How to Spruce Up Your Home Office On a $200 Budget 

Maybe you thought you’d be working from home for a few weeks, but then you blinked — and now, it’s been almost five months since COVID-19 prompted workplaces across the country to go fully remote. Although some employees are gearing up to return to the office, many others have been told to keep working from home until further notice (for some, that’s until a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available). And even if you’re in the former camp, chances are your company will significantly expand its remote work policy. 

SUBSCRIBE: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. Subscribe to HerMoney to get the latest money news and tips!

All of that boils down to the need for a work-from-home setup that prioritizes comfort, focus and productivity. In this three-part series, HerMoney will explore how to transform your home office — whatever the size of your budget. Here’s our piece on setting up a home office for $1,100 or less, and our story on setting up a home office with a budget of $2,500. 

Read on for some of the best WFH buys that add up to $200. 

Standing desk 

Whether you’ve got a bona fide desk or a stand-in — like a kitchen counter, table, nightstand or ironing board — it’s smart to switch up your position regularly to help head off back and neck pain. Standing desks usually run a pretty penny, but the more utilitarian options can come extremely cheap. The Levit8 from DesignNest costs less than $25 and folds flat for whenever it’s not in use. 

Chair 

Been spending your workday sitting on the ground, the couch or a stiff-backed kitchen chair? It’s time for an ergonomic upgrade, and it’s possible to do it on a budget. This model from AmazonBasics costs $54.99 and, after over 5,000 customer ratings, has a 4.4-star average. 

Monitor 

Introducing a monitor to your work-from-home setup can take your productivity to a new level, especially if you’re working on complex projects, doing extensive research or talking to colleagues, customers and clients on multiple platforms. Amazon sells refurbished computer monitors under a “90-Day Amazon Renewed Guarantee,” like this one or this one from Acer (both $49.99 plus shipping). 

Laptop-to-Monitor Connection Cable 

This section is more about necessity than form or function, so it stays the same no matter your budget. Before purchasing a cable, it’s important to check the types of connection ports on your laptop and monitor. (WikiHow has an explainer.) Your monitor likely has a HDMI port, while your laptop could have a USB-C port (Mac laptops and some other brands), HDMI port (offered by some PCs) or another type. This $17.99 Uni cable connects USB-C to HDMI and should work with most Apple laptops, as well as some Microsoft and Dell products. AmazonBasics offers a $7.23 HDMI cable that should work if your PC has an HDMI port. 

Keyboard and Mouse 

If you’re tired of your laptop’s trackpad and keyboard clacking, it may be time for a change. This Logitech keyboard and mouse come highly recommended on Amazon — a 4.2-star average after over 23,000 customer ratings — and budget-wise, we’re a fan of the $22.99 package deal. 

Headphones 

Whether you’re sharing a workspace with roommates, a significant other or family, productivity levels can drop when you’re unable to tune out distractions. This set of Mpow wireless headphones comes with noise-canceling technology and a built-in microphone for wireless calling — plus, it’s priced at $29.99 and has a 4.2-star average out of over 2,000 Amazon customer ratings. 

MORE FROM HERMONEY:

• How to Speed Up Your Job Search and Make Yourself More Marketable
• 6 Ways to Clean Up Your Resume and Wow Hiring Managers
• How To Nail A Zoom Job Interview 
• Fired? Here’s How To Finesse It On Interviews, Job Applications, And On Your Resume 
• Spruce CBD Review – Does It Really Help With Anxiety?

SUBSCRIBE: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. Subscribe to HerMoney to get the latest money news and tips!