1. A High-Speed Internet Connection
Let’s be honest — the days of barely surviving on 50Mbps are over. If you're working from home in 2025, a slow internet connection isn’t just inconvenient — it can wreck your workflow and your blood pressure.
When everyone in the house decides to stream, game, or hop on a Zoom call at the same time, you’ll want a connection that can keep up. Fortunately, there are plans available across the UK ranging from 100Mbps all the way up to 1.6Gbps.
Now, unless you’re launching a satellite from your office, you probably don’t need 1.6Gbps. But something in the 300Mbps range is a sweet spot — fast, stable, and more than enough for multiple people working, gaming, and binge-watching simultaneously.
I personally use Trooli’s 300Mbps package, and it’s been flawless — even in a house of six people, with gamers and streamers all doing their thing while I run data-heavy tools for work. Zero complaints.
Other reliable providers include: BT Full Fibre 300, Virgin Media M350, Hyperoptic 500Mb
Pro tip: Go for fibre if it’s available — it’s the difference between a bike and a bullet train.
2. A Walking Pad (Because sitting for 8 hours isn’t the dream)
Working from home also means sitting. A lot.
That’s where the walking pad treadmill comes in — or whatever name you’ve seen floating around: walkingpad, pad walk, walking treadmill pad, the list goes on.
This compact gadget slides right under a standing desk and lets you walk while you work. Reply to emails, join Zoom calls, or plan your day while slowly racking up steps. You’ll hit 5,000 without even trying.
You can find great deals on Amazon.co.uk with prices starting from £105 — just search for under desk walking pad for Office and you’ll see a range of options to suit your space and budget.
3. Noise Cancelling Headphones (Not Earphones — Headphones)
By now, everyone at home knows: if I’ve got my headphones on, I’m not available.
You’d be surprised how often someone used to catch me just as I was heading to the bathroom — a “Can you take a look at this real quick?” or “Oh, while you’re up…” moment. It wasn’t a problem at first, but when it started happening every day, it added up.
That’s why noise cancelling headphones are essential if you work from home — not earphones, but proper over-ear headphones that send a message: I’m focused. I’m in the zone. Approach with caution.
Get yourself a nice, budget-friendly pair of noise cancelling headphones (there are loads under £100 on Amazon or Argos). They’ll block out background clacks, bangs, and distractions — and more importantly, they create a mental switch. Headphones on = beast mode. Like Batman and his mask.
4. Coffee Mug Warmer (Because no one likes cold tea)
You know the drill: you make a hot drink, get stuck into something, and next thing you know — your coffee's cold and sad. You either microwave it (no thanks), or you dump it and make another one (time-wasting and soul-crushing).
That’s where a coffee mug warmer comes in. It sits quietly on your desk, keeps your drink at the perfect temperature, and stops the heartbreak of wasted tea. Whether you're team coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, it's one of those low-key gadgets that makes a big difference to your day.
You can find loads of coffee mug warmers online — from sleek USB-powered ones to smart models that auto-adjust temperature. Just search for coffee mug warmer on Amazon or best mug warmer for home office, and you're sorted.
5. Mulveri Smart Kettle+ (Of course.)
We couldn’t make a work-from-home essentials list without mentioning the Mulveri Smart Kettle+ — because we built it for this exact reason.
Because we’ve all been there: you leave your desk to go to make a quick coffee, and while waiting for the kettle to boil, you end up doing laundry… or chasing down a random snack craving. Ten minutes later, your water's cold, your task list is off-track, and you're reboiling again.
We designed the Kettle+ so your routine is never interrupted. Our smart WiFi Kettle is voice-controlled via Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can stay at your desk while your kettle boils in the background — and only walk into the kitchen when your water is ready. And if you're deep in work and happen to forget, it has a 2-hour keep warm mode, so you don’t have to worry about reboiling.
You can schedule your boil time and choose your ideal temperature — so it works exactly the way you need it to.
6. An Alexa Speaker (Your hands-free sidekick)
I never really understood the need for Alexa — until I got one.
Now, when I need music to help me focus in my home office, I just say, “Alexa, play classical music.” (Classical is what works for me.) If I need to set a reminder, my friend Alexa jumps in to help — something I really needed, because I’d only remember I put something in the oven after the scent of burned food hit the air.
Now? I just tell Alexa to set a timer from my desk, and it’s done.
Whether it’s for reminders, music, timers, or boiling your kettle with a quick “Alexa, turn on the kettle,” an Alexa smart speaker can quietly become one of the most useful tools in your work-from-home setup.
It's one of those simple upgrades that makes working from home smoother, easier, and a lot more efficient.
7. ChatGPT (Your virtual co-worker that doesn’t steal your mug)
If you're working from home, ChatGPT is like having a helpful co-worker — minus the awkward small talk or passive-aggressive fridge notes.
Need help writing an email? Planning your week? Brainstorming ideas? Or just figuring out what to cook with what’s left in your fridge? This AI productivity tool is surprisingly good at helping with all of it.
I actually used it to build this entire website — with zero website-building experience. Mind you, it took me four months. So I’d probably recommend getting someone else to build your site if you're in a rush. But on the plus side, after those long (and occasionally painful) months, I now know how to build a website from scratch.
I use ChatGPT at my home office desk when I’m stuck on wording, need ideas fast, or just want to bounce thoughts off something that won’t judge. Whether you’re in marketing, customer service, admin, or running your own business, having ChatGPT for work can seriously speed things up.
It’s great for improving remote work productivity, especially when you're working solo. And once it's part of your smart home office setup, it quickly becomes something you rely on more than you expected.
Final Thoughts
Working from home sounds easy — until you're actually doing it. The distractions, the cold coffee, the lost focus, the forgotten oven timers... it all adds up.
But with the right setup, it really can be the dream. From the home office gadgets that keep you moving, to smart tools like ChatGPT and Alexa that take tiny tasks off your plate — it’s all about building a routine that works for you.
These are the things I personally use (and in Mulveri’s case, created) to make working from home smoother, calmer, and honestly — more enjoyable.
Whether you're building your home office setup from scratch or just looking to upgrade your space, I hope something here helps you find your own rhythm.
And if you need one thing to start with? A kettle that listens to you isn't a bad place.