 Leather Executive Chair is available with or without an headrest, and it also includes optional massage options, such as a heat and massage insert, or a cooling, heat and massage insert. The chair comes standard with 4D arms, but you can choose 360-degree rotating arms instead. The seat’s height can be adjusted from 18.5 to 22.5 inches and the seat depth can be adjusted as well. Maximum weight capacity is 275 pounds. Leather color options include cognac, black, brown, red, and white.

Available in mesh, digital knit or leather, the Haworth Zody Office Chair has a dual posture option that supports you whether sitting down or in a perch position (partially-standing and partially sitting), which is common with adjustable standing desks. It comes with an optional lumbar adjustment system. Both the seat height and seat depth can be adjusted, and the chair also has a forward tilt, tilt tension, and back stop. It has a weight limit of 400 pounds.

The Serene Executive Napa Leather Office Chair is made of full-grain Napa leather, available in black, off-white, black/red, and orange. The headrest has an arc-shape that gently supports the neck and head while relieving pressure. Also, the three-dimensional lumbar pillow supports the spine and eases lower back fatigue. The chair reclines from 90 to 135 degrees, and the seat height and depth are adjustable as well. The weight limit is 300 pounds.

External Monitor

If you like to keep dozens of folders open on your desktop, the Innocn 34” OLED Curved Ultrawide Monitor has plenty of screen real estate and is also large enough to keep you from having to squint. The WQHD monitor has a 175Hz refresh rate, and it can tilt, swivel, and includes a height-adjustable stand — although it can also be wall mounted. There are several inputs, including two HDMI 2.0, DP1.4, two USB-A 3.0, USB-B 3.0, Type-C 65W, and audio out. The monitor also has a 15W phone charging pad.

Another option is the QHD MSI 27" Gaming Monitor, which has a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a LCD panel with LED backlight. It also has a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms response time, which makes it a good choice for gaming as well. The curved monitor also has a tilt adjustment feature. Hardware interface includes HDMI, and DisplayPort.

Portable Monitor

Portable monitors are an alternative to external monitors. They provide the advantage of being easy to transport, so you can also toss them in your laptop bag when traveling. The FHD ASUS ZenScreen Ink 14" Portable Monitor is a touch screen monitor with a stylus pen (with 4096 level pressure sensitivity). It has an integrated stand, along with two USB-C and one micro-HDMI input.

The generous size of the Espresso 17 Pro Portable Monitor and Stand can make it easy to add a second screen to your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. The touch screen monitor has 4K resolution, 450 nits of brightness, and 1.07 billion colors. It’s also ultra-light, weighing 2.4 pounds and is only 0.35 inches thick. The monitor includes a USB-C cable, but also has ports for HDMI, and mini DisplayPort. The display stand, which attaches magnetically, can be adjusted as needed.

Dual Portable Monitor

Dual monitors are a way to extend your laptop screen even more. The 1080p KYY 14" Dual Monitor attaches on both sides of your laptop (and has a built-in kickstand), for a total of three screens. In addition to extended mode, the dual monitor setup can be used in portrait or presentation mode. The IPS LCD monitor is compatible with 12-inch to 16-inch laptops and has a low blue light feature. It comes with a Type-C to Type-C/USB-A Cable and a Type-C to USB-A cable.

Another dual monitor option, The Portable Monitor Flex 14” has two 14-inch LED screens (1920 x 1080), 300 nits of brightness, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The thin and feather-light monitor is easy to swivel 180 degrees and it can be used in both portrait and vertical mode, as well as in presentation mode. The integrated stand is also adjustable to 90 degrees. The monitor includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, and a USB-C to USB 3.0/2.0 cable.

Standing Desk Converter/Portable Table

In lieu of an adjustable standing desk, you can use your existing desk and put the Flexispot Standing Desk Converter on top of it. Available in a variety of sizes ranging from 32 inches to 42 inches, it can be used on standard, L-shaped, and compact desks. The desk converter can adjust in height from 5.7 inches to 19.7 inches, and has room for your laptop and monitor(s) on top, and your keyboard on the second shelf.

