Gift Ideas for Friends and Family Working From Home

Working from home has its advantages. It can be nice to skip the stress that tends to come along with a daily commute. There might be fewer distractions as well.

One of the appealing things about working from home is that people can spend the day in their casual apparel, working from the comfort of their couch, outside in the backyard, or even at a local coffee shop, park, library, etc.

For others, self-discipline, organization, and detailed planning may come into play to successfully work from home, as well as the right tools and equipment to help get job tasks and assignments done on time. Many of these necessities were most likely at an arm’s length within a traditional office, but they might not be so obvious to have in a home office.

Most of the items suggested below are reasonably priced, showing that you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money on a gift. However, if you’re looking for bigger-ticket items to splurge on for close family members or friends, a few of those items have been included, as well.

As you shop for your friends or family, keep in mind those who have transitioned to fully working from home, work from both the office and home, and even those who have always been remote workers. You can use this gift guide to help find gifts for people in your life, no matter their work arrangements.

For the Ultra-Organized Remote Worker

While some people don’t mind a messy or cluttered workspace and can still pull off their job without a hitch, others take desk and office organization very seriously. If you have a friend or family member who’s an ultra-organized remote worker, consider gift ideas useful as they arrange things in and around their home office. 

Desk organizers, trays, and other desk accessories keep things neat. You can also give them a gift set of items that are helpful for planning meetings, scheduling their day-to-day appointments, tasks, and events, making to-do lists, and taking notes.

Here are some creative gift ideas that can make the organized remote worker in your life smile.

• Choose from various shapes, sizes, and styles of bookcases with cubbies and other storage capacities.
• You can create a custom notebook, calendar, or planner with initials for a more personalized touch.
• Dry-erase whiteboards and other calendar planning boards might be helpful for those who have to keep track of an agenda or a rotating schedule.
• Wall organizers and wall shelves can be mounted on the wall next to or behind a desk to save space within a smaller office area.
• Office supplies like label makers, sets of pens, paper clips and binder clips, desk drawer divider bins, and more can be useful tools for remote work.
• Free-standing shelving and cubby units can be set on top of a desk or directly beside it, so all necessities are close at hand.

You can also look for desk-organizing accessories with corresponding products in the same color or style. That way, you can add a couple of these smaller, less expensive matching items to complete the perfect gift. If there’s one thing an organized person loves more than an uncluttered space, it’s an uncluttered space that matches and looks put-together with a theme.

For the Trendy Remote Worker

Everyone has that friend or family member who stays on top of trends and strives to have the most of-the-moment, fashionable decor and accessories. This can be true, too, regarding an at-home office space.

Whether they prefer cute and colorful or chic and stylish, here are some great home office gifts for those trendy types.

• Pop-up note dispensers allow easy access to sticky notes with fun, colorful designs.
• Laptop bags, sleeves, messenger bags, and rolling bags come in different colors and sizes to suit any style preference.
• Help your loved one plan with fashion-focused calendars and planners.
• Keep the theme going with matching bins and baskets.
• Totes and handbags have plenty of space and pockets for various accessories.
• A beautiful floor lamp can pull the room together.
• Colorful gel pens can make notes bright and colorful.
• Paper and binder clip dispensers help maximize desk space.
• Decorative signs can display messages, quotes, ideas, and reminders.

Just as an organized remote worker may love a matching set of desk accessories, a trendy one will too. Look for rose gold or bronze accents, black faux leather, florals, and other colorful items. Various decorations, such as wall art, area rugs, artificial plants, and a desk lamp or clock, can spruce up any home office environment.

For the Techy Remote Worker

One technology in many accessories and electronics is Bluetooth. This makes working from home easier for many, as you can stay connected to your phone or computer when moving around your home.

This and many other digital advancements make remote work much more feasible for many businesses and their employees. The tech lovers in your life understand this and may appreciate receiving tech gifts that help keep them at the forefront of the digital world.

If you’re shopping for someone who loves learning about and having all the latest technological gadgets at their fingertips, here are some gift ideas to consider.

• Look for smartwatches that feature GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
• High-quality Bluetooth and wireless speakers can also make and receive hands-free calls.
• A webcam might be useful for someone who frequently participates in conference calls — bonus points if you find one that can also fold up for easy portability.
• A desk lamp ideally has USB ports and charging capabilities.
• A good pair of noise-canceling headphones can help them stay focused and block distractions.
• These days, media-streaming devices, such as Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Google Chromecast, can be a necessity.
• Wireless chargers can help keep smart devices charged while your loved one works.
• Laptop cooling pads generate cool air to help keep laptops running more efficiently.
• A portable USB lamp can clip to various devices, such as a laptop, tablet, computer monitor, keyboard, and even a desk or book.

A portable USB lamp can clip to various devices, such as a laptop, tablet, computer monitor, keyboard, and even a desk or book.

For the Hybrid Worker

Many employees have also transitioned to a hybrid work environment, working partially from home and in the office. These employees often need portability and accessories that make taking their work with them easier.

Consider the following gift ideas for hybrid workers to help improve life between home and the office.

• Consider a quality laptop bag or laptop sleeve that makes transporting their laptop safer and easier. For frequent flyers, a rolling laptop bag can make airport transit easier.
• A laptop docking station can help make setting up and disconnecting a laptop in different places easy. For example, their mouse, keyboard, or external storage stays connected to the station at work so that they can plug their laptop in with one cord.
•  Who doesn’t love a nice set of headphones? Whether on a conference call or just listening to music on their way to the office, a good set of earbuds or wireless headphones is a must-have.

For the Small Business Owner

Small business owners who work from home may have different tasks and challenges each day. From managing social media to coordinating customer orders, running a successful small business requires great organization. Because of this, office organization is especially important for WFH small business owners.

Consider the following gift ideas to help small business owners stay organized in their home office.

• Consider a dry-erase whiteboard to hang on the wall to organize thoughts or plan out the next big marketing strategy.
• Small business owners can use a quality filing cabinet to keep everything from tax documents to customer information in place.
• Meetings, appointments, deadlines, and more — small business owners have a lot to keep track of. That’s where desk calendars and planners can come in handy!
• Small business owners have a lot to take care of each day. They don’t have time for internet issues, so make sure they have a strong Wi-Fi connection.
• Finance and legal software, such as tax prep software from QuickBooks, can help to make business taxes quick and easy to take care of.
• Keeping physical copies of client information can cause clutter and wasted time to find the documents needed. Consider a scanner to create digital copies and an external hard drive to store the digital copies securely.

Start Your Search for the Best Remote Worker Gift Ideas

These gift ideas for friends and family working from home are just the start. There are so many more options, which can be overwhelming. A gift card can be a safe bet if you’re still stuck on what to get.

Alternatively, think about what the person has in their home office and how you can enhance their experience. Do they have beautiful artwork to put on the wall but still haven’t purchased a nice picture frame? Are there any accessories they need to use with one of their digital devices, such as a digital subscription or a mobile app?

You could also create a gift basket with their favorite office snacks, like chocolate, granola bars, chips, pretzels, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and a six-pack of beer and bottle of wine for an “after-work happy hour” treat. Gift-giving can be a lot of fun if you think outside the box and get creative.

Shopping doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. When you consider the variety of items listed here to buy for your friends and family who work from home, countless options available can make them happy — and their work-from-home life much more comfortable.

About the Author 

Shaina Wizov is a lifestyle blogger and social media influencer with a background in journalism and media studies. Follow her at @takeabiteoutofboca.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is” and neither the author nor Office Depot warrant the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.