TL;DR
Focus on ergonomics first, aesthetics second. Here's what actually matters:
- Essential: Monitor arm, desk mat, USB hub/dock, good lighting
- Nice-to-have: Cable management, footrest, wireless charger
- Skip: RGB everything, fancy pen holders, laptop cooling pads
Best budget hack: AmazonBasics monitor arms are rebranded Ergotrons at half the price.
Essential vs Nice-to-Have
After researching what remote workers actually use daily (not what looks good on Instagram), here's the honest breakdown:
Essential (Daily Use)
- Monitor arm or stand
- Desk mat/pad
- USB hub or docking station
- Good lighting
- Cable management (set once)
Often Ends Up in a Drawer
- Fancy pen holders
- RGB accessories
- Laptop cooling pads
- Excessive desk organizers
- Trendy gadgets
Monitor Arms
A monitor arm frees up desk space, improves ergonomics, and looks cleaner. It's one of the most impactful upgrades you can make.
Premium: Ergotron LX
Ergotron LX
$179-289
The monitor arm that professionals recommend. Smooth articulation, rock-solid stability, and it works perfectly with standing desks (many cheaper arms wobble during height adjustment).
What Users Love
- Buttery smooth movement
- Excellent build quality
- 10+ year lifespan common
- Works great on standing desks
The Downsides
- Expensive
- Overkill for light monitors
Best Value: AmazonBasics Premium
AmazonBasics Premium Monitor Arm
~$100
Here's the secret: this is literally made by Ergotron but sold under the AmazonBasics brand. Same quality, half the price, just comes in black instead of chrome.
User quote: "It's a rebranded Ergotron LX. Absolutely no reason to pay more unless you want the aluminum finish."
Budget: WALI Gas Spring Arm
WALI Gas Spring Monitor Arm
$30-40
If you're on a tight budget, these work surprisingly well. Smooth gas spring articulation, supports a wide range of monitor sizes. Not as refined as Ergotron, but functional.
Pro Tip: Protect Your Desk
If you have an IKEA or particle board desk, get a metal reinforcement plate (~$10-20) to slide under the clamp. It spreads pressure over a wider area and prevents denting.
Desk Mats & Pads
Worth it? Yes. They protect your desk, provide smooth mouse tracking, add wrist comfort, and last years.
Premium: Grovemade Matte Desk Pad
Grovemade Matte Desk Pad
$80-140
Natural linoleum surface with cork backing. Elegant, durable, and ages beautifully. The premium choice for those who appreciate craftsmanship.
Best Features: Orbitkey Desk Mat
Orbitkey Desk Mat
$65-95
Hidden storage underneath for papers and documents, built-in cable path, vegan leather surface. Clever design that's actually useful.
Budget: Ktrio Gaming Desk Pad
Ktrio Extended Desk Pad
$14-19
4.8 star rating with thousands of reviews. Not fancy, but does the job well at a fraction of premium prices. Great entry point.
USB Hubs & Docking Stations
If you use a laptop, a docking station is essentially required. One cable connection for power, monitors, keyboard, mouse, and peripherals.
Best Value: Anker 10-in-1 USB-C Dock
Anker 10-in-1 USB-C Dock
$70-100
Dual HDMI + DisplayPort, 100W laptop charging, multiple USB ports. Covers most use cases without breaking the bank.
Budget: Plugable 7-in-1
Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub
$50-60
3 USB 3.0 ports, SD card slots, 4K HDMI, 100W pass-through charging. Simple and reliable.
Multi-Computer Setup? Get a KVM Switch
If you switch between personal and work laptops, a KVM switch lets you share keyboard, mouse, and monitors between computers.
- Simple: UGREEN USB 3.0 Switch ($20-30) - just keyboard/mouse
- Full setup: TESmart dual-monitor KVM ($150-200)
Lighting
Good lighting reduces eye strain and improves video call quality more than upgrading your webcam.