For those times when you want to sit on the sofa, the Haworth Elements 4-Function Table can be used to hold your laptop — either horizontally as a lap table, or vertically as an end table (and you can also use it as a standing desk converter to make your desk taller, or as an ottoman for your feet). It’s made of laser-cut solid steel with a powder coat-finish, available in charcoal, smooth plaster, desert rose, terra cotta, moss, and stone. The table in 24.5 inches in height, 15.5 inches, and 11.74 inches in depth.

Desk Shelf

To bring your monitor to eye level, the Vari Desk Shelf is a modern desk riser that’s 4 inches tall. It’s also 40 inches wide, with enough space to hold two monitors. The matte black shelf, which has a 50-pound weight capacity, can also hold other desk accessories neatly and out of the way.

If you prefer more color choices, Grovemade Desk Shelf is available in matte black, solid walnut, solid maple, solid oak, matte blue, blackened walnut, oak plywood, walnut plywood, maple plywood, and matte white. The desk shelf comes in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes, and with and without a desk tray. Each shelf supports monitors up to 50 pounds.

Lamp

The Energy Star-certified Humanscale Nova Task Light has a customized optical lens to reduce glare, and counterbalance arms that rotate 180 degrees. It uses only 7 watts to produce a 3000k (warm) to 4000k (cool) temperature range. The light has touch dimming and occupancy sensor to turn off 15 minutes after no presence has been detected. Color choices include jet black, light gray, and arctic white.

If you prefer a floor standing option, the Dyson Solarcycle Floor Lamp can be used as a task light at your desk to reduce eye strain, but you can also rotate the optional head when soft background light is preferred. It can also be used to create indirect light, and feature lighting. In addition, the magnetic docking system can emit a soft, orange glow when you want ambient light. The lamp, which has a light output of 850 lumens, can be controlled manually or via the MyDyson app. It’s available in black, black/brass, and white/silver

Mouse/Keyboard

The Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse has an ergonomic silhouette that’s designed to provide support for your fingers and palm, and the tilt angle creates a more natural posture. It’s wireless, and a full charge can last for 70 days, while a 1-minute charge lasts for 3 hours. Color choices are graphite, pale gray, and black.

The Logitech MX Keys S Keyboard is an ergonomically-design wireless keyboard with spherically-dished keys for an efficient and comfortable typing experience. A full charge lasts for 10 days, and the ambient light sensors can adjust the brightness of the backlighting. The keyboard comes in three colors: black, graphite, and pale gray.

Desk Pad

A desk pad can instantly make your desk look better, and also protect it from scratches and spills. The Harber London Leather Desk Mat is made of 100% full-grain leather on one side, and has 100% natural wool felt padding on the other side (although you can also choose a microfiber padding instead). The desk mat has a cut-through cable pass to help corral all of your cables. Color choices include tan, black, and navy, and in several sizes.

Another option, with a natural cork backing, is the Grovemade Leather Desk Pad, which is made of a premium vegetable-tanned leather. It comes in various sizes, including small, small plus, medium, medium plus, large, and extra-large. Color choices are black and tan.

Speaker

Listening to the right music can increase your work performance. The Klipsch Nashville Portable Bluetooth Speaker is small enough that it won’t take up much space on your desk. However, it has dual woofers and dual tweeters for rich, 360-degree sound. One charge powers the speaker for up to 24 hours, and the speaker itself can also recharge a phone. Also, the built-in microphone lets you take hands-free phone calls.

If you prefer a speaker that looks like a work of art, Balmuda The Speaker has a glass display with three tubes containing LED lights that synchronize with the music. The cylindrical structure has a 77mm speaker, and a 3D sound driver that diffuses sounds upwardly for an omnidirectional experience. The speaker is lightweight (weighing 2.2 pounds) and provides 7 hours of listening time on a single charge.

Smartwatch

Working from home can create a more sedentary lifestyle, and a smartwatch helps to monitor your health. The Polar Grit X2 Pro Watch can track how many steps you take, monitor your heart rate, and provide reminders to drink more water. The guided breathing exercise helps to relax your body and calm your mind when you’re stressed, and the sleep features can track the length and quality of your sleep and identify factors that negatively impact sleep quality. The touchscreen watch has an AMOLED display, over 150 sport profiles, dual-frequency GPSm and offline maps. Battery life is up to 10 days, and color choices are night black and stone gray.

