Home Office Setup: How to Build a Desk You Can Work at All Day.

Our picks at a glance

• Best for a proper desk: Rustic Brown Metal Frame Office PC Workstation with Storage Shelf from InStock.net
• Best for screen height: Samsung 24" S40GD Office Monitor with Height Adjustment from Joybuy
• Best for task lighting: Anglepoise Type 75 Desk Lamp, Jet Black from Buy Me Once
• Best for video calls: Jabra Evolve2 40 SE Stereo USB-A MS Corded Headset from liGo
• Best for working away from the desk: Folding Lap Desk with Cupholder from Rinkit

How we chose

We chose these by comparing product details, dimensions and specifications from retailers we work with against what actually matters at a home desk: adjustability, space, light and call quality. We don't run lab tests and we haven't used these products ourselves, so everything below is based on what the retailers state. Where a detail matters and isn't in the listing, we tell you what to check before you buy.

Home office setup: getting comfortable at your desk

The aim is a neutral posture you can hold for hours without noticing it. The HSE's guidance on display screen equipment is worth a read if you work from home most days, but these are the basics.

Screen

• The top of the screen should sit at or slightly below eye level, roughly an arm's length away.
• If you work from a laptop, raise it on a stand or books and use a separate keyboard and mouse. A laptop flat on the desk pulls your head forward all day.

Desk and chair

• Set your chair first: feet flat on the floor (or a footrest), thighs roughly level, lower back supported.
• Then check the desk. Your elbows should rest at about a right angle with forearms close to level when you type. If the desk feels high, raise the chair and add a footrest.
• Aim for at least 60cm of depth, and 70–80cm if you can, so the screen sits back at arm's length with room in front of the keyboard to rest your wrists.

Light

• Put the desk side-on to a window rather than facing it or with it behind you. That keeps glare off the screen and stops you squinting into daylight.
• Add a lamp you can point at your notes, not at the screen. In a UK winter, you'll be relying on it by mid-afternoon.

Sound

• A headset with a close microphone does more for how you sound on calls than your laptop's built-in mic.
• If you share the house, something that blocks background noise helps you focus, and a visible "on a call" signal saves interruptions.

Breaks and your employer

• Take short, frequent breaks: a few minutes away from the screen every hour beats one long break, and standing up between calls counts.
• If you're employed and work from home regularly, your employer has the same display screen equipment duties as in the office, including a workstation assessment and a free eye test if you ask for one.

The picks

Rustic Brown Metal Frame Office PC Workstation with Storage Shelf

A HOMCOM workstation desk with a solid steel frame in rustic brown and a particle board top with a melamine coating, which the listing says is easy to clean. The two-tier design gives you a main work surface plus a back shelf for storage, handy for keeping chargers, notebooks and a router off the main desk. If the back shelf sits higher than the desktop, it may double as a small monitor riser, so look at the photos. Dimensions aren't in the description: measure your space and confirm the depth with the retailer, aiming for at least 60cm.

Samsung 24" S40GD Office Monitor with Height Adjustment

A 24-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate and 178-degree viewing angles. The reason it's here is in the title: ergonomic height adjustment, so you can bring the top of the screen to eye level without stacking books under it. The listing also mentions Eye Saver Mode and Flicker Free technology for long working days. If you're moving from a laptop to a proper desk setup, this is the upgrade that does most for your neck. Before ordering, compare its connection ports with your laptop's, as you may need an adapter or a specific cable.

Anglepoise Type 75 Desk Lamp, Jet Black

A classic adjustable desk lamp with a cast iron base and a constant tension spring mechanism, which the listing says holds the lamp in position once you've set it. Buy Me Once lists it with a repair guarantee (the description also refers to a lifetime guarantee, so read the terms). An adjustable arm is what you want here: you can angle light onto paperwork and away from the screen. For anyone who works into the evening or in a darker room, it's a long-term buy rather than a stopgap. The dimensions and bulb type are worth confirming before you order.

Jabra Evolve2 40 SE Stereo USB-A MS Corded Headset

A wired stereo headset designed for office calls. The listing describes foam oval ear cushions and an angled earcup design for passive noise isolation, plus a busylight that's visible from any direction, a useful hint to anyone about to walk in mid-meeting. As it's corded, there's no battery to run flat during a long day of calls. Two things to know: it connects by USB-A, so laptops with only USB-C ports will need an adapter, and the "MS" in the name means it's the Microsoft Teams version, so check compatibility if you mainly use Zoom or Google Meet.

Folding Lap Desk with Cupholder

Not everyone has room for a dedicated desk. This folding lap desk has a segmented top with adjustable tilt for a laptop, a separate flat section for a mouse or notebook, and a cupholder. The tilt helps bring a screen up a little when you're on the sofa or in bed. Flat-sharers, occasional home workers and anyone who wants to move away from the desk for an hour will get the most from it. Treat it as a break from your main setup rather than an everyday replacement, and measure your laptop against the tabletop size before you buy.

FAQs

What do I need for a basic home office setup?

At minimum: a desk deep enough for a screen and keyboard, a supportive chair, a way to get your screen to eye level, and decent light. After that, a headset for calls and a separate keyboard and mouse if you work on a laptop make the biggest difference.

How high should my monitor be?

The top of the screen should be at or just below eye level, about an arm's length away. A monitor with height adjustment makes this easy. Otherwise, a monitor stand or riser does the job.

What size desk do I need for a home office?

For one monitor and a laptop, around 120cm wide and at least 60cm deep is a comfortable starting point. Measure your space first and leave room to pull your chair back.

Is it bad to work from the sofa or bed?

For short stints it's fine, and a lap desk with a tilting top helps. For full working days, a desk and chair you can adjust is far kinder to your neck and back.

Where should I put my desk in a small room?

Side-on to the window is usually best, so daylight doesn't glare on your screen or shine in your eyes. Add a desk lamp for darker afternoons.

See more in our Home Office edit.