12 Cool Office Tools for the Work-at-Home Woman’s Office

As a work-at-home woman, I spend a GREAT deal of my time in my home office. More so than the typical professional, I’d bet, since I tend to work during the late evenings or weekends when I can steal away a few extra minutes from my family or personal responsibilities.

So, with so many hours spent in my home office, I have come to realize I need to do SOMETHING to spice things up a bit!

Today’s post is the result of my daydreaming, I mean research, on unique, fun, and funky tools that can help make our work-at-home office environments more fun and productive!

1. Start with Some New Stationery, Sister

In today’s age of digital communication, handwritten notes penned on pretty paper DEFINITELY stand out. Start by looking local and contact the talented business owners in your community who create custom stationery or even own independent stationery stores (you can probably find them by doing a quick web search for “paper stationery invitations” and your city).

Enlisting a talented friend or family member is another option. In my case, it would be my wonderful 16-year old son. All he’ll need to do is pick out some stationery paper at the local office supply store, illustrate his desired design, and then task the printing/copy department at the office supply store or Kinkos to copy the illustration onto the stationery that was purchased.

For stores that sell cool stationery, check out:

• Ohh Deer
• Present & Correct
• Tools to Liveby

2. File with Fun, Fabulous Folders

File folders are a staple of almost any office, but, unlike most people in a traditional office environment, we work-at-home women can have more fun with our filing. Check out Amazon to purchase funky, ready-made folders, or check out this DIY tutorial from Life’s Little Clevers.

3. Become the Ultimate Digital Diva

Despite your natural propensity to being organized, any work-at-home woman can use a little extra help and a clever idea to help her harmonize her workspace. I appreciate scanners and other digital tools that enable me to reduce paper and keep track of receipts, business cards, and other documents. One such example is the NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System. Once you scan in your items, the NeatDesk software identifies the key information and then creates a digital, searchable filing system.

4. Perfectly Pretty and Practical Pens

Get into the groove with these funky writing utensils, like the lipstick pen, Spikeletz Penz, or these Fluorescent Liquid Chalk Markers which can be used to decorate coffee mugs, chalkboards, or windows — all available on Amazon.

For other sites that sell cool pens, see: 

• Erin Condren
• JetPens
• Swarovski
• Tiffany

5. Something to Sideline Stress

Work-at-home women have the advantage of stepping away from their desks to take a quick walk outside or fold a load of laundry, but I still think there is something to be said for items that let you blow off some steam for a second. Experience instant gratification from this splat frog or a rejuvenating whiff of relaxation from this Zen Breeze Essential Oil Diffuser, both available on Amazon. For the work-at-home women who are not their own bosses, this Boss Toss from Abernook looks like fun, too.

6. One-of-a-Kind Ways to Tell the Time

Sleek, professional, elegant desk clocks are a dime a dozen. Whimsical and unique clocks, like this Salvador Dali Inspired Melting Desk Clock, offer you a fun and unique way to tell time!

7. Green Goods

I really enjoy the creativity and usefulness available in today’s “green” repurposed products, items like recycled newspaper pencils and notebooks, and upcycled wetsuit laptop sleeves.

Check sites like Etsy, Uncommon Goods, The Green Office, and See Jane Work for some of these eco-friendly office supplies.

Related Content: Work From Home and Go Green!

8. Desktop Decision-Making Aids

Sometimes a decision is half dozen one thing and six the other. Why not consult with these desktop decision making aids, like the Maybe, Baby Decision Maker from UncommonGoods or this Executive Decision Maker from Abernook.

9. Catchy Sticky Notes

Spice up sticky notes with these Freudian Slips from Amazon or the Talk to the Hand notes from Fred & Friends.

10. Accessorize Your Desk, Ladies

Desktops deserve accessories, too. And I love these frilly, lovely desk accessories from  See Jane Work. Or, if you are leaning more toward funky than frilly, check out the website Poppin.

11. Coral the Cords and Cables

I can’t stand all those cords and cables and wires in my home office, which is why I just loved these tools for getting them under control, with the cord strapz from Cordtoz.

12. Not Your Typical Office Supplies

Love these new takes on the old standards, like the modern, sleek iconoclasp or petal-shaped paperclips from the Desk Daisy by Fred & Friends.

Conclusion

If you are like me, bookstores, specialty gift shops, and office supply stores are places where I can spend hours and hours looking at all the wonderful and wacky little things I just gotta have for my home office. Work-at-home women are lucky in that we often have the ability to express our personal tastes more freely than those who have to conform to the public workplace.

For more cool office tools, check out Holly’s Amazon Storefront here.

What unique or functional office tools would you add to the list? Drop us a note; we’d love to hear from you! If you enjoyed this article, please share it on your favorite social media site.