In March, I was one of those people who thought the quarantine life would only last for a few weeks. It quickly became apparent that I was wrong, and months of hunching over a laptop wasn't working. Relying on Wirecutter as my guide (as always), I bought an adjustable laptop stand ($55), along with a wireless keyboard ($60) and mouse ($39). The laptop stand makes positioning the screen down really simple, so you can hit those angles for video calls.
There's a real convenience to being able to print a lease agreement, a medical form, or a tax document without having to run to a copy shop or library. When you need something signed and returned quickly, having a printer at home means you don't have to rearrange your schedule around a trip across town. That kind of on-demand access saves both time and stress, especially during situations that are already a little chaotic.
Home office setups vary widely. Some people work from a laptop in bed, on the sofa, or at the kitchen table, while others prefer a traditional desk-based arrangement. For those in the latter category, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the vast number of ergonomic desk chair options, which vary massively in price. The Herman Miller Aeron, for example, is often brought up in discussions surrounding the world's best task chair, retails for nearly $2,000.
We've been rigorously testing work-from-home gear for years-even prior to the Covid-19 remote work boom-and that includes dozens of office chairs and desks. Branch furniture has made standouts that are highlighted in our guides over and over again. Its Presidents' Day deals have been extended, bringing some of the better discounts we've seen on essentials we've tested like chairs and desks.
The stationery world has long looked to Japan for innovation, and planning enthusiasts know this better than anyone. Japanese design philosophy brings together minimalism, functionality, and thoughtful engineering to create tools that transform mundane tasks into moments of creative joy. These aren't just accessories that sit pretty on your desk. They're carefully crafted instruments that respect your workflow, elevate your planning rituals, and make every stroke of the pen feel intentional.