Best Monitor Light Bar: BenQ ScreenBar
BenQ ScreenBar
~$109
The only light bar with truly asymmetrical lighting that doesn't create screen reflections. Mounts on your monitor, saves desk space, and the auto-dimming is surprisingly accurate.
What Users Love
- No screen glare (asymmetrical design)
- Saves 30% desk space vs lamps
- 8 color temperature options
- Works on various monitor shapes
The Downsides
- Pricey for a light
- No backlight (Halo version has it)
Premium: BenQ ScreenBar Halo
BenQ ScreenBar Halo
~$180
Adds backlight for balanced room lighting and a wireless control puck. Worth it if you want the ambient backlight feature.
Cable Management
The best way to manage cables is to eliminate them (wireless devices). For the rest, these solutions actually work:
What Works
- Velcro cable ties: Best for securing extra slack. Reusable, unlike zip ties. Buy in bulk.
- Under-desk cable trays: Hide everything from view. "Extremely underrated."
- Cable tidy boxes: Essential for power strips and bulky plugs
- Sticky cable clips: Route cables up desk backs, keep chargers accessible
Reality Check
Don't overthink it. As one user put it: "Even the impact on airflow is exaggerated. You're not going to raise your temps by doing an 80-90% job." Focus on the biggest cables first.
Laptop Stands
Essential if you use a laptop with an external keyboard. Gets the screen at eye level.
| Stand | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lamicall Adjustable | Versatility, ergonomics | $25-40 |
| Rain Design mStand | MacBook, premium look | ~$50 |
| Roost/Nexstand | Travel, portability | $30-80 |
| Besign LS03 | Budget aluminum | $25-30 |
Important Note
Laptop cooling pads with fans are mostly useless unless sealed. A simple stand with good airflow works fine. And you'll need an external keyboard—typing on an elevated laptop is terrible for your wrists.
Underrated Accessories
These get less attention but make a real difference:
Footrest
ComfiLife Footrest
$20-40
"Night and day difference" for comfort, especially if you're under 5'9" or have a standard 30" desk height. Reduces lower back strain.
Anti-Fatigue Mat (for Standing Desks)
Topo Comfort Mat
$99
The unique topography encourages movement and shifts your stance throughout the day. Users report being able to stand 3x longer comfortably. Budget alternative: ComfiLife (~$40).
Vertical Monitor
Not an accessory, but worth mentioning: adding a second monitor in portrait orientation is a "must-have" for reading, coding, and writing. Use your monitor arm to rotate an existing monitor.
Things to Skip
Save your money on these:
- Cheap "ergonomic" chairs: Do more harm than good. Save up for quality or buy used Herman Miller.
- Laptop cooling pads with fans: Mostly useless. Passive stands work fine.
- RGB everything: Looks cool for a week, then you turn it off.
- Fancy pen holders: When did you last use a pen?
- Excessive desk organizers: Often become clutter themselves.
- Demanding plants: Get fake ones or low-maintenance succulents.
Quick Reference: What to Buy First
| Priority | Item | Budget Option | Premium Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monitor arm | AmazonBasics ($100) | Ergotron LX ($180) |
| 2 | Desk mat | Ktrio ($15) | Grovemade ($100) |
| 3 | USB dock | Plugable 7-in-1 ($50) | Anker 10-in-1 ($100) |
| 4 | Lighting | Desk lamp ($30) | BenQ ScreenBar ($109) |
| 5 | Cable management | Velcro ties ($10) | Under-desk tray ($30) |
The Bottom Line
Start with ergonomics: Monitor arm and proper monitor height make the biggest difference in daily comfort.
The budget hack: AmazonBasics monitor arm is a rebranded Ergotron at half the price. Seriously.
Don't overthink accessories: Most fancy desk gadgets end up unused. Focus on the essentials, set up cable management once, and you're done.
The underrated MVP: A footrest. Cheap, simple, huge impact on comfort if you sit all day.