I work from home, I have done for the past three years, and I love it. Not working in an office environment was a big transition, but, after a few months, I realised that this way of working suits my lifestyle and approach to working better than the traditional 9-5.

Millions of people are now doing the same thing, as companies and corporations look to cut costs, reduce floor space in buildings, and, generally speaking, create a more fluid, malleable workforce. Granted, working from home isn’t suited to all trades, but for a lot of digital workers, it is fast becoming an inevitable transition.

And it doesn’t matter if you work for a big company or you’re a sole trader, starting out on your own. Remote working, as it is formally known, is a big new trend and even the fustiest of institutions are now waking up to its benefits. And, according to CIPHER, 91% of remote workers feel that they’re more productive.

Basically, working from home rocks. Mostly because you can get a dog (ok, I'm aware some offices do have or allow dogs, but they're few and far between). But also because you have more time to focus on what matters and you don’t waste hundreds a month commuting to and from an office - you also avoid that commuter drain of getting tired and aggrivated, which let's face it, can sometimes impact your work no matter how good you are.

And the first thing you’ll want to get sorted, if this is something you’re interested in doing, is an home office all of your own. You need somewhere you can be creative and immersed in your work. Over the past three years, I have evolved my workspace from a spare room full of crap to a space I actually look forward to hanging out in and doing some work.

Below is a selection of products and things that made that happen. So, if you’re interested in doing the same, check out the recommendations below for creating the ultimate home office.

A Proper Chair

This applies to whether you’re working in an office or at home. Spending all day sitting on your ass is worse for you than smoking (probably), so in order to mitigate the damage done, you’ll want to invest in a decent chair – one that supports your posture correctly.

I used a rubbish chair for years and got a seriously bad back as a result, despite hours in the gym and plenty of exercise. The bottom line is you can’t outrun a bad posture, and sitting down all day is the fastest route to achieving one. Do yourself a favour and get a decent, high-quality chair that has excellent lumbar support.

But it's not just your back that can suffer, sitting down all day also increases your risk of deep vein thrombosis, which is why a lot of medical experts these days advocate you get up and move around every hour. One alternative many office workers swear by is a standing desk (more on this below) so that you can alternate between sitting and standing periodically (you shouldn't just stand all the time either, as you can get varicose veins).

There are also some seating solutions which act as a sort of halfway point between standing and sitting - you sit (or rather perch), but the design of the chair encourages better posture by forcing you to use your core muscles.

Monitors

Two displays are ALWAYS better than one. Yes, it costs more money at the outset, but it will do wonders for your productivity in the long run. I’ve been running dual-monitors for years now and there’s no way I could go back to just one.

I have one screen for my web browser, TXT Editor, and Pages – this is where I spend most time – and another for my email client, CMS, social media applications and everything else.

I also use an iMac, but I’d never pay for an additional display from Apple. Screw that. Instead, I use AOC’s U2879VF 4K monitor and it is a brilliant setup that I highly recommend. Why widescreen? Simple, it’s great for having loads of applications open at once (and also gaming, for when you're not working!). Basically, once you go ultra-widescreen, you don’t go back.

A Decent Desk

Ah, the desk – the place you’ll be doing the majority of your work. I tried to get by with a complete piece of rubbish for as long as possible, then, after contemplating just how much time I was spending sat on my ass, I decided to pony up for a standing desk from Uplift Desks.

Uplift Desks are pricey, but they look stunning and function remarkably. Plus, you don’t always have to have it set to standing mode; nope, you can use the electric motor to select whatever height you want. I treated myself to one of these last year and while it was a lot of money, I have zero regrets about the purchase, as I now spend a lot of my working time stood up.

If you want something cheaper but equally cool, you can do as The Tech Chap does and buy a couple of draws and a table board from IKEA and turn it into a desk. Add some mood lighting to the back of the unit to create some cool ambience in your office.

Speakers – The Smarter The Better

I need music to work. And the speakers on my iMac suck balls, so I had to get myself a decent speaker for the space – one that was wireless. What did I go for? A Sonos Play One. The sound is epic, it’s wireless, and it fits perfectly in with the decor of my office.

I also have a Google Home, which I occasionally use as well, though mostly for organising my calendar, booking Uber cabs, and getting quick answers to things like 15% of 3600 or something similar. I wouldn’t say something like Google Home is essential, but I do enjoy having it at my disposal, as I can ask it something while I’m typing and have the answer right away.

The new Sonos ONE speaker, however, features Amazon’s Alexa, so if you’re looking for something with brilliant sound AND a personal assistant inside, perhaps that would be a better option? Your call. But you will pay a lot more for one of these, though when you you hear it you will know where all that additional money went.

A Solid Desktop PC

This kind of goes without saying. If you’re working in the 21st century, you need a decent computer, preferably a desktop. I use a 5K iMac and I recently upgraded its memory. I’ve had this PC for almost three years and it hasn’t missed a beat.

Having said that, I know plenty of people despise Apple and everything it stands for, so if that sounds like you, why not get a custom PC that runs Windows 10? These machines are insanely powerful and usually cheaper than an iMac. The best place I know of to create these monstrous machines is via places like Overclockers. These guys do everything, so if you fancy building your own work rig, definitely check them out.

Storage

If, like me, you’re something of a hoarder, or you get sent a lot of stuff to review, you will need some kind of storage.

I use a simple set of drawers and a couple of Billy Bookshelves from IKEA; they’re super cheap, easy to assemble, and they look lovely once setup.

Notebooks

I like to scribble down notes and ideas as they come to me. Why? Simple, if I write something down I never forget it. As for notebooks, I’m a bit of a nerd and I love using Moleskins of all shapes and varieties, which I buy up from Amazon far too regularly.

A Wire Management System

If you’re running a lot of tech, you’ll have a lot of wires and this looks, well, kinda messy. I was losing my battle with wires for a long time, before I decided to take action against and do something about it.

The solution? A cable box. They’re insanely cheap and they basically sort out all your wires for you, so they’re nice and hidden. There are TONS of options and styles available on Amazon, so have a look around and see which suits you best.

You can even get ones that attach to the bottom of your desk.

A Decent Router

If you want to get the absolute most out of your home network, or, you’re putting a lot of connections through it, as most people do, you should seriously consider upgrading to a more premium router, as it will deliver vastly superior performance compared to the one Sky/BT/Virgin send you.

You don’t have to drop hundreds of pounds on one, but it is definitely worth having a look at what’s available out there and seeing if you can afford the outlay. They are pretty awesome once you realise what a difference they make.

I use the ASUS RT-AC68U AC1900 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router which, while something of a mouthful to say in passing, is a bloody great WiFi router for the home. I’ve had mine for about 18 months now and it seldom misses a beat. Not bad for £134.99.

A VPN & Decent Anti-Virus Software

Hardly anyone I know uses a VPN, and this drives me crazy. A VPN is an essential piece of technology that all homes and home offices should have.

Not only does a VPN bolster your home network’s privacy and security, but it will also let you access content outside your country – like Hulu, for instance. I use PureVPN, though I have only heard great things about PrivateTunnel as well.

Next up is anti-virus software. Yep, it might not be sexy, but it is an essential piece of software that EVERYBODY should own, especially for your work computer. And, yes, you STILL need one if you’re using a Mac – they do get viruses too, despite what you might have heard. I use AntiVirus For Mac.