If you prefer a more elegant choice, the Withings Scanwatch Nova Smartwatch has an oyster metal bracelet (and also a fluoroelastomer sport band). It provides smartphone notifications, health heart tracking (including average heart rate and atrial fibrillation), respiratory insights such as blood oxygen levels and breathing disturbances, menstrual cycle tracking, and 24/7 temperature tracking. The watch also tracks movement in over 40 activities, and provides a sleep quality score. Battery life is 30 days.

Smartphone

The Motorola Razr+ Flip Phone has a 3.6-inch pOLED display, which makes it easy to look at photos and videos, access the built-in keyboard, and view notifications without having to open the phone. The sleek design of the lightweight phone also unfolds to a 6.9-inch screen, and has a 165Hz refresh rate for playing games. Dolby Atmos audio with Bluetooth experiences optimized by Snapdragon Sound combine to create all-around sound, and Ultrawide Macro Vision lens can captures everything from wide-angle shots to close ups.

The OnePlus 12R Smartphone, which is available with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB of storage, or 16GB RAM and 256GB of storage, can charge from 1% to 100% in just 31 minutes, and the 5500mAh battery is long-lasting. Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the phone is designed to be powerful, and the Dual Cryo-velocity cooling system keeps the device cool when gaming or during other types of graphics-intensive activities. The phone has a triple camera system, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and a fingerprint sensor.

Projector

A portable projector can be used for virtual presentations and also for entertaining. The FHD XGIMI Halo+ Projector has 700 ISO lumens of brightness, along with auto focus, auto keystone correction, intelligent screen alignment, and intelligent obstacle avoidance, to adjust the display as needed for clear and sharp images. And those images can be cast in sizes ranging from 60 inches to 120 inches. Audio consists of two 5W Harman/Kardon speakers with Dolby Audio for distortion-free Hi-Fi sound. The projector has a 2.5-hour battery life and Android TV is built in.

Another option is the ASUS ZenBeam L2 Smart Portable Projector, which has 960 LED lumens. The projector has FHD resolution as well as 4K compatibility. It projects images from 40 inches to 120 inches. Autofocus, four corner correction, and auto geometric correction features are also included in the projector, which has a 3.5-hour built-in battery, and built-in 10W Harman/Kardon speaker. Also included is a Google-certified Android TV box, and preloaded Netflix. The leather carrying handle makes the projector easy to transport.

Headphones And Earbuds

If you work from home, noise-cancelling headphones are a must. However, some people prefer earbuds instead. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 Earbuds feature active noise cancellation to block unwanted sounds and also provide clear phone calls. The hi-res earbuds also have two-way drive units in each of the earbuds to create sound that is rich and full. The app also lets you stream and browse songs, and control your headphones. Battery life is 5 hours with ANC off, and the charging case provides an additional 16 hours. Color choices are midnight blue, satin black, and canvas white.

For a longer battery life, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 Earbuds can provide up to 30 hours of playtime. Using adaptive noise cancellation, the earbuds, which have a 6-microphone system, automatically adjust to noise based on your surroundings. The TrueResponse transducer system is designed to transmit all of the fine sound quality details and multipoint connectivity lets you switch between two connected devices. The app can be used to manage connections, control noise cancellation, and customize other features. Color choices are black graphite, black copper, and white silver.

Docking Station/Power Bank

Whether you use a Mac or a PC, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock has enough inputs to handle everything. The 16 ports include 2 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Thunderbolt 4 (host), USB-C 3.2 10Gbps, 3 USB-A 3.2 10Gbps, 2 USB-A 3.2 5Gbps, USB 2.0 (charge), SD and micro SD, ethernet, and audio jack. The dock can support laptops, phones, tablets, monitors, keyboards, mice, and other devices.

