I have been working as a full-time remote software developer for many years, and have created an effective home office setup. I am sharing this info, in hopes it will help inspire other's to create their own perfect home office.

It has taken me years to perfect my setup, and I realize the equipment I suggest is expensive. I recommend taking your time to build your office, and purchase good equipment when you can afford it. I have learned that it is better to spend more for quality, and have something that will last a long time.

Equipment

Audio

A good set of headphones and microphone is the most important remote tool, which is why I am discussing it first. It is critically important that you can hear everyone in the room (even the other folks who haven’t invested in good audio gear), and that everyone can hear you. It is important that your voice is clean, and free of background noise.

I recommend a wired headset with a built-in noise cancelling microphone that can be positioned to stay a fixed distance from your mouth. Wired headsets are more reliable, and don’t suffer from low battery, or signal interference.

The sound cancelling in modern computers is pretty good, but not always perfect. Keeping the audio in your headset (not your computer speakers) will avoid the frequent challenge in online meetings when a sound from your computer is picked up by your microphone and people hear a distracting echo. Since ambient noise will be amplified to all other participants in a call, make sure to adjust your microphone sensitivity, to a low level which will eliminate external sounds. If you are in a particularly noisy environment, you can use software to help.

Check Aaron Parecki’s article for detailed reviews and suggestions, or this post, where Matt Mullenweg tests a variety of different microphones and headsets, ranging from $35 to $1,000+ (and surprisingly, picks the inexpensive equipment as his choice).

Video

I use an external USB video camera, similar, but even lower resolution than this one. You don’t need a super high quality camera (4k streaming is not needed). It is more important that your colleagues can see your face and expressions - and less important they can see every pore or dust particle.

Lighting, is more important than resolution. If your room is dark, consider using this super cheap backlight, this nicer USB powered version, or if you want Instagram worthy lighting, this flexible LED setup looks really nice.

use an External Camera

I prefer using an external camera, instead of the one built into my laptop. External USB cameras tend to have better white balance and quality than many of the built in ones. This helps to ensure that your expressions are easy to see, and your video doesn’t look washed out.

Camera location

Being able to adjust the camera position is main reason I use an external version. Careful positioning, using some basic recommendations (as this cinematographer describes) can make a big difference in your appearance on video.

When placing your Video camera:

It should be at eye level or slightly above (the nostril cam is never flattering)
Frame your head and shoulders (don’t cut off the top or bottom of your face)
Use a lighting source that is behind the camera (not behind you)
Place the camera where you are looking (not to the side)
Consider your background (avoid clutter in the frame)

Eye-level, whole face, centered, good lighting, and clutter-free

Chair

Having a good chair is really important. Even if you have a sit/stand desk, you likely will spend a lot of time sitting. Make sure you have proper back support, and are comfortable. This is particularly important since “sitting is the new smoking” ;-).

I have the iconic, and un-original Herman Miller Aeron chair, and it is great. I have had it for many years, it is very comfortable, and adjustable to fit almost any person.

I purchased this chair over 15 years ago for $300 on Craigslist (<— that is a link to current listings in my area, for around that same price). My chair looks the same as the day I bought it - “slightly used”. The chairs are indestructible, but if you do manage to mess it up, parts and repair are easy to do, I even found a local person to repair a different Aeron (he replaced a defective piston for $20). This chair is a good investment, worth every penny - I could even get those penny’s back today after 15 years of use.

Desk

I have enjoyed using a sit/stand desk for years. The flexibility of being able to change physical orientation throughout the day is really important for me. I switch between sitting and standing multiple times throughout the day, which is a great reset for my body.

Even if you are only sitting, the ability to adjust the desktop height, makes it easier to find a perfect ergonomic location. Tip: If you are on a video call, when changing the height of your desk, make sure to mute your video, since the movement can draw unexpected attention.

I just purchased the Jarvis Bamboo desk in the picture, and I love it. Some upgrades I notice that are an improvement over the Ikea desk I am replacing (because it didn’t work anymore):

Work surface - the Jarvis has a beautiful real bamboo surface that is lovely to look at, and has a nice soft touch (far superior to the laminate on the Ikea)
Preset Memory for positions - being able to place the desk at preset locations is wonderful (just up/down requires a bit of fiddling to get the right location every time you move it)
Monitor stand - I can adjust the height much better, and the stand doesn’t take up any desk space.
Cable management system - it is particularly important to get all the cords organized with a sit/stand. Because all the cables need to move with the desk as it is adjusted (multiple times a day).

Monitor

Screen setup up is a personal preference. I personally just like a single screen, and don’t have advice on configuration, size or number of monitors. This really depends on your preference and space.

The cost of LCD monitor technology is really low, and it is easy to get great equipment for a relatively low price. This is the time to spend a little more money to ensure you get top quality. You will spend a lot of your life, looking into this screen, make sure it is high quality.

Things to look for in a monitor:

High refresh rate - 60Hz minimum, and up to 120Hz if you are gaming or doing 3D
Size - bigger isn’t always better, get the right size for your environment
Overall resolution (how many pixels are displayed)

This Lifehacker article has some great information about what to look for when purchasing a monitor.

Keyboard\Mouse

I use standard Mac keyboard, which I am used to, and tend to like. But, choice of keyboard is a personal choice. Make sure to get a full-size keyboard, that is ergonomically suited to your needs. The keyboard built into most laptops is not well designed for everyday use (looking at you recent Gen Mac Book Pro).

Since you are working from home, it is a great time to experiment with a really loud and clicky mechanical keyboard. Your pets and family may hate you, but at least you will have that beautiful buttery key feel, and LOUD sound to confirm every masterful stroke.

it doesn’t matter what keyboard, you get - you be you, but get a full size one (Photo by 1AmFcS on Unsplash)

I can’t endorse any specific keyboard or mouse. You be You! It is a deep rabbit hole to understand this subculture, but I have heard good things about Havit, and Piktek as sources for inexpensive (well under $50 USD), but good equipment. I have a lovely (each key has multi-color LEDs) travel keyboard from XXX that is quite nice.

It doesn’t cost a ton of money to get a good keyboard or mouse, but finding the right one for you may take time. Wirecutter has this review.

Extras

I love the Topo matt I use when standing, because it has multiple different foot positions, so I can avoid fatigue. It is very durable (it still looks perfect after years of use including standing on it with hiking boots).

I have 2 computers on my desk (a work one and a personal one), so I invested in a KVM Switch which allows me to use 1 keyboard/mouse/USB/Monitor setup between both machines. It took me a while to find the right one (that will support the high refresh rate of my monitor). The one I found works great, and will wake up my computer with the USB keyboard (I don’t need to open the clamshell), which is not something the other switches I tried would do. This particular purchase has really improved my setup, which is why I wanted to specifically call it out.

Conclusion

I hope this exploration into my perfect work from home setup was informative, and gave you some help towards finding your own perfect home environment. Stay safe and productive!

My Big Appetite

My Work From Home Setup