If you don’t need as many ports, the UGREEN 145W Charging Bank is a portable charger with three ports:, USB-A, USB-C1, and USB-C2. Capable of charging a 13” MacBook Air in 90 minutes, it easily charges other devices as well. The charging bank helps to free up your wall outlets, and the last-longing battery makes it ideal for tossing in your backpack or laptop bag and using it at the airport, café, or even when camping.

Portable Power Station

If the power goes out at home, you can continue to work with the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus Solar Generator, which has a 2042.8Wh capacity, and can, for example, power a desktop PC for 12 hours, a refrigerator for 3.1 hours, a projector for 14 hours, and a microwave for 1.5 hours. It’s more than capable of powering a laptop, monitor, tablet, smartphone, and other WFH items as well. While you can charge the solar generator using six 200-watt solar panels in 2 hours, you can also charge it via an AC outlet in 2 hours as well – and it can also be charged via the car auxiliary port.

For even more power, the 6,000 Wh Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station can power, for example, a Wi-Fi router for 40.1 hours, TV for 20.1 hours, refrigerator for 14.9 hours, and microwave for 4.3 hours. It can power a projector for 24.3 hours, and provide 454.4 phone charges and 61.6 laptop charges. The portable power station can be charged via AC outlet, solar panels, or car auxiliary port.

Beverage Carbonator and Fridge

Working from home, you may miss the free and endless supply of bottled water. However, with the Breville InFuzz Fusion, you can add some pizazz to your tap water, and also add fizz to soda, juice, tea, cocktails, and wine. The carbonator doesn’t require batteries or power – just use the fusion cap. And the 34-ounce bottle allows you to carbonate and then store your favorite beverage in the refrigerator. The stainless-steel carbonator is available in brushed stainless steel, black truffle, sea salt, damson blue, and olive tapenade.

Depending on how far you are from the kitchen, it may be inconvenient to go back and forth from the home office. However, this Hamilton Beach Wine Cooler Fridge is compact enough to store in your office, and it can hold 43 bottles of wine – but can also be used to store bottled water, soft drinks, energy drinks, and fruit. The stylish appliance is 5 cubic feet, and has wooden shelves and interior lights, in addition to the touch control temperature display.

Air Purifier/Fan

Indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air, and can result in sick building syndrome. The Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan uses a dual True HEPA filtration system to capture pollen, pet dander, and other allergens and pollutants. The air purifier, which has 12 fan speeds, can also quietly output cool air from up to 40 feet away. And since the device has both a fan motor and a purifier motor, you can turn the purifier off and just use the fan. The air purifier has onboard controls, but also includes a remote, and can even be controlled via the Dreo app on your smartphone.

Another unique fan choice is the Shark FlexBreeze Fan with InstaCool Mist Attachment. The versatile fan can be used either corded or cordless (the battery has a 24-hour runtime), depending on your preferences. The 180-degree oscillating fan has 5 fan speeds, and can tilt up or down. The fan can also be adjusted from pedestal to tabletop mode by just pressing a button. In addition, the fan has an instacool misting attachment, so you can take it outside, connect it to your hose, and the water-resistant fan can cool the outdoor space by up to 10 degrees.

Backpack/Tote/Briefcase

For those occasions when you need to go to the office, Expressions NYC makes a variety of stylish backpack options, including the tan vegan leather Lenox Ave Backpack, which has adjustable shoulder straps and can also be converted to a cross body bag. The backpack has a top zipper, two exterior front zipper pockets, and an exterior zipper pocket on the back. The black Upper West Side Backpack, also made of vegan leather, has a detachable top handle and adjustable back shoulder straps. It also features a zipper pocket and a slide-in pocket.

The black Harber London TotePack is made of recycled plastic bottles fabric combined with full grain leather. It has a padded compartment that can fit up to a 16-inch laptop, and another padded compartment that fits up to a 13-inch tablet. The totepack has a zippered main compartment, zippered inner compartment, and 2 inner side pockets, along with a trolley sleeve. The tan Everyday Leather Briefcase has a padded laptop compartment, padded tablet compartment, dedicated charger pocket, dedicated slots for pens and cords, pockets for notepads and passports, detachable magnetic key chair, trolley sleeve, and carry strap.